Patent ID: 7253398
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: G03B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A sensor system comprising: a sensor payload capable of generating image signals in response to radiation falling thereon, said sensor payload having a field of view from which radiation is received and a pointing direction substantially centered within the field of view, said payload being rotatable about at least one rotation axis for directing said pointing direction onto a radiation scene; an electronic control unit in communication with the sensor payload comprising one or more systems for controlling the sensor payload, for directing the pointing direction, and for receiving the image signals from the sensor payload; a hand held control unit in communication with the electronic control unit for use by an operator to input control commands to the electronic control unit, said hand held control unit comprising a hollow electronic enclosure for housing input control actuators disposed to protrude through aperture ports passing through the enclosure to provide access to the input control actuators by a gripping hand of an operator and wherein the hollow electronic enclosure comprises a front facing control panel surface having control elements distributed thereon, a bottom surface disposed substantially orthogonal to the control panel surface, and a handle having a handle cross-section disposed along a handle longitudinal axis and wherein the handle extends from the enclosure bottom surface with the handle longitudinal axis disposed at an angle A of between 175 and 135 degrees with respect to the control panel surface.