Imaging system with enlarged depth of field
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field for use with a means for focusing an image, said imaging system comprising:
- means for sensing an image sample from each of a plurality of portions of said image at each of a plurality of optical distances from said means for focusing, said means for sensing including means for scanning said image in a first direction, and a plurality of sensor means extending generally transverse to said first direction for sensing a line of image samples of said image at said plurality of optical distances;
means for determining the relative focus of the image samples derived from a portion of said image at each of said plurality of optical distances; and
means, responsive to said means for determining, for choosing, for each of said plurality of portions of said image, the image sample having a desired focus.
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Abstract
An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field for use with a means for focusing an image, including: means for sensing an image sample from each of a plurality of portions of the image at each of a plurality of optical distances from the means for focusing; means for determining the relative focus of the image samples derived from a portion of the image at each of the plurality of distances; and means responsive to the means for determining for choosing, for each of the plurality of portions of the image, the image sample having a desired focus.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field for use with a means for focusing an image, said imaging system comprising:
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means for sensing an image sample from each of a plurality of portions of said image at each of a plurality of optical distances from said means for focusing, said means for sensing including means for scanning said image in a first direction, and a plurality of sensor means extending generally transverse to said first direction for sensing a line of image samples of said image at said plurality of optical distances; means for determining the relative focus of the image samples derived from a portion of said image at each of said plurality of optical distances; and means, responsive to said means for determining, for choosing, for each of said plurality of portions of said image, the image sample having a desired focus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field comprising:
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means for varying the distance between the plane of focus of an image and an array of sensors including means for scanning said image in a first direction, and an array of sensors including a plurality of linear arrays of sensors extending transversely to said first direction for sensing a line of elements of the image at a time, each said linear array being at a different level relative to the focus of said image, said linear arrays of sensors being arranged adjacently in said first direction; means, responsive to said array of sensors, for comparing the sensor outputs, representing image elements from a portion of said image, produced at each of said levels; and means, responsive to said means for comparing, for selecting the output representing the best focus for that image portion.
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19. An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field comprising:
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means for varying the distance between the plane of focus of an image and an array of sensors including means for scanning said image in a first direction, a linear array of sensors extending transversely to said first direction for sensing a line of elements of the image at a time, and means for moving said linear array to a number of different levels relative to the plane of focus of the image; means, responsive to said array of sensors, for comparing the sensor outputs, representing image elements from a portion of said image, produced at each of said levels; and means, responsive to said means for comparing, for selecting the output representing the best focus for that image portion.
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20. An imaging system with an enlarged depth of field comprising:
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means for varying the distance between the plane of focus of an image and an array of sensors including means for scanning said image in a first direction, and an array of sensors extending transversely to said first direction for sensing a line of elements of the image at a time, said means for scanning including means for shifting the plane of focus of the image relative to said array of sensors; means, responsive to said array of sensors, for comparing the sensor outputs representing image elements from a portion of said image produced at said plurality of positions; and means, responsive to said means for comparing, for selecting the output representing the best focus for that image portion.
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Specification