Patent ID: 6072571
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: F41G,H04N

Abstract:
An airborne video tracking system for establishing and maintaining a line of sight to a moving target, said airborne video tracking system being mounted within an aircraft, said airborne video tracking system comprising:an acquisition sight positioned within said aircraft, said acquisition sight allowing a pilot of said aircraft to acquire and begin tracking said moving target, said acquisition sight having a newton ring, said moving target being acquired when said pilot observes said moving target within the newton ring of said acquisition sight, said acquisition sight providing first analog position signals indicative of azimuth and elevation sight angles for said acquisition sight when said acquisition sight is tracking said moving target;a track handle positioned within said aircraft, said track handle having a trigger switch, said track handle allowing an observer within said aircraft to take control of tracking said moving target from said pilot when said observer activates said trigger switch, said track handle providing second analog position signals indicative of azimuth and elevation sight angles for said track handle when said track handle is tracking said moving target;a computer connected to said acquisition sight to receive said first analog position signals from said acquisition sight and said track handle to receive said second analog position signals from said track handle, said computer processing said first analog position signals and said second analog position signals to generate gimbal orientation signals;a gimballed mirror having a gimbal interface, said gimbal interface being connected to said computer to receive said gimbal orientation signals from said computer, said gimbal interface responsive to said gimbal orientation signals steering said gimballed mirror to said moving target to establish and then maintain said line of sight to said moving target;said gimballed mirror receiving image forming light from said moving target and then redirecting said image forming light along a first light path;a first turning mirror positioned on said first light path to receive a portion of said image forming light from said gimballed mirror and then direct the portion of said image forming light received thereby along a second light path;a first video camera positioned on said second light path to receive said image forming light directed along said second light path by said first turning mirror, said first video camera responsive to said image forming light received from said first turning mirror generating a first video signal;a first video monitor connected to said first video camera to receive said first video signal, said first video monitor responsive to said first video signal displaying a wide field of view scene including said moving target, said first video monitor being positioned within said aircraft to allow said observer to monitor said moving target when said observer is using said track handle to track said moving target;a second turning mirror positioned on said first light path downstream from said first turning mirror, said second turning mirror receiving a remainder of said image forming light from said gimballed mirror and then directing the remainder of said image forming light received thereby along a third light path;a zoom telescope positioned on said third light path to receive said image forming light directed along said third light path by said second turning mirror, said zoom telescope modifying said image forming light to define a narrow field of view scene;a second video camera positioned downstream from said zoom telescope on said third light path to receive said image forming light from zoom telescope, said second video camera responsive to said image forming light received from said zoom telescope generating a second video signal;a second video monitor connected to said second video camera to receive said second video signal, said second video monitor responsive to said second video signal displaying said narrow field of view scene, said narrow field of view scene having said moving target displayed therein whenever said gimballed mirror is aligned with said line of sight to said moving target, said second video monitor being positioned within said aircraft to allow said observer to monitor said moving target when said observer is using said track handle to track said moving target;said computer containing a keyboard.c computer software module, said keyboard.c computer software module automatically calibrating said gimbal orientation signals;a keyboard coupled to said computer, said keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric and function keys; anda third video monitor coupled to said computer, said third video monitor being positioned to allow said observer to monitor said third video monitor, said third video monitor displaying a plurality of calibration menus, each of said plurality of calibration menus having a set of calibration instructions, a first of said plurality of calibration menus being associated with calibrating said gimbal orientation signals;the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard first being utilized by said observer to access said set of calibration instructions for the first of said plurality of calibration menus associated with calibrating said gimbal orientation signals;the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard next utilizable by said observer to implement said set of calibration instructions for the first of said plurality of calibration menus associated with calibrating said gimbal orientation signals, said keyboard.c computer software module being activated to automatically calibrate said gimbal orientation signals when said observer implements said set of calibration instructions for the first of said plurality of calibration menus associated with calibrating said gimbal orientation signals;an infrared display system positioned within said aircraft, said infrared display system being adapted to track said target, said infrared display system providing synchro signals indicative of azimuth and elevation sight angles for said infrared display system when said infrared display system is tracking said target;said infrared display system being coupled to said computer to provide said synchro signals to said computer;said third video monitor displaying a second of said plurality of calibration menus, the second of said plurality of calibration menus being associated with calibrating said synchro signals;the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard being used by said observer to access the set of calibration instructions for the second of said plurality of calibration menus, the alpha-numeric and function keys of said keyboard then being used by said observer to implement the set of calibration instructions for the second of said plurality of calibration menus, said keyboard.c computer software module being activated to automatically calibrate said synchro signals when said observer implements the set of calibration instructions for the second of said plurality of calibration menus;a remote computer coupled to said computer, said remote computer being adapted to control operation of said infrared display system, said remote computer providing a command to said computer allowing said remote computer to control operation of said infrared display system.