Method and apparatus for high speed acquisition of moving images using pulsed illumination

A system comprising:

• a pulsed illumination source;
• an image sensor including a plurality of pixels aligned along a read-out axis;
• optical components configured to direct pulsed illumination from the pulsed illumination source to an object that is continuously moving along an axis of movement, the axis of movement being parallel to the read-out axis, and configured to direct reflected light from the object to the image sensor;
• and
• a processor configured to operate the image sensor, a configuration performing a process comprising:
• performing a timed delay integration mode (TDI-mode) operation during an illumination pulse, wherein a plurality of charges are respectively stored by said plurality of pixels of the image sensor, each said charge forming an image region generated by said pulsed illumination reflected from a corresponding fixed point on the continuously moving object, and the plurality of charges are shifted from pixel to pixel only in a first direction along the read-out axis during said TDI-mode operation such that each said charge is shifted along with said corresponding fixed point in a manner that prevents blurring;
• and
• performing a split-readout operation during a non-illumination period following the TDI-mode operation, wherein first said stored by first said pixels of the image sensor are shifted from pixel to pixel in the first direction along the read-out axis while second said charges stored by second said pixels of the image sensor are concurrently shifted from pixel to pixel in a second direction along the read-out axis during the split-readout operation, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.