Patent US5225893A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6344893B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6344893B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Super-resolving imaging system
Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-06-19
•
Granted: 2002-02-05
•
Expires: 2020-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A super-resolving imaging apparatus employs diffractive optical elements placed on the imaging lens. This element, and the use of a modified Scheimpflug arrangement allow the conversion of degrees of freedom in one axis of a field of view to a larger degree of freedom in another axis in order to obtain a high resolution image with a wide depth of focus and large field of view. Replicas created by the diffractive elements are mutually shifted by subpixel amounts, and are combined using a Gabor transform, which is facilitated by a spatial mask placed over the detector array. The apparatus is suitable for performing distance estimation on an object within the field of view.
Inventors
- 👤 David Mendlovic
- 👤 Zeev Zalevsky
- 👤 Naim Konforti
- 👤 Emanuel Marom
- 👤 Gal Shabtay
- 👤 Uriel Levy
- 👤 Sharon Karako
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:20
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/42; G02B27/4205; G01; G01C; G01C3/00; G01C3/02; G01C3/06; G01C3/08; G02B27/58; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/166
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: tilting an image plane with respect to an object plane; defining pixel units on said image plane; defining a field of view on said object plane, wherein a vertical dimension of said field of view differs from a horizontal dimension thereof; forming a plurality of images of said field of view on said image plane, said images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; and super-resolving said images into an enhanced image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: tilting an image plane with respect to an object plane; defining pixel units on said image plane; defining a field of view on said object plane, wherein a vertical dimension of said field of view differs from a horizontal dimension thereof; forming a plurality of images of said field of view on said image plane, said images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; and super-resolving said images into an enhanced image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of super-resolving is geometrically performed by transforming said images according to a Gabor transform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein said step of super-resolving further comprises applying a spatial mask to said image plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method according to claim 3 , wherein said spatial mask is given by a function m ( x ) = 1 - ∑ i = 1 M rect ( x δ x i ) ⊗ δ ( x - x i ) , wherein M is a total number of slits of said mask, X 1 , X 2 , . . . , X M , are locations of said slits, δx i is a width of an i th slit,and {circle around (x)} denotes convolution; and rect( ) is given by rect ( z ) = { 1 , - 1 / 2 < z < 1 / 2 , 0 , otherwise .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said images are oriented according to a larger of said horizontal dimension and said vertical dimension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising deconvolving out-of-focus point spread functions of said images.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein said step of deconvolving is performed by a Wiener filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of images are formed by time multiplexing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of images are formed by wavelength multiplexing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of images are formed by diffractive gratings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of transforming said plurality of images according to a Mellin transform to define transformed images, and performing a time-to-impact analysis on said transformed images.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of forming a plurality of images further comprises: spatially transforming coordinates of said plurality of images to establish a panoramic field of view, said panoramic field or view comprising a horizontal field of view and a vertical field of view, wherein a magnitude of said horizontal field of view differs from said magnitude of said vertical field of view.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of imaging comprising the steps of simultaneously viewing a plurality of elongated fields of view on a target, wherein a focus of each of said fields of view has a different optical displacement from an imaging surface; diffracting beams of radiant energy that travel along a path extending between said fields of view and said imaging surface to form elongated replicas of each of said fields of view, said replicas being mutually shifted in a direction of elongation thereof, and being mutually displaced in a direction that is substantially transverse to said direction of elongation; and combining said replicas of each of said fields of view into corresponding enhanced images, each of said enhanced images having a higher resolution than resolutions of its associated replicas.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of imaging comprising the steps of simultaneously viewing a plurality of elongated fields of view on a target, wherein a focus of each of said fields of view has a different optical displacement from an imaging surface; diffracting beams of radiant energy that travel along a path extending between said fields of view and said imaging surface to form elongated replicas of each of said fields of view, said replicas being mutually shifted in a direction of elongation thereof, and being mutually displaced in a direction that is substantially transverse to said direction of elongation; and combining said replicas of each of said fields of view into corresponding enhanced images, each of said enhanced images having a higher resolution than resolutions of its associated replicas.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: forming an image plane that is tilted with respect to planes of said fields of view; and determining defocus of said fields of view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein said step of combining is performed by performing a Gabor transform on said replicas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein said step of combining is performed by performing a Mellin transform on an image comprising all of said replicas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising deconvolving out-of-focus point spread functions of said images.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 17 , wherein said step of deconvolving is performed by a Wiener filter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising the step of conducting said beams through a spatial mask that is constructed such that zero values of a Fourier transform of a function representing spatial responsivity of pixels on said image plane are eliminated.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: tilting an image plane with respect to a first object plane and a second object plane, wherein a displacement of said second object plane from said image plane is greater than a displacement of said first object plane from said image plane; defining pixel units on said image plane; defining a first field of view on said first object plane, and defining a second field of view on said second object plane, wherein vertical dimensions of said first field of view and said second field of view differ from respective horizontal dimensions thereof; forming a plurality of first images of said first field of view on said image plane, said first images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; simultaneously forming a plurality of second images of said second field of view on said image plane, said second images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; super-resolving said first images into a first enhanced image, and super-resolving said second images into a second enhanced image; and comparing a defocus magnitude of said first field of view with a defocus magnitude of said second field of view.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of imaging, comprising the steps of: tilting an image plane with respect to a first object plane and a second object plane, wherein a displacement of said second object plane from said image plane is greater than a displacement of said first object plane from said image plane; defining pixel units on said image plane; defining a first field of view on said first object plane, and defining a second field of view on said second object plane, wherein vertical dimensions of said first field of view and said second field of view differ from respective horizontal dimensions thereof; forming a plurality of first images of said first field of view on said image plane, said first images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; simultaneously forming a plurality of second images of said second field of view on said image plane, said second images being spatially interrelated by sub-pixel shifts; super-resolving said first images into a first enhanced image, and super-resolving said second images into a second enhanced image; and comparing a defocus magnitude of said first field of view with a defocus magnitude of said second field of view.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said first field of view is obtained through a first region of a lens, and said second field of view is obtained through a second region of said lens.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of super-resolving is geometrically performed by transforming said first images and said second images according to a Gabor transform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 22 , wherein said step of super-resolving further comprises applying a spatial mask to said image plane.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method according to claim 23 , wherein said spatial mask is given by a function m ( x ) = 1 - ∑ i = 1 M rect ( x δ x i ) ⊗ δ ( x - x i ) , wherein M is a total number of slits of said mask, X 1 , X 2 , . . . , X M , are locations of said slits, δx i is a width of an i th slit, and {circle around (x)} denotes convolution; and rect( ) is given by rect ( z ) = { 1 , - 1 / 2 < z < 1 / 2 , 0 , otherwise .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said plurality of first images and said plurality of second images are oriented according to a larger of said horizontal dimension and said vertical dimension.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 20 , further comprising determining a displacement between said image plane and said target responsive to said step of comparing a defocus magnitude.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 20 , further comprising deconvolving out-of-focus point spread functions of said first images and said second images.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 27 , wherein said step of deconvolving is performed by a Wiener filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said first images and said second images are formed by time multiplexing.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said first images and said second images are formed by wavelength multiplexing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said first images and said second images are formed by diffractive gratings.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 20 , further comprising the steps of by transforming said first images and said second images according to a Mellin transform to produce a transformed first image and a transformed second image,and performing a time-to-impact analysis on said transformed first image and said transformed second image.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said first images and said second images are spaced apart, and further comprising determining a position of a target with respect to said first images and said second images by triangulation.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
130 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens having a field of view that includes an object plane, wherein a horizontal dimension of said field of view differs from a vertical dimension thereof; a detector of radiant energy having an image formed thereon by said lens, said detector comprising a plurality of pixel elements; a spatial mask disposed proximate said detector, said mask having a plurality of subpixel apertures formed therein; a diffractive element disposed proximate said lens, wherein a diffracted light beam forms said image on said detector, and said image comprises a plurality of focused replicas of said field of view, said focused replicas being offset from one another by subpixel shifts; and prism disposed between said lens and said detector for refracting radiant energy passing therethrough onto said detector.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
130 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens having a field of view that includes an object plane, wherein a horizontal dimension of said field of view differs from a vertical dimension thereof; a detector of radiant energy having an image formed thereon by said lens, said detector comprising a plurality of pixel elements; a spatial mask disposed proximate said detector, said mask having a plurality of subpixel apertures formed therein; a diffractive element disposed proximate said lens, wherein a diffracted light beam forms said image on said detector, and said image comprises a plurality of focused replicas of said field of view, said focused replicas being offset from one another by subpixel shifts; and prism disposed between said lens and said detector for refracting radiant energy passing therethrough onto said detector.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said spatial mask is formed so as to eliminate zero values from a Fourier transform of a response function of said pixel elements.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said diffractive element comprises a one dimensional zone plate strip.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said lens comprises means for spatially transforming said plurality of focused replicas to establish said horizontal dimension and said vertical dimension as a panoramic field of view on said detector.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said replicas are mutually shifted in a direction of elongation of said field of view, and are spaced apart from one another in a direction that is substantially transverse to said direction of elongation.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 , further comprising a signal processing unit which is responsive to said detector, and is programmed to combine said replicas into a single image having a greater resolution than said replicas.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein said signal processing unit performs a Gabor transform on a signal output of said detector.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein said signal processing unit performs a Mellin transform on a signal output of said detector.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein said lens comprises a first lens and a second lens spaced apart therefrom.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein said signal processing unit is programmed to determine a displacement by triangulation of a target using a first image thereof obtained from said first lens and a second image thereof obtained from said second lens.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 43 , wherein said signal processing unit is responsive to said first image and said second image on said detector.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 , wherein an aperture of said lens is divided into a first region and a second region, wherein said signal processing unit is programmed to determine a displacement by triangulation of a target, using a first image thereof obtained from said first region of said lens and a second image thereof obtained from said second region of said lens.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
141 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a plurality of lenses each having a corresponding field of view that includes an object plane, wherein a horizontal dimension of said field of view differs from a vertical dimension thereof, said lenses having different focal lengths; a detector of radiant energy having a plurality of corresponding images formed thereon by said lenses, said detector comprising a plurality of pixel elements; a spatial mask disposed proximate said detector, said mask having a plurality of subpixel apertures formed therein; a diffractive element disposed proximate each of said lenses, wherein each said corresponding image on said detector comprises a plurality of focused replicas of said corresponding field of view, said focused replicas being offset from one another by subpixel shifts; and a prism disposed between said lens and said detector for refracting radiant energy passing therethrough onto said detector.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
141 words
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a plurality of lenses each having a corresponding field of view that includes an object plane, wherein a horizontal dimension of said field of view differs from a vertical dimension thereof, said lenses having different focal lengths; a detector of radiant energy having a plurality of corresponding images formed thereon by said lenses, said detector comprising a plurality of pixel elements; a spatial mask disposed proximate said detector, said mask having a plurality of subpixel apertures formed therein; a diffractive element disposed proximate each of said lenses, wherein each said corresponding image on said detector comprises a plurality of focused replicas of said corresponding field of view, said focused replicas being offset from one another by subpixel shifts; and a prism disposed between said lens and said detector for refracting radiant energy passing therethrough onto said detector.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , wherein said prism comprises a plurality of prisms, each said prism refracting radiant energy that is received from a corresponding said lens.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , wherein said spatial mask is formed so as to eliminate zero values from a Fourier transform of a response function of said pixel elements.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , wherein said diffractive element comprises a one dimensional zone plate strip.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , wherein said replicas are mutually shifted in a direction of elongation of said corresponding field of view, and are spaced apart from one another in a direction that is substantially transverse to said direction of elongation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 46 , further comprising a signal processing unit which is responsive to said detector, and is programmed to combine said replicas of each said field of view into a corresponding single image having a greater resolution than said replicas.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 51 , wherein said signal processing unit performs a Gabor transform on a signal output of said detector.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 51 , wherein said signal a processing unit performs a Mellin transform on a signal output of said detector.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 51 , wherein said signal processing unit deconvolves out-of-focus point spread functions of said images.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 54 , wherein said signal processing unit employs a Wiener filter for deconvolving said point spread functions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4253752A
Cited
US4716414A
Cited
US4748316A
Cited
US4820911A
Cited
US4978860A
Cited
US5638211A
Cited
EP0777147A1
Cited
US5680253A
Cited
US5315411A
Cited
US5315095A
Cited
US5657147A
Cited
US5684620A
Cited
WO2000059206A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-02-04 | 2005-08-06 | 2006-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-02-04 | 2009-08-06 | 2010-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-02-04 | 2013-08-06 | 2014-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |