System for improving image resolution via sensor rotation

• US 6,642,497 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Apostolopoulos, John, Kitson, Fredrick
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, QUE TAN
• Application Number:
  US10/173,330
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/201.5, 250/201.4, 250/216, 348/583, 348/588, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/222.1, 348/239, 382/299, 382/295-297
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/48 Increasing resolution by shifting the sensor relative to the scene

Abstract

An image recording apparatus and method for using the same to generate a high-resolution image of a scene from a plurality of low-resolution images taken by the apparatus. The apparatus includes an array of image sensors and a lens for imaging the scene onto the array of image sensors such that each image sensor receives light from a different portion of the scene. The lens is rotationally symmetric about an optical axis that passes through the array of image sensors. The lens has a symmetric light collection function in which the portion of the scene that is imaged onto each of the image sensors depends only on the distance of the image sensor from the intersection of the optical axis. A plurality of low-resolution images taken at different angles of rotation are combined to form the high-resolution image.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an array of image sensors;

a lens for imaging a scene onto said array of image sensors such that each image sensor receives light from a different portion of said scene;

an actuator for rotating said image array about said optical axis; and

a controller for reading-out said image array at each of a plurality of angles of rotation with respect to said optical axis to provide a plurality of low-resolution images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator continuously rotates said image array.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lens is rotationally symmetric about an optical axis that passes through said array of image sensors and having a symmetric light collection function such that said portion of said scene that is imaged onto each of said image sensors depends only on the distance of said image sensor from the intersection of the optical axis of said lens and said array of image sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least two of said image sensors receive light from portions of said scene of different sizes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller also generates an image of said scene by combining said plurality of said low-resolution images.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lens is a fisheye lens.

7. A method for generating a high-resolution image of a scene, said method comprising:

providing an array of image sensors;

forming a plurality of low-resolutions of said scene with a lens having an optical axis, each of said low-resolution images corresponding to a different angle of rotation of said image array about said optical axis; and

combining said low-resolution images to form said high-resolution image.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a new high-resolution image is generated by combining a newly formed low-resolution image with a predetermined number of previously formed low-resolution images.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said lens has rotational symmetry about said optical axis and has a symmetric light collection function such that the size of said portion of said scene that is imaged onto each of said image sensors depends only on the distance of said image sensor from the intersection of the optical axis of said lens and said array of image sensors.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein at least two of said image sensors receive light from portions of said scene of different sizes.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said lens is a fisheye lens.