Abstract: An observation or aiming system for a self-propelled vehicle is described. The system includes a post pivoting about a bearing axis (Ag) relative to the vehicle. The post carries a body for an optical block and a thermal camera which are mounted to pivot about an elevation axis (As) perpendicular to the bearing axis (Ag). The body and the thermal camera are disposed symmetrically relative to the bearing axis (Ag). The system also includes a radar channel having a radar transmitter unit mounted on the body, a radar detection unit mounted on the body close to the bearing axis (Ag) and concentration means situated in the body for concentrating radar waves on the radar detection unit. The optical block, the thermal camera, and the radar channel are secured so as to always have the same orientation in elevation and in bearing, and thus the same observation direction.

Abstract: The assembly comprises a laser emitter (100), localization means (200) for providing data on the angle between a target and a projectile, an aiming block (300) enabling an operator to aim at the target optically, and collimator means (400) enabling the operator to center the target in the field of view. In accordance with the invention, harmonization means (500), e.g. a crossed-prism deflector (501, 502) interposed between the collimator means and the aiming block, are provided to adjust the angular orientation of the collimation direction in such a manner as to cause said direction (O.sub.7 D.sub.7) to coincide with the reference (A.sub.2 B.sub.2) or aiming (A.sub.1 B.sub.1, C.sub.1 D.sub.1) direction, i.e. with the direction corresponding to the real aiming and designation direction to the target, and also with the localization direction (J.sub.3 K.sub.3), i.e. the direction in which the localization means sees the designated target.

Abstract: A method of processing a video image to track a bright spot and to protect said tracking from interference from other bright spots to protect said tracking from interference from other bright spots. In order to avoid a main spot (LP) from being lost by interference from decoy or secondary spots (LS) in a digitized video image (FM), the main spot is surrounded by a detection ring (CD) which is concentric with a processing window (FT) which fits closely round the main spot. When a decoy spot (LS) is detected in the detection ring, it likewise has a processing window (FT') and a detection ring (CD') assigned thereto in order to isolate it and to follow its trajectory. When the two spots come into contact, the tracking of one of said spots is interrupted. After the two spots move apart, a coherence test is performed to determine which of the spots is the main spot, and tracking continues, thereafter, with the main spot.

Abstract: In order to scan a relatively small window (F) in the image zone (ZI) of a charge transfer device, a series of prior transfers (B.sub.1, B.sub.2, B.sub.3) are performed moving from the image zone to the memory zone (ZM) to move the leading edge of the window until it is adjacent to the output shift register (RD). The lines of the window may then be read conventionally (B.sub.4) omitting any reading of the lines that come before or after. This considerably reduces the delay (between steps B.sub.1 and B.sub.4) between image acquisition and signal processing, without altering the frame frequency which remains fixed at 50 Hz, for example.

Abstract: A non-interlaced raster-type display includes interface circuitry for displaying character patterns indicative of data signals manipulated by a processor under the control of a manually-operable keyboard. The displayed character patterns are enhanced by half-shifting or delaying a raster line of display signals for a given character in order to improve the legibility of displayed alphanumeric character patterns. A blinking pointer or cursor is manually movable via keyboard control to the character spaces desired and the blinking cursor display is inhibited during movement thereof in order to maintain an invariant display of the cursor during repositioning.