Image stabilized rotational modulator for pyroelectric imaging devices
AssigneeElectrophysics Corp.
InventorsRobert W. Lindner, Lucio M. Vallese, deceased
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Infrared radiation onto a pyroelectric vidicon TV camera is converted to a stable visible image by recourse to a rotational modulator which rotates the pyroelectric vidicon target with respect to the incoming radiation, about the rotational symmetry axis of the said target, without rotating the readout electron beam of the vidicon. The rotational motion may be continuous or cyclically reversible. Electronic assemblies may be rotated with the vidicon tube in order to simplify electrical contact means.
Claims8
In a pyroelectric device having an image plane and means for focusing radiation onto the image plane to form a thermal image, the improvement comprising:
- a planar, two-dimensional, pyroelectric target positioned at the image plane for generating a charge distribution pattern corresponding to the thermal image, the target having a rotation axis perpendicular to the image plane and having rotational symmetry about said axis such that said thermal image is independent of said target's rotation about said axis;
- scanning electron beam means for generating a signal responsive to the charge distribution of the target;
- and
- means for rotating the target about its rotational symmetry axis and relative to the scanning electron means, whereby the charge distribution pattern on the target is modulated and the signals generated by the scanning electron means are thereby representative of the thermal image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.