Processing method for obtaining a high resolution digital image

A method for generating a final digital image from a plurality of starting digital images, each starting digital image comprising a plurality of pixels and having a lower resolution than the final digital image, the method comprising:

• combining the plurality of starting digital images to generate a provisional digital image comprising a plurality of pixels, the provisional digital image having a higher resolution than the starting digital images;
• generating a plurality of new digital images each corresponding to a respective starting digital image based upon the provisional digital image, the new digital images having a lower resolution than the provisional digital image;
• selecting pixels of the provisional digital image having a respective uncertainty value greater than a threshold;
• determining a first error for at least one first selected pixel based upon a difference in an image characteristic of corresponding pixels in respective starting and new digital images;
• determining a second error for at least one second selected pixel of the provisional digital image adjacent the at least one first selected pixel based upon the first error;
• processing the at least one first and second pixels to reduce the first and second errors;
• and
• iteratively repeating the generating, selecting, determining, and processing steps to generate the final digital image.

An acquisition device for generating a final digital image comprising:

• a light focusing device and a sensor array for cooperating to capture digital images;
• and
• a processor for controlling said light focusing device an said sensor array to capture a plurality of starting digital images, each starting digital image comprising a plurality of pixels and having a lower resolution than the final digital image;
• said processor also for
• combining the plurality of starting digital images to generate a provisional digital image comprising a plurality of pixels, the provisional digital image having a higher resolution than the starting digital images,
• determining a first error for at least one first pixel of the provisional digital image,
• determining a second error for at least one second pixel adjacent the at least one first pixel based upon the first error, and
• processing the at least one first pixel and the at least one second pixel based upon the first and second errors, respectively, to generate the final digital image.