Patent ID: 7466343
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: G01S,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A compact line of sight stabilization system for use with an imaging system located about an unstable carrier platform, said stabilization system comprising: at least two mirrors, each of said mirrors being mounted to a fixed platform by aiming means and in a plane substantially parallel to a target to provide substantially orthogonal observation of a ground position; said aiming means allowing independent rotation of said mirrors about at least one of the axes in the plane of said mirrors; at least one of said mirrors being mounted by aiming means allowing rotation about at least two of said axes; a hardware control means for directing said aiming means in response to measurements taken from three orthogonally positioned gyrometers that measure a rotation rate of the unstable carrier platform about the at least two of said axes; wherein the aiming means occurs without reorientation of the fixed platform relative to the unstable carrier platform; and wherein movement of the at least one of said mirrors occurs in a substantially continuous pattern that predicatively mirrors motion of and approximately angular velocities and accelerations of the unstable carrier platform; said stabilization system being mounted in a line of sight of said imaging system; and said stabilization system providing at least one of pitch, row, yaw, and forward motion compensation corrections while maintaining consistent image orientation, for said imaging system.