Charge-coupled device imager system

• US 4,231,062 A
• Filed: 11/28/1978
• Issued: 10/28/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Inventors: Stewich, Max W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, John C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orsino, Jr., Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/964,387
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 358/109, 358/212, 358/213, 358/205, 358/222
• US Class Current: 348/144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/71 Charge-coupled device [CCD] sensors; Charge-transfer registers specially adapted for CCD sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/005 using at least one opto-electrical conversion device

Abstract

A charge-coupled device array, comprised of elements arranged in one or more columns, and a moving lens positioned between the array and object to be imaged on the array are incorporated in an imaging system such as an aerial reconnaissance camera. The lens is moved relative to the column(s) of the array at the same speed that signals in the array corresponding to what is imaged thereon translate along the elements thereof such that a given point of the object is imaged on each element of a column.

Claims

1. A system for providing electronic signals representing an image of an object, said system comprising in combination:

means for producing relative motion between said object and said system in a first direction such that the distance between said system and said object remains substantially invarient;

a charge-coupled device array comprising m columns, each of n elements, each column being coupled to an output terminal where m>

1 and n>

1;

a lens positioned between said array and said object such that said array is in the focal plane of said lens;

means for producing relative motion between said lens and said array such that said array remains in the focal plane of said lens and said object is scanned in a second direction normal to said first direction such that points on said object along an imaginary line lying on said object in said second direction are imaged along the elements of a given array column, each of said points being imaged on each of said elements of said given column in succession, points along imaginary lines parallel to said first imaginary line being similarly imaged on various elements of various other columns of said array associated with said imaginary lines; and

means coupled to said array for electronically translating signals contained in the elements thereof in respective columns from one element to the next along said respective columns at the same rate and direction that the image moves along said array such that a given point of said object is imaged serially on successive elements in a given column as a signal representative of said given point is stored in said successive elements, said direction that said image moves being toward the output terminals such that said electronic signals are translated thereto.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further including utilization means coupled to said output terminals of said array for receiving therefrom signals reponsive to the image of said object as said signals are translated along said array.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for producing relative motion between said lens and said array comprises means for moving said lens while maintaining the rest of said system fixed.