PHASE II DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL DIRECT (VIRTUAL) IMAGE VIEWER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04747A001500020045-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 13, 2002
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: March 2, 1964
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/06SUC. RDP78BO47`47 0 500020045=5
NPIC INTERNAL USE ONLY
2 March 1964
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman, Technical Development Committee
THROUGH : Executive Secretary, TDC
SUBJECT Phase II Development of an Experimental Direct (Virtual)
Image Viewer
1. PROBLEM:
To attain a significant gain in projection viewing of high quality, low
contrast materials which are forthcoming.
2. FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM:
a. With the current development in rear projection, reader or screening
viewers, the development community will have attained the maximum output from
this approach.
b. The projection screen is and will continue to be the limiting factor
in the rear projection viewer, even with a highly efficient optical system.
c. It is safe to state that the microscope is the only optical instrument
which has the capability of extracting maximum information from photography.
A high quality microscope has a high frequency Modulation Transfer Function (MTF)
which surpasses the 200 1/mm low contrast materials expected from the collection
media in the near future.
d. The microscope is very fatiguing when used for any length of time. It
cannot perform a rapid or even modest time screening requirement. It inherently
has a very small field of view.
e. There is a requirement for a viewer with the same physical viewing
characteristics as the conventional rear projection viewer but with as high an
MTF as a high quality laboratory microscope.
f. By having an environment for viewing high quality materials comparable
to the rear projection viewer, the efficiency of the PI will be higher over
longer periods of time. The instrument will be capable of revealing the high
frequency, low contrast information and consequently, the PI will be less prone
to miss it.
3. DISCUSSION:
a. The logical approach to the visual exploitation problem would be to
expand the characteristics of the microscope; making a large microscope with
a field lens instead of a screen. The virtual image would be formed directly
An the eye instead of on the screen. This would cut out the screen and its
DECLR Vii W bf lMlR/DOD
GROUP 1
Approved For Release 2002/(K'Q'R[ETA-RDP78B04747A001500020045-5 a..9:ed`~;aee.~ie.;`r;.,;..
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 Approved For Release 2002/08 RDP78B04747A001500020045-5
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25X1A b. I proposed a feasibility study for which we
contracted. It was successfully proven by their approach that a virtual image
viewer was feasible. Areas for development were pointed out in order to attain
the ultimate in the approach to virtual image viewing. They are now proposing
a follow-on, full-blown experimental engineering model for viewing larger areas.
4. CONCLUSIONS:
25X1A
a. The Development Staff has a high degree of certainty that the 0 25X1A
approach is correct by virtue of witnessing the experiments resulting
from the contracted feasibility study.
b. It is now necessary to design, develop and construct an engineering
model with all elements "tuned" to maximum efficiency for further evaluation.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS:
25X1A
It is recommended that an engineering model be built defined by the criteria
of the P&DS Development Objective and proposal for the amount of2 5X1A
25X1A
Development Branch, P&DS
to
Approved For Release 2002/OSCRfrp-RDP78B04747A001500020045-5
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