SOLID-STATE ELECTRONIC GIMBALLING OF MISSILE SEEKERS

A UNIQUE METHODOLOGY FOR SOLID-STATE ELECTRONIC GIMBALLING OF MISSILE SEEKERS IS DESCRIBED. THE APPROACH UTILIZES THE ABILITY OF SOLID-STATE IMAGING SENSOR TO DYNAMICALLY POSITION THE AREA OF INTEREST IN THE SCENE FOR ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION. THE PROPOSED CONCEPT IS BASED UPON THE ADAPTATION OF THE CCD CLOCK SIGNALS TO OUTPUT THE DESIRED IMAGE. PROPER SHIFTING OF THE CCD VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL REGISTERS PRIOR TO IMAGE OUTPUT THROWS AWAY THE UNWANTED PORTION OF SCENE FOR REAL-TIME OPERATION. THE IMAGE IS THEN SAMPLED AT A SLOWER THAN NORMAL RATE TO MAINTAIN SAME OUTPUT FORMAT. THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN IS BASED ON A CCD CAMERA WITH 488 BY 380 RESOLUTION. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED METHODOLOGY IS APPLICABLE TO BOTH LOW AND HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING DEVICES AND CAN ALSO BE EXPANDED TO ELECTRONIC ROLLING OF THE IMAGE PLANE.