Synchronization of a High-Speed Prism Camera by Frame-Counting Technique: Abridgment

Development of motion-picture cameras capable of framing rates as high as 17/msec has made possible the scientific and technical investigations of transient phenomena of less than one-millisecond duration. Synchronization of such phenomena with the very high framing speed now possible is not easily accomplished with conventional timing apparatus, however, because of the uncertainty inherent in camera speed characteristics. An improved system has been developed at the Naval Research Laboratory in which the picture frames are counted electronically, and the event to be photographed is triggered after a preset count has been reached, independent of the time required to reach a given point on the length of film. Precise location of the desired data with respect to the film length often eliminates the necessity of processing an entire 100-ft roll of film, thus greatly expediting the completion of records. All components in this system are commercially available at a total cost comparable with conventional timing apparatus.

Print ISSN

0361-4573

Published

1959-03

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J14444