Method and apparatus for sampling lattice pattern generation and processing

A method for processing image data for use with means for storing in a planar array a plurality of output data samples from a scanning image detector, said method including the steps of:

• (a) sampling said scanning image sensor during predetermined time intervals to generate first and second hexagonal sampling patterns within a window on said array, said hexagonal sampling patterns including a first set of data samples including a plurality of peripheral data samples defining each hexagonal sampling pattern and a data sample at the center of each hexagon in each pattern, said first and second hexagonal sampling patterns sharing a common data sample;
• (b) assigning a weight to each data sample within each of said first and second hexagonal sampling patterns;
• and
• (c) convolving said first and second hexagonal sampling patterns together to provide a final value for assignment to said common data sample, including the steps of:
• (c1) coupling each data sample in each hexagon with an adjacent data sample in the hexagon by adding products of the weights associated with each data sample and associated data sample for each coupled pair of data samples to provide first, second, third and fourth lines with first, second, third, and fourth associated line values respectively;
• (c2) coupling each line with an adjacent line by adding the line values associated therewith to form first and second parallelograms with first and second associated values respectively;
• (c3) coupling the parallelograms by adding parallelogram values to provide a hexagon with an associated value;
• and
• (c4) coupling said first and second hexagons by adding said associated hexagon values to provide said final value for said common data sample.