# US 2014/0152804 A1 · Sub-pixel imaging for enhanced pixel resolution > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152804 A1 - Document ID: US20140152804A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/029,725 - Filed: 2013-09-17 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC - Applicants: Seagate Technology LLC - Inventors: Joachim Walter Ahner; Travis William Grodt; Florin Zavaliche; Maissarath Nassirou; David M. Tung; Tchernio T. Boytchev; Stephen Keith McLaurin; Henry Luis Lott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152804A1 ## CPC - G06T 3/4069: by subpixel displacements - G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection} - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/30164: Workpiece; Machine component - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract Provided herein is an apparatus comprising a photon detecting array configured to take images of an article, and a mount configured to mount and translate the article in a direction by a sub-pixel distance. In some embodiments, the sub-pixel distance is based on a pixel size of the photon detecting array. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a light source for illuminating an article; a photon detecting array comprising a fixed pixel resolution; and a means for producing a composite image of the article, or a portion thereof, at a greater pixel resolution than the fixed pixel resolution of the photon detecting array by translating and imaging the article at sub-pixel distances. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lens, wherein the lens is a telecentric lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photon detecting array comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”), a scientific complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“sCMOS”), or a charge-coupled device (“CCD”). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixed pixel resolution of the photon detecting array is at least 5 megapixels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the greater pixel resolution is at least two times greater than the fixed pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the greater pixel resolution is at least 100 times greater than the fixed pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for producing a composite image of the article includes a computer configured to: record an initial image of the article at an initial location; iteratively cause the mount to translate the article a sub-pixel distance to a subsequent location and image the article in the subsequent location; and combine the images from each location to produce the composite image at the greater pixel resolution than the fixed pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the computer is further configured to: determine the sub-pixel distance to translate the mount to the subsequent location based on a pixel size of the photon detecting array, a magnification value of a lens of the apparatus, and the greater pixel resolution. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein images from each location are enhanced by a predetermined value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the physical position of the photon detecting array and the light source are fixed; the article is a disk; and the computer is further configured to identify disk defects. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: a photon detecting array configured to take images of an article; and a mount configured to support and translate the article by a sub-pixel distance, wherein the sub-pixel distance is based on a pixel size of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to produce an image of the article that is of the pixel size of the photon detecting array and is at a greater pixel resolution than a pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a computer configured to: record an initial image of the article at an initial location; iteratively cause the mount to translate the article the sub-pixel distance to a subsequent location and record a subsequent image the article in the subsequent location; and combine the images from each location to produce a composite image at a greater pixel resolution than a pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer is further configured to: determine the sub-pixel distance to translate the article, wherein the determining is based on the pixel size of the photon detecting array, on a magnification value of a lens of the apparatus, and an enhancement value n, wherein n is between 2 and 10,000, inclusive; and produce the composite image with a pixel resolution that is n times greater than the pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the photon detecting array remains in a fixed position while the article is translated in the direction by the sub-pixel distance. ### Claim 16 A method, comprising: receiving from a photon detecting array an initial image of an article at an initial location; translating the article a sub-pixel distance to a subsequent location and generating a subsequent image of the article at the subsequent location; and combining the initial image and the subsequent image to generate a composite image at a greater pixel resolution than a pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein generating the composite image comprises combining n2 number of images, and the composite image includes a pixel resolution that is n times greater than the pixel resolution of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein translating the article the sub-pixel distance comprises translating the article 1/n of a pixel size of the photon detecting array. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein n is between 2 and 10,000, inclusive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: determining the sub-pixel distance based on a pixel size of the photon detecting array, a magnification value of a lens, and an enhancement value n, wherein the greater pixel resolution is n times greater than the pixel resolution of the photon detecting array, and a camera includes the photon detecting array and the lens.