Method of and apparatus for the expansion of the range of the depth of focus beyond the limit given by conventional images
First Claim
1. A method for increasing the range of depths of focus when optically imaging three dimensional objects having different depth ranges corresponding to desired image levels comprising the steps of:
- focusing through the object at a plurality of levels to produce a plurality of images wherein each image has sharp details and unfocused details;
converting each image to an electrical signal pattern;
filtering each electrical signal pattern to suppress unfocused details and to pass a filtered electrical signal pattern including only substantially sharp details; and
summing the filtered electrical signal patterns to produce a composite electrical signal pattern representing a composite image containing only the sharp details passed by the filtering step.
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for increasing the range of depth of focus when optically imaging three dimensional objects having different depth ranges corresponding to desired image levels wherein the object is focused through at a plurality of levels to produce a plurality of images. At each level, the image produced has sharp details and unfocused details. Each image is filtered with a high pass filter to suppress unfocused details and to pass sharp details. The images are then summed to produce a composite image containing only the sharp details passed by the filtering step. If desired, the filter may be selectively by-passed in order to sum unfiltered images. By utilizing the method of an apparatus for practicing the instant invention more meaningful visual displays of three-dimensional objects are obtained.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for increasing the range of depths of focus when optically imaging three dimensional objects having different depth ranges corresponding to desired image levels comprising the steps of:
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focusing through the object at a plurality of levels to produce a plurality of images wherein each image has sharp details and unfocused details; converting each image to an electrical signal pattern; filtering each electrical signal pattern to suppress unfocused details and to pass a filtered electrical signal pattern including only substantially sharp details; and summing the filtered electrical signal patterns to produce a composite electrical signal pattern representing a composite image containing only the sharp details passed by the filtering step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for increasing the range of depths of focus when optically imaging a three-dimensional object having different depth ranges corresponding to desired image levels, said apparatus comprising:
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objective means for focusing through the object; means for moving the object and objective means relative to one another to bring selected levels of the object into sharp focus; means for producing images of the object as the object appears at said selected levels; means for converting the images to electrical signal patterns; means for filtering the electrical signal patterns wherein said filtering means includes a high pass filter which suppresses portions of the electrical signal patterns representing unfocused details of the images and passes portions of the electrical signal patterns representing sharp details to produce filtered electrical signal patterns; and means for summing the filtered electrical signal pattern to produce a composite electrical signal pattern which represents a composite image clearly portraying the three dimensional object. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification