Flip Mirrors and Other Image Switching Systems

FLIP MIRRORS AND OTHER OPTICAL
IMAGE SWITCHING SYSTEMS

by Jeffrey R. Charles

Based on an introduction of the
"VersAgonal"
Presented at the 1984 Riverside Telescope Makers Conference
and on the paper
"Image Switching for Fun & Profit"
Presented at the 1991 Electronic Oriented Astronomy Conference
(EOA No. 4)

by Jeffrey R. Charles
Owner and Chief Engineer of
VERSACORP
http://www.versacorp.com
jcharles@versacorp.com

© Copyright 1991, 1997 by Jeffrey R. Charles, All Rights Reserved.

Most of this document is Under Construction.
A partial list of contents and an outline are shown below:

Contents:

Introduction: The Ubiquitous Flip Mirror
Questar - The First Commercial Telescope With Two Image Planes
O.T.I. Quantum and Other Flip Mirrors with "Bucket" Housings
Conception of What Later Became the VersaGuider and DiaGuider
Conception of the VersAgonal Multi-Function Flip Mirror Attachment
More New Optical Image Switching Systems
New Companies Jump on the Flip Mirror Bandwagon
Sorting Through the Plethora of Available Accessory Systems
Flip Mirrors & Electronic Imaging: Easy Ways to Locate Your Subject
Optimum Utilization of a Flip Mirror
References & Additional Information
Images

Introduction: The Ubiquitous Flip Mirror

Life Without Flip Mirrors
An Early Flip Mirror System - The Exakta SLR Camera
Juggling Telescope Accessories in Cold Weather
Growing Tired of Juggling Accessories in Cold Weather
I Want a Gadget to Simplify Astrophotography in Cold Weather!

Questar - The First Commercial Telescope With Two Image Planes

A telescope ahead of its time

Convenience and Portability

Added Improvements

O.T.I. Quantum and Other Flip Mirrors with "Bucket" Housings

Quantum Telescopes - An Alternative to Questar

The Celest-Ease System Eight - "Questarifying" a Celestron 8.

Shortcomings of Flip Mirror Systems with "Bucket" Housings.

Conception of what later became the VersaGuider and DiaGuider

Using Existing Guiders

The Road to a Better Mousetrap

Using a Telescope Flip Mirror Control Box as a Guider Body

Early (1980's) Versacorp Accessory Inserts for Flip Mirror Control Boxes

Conception of the VersAgonal Multi-Function Flip Mirror Attachment

Shortcomings of the Prior Art

"Kicking the Bucket" to Develop a Superior Flip Mirror System

Incorporating Visual and Photographic Barlow and Telecompressor Optics

Going the Extra Mile to Develop a True "All-In-One" Accessory

A True Interchangeable Multi-Function Flip Mirror! The VersAgonal

"Can I Get One ?" The Transition to a Commercial Venture: Versacorp

Even More Built-in Features

More New Optical Image Switching Systems

The DiaGuider - A Guider and Flip Mirror All In One!

Various Multiple Port Systems

New Companies Jump on the Flip Mirror Bandwagon

Pioneers:

Leica Visoflex.
Acura and Other Flip Mirror Systems.
Questar 3-1/2. A Marvel from Decades Ago.
Quantum Four, Six, and Eight. Fantastic Values in the Late 70's
Clave Photo-Visual Optical Device. Specialized Item for Gadgeteers.
Star Tracker's Celest-Ease System Eight. A Shooting Star from the mid 80's.
Versacorp VersAgonal. Introduced in the mid 80's, it's still the Only All-In-One Accessory.
Notable Patents From Way Back
Notable Amateur Projects

Some Newer Vendors: (This section was not in 1991 Presentation)

Optec Photometer and CCD Acquisition System.
EG&G Reticon Flip Mirror.
Autoscope Multiple Port Rotary Instrument Selector.
Spectra Astro Systems "Flip Mate"
Murnahagn Instruments Flip Mirrors.
Van Slyke Engineering "Versa-Port"
Meade ETX - Affordable & Innovative, if you chuck the mounting.

Have I missed your product? If you would like your product listed in this article, please send brief information, the year it was first marketed, and an image (if available) to Jeffrey R. Charles via Email at "jcharles@versacorp.com".

Sorting Through the Plethora of Available Accessory Systems
(An Amateur Astronomer's "Plumbing Manual")

"What Do I Need?" Define Your Requirements Before You Buy
Quick Interchange Systems
Flip Mirror Systems
- Back Focal Distance and Adaptability
- The Value of Being Able to Rotate a Flip Mirror Housing
- Reflector Size and Eyepiece Size
- Reflector Quality - It Pays to Have a High Quality Reflector
- Trades between Features and Price
- Multi-Function and Single Purpose Systems
- Flip Mirrors vs. Slide-in Systems
- Systems With More Than Two Image Planes

Flip Mirrors & Electronic Imaging: Easy Ways to Locate Your Subject

Format Classification for Video & Other Sensors - How It All Began

Sensor Size and Field of View

Using a Flip Mirror to Get a Wider Acquisition Field

Back Focal Distance and Your Telescope

Telecompressors and Other Optics for Electronic Imaging

Autoguiding with Suitable Accessories

Applications Other Than Astronomy

Afocal Imaging Techniques

Optimum Utilization of a Flip Mirror

Simplifying Film Photography

Simplifying Electronic Imaging

Other Uses

References & Additional Information

Versacorp Optical Instrumentation
The rest of this section is Under Construction.

Future Images:

Questar 3-1/2**

Quantum Four

Clave Photo-Visual Optical Device with Parfocal Barlow*

Conceptual Drawing of VersAgonal**

Conceptual Model of VersAgonal and 12 cm Cassegrain Telescope**

Amateur Version of VersAgonal, Disassembled**

Amateur Version of VersAgonal, on Telescope**

VersAgonal with the Large Number of Accessories it Replaces**

Star Tracker's Celest-Ease System Eight*

VersAgonal and CCD Camera on Telescope***

Commercial Version of Versacorp VersAgonal***

Commercial Version of Versacorp VersAgonal: Inside Views***

VersaGuider Inserts for Celest-Ease, Quantum, Questar, and VersAgonal

Versacorp DiaGuider***

Versacorp MultiPort and MegaPort

Graphic Showing Various CCD and Eyepiece Field Sizes***

A Variety of Amateur Flip Mirrors

A Variety of Commercial Flip Mirrors

* Presented at the 1984 RTMC
** Presented at the 1984 RTMC and the 1991 EOA Conference
*** Presented Only at the 1991 EOA Conference

Do you need creative solutions for your engineering, motion picture, or other project? Jeffrey R. Charles performs systems engineering, conceptual design, and technical writing for a variety of applications. In addition, Jeff can provide science consulting in regard to total solar eclipse phenomena, and engineering consulting for optical instrumentation. Please direct inquiries to Jeffrey R. Charles jcharles@versacorp.com or click here for more information.

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© Copyright 1991, 1997, Jeffrey R. Charles, All Rights Reserved. Any form of reproduction or posting of any part of this document at a web site other than "versacorp.com" without including this notice and without the prior express written consent of Jeffrey R. Charles is strictly prohibited.

This material is the intellectual property of Jeffrey R. Charles. Commercial use (such as in a publication, program, broadcast, or motion picture) of data or other material in this paper or of related material by the same author (whether said material was obtained directly or indirectly) without the prior express written and signed consent of Jeffrey R. Charles is strictly prohibited.

Mail to: Jeffrey R. Charles (jcharles@versacorp.com)

Document Created: 27 Sept. 1997
Document Last Modified: 28 Sept. 1997
Links Last Modified: 18 Mar. 1998

FLIP MIRRORS AND OTHER OPTICAL IMAGE SWITCHING SYSTEMS

FLIP MIRRORS AND OTHER OPTICAL
IMAGE SWITCHING SYSTEMS