Super-resolving imaging system

Patent 6344893 Issued on February 5, 2002. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 19, 2020. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Application

No. 596445 filed on 06/19/2000

US Classes:

356/3.14, Using at least a pair of viewing axes235/462.22, Extended reader working range (e.g., multiple focal planes)235/462.23, Auto-focusing235/462.24, Using an imager (e.g., CCD or camera-type reader)235/462.35, Having a transmissive optical element (e.g., lens, prism, or aperture)356/4.04, Of degree of defocus359/558DIFFRACTION

Examiners

Primary: Tarcza, Thomas H.
Assistant: Mull, Fred H

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Rosenman & Colin LLP

Foreign Patent References

0 777 147 EP. 06/12/1997
WO 00/59206 WO 10/12/2012

International Classes

G01C 003/00
G01C 003/08
G02B 027/42

Abstract

A super-resolving imaging apparatus employs diffractive optical elements placed on the imaging lens. This element, and the use of a modified Scheimpflug arrangement allow the conversion of degrees of freedom in one axis of a field of view to a larger degree of freedom in another axis in order to obtain a high resolution image with a wide depth of focus and large field of view. Replicas created by the diffractive elements are mutually shifted by subpixel amounts, and are combined using a Gabor transform, which is facilitated by a spatial mask placed over the detector array. The apparatus is suitable for performing distance estimation on an object within the field of view.

Other References

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