# US 8,542,296 B2 · Super-resolution digital zoom

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- Number: US 8,542,296 B2
- Document ID: US8542296B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/788,558
- Filed: 2013-03-07
- Published: 2013-07-11
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-30
- Assignees: Sony Corporation; Sony Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: Sony Corporation; Sony Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Nikolaos Georgis; Fredrik Carpio; Paul Jin Hwang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542296B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/63: by using electronic viewfinders
- H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
- H04N 25/48: Increasing resolution by shifting the sensor relative to the scene
- H04N 1/00307: {with a mobile telephone apparatus (constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00)}
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

When a user selects digital zooming in a camera such as might be included in a wireless telephone or PDA, a series of images are automatically obtained and superimposed using super-resolution techniques to produce an improved digital zoom image transparently to the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus, comprising:
an imager;
a display; and
a processor superimposing at least two images derived from signals from the imager to render a modified digital zoom image from the at least two images, the modified zoom image having a higher resolution than the at least two images; and
the processor sending to computer storage or to the display the modified digital zoom image, wherein the processor renders the modified zoom image responsive to reception of a digital zoom command input to the apparatus.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two images are superimposed using super-resolution.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has no capability for does not perform optical zooming.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imager is a charge coupled device (CCD).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embodied as a wireless telephone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor uses a Bayer pattern to render the modified zoom image.