Image enhancement by sub-pixel imaging
AssigneeApplera Corporation
InventorsMark F. Oldham, Austin B. Tomaney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for improving the resolution of an electronic imaging device having an array of pixels. Sub-pixel dimension movements between an object and the array of pixels are made, and an image is formed at each position. Resulting shifted images are combined to yield an effective resolution corresponding to an array having smaller pixels. Such methods and apparatus allow optical systems with existing pixel devices to form effective images of smaller feature sizes.
Claims25
A system for detecting one or more signals from an array of samples, the system comprising:
- a platform that supports the array of samples;
- a segmented detector configured to receive at least a portion of one or more signals associated with at least some of the array of samples to thereby form an optical image representative of the at least some of the array of samples;
- a movement mechanism that provides a relative movement between the platform and the segmented detector, the relative movement providing a lateral movement of the optical image in one or more sub-pixel sized steps;
- and
- a processor configured so as to facilitate the one or more sub-pixel sized steps to yield a plurality of optical images that are detected by the segmented detector to thereby allow combination of the plurality of optical images to yield a combined image.
A method for imaging an array of samples using a segmented detector, the method comprising:
- positioning the segmented detector relative to the array of samples such that an image of the array of samples is formed substantially at the segmented detector to thereby allow formation of data representative of the image of the array of samples;
- inducing one or more relative motions between the image of the array of samples and the segmented detector to thereby allow formation of a plurality of images of the array of samples;
- and
- combining data corresponding to the plurality of images of the array of samples to yield a combined image of the sample array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.