Image enhancement by sub-pixel imaging
AssigneeApplera Corporation
InventorsMark F. Oldham, Austin B. Tomaney
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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.
Claims12
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 configured to facilitate a movement of the optical image in one or more sub-pixel sized steps relative to the segmented detector to provide a plurality of detected optical images;
- and
- a processor configured to combine the plurality of detected 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;
- moving the image of the array of samples relative to the segmented detector to form a plurality of images of the array of samples;
- and
- combining 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.