Abstract: A sensing system has a sensor arranged in the immediate neighborhood of a contacting shaped body. The sensor is connected to a circuit which is likewise arranged in the neighborhood of the contacting shaped body and emits electromagnetic radiation when the sensor responds to contact by the contacting shaped body with a surface to be measured.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illuminating arrangement for illuminating an object with incident light wherein the angle of the incident light is selectable. The illuminating arrangement includes a plurality of individual light sources which can be switched on and off. The light sources are advantageously arranged in several concentric circles in different planes from which the light can be radiated along different beam axes. An illumination at different selectable angles is possible without a mechanical adjustment of the light sources or the imaging elements. The light sources can be advantageously mounted in a hemispherically-shaped carrier. The illuminating arrangement can be a component of a closed control loop and be controlled quickly and completely automatically via an image processing unit or by manual instructions of desired values via a control console.

Abstract: The invention contemplates image-motion compensation in an aerial camera in which the slot of a focal-plane shutter (11) moves in a direction transverse to the direction of film (6) transport, and in which film transport is parallel to the direction of flight. In order to compensate for the component of image-motion which is dependent on the field angle and which occurs with laterally inclined displacements of the camera, the slotted shutter (11) is coupled with an encoder (17) which in the course of making the exposure reports to a computer (12) the instantaneous field position (x) of the shutter slot. This computer (12) also determines a speed profile (A, B) in the interval between successive exposures the speed profile being derived from ground-clearance altitude h, flight velocity V.sub.F, focal length f, angle of swing .beta.', and a basic function which is dependent on the type of lens.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a precisely adjustable threaded mechanism, as for focus adjustment of an aerial camera lens, wherein inner and outer threaded members are normally in circumferentially continuous radially stressed play-free engagement to the extent of requiring a characteristic maximum torque for their rotary adjustment. One of these members is continuously excitable (with respect to the other) as to so incrementally change its circumferential extent with respect to the circumferential extent of the other of said members that their characteristic engagement torque is reduced from said maximum. And a rotary-drive torque of a level less than said maximum engagement torque but greater than the reduced engagement torque is operative to impart an incremental thread-advancing rotary drive, during such intervals as the engagement torque is thus reduced.

Abstract: The invention contemplates use of a cylindrical lens oriented transverse to an aircraft axis, in conjunction with two light-sensitive detectors in the image plane of the lens, to develop two time-displaced electrical output signals which represent aircraft-motion scanning of terrain by the respective detectors; basically simple circuitry develops the velocity-altitude ratio by measuring the instantaneous displacement time between the two signals. The same cylindrical lens and detecting circuitry may be provided in multiple and in particular relative orientations, to additionally develop drift-angle of the aircraft axis with respect to its instantaneous ground-velocity vector.