Lever actuated optical offset image sampling system

Abstract

The system of the present invention increases the resolution of an image that may be formed from an image sensor without increasing the resolution of the sensor. An image beam is directed along a path through a color filter wheel and a single non-rotating transparent plate and impinges on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The transparent plate is positioned in a frame by flexures. A lever, controlled by a cam, exert a force on the transparent plate causing the transparent plate to tilt about the optical axis. The cam surface directs the lever to tilt the transparent plate in a plurality of discrete sampling positions. At each sampling position, the tilted transparent plate displaces the image beam in a different direction which allows each pixel of the CCD to sample a plurality of areas of the image. The color wheel is rotated to sequentially place each filter into the path of the image beam. The CCD sequentially receives the light passed through the transparent plate and color filter wheel and converts the image formed by the light to corresponding electrical signals. The electrical signals are stored and reordered by interleaving to form an image with increased resolution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.