Image interpolation system

The method of handling data representative of an image in pixel form to provide an output image having increased resolution while reducing image data storage requirements and transmission bandwidth, the steps comprising:

• (a) providing a minimal number of original image pixels representative of an image on a line by line basis;
• (b) interpolating extra image pixels from said original image pixels;
• (c) transmitting the original image pixels together with extra image pixels interpolated therefrom to a remote output, and
• (d) interpolating at least one additional line of image pixels for each line of image pixels from the image pixels comprising said line at said remote output.

An imaging method, the steps comprising:

• (a) line scanning an original at an input station to provide an analog signal in serial pixel form representative of each line of said original scanned;
• (b) interpolating additional image pixels for each line of said original scanned from the scanned image pixels at said input station;
• and
• (c) interpolating at least one additional line of pixels between each scanned line pair of said original from corresponding pixels of said scanned line pairs at an output station.

The method of interpolating from analog image data additional image data to provide enhanced image output resolution, said analog image data being in the form of a serial pixel stream, the steps comprising:

• (a) sampling the voltage level of said image pixels in succession;
• (b) forming a box car signal wave representative of said analog image data by holding the voltage level sampled for a preset interval;
• (c) interpolating linearly between different voltage levels along said signal wave over said preset interval;
• (d) frequency enhancing said signal wave;
• (e) thresholding said signal wave to convert the analog signal wave to a binary signal wave;
• and
• (f) sampling said binary signal wave at a frequency greater than the input frequency of said input pixel stream to provide an output pixel stream having a greater number of pixels than the input pixel stream.

The method of processing a stream of image pixels to increase the number of image pixels in said stream and enhance resolution of the image represented by said pixels, the steps comprising:

• (a) sampling and temporarily holding the voltage level of said image pixels in succession whereby to form a signal wave representative of said pixel stream;
• (b) interpolating linearly between different voltage levels along said signal wave over said preset interval;
• (c) thresholding said signal wave;
• and
• (d) sampling the thresholded signal wave at a frequency greater than the input frequency of said pixel stream to provide an output pixel stream having increased numbers of pixels.

In an apparatus for processing a stream of image pixels to provide increased image resolution, comprising in combination:

• holding means for temporarily holding the voltage level of said image pixels in succession;
• interpolator means for interpolating the output of said holding means, said interpolator means interpolating linearly between successive pixels output by said holding means;
• thresholding means for thresholding the output of said interpolator means;
• sampling means for sampling the output of said thresholding means to provide a succession of discrete image pixels therefrom;
• and
• clock means for driving said sampling means at a frequency greater than the frequency at which said image pixels are input whereby to provide a stream of image pixels having an increased number of image pixels.