Optical target tracking and designating system

In an optical sight for a target acquisition and tracking system having a gyro stabilized mirror and a television camera, the improvement comprising:

• an optical bed;
• optical means supported by said optical bed for directing an optical image incident on said mirror to said television camera, said optical means having a narrow field of view lens system and a movable wide field of view lens system defining an optical path between said mirror and said television camera;
• first and second support brackets integral with said optical bed;
• a rotatable, transparent filter disc in said optical path having a neutral density filter characteristic continuously variable over a preselected range, a shaft and hub attached concentrically with said filter disc, said shaft and hub rotatably mounted to said second support bracket;
• gear driving means operatively attached to said shaft;
• drive motor means coupled to said gear driving means for selectively rotating said optical filter disc and for selectively moving said wide field of view lens system in and out of said optical path;
• and
• a clutch assembly attached to said optical filter disc and to said first support bracket, said clutch assembly adapted to be in a released position during rotation of said optical filter disc.

An optical sight of lightweight construction adapted for mounting on an extensible vertical mast and having a mirror stabilized by a gyroscope, and a television camera, comprising:

• an optical bed having a plurality of integral, vertical support brackets;
• a first gimbal of said gyroscope supported by a first pair of said support brackets and rotatable in elevation;
• a second gimbal supported within said first gimbal and rotatable in azimuth, said second gimbal operatively coupled to said mirror for maintaining stabilization thereof in a selected attitude;
• a narrow field of view lens system disposed in an optical path between said mirror and said television camera and supported by one of said support brackets whereby an image reflected by said mirror is focused on said television camera;
• an optical assembly having a single drive motor, a wide field of view lens system and an adjustable variable density optical filter, said optical filter disposed in said optical path, said optical assembly supported by a second pair of said support brackets, said drive motor adapted to move said wide field of view lens system in and out of said optical path in a first mode of operation and to adjust the density of said optical filter in a second mode of operation;
• and
• control means supported by one of said support brackets for selecting either said first mode or said second mode of operation of said drive motor.