Universal translational and rotational film drive mechanism

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Prior art optical correlator systems can perform only translation or rotation. Moreover images obtained, from these prior art systems are blurred due to movements of the target. In the present optical correlator system, to compare symbols on a particular frame of a film with predefined symbols stored in a memory, a novel driving mechanism which can both translate and rotate the film is used. The driving mechanism includes a translation device which has a plurality of gears and rollers mounted in a platform within a housing which may be filled with a fluid having an index of refraction corresponding to that of the film. Motors are coupled to the housing for translating and rotating the …