EP0474479A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
An imager
Assignee: Leonardo UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-09-04
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-09-04
Abstract
Abstract An imager for the implementation of microscan comprises a member 18 for interrupting radiation between a lens and an array of imaging elements 13. The member 18 comprising alternate refractive transmissive regions 25 and non-transmissive regions 24. The transmissive regions 25 refracting radiation transmitted through them in the direction shown by the arrows. As the disc rotates across the array 13 the image focused on it moves giving successive frames which are shifted relative to one another.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Kennedy Mcewan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/58; H04N23/20; H04N23/23; H04N25/00; H04N25/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An imager comprising a lens (12), an array of sensing elements (13) arranged in rows and columns and a member (18) which includes at least one refractive region (22) transmissive to radiation to which the sensing elements (13) are responsive, wherein the member (18) is moveable such that a refractive region (22) of the member (18) is repeatedly interposed in a radiation path between the lens (12) and the array (13) whereby the image focused on the array is displaced diagonally, relative to rows and columns of the array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
An imager as claimed in claim 1 wherein the member comprises a plurality of said refractive regions arranged such that in operation movement of the member causes different transmissive refractive regions to be interposed in turn in said radiation path whereby the image focused on the array is sequentially displaced in different directions relative to the array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imager as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the member includes at least one region which is substantially non-transmissive to said radiation and is interposable in the radiation path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
An imager as claimed in claim 3 wherein the member is a substantially planar member which is arranged to rotate about an axis and comprises a plurality of transmissive refractive regions around an annulus, the dimensions of the member being such that the boundary between adjacent transmissive and non-transmissive regions passes over the array with a substantially constant linear velocity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
An imager comprising a lens, an array of sensing elements and a substantially planar member which is arranged to rotate about an axis, the member comprising a plurality of refractive regions, transmissive to radiation to which the sensing elements are responsive, and adjacent non-transmissive regions which upon rotation of the member intersect a radiation path between the lens and the sensor array, the dimensions of the member being such that the boundary between adjacent transmissive and non-transmissive regions passes over the array with a substantially linear velocity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imager as claimed in claim 5, wherein an image focused on the array is displaced by the member diagonally relative to rows and columns of the array.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one revolution of the member generates at least two sets of microscanned images upon the array of sensing elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a boundary between adjacent regions of the member which passes through the radiation path is curved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the member includes transmissive and non-transmissive regions which have substantially identical dimensions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the member is adapted to rotate about an axis at a constant angular velocity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a plurality of transmissive refractive regions which in operation successively refract the radiation path in different directions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the refractive material refracts radiation such that an image focused on the sensing elements by the lens is refracted by a distance less than the distance between centres of adjacent sensing elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a motor for driving the member in synchronism with the readout of the sensing elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensing elements are pyroelectic elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the radiation is sequentially refracted in four orthogonal directions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the member comprises four transmissive refractive regions interposed between four non-transmissive regions, each of the refractive regions being orientated to refract in the same direction relative to the member such that when the member is rotated each refractive region successively interposed in the radiation path refracts radiation to displace the image in a direction at 90° to the direction in which it was displaced by the preceding refractive region.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an integral multiple of four transmissive refractive regions interposed between a corresponding number of non-transmissive regions, the orientation of each refractive region being such that when the member is rotated each refractive region successively interposed in the radiation path refracts radiation to displace the image at an angle of 90° to the direction in which it was displaced by the preceding refractive region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the member comprises multiple series of refractive regions such that corresponding multiple cycles of refractions of the image to different positions, on the sensor array are obtained per revolution of the member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.