Non raster image scanning

Abstract

A method is described for scanning image pixels in a sequence which, in contrast to the traditional and ubiquitous raster scan, better groups effectively adjacent and neighbouring image pixels together in the scanned sequence, resulting in a much lower bandwidth signal and leading directly to bandwidth and storage gains from compression and exploitation of image redundancy. M-Scan, for meandering scan, is synthesised by iterative application of a simple primitive pattern or patterns, and analysed by iterative partitioning. M-Scans can achieve unbroken continuity between pixels in the image, and in routine application never need to step between non image adjacent pixels. Whereas a conventional raster has a low vertical and a high horizontal scan rate, M-Scan has intermediate and approximately equal vertical and horizontal rates. An M-Scan signal power spectrum lacks the comb at the line rate of the conventional raster scan signal. An M-Scan approaches image details from diverse directions and does not exhibit spectacular ghosting failure under spurious reflections like raster scans. M-Scans can be used for 3 dimensional images, or time series 2D images, whilst still preserving adjacent pixel connectivity. The M-Scan deflection signals place greatly reduced and near minimised demands on the deflection means, in contrast to conventional raster signals whose upper speed and required slew rates virtually rule out mechanical deflection means for large displays.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.