Method and apparatus for generating data representative of an image

• US 7,266,248 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Goris, Andrew C., Matherson, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Kanjibhai
• Application Number:
  US10/637,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 382/255, 382/274, 382/275, 382/294, 382/296, 382/312, 348/208.6, 348/241, 348/335, 348/345, 250/201.7, 250/201.8, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 382/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A method and device for generating image data are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the method comprises focusing an image of an object onto a two-dimensional photosensor array, wherein an optical element is located between the object and the two-dimensional photosensor array. The optical element is moved, wherein the moving causes the image focused on the two-dimensional photosensor array to move parallel to the two-dimensional photosensor array. Data representative of the image is generated by the two-dimensional photosensor array while the optical element is moving.

Claims

1. A method of generating data representative of an image, said method comprising:

focusing an image of an object onto a two-dimensional photosensor array using a lens, wherein an optical element is located between said object and said two-dimensional photosensor array;

moving said optical element, wherein said moving causes said image focused on said two-dimensional photosensor array to move; and

generating data representative of said image using said two-dimensional photosensor array while said optical element is moving, wherein

said moving comprises moving said optical element a first amount if said generating data comprises generating data representative of a still image, and wherein said moving comprises moving said optical element a second amount if said generating data comprises generating data representative of video images, wherein said first amount is less than said second amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said moving comprises moving said optical element if said generating data comprises generating data representative of moving images.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional photosensor array has a first number of photodetectors located thereon and wherein said generating data comprises generating data using a second number of photodetectors of said two-dimensional photosensor array while said optical element is moving, said second number being less than said first number.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said moving comprises moving said optical element an amount so that a portion of said image intersects at least a first and at least a second of the photodetectors that generate data during the period that said two-dimensional photosensor array generates data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional photosensor array comprises a plurality of rows of photodetectors, wherein a first row of photodetectors and a second row of photodetectors generate data, wherein at least one row of photodetectors is located between said first row and said second row, and wherein said moving comprises moving said optical element so that at least a portion of said image is focused on said first row of photodetectors and said second row of photodetectors while said two-dimensional photosensor array generates data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said two-dimensional photosensor array further comprises a third row of photodetectors that generate image data, and wherein said moving comprises moving said optical element so that at least a portion of said image is focused on said first row of photodetectors, said second row of photodetectors, and said third row of photodetectors while said data is being generated.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said moving further comprises moving said optical element at a first velocity when a portion of said image is focused on a first photodetector and moving said optical element at a second velocity when said portion of said image is focused on a second photodetector.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first photodetector generates data and said second photodetector does not generate data and wherein said first velocity is slower than said second velocity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a dithered optically transparent plate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said moving comprises moving said dithered optically transparent plate in a direction substantially normal to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a dithered grating.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said moving comprises moving said dithered grating in a direction substantially parallel to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a translated wedge.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said moving comprises moving said translated wedge in a direction substantially parallel to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a translated ground-glass plate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said moving comprises moving said translated ground-glass plate in a direction substantially normal to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises a mirror.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said moving comprises pivoting said mirror relative to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

19. An imaging device comprising:

a two-dimensional photosensor array, wherein data representative of an image focused onto said two-dimensional photosensor array is generatable by said two-dimensional photosensor array;

a light path extending from a point not proximate said two-dimensional photosensor array to said two-dimensional photosensor array;

a lens located in said light path; and

an optical element located in said light path, said optical element being movable relative to said two-dimensional photosensor array;

said movable optical element being movable during a period when said two-dimensional photosensor array generates data;

wherein

movement of said optical element causes said light path to move relative to said two-dimensional photosensor array, wherein

said two-dimensional photosensor array comprises of a first number of photodetectors, wherein said imaging device has a first operative mode when data is generatable by said first number of photodetectors;

wherein

said imaging device has a second operative mode when image data is generatable by a second number of photodetectors; and

wherein

said first number is greater than said second number.

20. The imaging device of claim 19:

wherein said two-dimensional photosensor array comprises a first row of photodetectors, a second row of photodetectors, and at least one row of photodetectors located between said first row of photodetectors and said second row of photodetectors;

wherein said first row of photodetectors and said second row of photodetectors generate image data;

and wherein said optical element is movable so that a portion of an image is focusable on said first row of photodetectors and said second row of photodetectors when said two-dimensional array photosensor generates data.

21. The imaging device of claim 19 and further comprising a piezoelectric device operatively connected to said optical element.

22. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element is pivotable relative to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

23. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element comprises a dithered optically transparent plate.

24. The imaging device of claim 23, wherein said dithered optically transparent plate is movable in a direction substantially normal to said two-dimensional photosensor army.

25. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element comprises a dithered grating.

26. The imaging device of claim 25, wherein said dithered grating is movable in a direction substantially parallel to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

27. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element comprises a translated wedge.

28. The imaging device of claim 27, wherein said translated wedge is movable in a direction substantially parallel to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

29. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element comprises a translated ground-glass plate.

30. The imaging device of claim 29, wherein said translated ground-glass plate is movable in a direction substantially normal to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

31. The imaging device of claim 19, wherein said optical element comprises a mirror.

32. The imaging device of claim 31, wherein said moving said mirror is pivotable relative to said two-dimensional photosensor array.

33. An imaging device comprising:

a photosensing means for generating data representative of an image focused onto said photosensing means;

a focusing means for focusing said image onto said photosensing means; and

a movement means for moving said image focused onto said photosensing means when said photosensing means is generating data, wherein

said movement means comprises a blurring means connected to a movement device and wherein said blurring means is located proximate said photosensing means.