Method for increasing resolution in a camera

• US 7,389,002 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew F. Knight
• Original Assignee: Andrew F. Knight
• Inventors: Knight, Andrew F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US10/805,293
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 382/294
• US Class Current: 382/294
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/18 Image warping, e.g. rearranging pixels individually
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning

Abstract

A method of increasing resolution in a camera includes: a) ascertaining a pixel location in a first image for each of a plurality of identifiable image points, where a first particular identifiable image point among the plurality of identifiable image points is located in a first pixel in the first image; b) ascertaining a pixel location in a second image for each of the plurality of identifiable image points; and c) determining a first region within the first pixel, the first region smaller than the first pixel, in which the first particular identifiable image point is located, based at least in part on the ascertained pixel locations of the plurality of identifiable image points in the first and second images.

Claims

1. A method of increasing resolution in a camera, comprising:

a) ascertaining a pixel location in a first image for each of a plurality of identifiable image points, wherein a first particular identifiable image point among said plurality of identifiable image points is located in a first pixel in said first image;

b) ascertaining a pixel location in a second image for each of said plurality of identifiable image points;

c) determining a first region within said first pixel, said first region smaller than said first pixel, in which said first particular identifiable image point is located, based at least in part on the ascertained pixel locations of said plurality of identifiable image points in said first and second images; and

d) at least one of printing and displaying said first image with said first particular identifiable image point located in said first region.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing said first image of an object having a plurality of identifiable object points; and

providing said second image of said object different from and subsequent to said first image,

wherein said plurality of identifiable image points in said first and second images correspond to said identifiable object points.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein step a) comprises ascertaining said pixel location in said first image at least in part by an edge-finding technique.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising identifying said plurality of identifiable image points in said first image at least in part by point differentiation, whereby an identifiable image point is identified by differentiating said identifiable image point from other points in said first image on the basis of at least one of:

absolute position in the first image;

relative position compared to said other points;

color; and

magnitude/brightness.

5. The method as in claim 1, wherein step b) comprises ascertaining said pixel location in said second image for each of said plurality of identifiable image points at least in part by point tracking, whereby a second pixel location in said second image of an identifiable image point is ascertained at least by:

selecting a group of points in said second image within a predetermined proximity to a first pixel location in said first image of said identifiable image point, and ascertaining said second pixel location of said identifiable image point within said group based at least in part on a best fit analysis.

6. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing a camera configured to create said first and second images; and

moving said camera between a creating of said first and second images, whereby at least some of said pixel locations in said second image differ from said pixel locations in said first image.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein said camera is configured to be hand-held, and said moving is based at least in part on a natural unsteadiness of a human hand.

8. The method as in claim 6, wherein said camera comprises a motion generator, and wherein said moving is based at least in part on a motion by said motion generator.

9. A computer-readable medium containing machine-executable code and configured to cause a machine to perform the method as in claim 1.

10. A camera comprising:

the computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 2; and

a processor configured to execute the machine-executable instructions of the computer-readable medium.

11. A method of increasing resolution in a camera, comprising:

a) providing a first image having a plurality of pixels;

b) ascertaining first pixel locations in said first image for a plurality of identifiable image points;

c) determining first ranges for location relationships among the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the first pixel locations;

d) ascertaining corresponding second pixel locations in a second image for said plurality of identifiable image points;

e) determining second ranges for location relationships among the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the second pixel locations;

f) combining said first and second ranges into third ranges;

g) dividing at least some of said plurality of pixels in said first image into a plurality of pixel regions;

h) determining pixel region locations for said plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on and consistent with said third ranges; and

i) at least one of printing and displaying said first image with said plurality of identifiable image points located in said pixel region locations.

12. The method as in claim 11, further comprising:

ascertaining corresponding third pixel locations in a third image for said plurality of identifiable image points; and

determining fourth ranges for location relationships among the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the third pixel locations,

wherein step f) comprises combining said first, second, and fourth ranges into said third ranges.

13. The method as in claim 11, wherein said location relationships comprise separations distances.

14. The method as in claim 11, wherein said location relationships comprise angles.

15. The method as in claim 11, wherein at least some of said third ranges are smaller than corresponding ones of said first and second ranges.

16. The method as in claim 11, wherein step g) comprises dividing said at least some of said plurality of pixels in said first image into four or nine substantially equally sized pixel regions.

17. The method as in claim 11, wherein step c) comprises determining first ranges for location relationships among every pair of the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the first pixel locations, and step e) comprises determining second ranges for location relationships among every pair of the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the second pixel locations.

18. The method as in claim 11, wherein step c) comprises determining first ranges for location relationships among fewer than every pair of the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the first pixel locations, and step e) comprises determining second ranges for location relationships among fewer than every pair of the plurality of identifiable image points based at least in part on the second pixel locations.

19. A computer-readable medium containing machine-executable code and configured to cause a machine to perform the method as in claim 11.

20. A camera comprising:

the computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 19; and

a processor configured to execute the machine-executable instructions of the computer-readable medium.