Patent · US Expired

Scanning mechanism for FLIR systems

US4453087A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 27, 1981
Grant dateJun 5, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 27, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/108
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A scanning mechanism for a fast framing thermal imaging system such as a FLIR is disclosed. The scanning mechanism comprises two prisms which are canted with respect to one another and positioned in front of the final image forming lens of the FLIR. The two prisms are precisely counter-rotated with respect to one another by a drive train assembly and motor means. An annular timing disc is positioned about one of the prisms to enable an optically sensitive transducer to sense the rotational position of the prisms. The counter-rotating prisms function to enable the detector array of the FLIR to dissect the thermal image in a 2:1 interlacing technique.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.