Possible incident star energy is directed onto a deflecting mirror as a beam which will systematically reflect said beam upon one of a plurality of detector elements arranged in a linear array, generating a signal. This signal is amplified and fed to a level detector. When a predetermined threshold is exceeded, the output of the level detector activates a trigger. The trigger activates a flip-flop which causes the scanner to reverse and rescan the limited area where the possible stars occurred. ...

A circuit for converting an analog signal into sequentially spaced digital pulses. The circuit includes a chain of "N" identical stages which convert a signal amplitude to pulses and sequencing control means which determine the conduction sequence of the "N" stages. Each stage, comprising two active devices having their conduction paths direct current connected in series, is serially excited as a function of the signal amplitude and produces a corresponding sampling pulse on one of "N" output li...

A panoramic camera for obtaining an oblique scan of a photographed area, such an oblique scan being useful when a stereo view of the area is desired. The panoramic camera obliquely scans the photographed area with a conical pattern by rotating the optical scanner about a scan axis parallel to the photographed area. Front to back lateral distortion of the photographed image is compensated for by directing the image through a lens system having a constant image magnification gradient between the f...

The invention comprises an image scan apparatus wherein a simple document feed unit is provided for feeding a document to be scanned to a predetermined position on a glass platen. The document feed unit is mechanically coupled to an image sense unit which is reciprocally moved between a home position and a scan start position. The document feed unit includes a frictional roller which is in contact with the glass platen. A leading edge of the document is inserted by an operator at a home position...

An intelligent scan image sensor including a two-dimensional solid-state array of addressable imaging cells arranged for exposure to an image, where each cell includes a photosensitive diode and a sample and hold unit. The diode accumulates an electrical quantity having a value in relation to the image light intensity falling thereupon during successive integration periods and the sample and hold unit repeatedly samples and stores the accumulated quantities as analog video data values at the end...

A thin-film electroluminescent display panel system has a plurality of vertical column electrodes driven by column driver circuits and a plurality of horizontal row electrodes driven by row driver circuits. The system includes a row driver control circuit that enables the row drivers in a first sequence during a first display frame so that write voltage pulses are applied to the row electrodes in order from the top to the bottom of the display panel. The row driver control circuit enables the ro...

This discloses an improved side-scan sonar capable of locating objects on e ocean floor including the strip directly beneath the sonar transmitter and receiver, which in prior arrangements had to be obtained by another pass. The arrangement includes a platform having acoustic transmitters spaced apart a substantial distance on either side of acoustic receivers. The transmitter on the right directs its acoustic output to the left and the transmitter on the left directs its acoustic output to the ...

A tracking system for a helical scanning type magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which records and reproduces signals by a rotating magnetic head in which a tracking error signal is detected, and the feeding amount of the magnetic tape is controlled by a transfer section to accomplish tracking. The transfer of the magnetic tape is controlled so that the average transfer speed of the magnetic tape becomes a specified speed during a period when the rotating magnetic head does not reproduce s...

A non-retroreflective compact scan module in an electro-optical reader includes a laser light source, a photosensor and an electromagnetic coil mounted at one surface of a printed circuit board. The laser emits a laser beam perpendicular to the board, and is redirected to an oscillatable scan mirror which is magnetically centered to a rest position when the coil is de-energized. Electrical circuitry is mounted at an opposite surface of the board.

An optical scanning module has a metal base, a first circuit board mounted across one end of the metal base and a second circuit board mounted orthogonal to the first circuit board. The metal base supports a light emitter for producing a scanning beam and serves as a heat sink for the emitter. A flexible support attached to the metal base supports a mirror for oscillating motion. The module includes a drive mechanism, typically in the form of a permanent magnet and electromagnet, for producing r...