Abstract

A laboratory-type camera is readily assembled using the following off-the-shelf components: a 3-mW He–Ne laser; an acoustooptic modulator; an electromechanical beam deflector; and a video (TV) tape recorder. The present camera is distinct in its operation in that submicrosecond laser flashes freeze the image motion while still allowing the simplicity of (millisecond range) electromechanical image deflection. The gating and pulse delay circuits of an oscilloscope synchronize the modulator and scanner relative to the subject being photographed. The pictures consist of a 3–64 frame sequence; the interframe time ranged from ~1 μsec to >1000 μsec. Video recording provides immediate monitoring of the picture quality and accuracy of synchronization. A number of variations are available for particular applications. For example, one can change the electrical pulsing to produce either streak or stroboscopic pictures instead of frames, and film can be substituted for video recording in order to retain more details of the image.

© 1980 Optical Society of America

Flying spot TV ophthalmoscope

R. H. Webb, G. W. Hughes, and O. Pomerantzeff
Appl. Opt. 19(17) 2991-2997 (1980)

Fabry-Perot-interferometer imaging system for thermospheric temperature and wind measurements

G. G. Sivjee, T. J. Hallinan, and G. R. Swenson
Appl. Opt. 19(13) 2206-2209 (1980)

An Image Tube Camera for Photography of Plasmas

A. E. Huston
Appl. Opt. 3(11) 1231-1234 (1964)

On-line motion analysis using a TV system

G. Zanella, M. Vascon, and G. Novo
Appl. Opt. 19(24) 4182-4185 (1980)

A High Sensitivity Satellite-Borne Television Camera for the Detection of Auroras

S. B. Mende and B. J. O’Brien
Appl. Opt. 7(8) 1625-1634 (1968)