Move based and sonic based super resolution
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKeith D. Humfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera system for producing super resolution images is disclosed. The camera system may include a lens, a detector array configured to capture an image focused through the lens onto a focal plane, and a transducer coupled to one of the lens and the detector array. The transducer may be configured to impart motion to the one of the lens and the detector array over a predetermined time period, and the detector array may capture a plurality of images over the predetermined time period.
Claims20
A camera system for producing super resolution images, the camera system comprising:
- a lens;
- a detector array configured to capture an image focused through the lens onto a focal plane;
- a transducer coupled to one of the lens and the detector array, the transducer configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and impart motion to the one of the lens and the detector array over a predetermined time period, the detector array capturing a plurality of images over the predetermined time period;
- a control unit in communication with the transducer, the control unit configured to divide the detector array into sub-pixels and send signals to the transducer to move the one of the lens and the detector array outside a boundary of the image projected onto the focal plane to form a border of a reference array during at least at of the predetermined time period;
- and
- a processing unit in communication with the control unit, the processing unit configured to determine a light intensity of each of the sub-pixels from the plurality of images and combine the light intensities of the sub-pixels to produce a single image, the sub-pixels of the border of the reference array having light intensities of zero.
A method for enhancing a resolution of a digital camera system having a lens and a detector array, the method comprising:
- the detector array capturing an image;
- dividing the detector array into sub-pixels;
- imparting motion to one of the lens and the detector array to move the one of the lens and the detector array outside a boundary of the image projected onto a focal plane to form a border of a reference array;
- the detector array capturing another image;
- determining a light intensity of each of the sub-pixels from the images, the sub-pixels of the border of the reference array having light intensities of zero;
- and
- combining the light intensities of each of the sub-pixels to produce a single image having enhanced resolution.
A method for enhancing a resolution of a digital camera system having a lens and a detector array, the method comprising:
- dividing the detector array into sub-pixels;
- applying a sound wave across one of the lens and the detector array to move the one of the lens and the detector array outside a boundary of an image projected onto a focal plane to form a border of a reference array over at least part of a predetermined time period;
- selectively capturing a plurality of images using the detector array during the predetermined time period;
- determining a light intensity of each of the sub-pixels from the plurality of images, the sub-pixels of the border of the reference array having light intensities of zero;
- and
- combining the light intensities of the sub-pixels to produce a single image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.