A tracking apparatus for a video tape recorder having an auto-tracking servo system which enables plural video heads to be automatically on-track by means of the mechanical displacement of plural electro-mechanical conversion elements having the plural video heads respectively mounted thereon. When track-jumping occurs, the apparatus determines which of the plural heads is creating the track jumping and further determines the compensating direction needed to change the scanning track. The appara...

A tracking system including positionable elements, rotary video heads mounted on the positionable elements, a control head, a frequency generator attached to a capstan motor, and a displacing pattern generator. The displacing pattern generator includes counters which count the pulses from the frequency generator. The pattern generator is reset by control signals reproduced by the control head, a still pattern generator, and an adding means which adds the output signal from the counters and the o...

In a system (10) comprising a trunnion-mounted aiming device (11) and a trunnion-mounted sighting device (14) interconnected by a tracking link (13) and having an associated visual display (16) providing an image of the field of view containing the sight line (15) of the sighting device (14) there is provided a means of accurately positioning an aiming mark designating the pointing direction (12) of the aimed device (11) in the visual display (16). This positioning arrangement is provided by an ...

Device for scanning and following information tracks, for use in conjunction with "VLP" or "Compact Disk", tracking errors being mitigated by deriving an additional control voltage from the envelope of the information, which counteracts positional deviations of the information transducer relative to a desired track on the information carrier to an increased extent.

A steerable trailer to be drawn by a vehicle is disclosed having a pair of first and a pair of second steerable wheels. Each of the steerable wheels are retained by a wheel support which is rotatable relative to the trailer frame about a steering axis. A tongue is pivotably attached to the frame for connecting the trailer to the towing vehicle. A flexible tensile member is attached to the tongue and extends about an engagement surface affixed to the wheel supports. The first and second wheel sup...

An improved line-of-sight commanded missile guidance system is provided which provides the operator of a missile system with the capability of hitting targets which would otherwise be obscured by darkness, smoke, aerosols or poor atmospheric visibility. The system includes a tracker equipped with an infrared sensor and means for periodically blinking a laser beacon which is mounted on the missile. The laser operates in a range in which it would be most visible under the above described atmospher...

A simulator is used with an optical locking device such as a cinetheodolite to provide inexpensive, convenient operator training. The simulator has a video monitor mounted on the viewer of the theodolite to display simulation images to an operator. A television camera mounted on the main telescope of the theodolite feeds a background image to the monitor. A graphics generator superimposes a target image on the background image. The movement of the telescope is coordinated with the movement of th...

A steerable trailer to be drawn by a vehicle is provided that has a generally horizontal frame to which are mounted two wheel supports. Each wheel support is pivotably mounted to the frame to rotate about a vertical axis and to support a wheel rotatably mounted to the wheel support to rotate about a horizontal axis. A steering pulley is also pivotably mounted to the frame to rotate about a vertical axis, and a tongue adapted for temporary attachment to the drawing vehicle is attached to the stee...

The output signal frequencies of two current controlled oscillators are made to track closely by matching timing currents with a current mirror. A frequency difference between the output signals is obtained by establishing an additional timing current for only one of said oscillators.

This invention concerns a tracking device which enables the positioning of an apparatus to trace a curved path. For example, they are suitable for solar devices such as photovoltaic generators, solar cookers and heliostates. Normally the tracking apparatus is mounted on a vertical axis, whereas according to the invention a necessary tilt to the horizontal axis is attained automatically through a directing limb by rotating the vertical axis, this making possible a trustworthy and uncomplicated ma...