Method and Apparatus For Recording A Sequence Of Images Using A Moving Optical Element

Abstract

An imager ( 200 ) including a spatially varying optical element ( 204 ) which moves while the imager records a sequence of images. The optical element ( 204 ) can be an intensity reduction filter, a spectral or polarization filter, or a refractive or reflective element. Because the optical element ( 204 ) moves between frames, each scene portion is captured under a range of imaging conditions. A spatially varying intensity reduction filter enables imaging of each scene portion using multiple, different exposure to generate a high dynamic range image. A spatially varying spectral or polarization filter enables measurement of the spectral or polarization characteristics of radiation from each scene portion. A refractive or reflective element enables imaging of scene portions under various focal characteristics, thereby providing depth information and producing an image which is focused everywhere. A refractive or reflective element is used to apply different vertical and/or horizontal shifts to the different frames, thereby generating an enhanced-resolution image.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A method for imaging a scene, comprising:
 continuously moving in repetitive fashion an optical element in a reference frame of an imager, the optical element comprising at least one of a refractive element, a reflective element, and an interference filter, the imager including an image detector, the step of continuously moving the optical element comprising moving the optical element into a first position in the reference frame of the imager during a first time period, and moving the optical element into a second position in the reference frame of the imager during a second time period, the second position being different from the first position;   receiving a first set of radiation ray bundles comprising radiation from the scene by the optical element during the first time period;   optically processing the first set of radiation ray bundles by the optical element during the first time period for producing a second set of radiation ray bundles;   detecting intensities of the second set of radiation ray bundles by the image detector during the first time period for deriving a first set of intensity values;   recording the first set of intensity values as a first image;   receiving a third set of radiation ray bundles comprising radiation from the scene by the optical element during the second time period;   optically processing the third set of radiation ray bundles by the optical element during the second time period for producing a fourth set of radiation ray bundles; and   detecting intensities of the fourth set of radiation ray bundles by the image detector during the second time period for deriving a second set of intensity values;   recording the second set of intensity values as a second image; and   processing the first and second images to derive a third image having at least one of: (a) an enhanced spatial resolution greater than a respective spatial resolutions of the first and second images, and (b) an enhanced spectral resolution greater than respective spectral resolutions of the first and second images.   
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the optical element comprises at least one of the refractive element and the reflective element, the image detector including a plurality of detector elements disposed in an array, each of the plurality of detector elements having one of a plurality of detector element center locations, the first set of radiation ray bundles including a first radiation ray bundle, the second set of radiation ray bundles including a second radiation ray bundle, the step of optically processing the first set of radiation ray bundles including optically processing the first radiation ray bundle by the optical element for producing the second radiation ray bundle, the first radiation ray bundle having a first chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the second radiation ray bundle having a second chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the second chief ray impinging upon none of the detector element center locations, the third set of radiation ray bundles including a third radiation ray bundle, the fourth set of radiation ray bundles including a fourth radiation ray bundle, the step of optically processing the third set of radiation ray bundles including optically processing the third radiation ray bundle by the optical element for producing the fourth radiation ray bundle, the third radiation ray bundle having the first chief ray, the fourth radiation ray bundle having a third chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the third chief ray impinging upon one of the plurality of detector element center locations. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the optical element comprises the interference filter, the first set of radiation ray bundles including a first radiation ray bundle, the first radiation ray bundle having a first chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the step of optically processing the first set of radiation ray bundles including spectrally filtering the first radiation ray bundle by the interference filter according to a first spectral filtering characteristic thereof, the third set of radiation ray bundles including a second radiation ray bundle, the second radiation ray bundle having the first chief ray, the step of optically processing the third set of radiation ray bundles including spectrally filtering the second radiation ray bundle by the interference filter according to a second spectral filtering characteristic thereof, the second spectral filtering characteristic being different from the first spectral filtering characteristic. 
   
   
       12 - 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . An imager, comprising:
 an optical element comprising at least one of a refractive element, a reflective element, and an interference filter;   an optical element driver for continuously moving in repetitive fashion the optical element in a reference frame of the imager, the optical element driver for moving the optical element into a first position in the reference frame of the imager during a first time period, the optical element for receiving a first set of radiation ray bundles during the first time period, the optical element for optically processing the first set of radiation ray bundles for producing a second set of radiation ray bundles, the optical element driver for moving the optical element into a second position in the reference frame of the imager during a second time period, the second position being different from the first position, the optical element for receiving a third set of radiation ray bundles during the second time period, and the optical element for optically processing the third set of radiation ray bundles during the second time period for producing a fourth set of radiation ray bundles;   an image detector for detecting intensities of the second set of radiation ray bundles during the first time period for deriving a first set of intensity values, the image detector for detecting intensities of the fourth set of radiation ray bundles during the second time period for deriving a second set of intensity values;   at least one memory for recording the first set of intensity values as a first image, the at least one memory for recording the second set of intensity values as a second image; and   a processor for processing the first and second images to derive a third image having at least one of: (a) an enhanced spatial resolution greater than a respective spatial resolutions of the first and second images, and (b) an enhanced spectral resolution greater than respective spectral resolutions of the first and second images.   
   
   
       21 . An imager according to  claim 20 , wherein the optical element comprises at least one of the refractive element and the reflective element, the image detector including a plurality of detector elements disposed in an array, each of the plurality of detector elements having a respective one of a plurality of detector element center locations, the first set of radiation ray bundles including a first radiation ray bundle, the second set of radiation ray bundles including a second radiation ray bundle, the at least one of the refractive element and the reflective element being for optically processing the first radiation ray bundle during the first time period, for producing the second radiation ray bundle, the first radiation ray bundle having a first chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the second radiation ray bundle having a second chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the second chief ray impinging on none of the detector element center locations, the third set of radiation ray bundles including a third radiation ray bundle, the fourth set of radiation ray bundles including a fourth radiation ray bundle, the at least one of the refractive element and the reflective element for optically processing the third radiation ray bundle during the second time period for producing the fourth radiation ray bundle, the third radiation ray bundle having the first chief ray, the fourth radiation ray bundle having a third chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the third chief ray impinging on one of the plurality of detector element center locations. 
   
   
       22 . An imager according to  claim 20 , wherein the optical element comprises the interference filter, the first set of radiation ray bundles including a first radiation ray bundle, the first radiation ray bundle having a first chief ray in the reference frame of the imager, the second set of radiation ray bundles including a second radiation ray bundle, the interference filter for spectrally filtering the first radiation ray bundle according to a first spectral filtering characteristic for producing the second radiation ray bundle, the third set of radiation ray bundles including a third radiation ray bundle, the third radiation ray bundle having the first chief ray, the fourth set of radiation ray bundles including a fourth radiation ray bundle, the interference filter for spectrally filtering the third radiation ray bundle according to a second spectral filtering characteristic for producing the fourth radiation ray bundle, the second spectral filtering characteristic being different from the first spectral filtering characteristic.