Patent ID: 6145393
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G01C,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A floated gimbaled optical platform comprising:a vehicular mounted base;a hollow sealed outer vessel fixed to the base and having a first optically transparent viewing port;a hollow sealed inner vessel assembly centrally positioned within the outer vessel, the inner vessel assembly having: a second optically transparent viewing port generally aligned with the first optically transparent viewing port and an optical instrument mounted within the inner vessel assembly and optically aligned with the first transparent viewing port;an optically transparent suspension fluid separating the inner vessel assembly and outer vessel, said suspension fluid having a density substantially equal to the inner vessel assembly;means to assist in centrally positioning the inner vessel assembly within the outer vessel;detection means to detect misalignment between the second transparent viewing port and the first transparent viewing port; andmeans to rotate the inner vessel assembly within the optically transparent suspension fluid;wherein a detected misalignment between the first and second transparent viewing ports is corrected by rotating the inner vessel assembly;the centre of gravity of the inner vessel assembly is substantially located at the physical centre of the inner vessel assembly; andthe inner vessel assembly floats in the optically transparent suspension fluid in substantially neutral buoyancy.