R & D CATALOG FORM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A002600020011-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: November 8, 1965
• Content Type: FORM

SFCRFT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/05/25: CIA-RDP78BO4747AO02600020011-0 )709-5
Automatic Focusing System
25X1
5. CLASS OF CONTRACTOR
Manufacturer
FY 19
FY 1966
FY 19
DATE
8 November 1965
A study to determine the feasibility of utilizing
automatic focusing systems on specific equipment,
TYPE Oit CONTRACT
Cri l1i,
N/A
10. EFFECTIVE CONTRACT DATE
(Begin - end)
$ January 1966 - June 1966
13. REOUIREMENT/AUTHORITY
If the system that is presently being studied proves successful, the basic
principles will have application in a%1y de-vice that requires critical focus.
DDI/NPIC /P&D.Sa
Engineering Development
15. CATEGORIES OF EFFORT
MIjJOR CATEGORY
iIn - CATEGORIES
_1nLcrpxetation/Analysis
16. END ITEM OR SERVICES FROM THIS CONTRACT/IMPROVEMENT OVER CURRENT SYSTEM. EQUIPMENT, ETC.
Breadboard and final report -- Current focusing systems are too costly and
complex, require periodic calibration, and cannot be applied to a variety of
lens systems.
17. SUPPORTING OR RELATED CONTRACTS (Agency A Other)/COORDINATION
By virtue of contacts throughout industry and the Intelligence Community,
it :i_s concluded that no equivalent devices are currently in existance or under
development.
III. DESCRIPTION OF 4NTELLI~-E=CF REOIIIREMCNT AND DETAILED TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (Continue on edd!-
f. tonal page it rnqulrcei)
Automatic ; cj:5us; r;; Tai I t an integral part of other programs currently under
development by )3rt`t~." T',o :c If- items are automatic stereo scanning and rear-
projection viewi;...r, .n. addition, a relatively inexpensive automatic
focusing device con-,r s applied to existing viewing equipment and photographic
nnlarge.rs,
Correlation systems now in general use require a scanning system, an electronic
m111i,plier., an electronic integrator -- together with the associated power (Contd)
i? APPROVID AY AND DATE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
r ORM
11 54 2338
1
oun
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NP- 10- 9
1 I . SECURITY CLASS. 25X1
A.A. - Confidential
T. - Unclassified
W. - Unclassified
 UP PTT
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R & D CATALOG FORM a- Continued... NP-IO-9
18. supplies, deflection circuits, focusing circuitry, amplifiers,
etc. Such equipment is too costly and complex to provide automatic
focusing with typical reconnaissance viewers. Other systems in use,
such as mechanical linkage devices, require periodic calibration,
and these systems are designed to be used with specific lens systems.
It; would be extremely beneficial to develop a system that could be
applied to a variety of lens systems.
This project will investigate the feasibility of automatic
focusing systems for existing equipment. The basic technique has
been investigated and described in
the Journal of the Optical Society of America, Volume 54, No 10,
1261-1266,? October 1964. In this approach, the object is imaged on
the face of a wide-area non-linear photocell which vibrates in the
direction of the optical axis. By sensing the phase of the fundamental
component in the output signal, and also certain harmonic content,
it is possible to determine the state of focus, or de-focus of the
system."
Results have been obtained for a three-dimensional "real world"
object space involving a person approaching the optical system,
which was fixed-focused for six feet. The successful results with
three-dimensional object space, and with an optical system designed
to operate over a considerable range of focus distances, indicate
that the design of a system to operate on basically two-dimensional
objects (photographic film), whose object distance varies over a
relatively small range, has.a high degree of feasibility.
25X1
tsl r, G Ell
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 ornnrr
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R & D CATALOG FORM '1 DATE
5 January 1
o(,;
_
1. PROJECT TITLE/CODE NAME 2. SHORT PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Automatic Focusing System A study to determine the feasibility of developing
an automatic focusing system
4. LOCATION OF CONTRACTOR 25X1
25X1
F
5. CLASS OF CONTRACTOR
6. TYPE OF CONTRACT
Manufacturer
CPFF
7. FUNDS
8. REQUISITION NO.
9. BUDGET PROJECT NO.
FY 19 65
NA
NP-S-9 25X1
FY 196 6
10. EFFECTIVE CONTRACT DATE
(Begin - end)
11. SECURITY CLASS.
March 1965 - October 1965
A. A. - Conf.
T - Uncl
FY 19 $
.
W- Uncl
12. RESPONSIBLE DIRE
CTORATE/OFFICE/PROJ
ECT OFFICER TELEPHONE EXTENSION
DDI/NPIC/P&D
25X1
13. REQUIREMENT/AUTHORITY
If this system proves to be feasible, the basic principles will have application
5.r any device that requires critical focus.
14. T ?F OF WORK TO BE DONE
"pp'.ied Research
15. CATEGORIES OF EFFORT
MAJOR CATEGORY
SUB-CATEGORIES
,-cial Techniques and Develo
ment Studies
16. END ITEM OR SERVICES FROM THIS CONTRACT/IMPROVEMENT OVER CURRENT SYSTEM. EQUIPMENT. ETC.
Breadboard and final report/Current focusing systems require periodic calibration
and cannot be applied to a variety of lens systems
17, SUPPORTING OR RELATED CONTRACTS (Agency & Other)/COORDINATION
By virtue of contacts throughout industry and the intelligence community, it is
concluded that no equivalent devices are currently in existence.
18. DESCRIPTION OF INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENT AND DETAILED TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (Continue on addi-
tional page if required)
Correlation systems now in use generally require a scanning system, an electronic
multiplier, and an electronic integrator -- together with the associated
.-.wer supplies, deflection circuits, focusing circuity, amplifiers, etc.
Such equipment is too.costly and complex for automatic focusing with typical
reconnaissance viewers. Other systems in use, such as mechanical linkage
devices, require periodic calibration, and these systems are desi n-d to be
Cont d
19. APPROVED BY AND DATE
OFFICE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DOCI
FORM
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N%WW
ET
18.
used with specific lens systems. It would be extremely beneficial to develop
a system that would not require periodic calibration and could be applied to a
variety of lens systems.
This project would prove the feasibility of an automatic focusing system for
potential development. Essentially, the program would establish the feasibility
of: (1) detecting image shay ness by using the' autocorrelation of the image
as an indicator of sharpness; (2) using a solid-state correlator as the image
sharpness sensor; and (3) developing a signal for driving the projection lens
to the position of best focus. The study is intended to show that an automatic
focusing system, which can be linked to present projectors by the appropriate
servo loops, can be produced. The automatic focusing system will consist of
the solid state correlator for obtaining the: autocorrelation function of the
image; an optical system for projecting two identical images on the sensor; and
the required electronic circuits for converting the autocorrelation signals
into a form for controlling a servo motor to, in turn, drive the projection lens
to the position of best focus. Moreover, the study would determine (1) the
sensitivit of the auto-correlation function to focus and, (2) the sensitivity
of the developed correlation sensor. 0 effort should yield
designs for a compact, economical system for achieving and maintaining focus on
various projection and direct-viewing devices.
Basically, a correlator can be used to sense image sharpness because the
cross-correlation of two images, both in sharp focus, is substantially higher
than the cross-correlation of two defocused images. Plotting light intensity
vs position, it can be shown that a focused image will have a higher value on
the intensity scale at a given point than the defocused image. This is because
the total energy under the curve must be conserved. In the defocused case, the
light is spread over a 'wider position so the intensity must be lower. The
correlation function is obtained by multiplying the intensities of the image,
point by point, and adding. the contributions from all the image points. It is
clear that the peak of the correlation curve is lower for the defocused image.
The use of the correlation technique is not new but its application to
automatic focusing has been limited because of the cost, size, weight and power
required by the implementation. With the use of the solid state correlator
developed it should be possible to implement an automatic
focusing system that would overcome the problems cited above.
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