Image enhancement by sub-pixel imaging

• US 7,323,681 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Applera Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oldham, Mark F., Tomaney, Austin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US11/617,360
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250234-236, 250/573, 382/145, 382/149, 356/237.4, 356/237.5
• US Class Current: 250/234
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1772 Array detector
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6452 Individual samples arranged in a regular 2D-array, e.g. multiwell plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0833 Fibre array at detector, resolving
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for improving the resolution of an electronic imaging device having an array of pixels. Sub-pixel dimension movements between an object and the array of pixels are made, and an image is formed at each position. Resulting shifted images are combined to yield an effective resolution corresponding to an array having smaller pixels. Such methods and apparatus allow optical systems with existing pixel devices to form effective images of smaller feature sizes.

Claims

1. A system for detecting one or more signals from an array of samples, the system comprising:

a platform that supports the array of samples;

a segmented detector configured to receive at least a portion of one or more signals associated with at least some of the array of samples to thereby form an optical image representative of the at least some of the array of samples;

a movement mechanism configured to facilitate a movement of the optical image in one or more sub-pixel sized steps relative to the segmented detector to provide a plurality of detected optical images; and

a processor configured to combine the plurality of detected optical images to yield a combined image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is configured to move the platform relative to the segmented detector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement mechanism is configured to move the segmented detector relative to the platform.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement comprises a lateral movement of the optical image relative to the segmented detector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the movement comprises a rotational movement of the optical image relative to the segmented detector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sub-pixel step comprises a dimension that is approximately an integer fraction of a lateral dimension each of a plurality of active areas of the segmented detector.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the segmented detector comprises a CCD having a plurality of pixels shaped generally as squares.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a bundle of fibers having their tips arranged generally in a planar manner wherein the tips of the fibers form a probe array that accommodates the array of samples and wherein the diameter of each fiber defines a feature size to be resolved by the segmented detector.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the diameter of each fiber is greater than a lateral dimension each of a plurality of active areas of the segmented detector.

10. A method for imaging an array of samples using a segmented detector, the method comprising:

positioning the segmented detector relative to the array of samples such that an image of the array of samples is formed substantially at the segmented detector;

moving the image of the array of samples relative to the segmented detector to form a plurality of images of the array of samples; and

combining the plurality of images of the array of samples to yield a combined image of the sample array.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the moving of the image comprises shifting of the image relative to the segmented detector.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the moving of the image comprises rotating of the image relative to the segmented detector.