Cameras with panoramic scanning range comprising a folded digital camera in which an optical path folding element (OPFE) that folds a first optical path from an object or scene into a second optical path substantially parallel with an optical axis of a lens of the folded camera, the OPFE being rotatable around the lens optical axis, and systems incorporating such cameras.

A method of determining a silhouette of a remote object is disclosed herein. The method can include directing an array of telescopes at a star to sense an intensity of EM radiation over time and transmit signals corresponding to the intensity. The signals can be received at a computing device. Each signal can be indicative of a portion of an intensity diffraction pattern generated by an occlusion of the star by an occluding object. The signals can be combined to form a two-dimensional, intensity diffraction pattern. Each point on the intensity diffraction pattern associated with a time, a position of each telescope in the array, and an intensity of the sensed EM radiation. A silhouette of the occluding object can be determined based on the intensity diffraction pattern. A system for performing the method is also disclosed herein.

A reaction compensated steerable platform device is disclosed. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can include a base, a steerable platform movably coupled to the base, and a reaction mass movably coupled to the base. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can also include a primary actuator coupled to the steerable platform and the base to cause movement of the steerable platform. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can further include a secondary actuator coupled to the reaction mass and the base to cause movement of the reaction mass. In addition, the reaction compensated steerable platform device can also include a load sensor configured to provide feedback for actuation of the secondary actuator, such that the reaction mass moves to compensate for a load induced on a support structure by the movement of the steerable platform.

A reaction compensated steerable platform device is disclosed. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can include a base, a steerable platform movably coupled to the base, and a reaction mass movably coupled to the base. The reaction compensated steerable platform device can also include a primary actuator to cause movement of the steerable platform, and a trim actuator coupled to the reaction mass and the base. In addition, the reaction compensated steerable platform device can include a sensor configured to provide feedback for actuation of the trim actuator. The reaction mass can be configured to move by actuation independent of the trim actuator to compensate for a first portion of a load induced by the movement of the steerable platform. Actuation of the trim actuator can be controlled by the sensor, such that the reaction mass moves to compensate for a second portion of the load induced by the movement of the steerable platform.

Imaging systems and methods for imaging of scenes in apparent motion are described. A multi-axis positioning mechanism is operable to move an area imaging device along a tracking axis. A control module directs the multi-axis positioning mechanism to set the tracking axis to be substantially parallel with the apparent motion, and directs the multi-axis positioning mechanism to move the area imaging device in one or more cycles such that the area imaging device moves, in each of the one or more cycles, forward along the tracking axis at a tracking speed that compensates for the apparent motion. The control module directs the area imaging device to take at least one exposure during each of the one or more cycles to generate one or more exposures. An imaging module forms an image of the scene based on the one or more exposures.

An optical unit with a shake correction function includes a fixed body, a movable body having an optical element, a swing support mechanism swingably supporting the movable body, a magnetic drive mechanism structured to swing the movable body, and a magnetic spring structured to return the movable body to a home position where a predetermined axial line and an optical axis of the optical element are coincided with each other. The magnetic spring includes a home position returning magnet disposed in one of the movable body and the fixed body, and an attracted member disposed in the other of the movable body and the fixed body so that a magnetic attraction force acts between the attracted member and the home position returning magnet. The attracted member and the home position returning magnet are disposed on the optical axis and face each other in a direction of the optical axis.

A tiltless OIS circuit includes a first signal processing unit generating a first direction-position detection signal and a tilt detection signal based on a first direction-first sensing signal and a first direction-second sensing signal, a control unit generating a first direction position control signal, a tilt control signal, and a second direction position control signal, based on the first direction-position detection signal, the tilt detection signal, and a second direction sensing signal, respectively, a second signal processing unit generating a first direction-first position control signal and a first direction-second position control signal based on the first direction position control signal and the tilt control signal, and a driving unit generating a first direction-first driving signal, a first direction-second driving signal, and a second direction driving signal, based on the first direction-first position control signal, the first direction-second position control signal, and the second direction position control signal, respectively.

Cameras with panoramic scanning range comprising a folded digital camera in which an optical path folding element (OPFE) that folds a first optical path from an object or scene into a second optical path substantially parallel with an optical axis of a lens of the folded camera, the OPFE being rotatable around the lens optical axis, and systems incorporating such cameras.

Disclosed is a suction type stabilizer for a lens including a probe mount, in which a lens is disposed in an interior thereof and an opening that contacts a specimen is formed on one side thereof, an elastic body interposed between the lens and the probe mount, that elastically supports the lens, and defining a division space between the lens and the opening, and a negative pressure forming part forming a negative pressure while suctioning air accommodated in the division space and attaching and fixing the specimen to the opening.

Optical sensors and particularly gimbaled optical sensors transmit an active signal at a given wavelength(s) and receive passive signals over a range of wavelengths and the active signal in a common aperture. The sensor includes a Tx/Rx Aperture Sharing Element (ASE) configured with a center region that couples the active signal to the telescope for transmission and an annular region that couples the passive emissions and the returned active signal to the detector. A filter wheel may be positioned behind the ASE to present separate passive and active images to the detector. These optical sensors may, for example, be used with guided munitions or autonomous vehicles.