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R&D
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I Edi&
R&D Tubeless colour tv cameras An engineering model of a hand-held tubeless colour television camera which is planned for commercial announcement in 1979 has been demonstrated by RCA. Demonstration of the 3.6 lb solidstate colour camera, which is designed for closed circuit applications, took place at the 39th National AudioVisual Convention and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, USA. The camera uses three charge coupled devices which perform the function of the usual three vidicon tubes; one sensor being used for each of the primary colours of television. The image sensor, made from a silicon wafer, comprises a matrix of 512 x 320 elements. The demonstration was intended as a progress report to show equipment manufacturers what lies ahead in the next generation of cameras for audiovisual applications. Potential advantages of CCD colour cameras in closed-circuit applications include: high reliability due to 100% solid-state circuitry, compactness, light weight, low-power consumption, rugged construction, instant turnon and elimination of camera tube replacement problems. RCA International L td, RCA House, 50 Curzon Street, London WI Y 8ElJ, UK
Optical disc system for recording digital data An optical video disc system for highrate digital data recording and reproduction has been described by three engineers at RCA’s Advanced Technology Laboratories. The system, which has a direct read after write capability, is expected to find applications in mass data storage and expanded memories for mini and micro processors. The optical disc system uses a proprietary laser sensitive material for record and playback. The substance is deposited on a vinyl substrate resembling an ungrooved phonograph record. This disc rotates at 1 800 rpm
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY,
and stores the equivalent of 30 minutes of programming when used as a videorecorder-reproducer. Information can be added to the disc at any time and the system can play back immediately, using the laser at low power and a photodetector to pick up reflected modulation. The system uses three servo systems. A motor-driven turntable and tachometer pick-up are used to servo the disc rotation at a constant speed of 1 800 rpm. A focus servo system uses a capacitive sensor to maintain the pick-up objective lens at a fixed distance from the disc surface. A mechanical position servo locates the pick-up to within a few tracks of the desired position, while a mirror galvanometer, using a dithering servo scheme, selects the desired track. Each track is coded for identification, permitting rapid access to a particular frame. Work is continuing to extend the capabilities of the optical video disc equipment to include high rate digital data. The discs high signal-tonoise ratio offers the potential for recording up to lo1 ’ bits on a disc. RCA Government Systems Division, Cherry Hill, Offices, Building 206 1, Camden, New Jersey 08 101, USA
Laser gyroscope goes on test The laser gyroscope, which has been under development by Sperry for more than a decade, is soon to be introduced in its first practical application - to provide the inertial reference for a US Navy weapons control system. The Sperry Division of Sperry Rand Corporation received the first patents on the laser gyroscope in the early 1960’s and has since been developing designs that would offer reliability and long life in a variety of applications. Integrated with a digital microprocessor, three laser gyroscopes will provide the Mark 68 weapons control system with an indication of true vertical, needed to fire 5 in guns accurately. If the tests prove satisfactory, this laser gyroscope system will replace the
APRIL
1978
Mark 16 stabilization element currently used aboard nearly 200 destroyers, cruisers, and other surface ships. Sperry, Great Neck, New York 11020, USA
Laser microscope A laser projection microscope with a magnification of up to 20 000, making it possible to see the object of study on a screen, has been developed at the Lebedev Institute of Physics in Moscow, USSR. Operation of the laser is reported to be based on the action of metal vapour lasers, in particular those of copper, lead, and manganese. Novosti Press Agency, 3 Rosary Gardens, London SW7 4NW, UK
Newadvisoryeditor Optics and Laser Technology is pleased to welcome a new member to its board of International Advisory Editors. Professor S.V. Pappu now represents the journal in India. Professor Pappu obtained a DSc in 1969 from Andhra University, Waltair, India. After a relatively short but distinguished career, he is now responsible for the development of the Laboratories for Coherent Optics and Electrooptical Research at the Indian Institute of Science. Professor Pappu leads a research team with interests in optical computing, holography and information storage, optical communications and integrated optics.
I Edi&
R&D Tubeless colour tv cameras An engineering model of a hand-held tubeless colour television camera which is planned for commercial announcement in 1979 has been demonstrated by RCA. Demonstration of the 3.6 lb solidstate colour camera, which is designed for closed circuit applications, took place at the 39th National AudioVisual Convention and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, USA. The camera uses three charge coupled devices which perform the function of the usual three vidicon tubes; one sensor being used for each of the primary colours of television. The image sensor, made from a silicon wafer, comprises a matrix of 512 x 320 elements. The demonstration was intended as a progress report to show equipment manufacturers what lies ahead in the next generation of cameras for audiovisual applications. Potential advantages of CCD colour cameras in closed-circuit applications include: high reliability due to 100% solid-state circuitry, compactness, light weight, low-power consumption, rugged construction, instant turnon and elimination of camera tube replacement problems. RCA International L td, RCA House, 50 Curzon Street, London WI Y 8ElJ, UK
Optical disc system for recording digital data An optical video disc system for highrate digital data recording and reproduction has been described by three engineers at RCA’s Advanced Technology Laboratories. The system, which has a direct read after write capability, is expected to find applications in mass data storage and expanded memories for mini and micro processors. The optical disc system uses a proprietary laser sensitive material for record and playback. The substance is deposited on a vinyl substrate resembling an ungrooved phonograph record. This disc rotates at 1 800 rpm
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY,
and stores the equivalent of 30 minutes of programming when used as a videorecorder-reproducer. Information can be added to the disc at any time and the system can play back immediately, using the laser at low power and a photodetector to pick up reflected modulation. The system uses three servo systems. A motor-driven turntable and tachometer pick-up are used to servo the disc rotation at a constant speed of 1 800 rpm. A focus servo system uses a capacitive sensor to maintain the pick-up objective lens at a fixed distance from the disc surface. A mechanical position servo locates the pick-up to within a few tracks of the desired position, while a mirror galvanometer, using a dithering servo scheme, selects the desired track. Each track is coded for identification, permitting rapid access to a particular frame. Work is continuing to extend the capabilities of the optical video disc equipment to include high rate digital data. The discs high signal-tonoise ratio offers the potential for recording up to lo1 ’ bits on a disc. RCA Government Systems Division, Cherry Hill, Offices, Building 206 1, Camden, New Jersey 08 101, USA
Laser gyroscope goes on test The laser gyroscope, which has been under development by Sperry for more than a decade, is soon to be introduced in its first practical application - to provide the inertial reference for a US Navy weapons control system. The Sperry Division of Sperry Rand Corporation received the first patents on the laser gyroscope in the early 1960’s and has since been developing designs that would offer reliability and long life in a variety of applications. Integrated with a digital microprocessor, three laser gyroscopes will provide the Mark 68 weapons control system with an indication of true vertical, needed to fire 5 in guns accurately. If the tests prove satisfactory, this laser gyroscope system will replace the
APRIL
1978
Mark 16 stabilization element currently used aboard nearly 200 destroyers, cruisers, and other surface ships. Sperry, Great Neck, New York 11020, USA
Laser microscope A laser projection microscope with a magnification of up to 20 000, making it possible to see the object of study on a screen, has been developed at the Lebedev Institute of Physics in Moscow, USSR. Operation of the laser is reported to be based on the action of metal vapour lasers, in particular those of copper, lead, and manganese. Novosti Press Agency, 3 Rosary Gardens, London SW7 4NW, UK
Newadvisoryeditor Optics and Laser Technology is pleased to welcome a new member to its board of International Advisory Editors. Professor S.V. Pappu now represents the journal in India. Professor Pappu obtained a DSc in 1969 from Andhra University, Waltair, India. After a relatively short but distinguished career, he is now responsible for the development of the Laboratories for Coherent Optics and Electrooptical Research at the Indian Institute of Science. Professor Pappu leads a research team with interests in optical computing, holography and information storage, optical communications and integrated optics.