US5739852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic imaging system and sensor for use therefor with a nonlinear distribution of imaging elements
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1995-08-09
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2015-08-09
Abstract
Abstract An electronic imaging system for capturing an image comprising a lens and an imaging sensor. The lens produces an optical image. The imaging sensor has a surface in optical communication with the lens, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal. The imaging sensor includes a plurality of imaging elements, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function. The distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Patrick Richardson
- 👤 Bruce Edward Stuckman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N25/00; H04N25/60; H04N25/61; H04N25/70; H04N25/702
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An electronic imaging system for capturing an image, the system comprising; a lens for producing a optical image; and an imaging sensor, having a surface in optical communication with the lens, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal, the imaging sensor comprising a plurality of imaging elements, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function; wherein the distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface and wherein each of the plurality of imaging elements is addressable by a two-dimensional address.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An electronic imaging system for capturing an image, the system comprising; a lens for producing a optical image; and an imaging sensor, having a surface in optical communication with the lens, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal, the imaging sensor comprising a plurality of imaging elements, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function; wherein the distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface and wherein each of the plurality of imaging elements is addressable by a two-dimensional address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of imaging elements includes a pixel of a charge-coupled device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of imaging elements are in a two-dimensional array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the nonlinear function can be represented by: rho=rho.sub.0 (1-(rT/180R').sup.2).sup.-1/2 where r is a radial distance of a selected imaging element from the center point of the two-dimensional array, rho 0 is the density of the distribution of imaging elements, R' corresponds to a maximum radius r of the two-dimensional array and where T is the maximum angle captured by the wide-angle lens (in degrees).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the output signal is a video signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the output signal includes a plurality of image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a display, responsive to the output signal, for displaying the image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a image processing unit, responsive to the output signal and a user command signal, for selectively magnifying a first region of the image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising a image processing unit, responsive to the output signal and a user command signal, for selectively panning from a second region of the image to a third region of the image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 8 further comprising a user interface device, coupled to the image processing unit, for generating the user command signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A sensor for use in an electronic imaging system having a lens that produces a optical image, the sensor comprising; a surface in optical communication with the lens; and a plurality of imaging elements, coupled to the surface, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function; wherein the distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface and each of the plurality of imaging elements is electronically addressable by a two-dimensional address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A sensor for use in an electronic imaging system having a lens that produces a optical image, the sensor comprising; a surface in optical communication with the lens; and a plurality of imaging elements, coupled to the surface, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function; wherein the distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface and each of the plurality of imaging elements is electronically addressable by a two-dimensional address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein each of the plurality of imaging elements includes a pixel of a charge-coupled device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the plurality of imaging elements are in a two-dimensional array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the nonlinear function can be represented by: rho=rho.sub.0 (1-(rT/180R').sup.2).sup.-1/2 where r is a radial distance of a selected imaging element from the center point of the two-dimensional array, rho 0 is the density of the distribution of imaging elements, R' corresponds to a maximum radius r of the two-dimensional array and where T is the maximum angle captured by the lens (in degrees).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the output signal is a video signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the output signal includes a plurality of image data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the lens includes a wide-angle lens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The sensor of claim 11 wherein the lens includes a wide-angle lens.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image sensor comprising: a first set of imaging elements within a first region of a surface of the sensor, the first region including a center point of the surface of the sensor, the first set of imaging elements having a first distribution density; and a second set of imaging elements within a second region of the surface of the sensor, the second region not including the center point of the surface of the sensor, the second set of imaging elements having a second distribution density, the second distribution density exceeding the first distribution density, each of the imaging elements in the first and second set of imaging elements addressable by two-dimensional coordinates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
An image sensor comprising: a first set of imaging elements within a first region of a surface of the sensor, the first region including a center point of the surface of the sensor, the first set of imaging elements having a first distribution density; and a second set of imaging elements within a second region of the surface of the sensor, the second region not including the center point of the surface of the sensor, the second set of imaging elements having a second distribution density, the second distribution density exceeding the first distribution density, each of the imaging elements in the first and second set of imaging elements addressable by two-dimensional coordinates.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image sensor of claim 19, wherein the second region includes a peripheral point of the surface of the image sensor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The image sensor of claim 19, wherein each of the imaging elements includes a pixel of a charge-coupled device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The image sensor of claim 19, wherein the imaging elements are electronically addressed by the two-dimensional coordinates and the coordinates are rectangular coordinates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of imaging elements arranged in a rectangular two-dimensional array, the plurality of imaging elements including: a first set of imaging elements within a first region of a surface of the sensor, the first region including a center point of the surface of the sensor having a first distribution density; and a second set of imaging elements within a second region of the surface of the sensor, the second region not including the center point of the surface of the sensor, the second set of imaging elements having a second distribution density, the second distribution density exceeding the first distribution density.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
106 words
An image sensor comprising: a plurality of imaging elements arranged in a rectangular two-dimensional array, the plurality of imaging elements including: a first set of imaging elements within a first region of a surface of the sensor, the first region including a center point of the surface of the sensor having a first distribution density; and a second set of imaging elements within a second region of the surface of the sensor, the second region not including the center point of the surface of the sensor, the second set of imaging elements having a second distribution density, the second distribution density exceeding the first distribution density.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-13 | 2001-10-13 | 2002-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-10-13 | 2006-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-13 | 2009-10-13 | 2010-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |