TEE EB-4B CAMERA SYSTEM
TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIT:

PANORAMIC CAIERAS 

PANORAMIC CAMERA DATA •

FORMAT CHARACTERISTICS 

COVERAGE 

CAM :::RA CALIBRATION• 

HORIZON CAMERAS

HORIZON CAMERA DATA 

INDEX (TERRAIN) CAMERA 

INDEX CAMERA DATA 

TITLING DATA 

STELLAR CAMERA 

STELLAR CAMERA DATA 

::AMERA 'SYSTEM OPERATION 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES

PAGE

FIGURE 1 Camera System Configaratior

FIGURE 2 Original Negative Format Drawing 

FIGURE 3 Data Block Format 

FIGURE 4 Camera Coverage 

FIGURE 5 Parxrami: and Terrain Camera Coverage 

FIGURE 6 Scale Conversion 

FIGURE 7 Terrain Format 

FIGURE C Terrain Format 

FIGURE 9 Stellar Camera Format 

FIGURE 1, Stellar Format 

FIGURE 11 Direction of Flight 

TABLE 1 Panoramic Camera Data 

TABLE 2 Panoramic Camera Calibration 

TABLE 3 Horizon Camera Data 

TABLE 4 Index Camera Data 

TABLE 5 Stellar Camera Data 
- PREFACE -

This data book has been prepared by the National

Reconnaissance Office with the assistance of the National

Photographic imeimmaLaaanci Center to provide general

technical information pertinent to the reduction of data

obtained by the KE-4B camera system.

The 1O-4B camera system is expected to be operational

inwthe fall of 1967. This photographic system is a

continuation of the KN-4 series with modifications to provide adjustable exposure control, selectable filters,4and

a change in the mechanism which provides image motion

compensation as well as a larger 3 inch focal length

terrain camera.
SUPPLY

CASSETTE

CLOCK

FORMORD LOOKING

RA

(SLAVE) TAKE-UP

CASSETTE NO 2

C444

AFT LOOKING

RA 0

STELLAR 

(MASTER) INDEX CASS!TTES

STELLAR/INDEX

DIRECTION OF FLIGHT

TAKE-UP

CASSETTE NO 1

41n1111MNIMRII

.11n11111=

Handle VIA

TALENT-KEYHOLE SDP SECRET

Control System Only

INTRODUCTION

This data book incorporates the latest

modification to the basic MI camera

system. The KH-18camera system consists of

2 maim panoramic cameras, a stellar/index

camera and 4 horizon cameras (Fig 1).

The payload consists of 2 recoverable

sub-systems, each containing approximately

16,030 ft of film (8,000 ft of film per

camera). The 2 recoverable sub-systems are

designated mission part 1 and mission part

2. The system may be used to meet either

reconnaissance or cartographic objectives. The

camera (Fig 1) is oriented so that the forward camera in the vehicle is the aft looking,

and the aft camera is the forward looking.

PANORAMIC CAMERAS

Each panoramic camera is

mounted in the photographic

vehicle at a 1:.; degree angle

from the vertical, thus forming

a 33 degree convergence angle.

The cameras are designated as

follows: The forward-looking

camera is the forward camera and

the aft-looking camera is the

aft camera. The designations

master and slave are used sometimes. The master camera is

indicated by an even serial

number and the slave by an odd

serial number. The master camera

is so designated because of its

primary control !Unction over

certain other system operations

such as the firing of the stellar/

4nolsav nww4+

FIGURE 1. CAMERA SYSTEM CONFIGURATION.
PAWN= CAMLRA Binary Valucc in fallIseconds

Petzval t/3.5 213.8

609.6a (24.0 in)

70 deg (t 35 deg tr=

track)

5.12 deg (along truck)

29.323" X 2.147"

Focal Plane

Variable—from 0.17 in

to 0.30 in

1 70mm vide .

E.330 ft per recoverable subsystem (parr. 1

or 2 of a misalo) for

each camera

3. :Lt..= ft per

recoverable subsystem

11. ft per camera

per mission

5. 32.03; ft total load

for both cameras for a

mission (parts 1 and 2)

Camera nods proportional

to velocity/height (V/B)

ratio

Least Significant Bit 1

Nearest thew EIL 2

=l of the format. 4

8

32

616

128

256

512

132 ►

2048

•096

8192

losh

327se

55g.

131372

262144

524296

104.9576

2097152

419430•

6366609

16777216

33554432

67106664

134217728

Most Significant Bit 268435456

Nearest the Take: 

gni of the forma .

Table 1. Panoramic Camera Ditta

Lana

Focal Length

dean Amato

Field of Viev

Usable Format

Shutter

311t Widths

?Lk: Load

End Lap

Imagellation

Compensation

(DC)

Filter

Film Type

Variable -2 position

connendable

3404, Ester Base
FORMAT CPARACTERICTICS

Figure 2 is a complete record

of the format for the forward

and aft main panoramic cameras.

The following is a description

of the various items on the film.

1. Camera Serial Vur.ber --

An imaged record of the camera

manufacturer's serial number.

An even number indicates the

=aster camera. An odd number

indicates the .slave camera.

2. Binary Time Word -- A

recording of vehicle clock time

to the nearest milliseconl. The

time word contains 29 bits plus

a parity bit. There are six

columns of 32 bits available, but

cnly three columns of 3k.. Unary

bits are presently used as shown

in Figure 3. The 'columns are

parallel to the edge of the film

and are 'read from left to right as

see:: from the side of the film

away fro= the e=u1sion when the

.rota block is on the edge of the

film nearest the viewer. The

column furthest trot the film edge

is column number one, and all 30

bits are illuminated to provide a

registration for mechanical

readout. Column two presents the

time work in rows 1 through 29 with

the 30th being the parity bit.

Column three presents reciprocatei

time. again with the 30th bit being

the parity bit. The data block is

locate.' on the takeup aide of the •

platten area. This means that any

time readout, as seen on the film,

is associated with the following

(next higher number) frame, or ton- .

versely. when ascertaining the time

u particular frame was taken, it is

necessary to look at the data block

on the previous or lower numbered

:rase.

3. Titling Data -- The title

is affixed crossway on the film

between frames and consists of a

pass number, frame number, an

arrow (indicates frame to which

title applies), mode (S for

stereo, M for mono, or MS for

mixed), date, mission number,

camera (fwd or aft-looking), and

classification. The letters D,

A, M, and E preceding the pass

number have the following meanings:

D --The pass is

descending tram north to south.

A -- The pass is

ascending from south to north.

M -- The pass is mixed;

ascending and descending.

E Engineering pass.

Panoramic Geometry Traces —

lines on either side of the format

which aid in determining the

principle axis of the lens.

A nod angle calibration

system which, by means of a xenon

flash triggered by an optical

encoder mounted on the mod axis,

images a series of small dots

along the edge of the format.

Pan Geometry Fiducial Marks --

An image of the 73 holes through

the film guide rails. Each hole

is approximately 40 microns in

diameter spaced at 1 centimeter

intervals with a double hole at

the center of format.

Time Track -- An image of a

230 cycle per second light pulse

which records the camera lens scan

rate.
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DATA DLOCk FORMAT

?ILIUM 3
TABLE 2

PANORAMIC CAMERA CALIBRATION

COMPONENT PARAMETER CALIBRATION

Main Lens Equivalent Focal Length 25 Microns

Main Lens Radial Distortion 1 Micron

Main Lenses Convergence 60 ARC Seconds

Horizon Optics Equivalent Focal Length 25 Microns

Horizon Optics Principle Point to Fiducial Intersection 10 Microns

All Lenses Allignment Horizon to Pan and 60 ARC Seconds

Pan to Pan

P6 Nod dot Nod angle position One dot every

encoder q_39-55. arc sec

of nod shaft

rotation
S. Slur Time Pulse -- A

stretched pulse which occurs

immediately after the clock is

interrogated in order to show the

relation between the time marks

and the clock time. This should

permit the determination of the

time at which a point on the format

was exposed with accuracy of 2.5

milliseconds (3 sigma).

9. Start of Operation Indicator --

A cross imaged near the camera serial

number on the first frame of a camera

operation.

COVERAGE

. Figure 4 shows the angles covered

by the several cameras. Figure 5

shows the typical terrain coverage

expected and lists the coverage for

various altitudes. Figure ó is a

conversion chart to determine

photographic scale at different

distances from the format center

over the altitude range from 83 to

12D nautical miles.

AMEF.A CALIBRATION

The panoramic camera.lenses

and horizon cameras are individually

calibrated prior to being mounted

on the panoramic Jamera. This •

individual calibration consists of

determining the principal point of

autocollimation and the equivalent

focal length, and checking the lens

distortion characteristics. Subsequent to this, each camera system

is calibrated to determine the

position of the horizontal cameras

in relation to their respective

panoramic camera lens. The accuracy

of then calibrations is shown in

Table 2.

HORIZON CAMERAS

Two horizon cameras are associated

with each panoramic camera. The

imagery from the horizon cameras is

used to determine the attitude

(pitch and roll) of the main panoramic cameras. The paired horizon

cameras will operate simultaneously

on alternate panoramic frames. The

horizon camera formats are exposed

adjacent to the main panoramic

frames (Figure 2).

HORIZON CAMERA DATA

Table 3. Horizon Camera Data

Focal Length 551mc

Depression Angle 15 deg

Filter

Exposure

Film Type

Angular Field

or View

Usable Format

Aperture

Wratten 25 plus

Commopdable A

Henuator

1/100 sec

S:sme as main

panoramic cameras

Approximately 51

deg 30 min by 23

deg 33 min

2./" X .9"

f/8.8 or f/8.0 --

varies according

to which cameras

are primarily

pointing toward or

away from the sun

The horizon camera photographs

have no specific scale associated

with them, nor do they have an

independent frame number. They are

referred to as the port or starboard exposures associated with the

forward or aft panoramic camera

frame. Port is defined as the left

side of the vhiecle as the observer

faces in the direction of flight and

starboard is the right side.
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CAM:RA COVERAGE

FIGURE 4

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SCALE CONVERSION

470,33

SO- 46 0, 007 • 453,003

443,000

• 430,003

423,300

90 -1 410,030

40:),J0t

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370,000

W0

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3

1": 353,000

34 0,000

330,000

320,000

110-1 310,000

300,000

290,000

280,000

270,000

260,000

253,000

FIGURE 6
LIDEX (TERRAIN) CAMERA

The index camera is a frame

camera which provides vertical smallscale photography. It may be used

for rapid correlation and indexing

of main panoramic photography. The

index camera also provides conjugate

imagery for a relative orientation

between the index and main panoramic

cameras. This is necessary for

eventual adjustMent of attitude data

(pitch, roll, and yaw) between the

stellar and main panoramic cameras.

The index camera is preset to operate

at 9.375, 12.5, 15.625, or 18.75

seconds per cycle; based on the

planned camera altitude, it can be

progra=ed to operate independently

from the panorami2 cameras.

The terrain format is shown in

Figure 7. Figure E shows the data

Clock details and the start of

pass marks.

INDEX CAMERA DATA

Table 4. Index Camera Data

Lens

Focal Length

Field Angle

Shutter Speeds

Shutter Type

Reseau

f/4.5 T/6.75

3 inches

74 deg

1/250, 1/500 sec

Rotary

Glass plate with 2.5mm

interval grid

TITLING DATA

Each index frame is numbered

sequentially from 1 through n for

each recoverable subsystem of a

mission (Figure 7). Titling data

consists of frame number, mission

number, date, and classification.

On the leader of the index film is

a breakdown of the frames and their

respective passes.

The reseau grid forms a

calibrated array of points on the

photograph which may be used as an.

aid in correcting the effects of

film shrinkage, lens distortion,

and atmospheric refraction.

Cycle Period

Scale

Coverage

9.375 3e:/cycle

12.5 sec/cycle

15.625 sec/cycle or

18.75 sec/cycle

1/2,432,000 at 100nm

altitude

22,703 sq/nm per frame

at 100nm altitude;

33 X swam per

mission

Format Size 41 by 4 inch

Filter Wratten.-2/-:

Film Load 5 in by 2,300 ft

Overlap 55 to 63 percent
NOTE I 4.I/2

METERING PER CYCLE-1

5 INCH

4 I/2

RESEAU GRID SPACING 2.5 mm ERIAL NO.

TIME RECORDING

5 INCH

FILM

NOTE I

NOTE: VIEW FROM EMULSION SIDE

I. THESE FIDUCIALS INDICATE DIRECTION

OF FLIGHT WITH RESPECT TO TERRAIN

CAMERA CONFIGURATION

TERRAIN FORMAT

FIOUH 7
' J-INDEX DOT

DATA BITS .522

COLUMN 3

la-COLUMN 2

N.-COLUMN 1

START OF PASS

DOTS

(ROWS 31 & 32

•

FILM TRAVEL

-14111..

TERRAIN FORMAT

FIGURE 8
1.11S• D111.∎*. TITS DATA SLACK

8.00 • UltTERILD

PRI CMS

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011USINAL

ENVISION VP.

0 PLIANT MIST VMS mem OM MGM i.e cc

0 PILL INTERIOR

STELLAR CAMERA FORMAT

FIGURE 9
INDEX DOT

.036

29 DATA BITS .522

START OF

PASS DOTS

tROWS 31 a 32)

is-COLUMN 3

as—COLUMN 2

0----COLUMN 1

0—.13 (REF)

STELLAR FORMAT

FIGURE 10
P

t

SECOND EXPOSURE o- 3.0"-w

CD 03 CD OD CD

VIEWED FROM

EMULSION SIDE

SEVENTH EXPOSURE

CENTER TO CENTER OF SIMULTANEOUS EXPOSURES TA

S

FIRST EXPOSURE

..8.11 FILM TRAVEL

STELLAR 3514 FILM FORMAT
Either of the stellar cameras

can be capped if sunlight (which

could degrade the imagery from the

other camera) shines directly into

the lens.

The stellar camera cycle period

is 3.125 seconds, while the terrain

camera is operating as a slave to

the panoramic camera. When the

terrain camera is operating independently, the stellar camera

operates once for each terrain

exposure. The lens serial number

for each stellar camera is exposed

on the format (see Figure 9). The

time word is exposed adjacent to

the port serial number. The port

serial number is further identified

by a "P" after the number. Start

of pass marks is exposed adjacent

to the time word as shown in

Figure 10. The format sequencing

is shown in Figure 11.

Although the stellar imagery is

originally produced on unperforated

35mm film, it is customarily reproduced on 70mm duplicate positives

for ease of handling by specified

users as shown in Figure 9.

The stellar photography is not

numbered on the original negative.

Instead, each frame of the duplicate

positive is numbered sequentially

from 1 through n for each recoverable subsystem of a mission. A

breakdown of the frames and their

respective passes is on the leader

of the stellar imagery.

The reseau calibration fiducials

are shown outside of the format

area and are to be correlated to

calibrated data supplied for each

unit.

STELLAR CAMERA

Stellar photography provides a

means for very accurate determination of pitch, roll, and yaw during

operational cycles. One stellar

photograph is pointed out either

side with the axis 100 above the

horizontal. A reseau is provided

to correct for image distortion

and to recover geometric orientation.

STELLAR CAMERA DATA

Table 5

Stellar Camera Data

Focal length 3 inches

Field Angle Approximately 23i°

Aperture f/2.6 T/3.1

Exposure Time 1.5 sec

Filter None

Format Size 1.25 sec with flats

diameter

Film Type 3401

Film Load 35m= by 2000 feet

Reseau G1 Glass plate with 2.5

mm interval grid

Shuller Rotary

Knee Angle 100°

Max Distortion 15 microns (R)

5 microns (T)
CAMERA SYCTEM OPERATIOG

During operation, input metering

rollers continuously pull film from

the supply spool and meter it into

the instrument at a rate consistent

vita the average flow through the

syste.M. Since the film in the

platen area is stationary during

exposure and film movement from the

supply spool and from the instrument

tc caszette is continuous, a

shuttle mechanism is provided to store

and release the moving portions of

the film during the scan.

The lens barrel of each panoramic

camera is rotating continuously

during camera operations.

VC is achieved by tilting or

nodding the camera. The rate of 1MC

is a function of operating speed,

Is variable, aLd is controlled by a

V/H programmer.