A sensor mount, in conjunction with a wide coverage lens, is described that uses translational motion to 'point' a sensor. This new 'X-Y translation gimbal' replaced more traditional rotational gimbals or pan-and-tilt mounts in air-launched weapons and air vehicles as well as in land applications. In a typical implementation, a 1/2 inch or 1/3 inch CCD TV camera is placed at the focal plane of a lens with large field coverage. As the TV camera is moved across this focal plane by means of optical bench-type translation rails (linear positioners), the camera images different small portions (the field of view, FOV) of the larger total scene (the field of regard, FOR) imaged by the lens.
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