Super resolution imaging and tracking system

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention provides an imaging system, which includes an optical system for collecting light from a field of view and directing it to an image plane. One or more image detecting elements are disposed on a movable platform coupled to the image plane. The image detecting elements detect the collected light and generate image data corresponding to the field of view. A processor in communication with the image detecting elements receives the image data. The processor is configured to effect movement of the platform to move the one or more image detecting elements within the image plane to gather the image data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging system, comprising:
 an optical system for collecting light from a field of view and directing it to an image plane;   one or more image detecting elements disposed on a movable platform disposed in the image plane for detecting at least a portion of the collected light to generate image data corresponding to the field of view; and   a processor in communication with the one or more image detecting elements to receive the image data;   wherein the processor is configured to effect movement of the platform to move the one or more image detecting elements within the image plane to gather the image data; and   wherein the processor is further configured to create a first image from the image data representing at least a portion of the field of view and create a second image from the image data representing at least a portion of the field of view depicted in the first image.   
     
     
         2 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further configured to create the first image from the image data at a first resolution and create the second image from the image data at a second resolution that is greater than the first resolution. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The imaging system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor analyzes the first image to identify one or more objects of interest in the field of view, if any, and effects acquisition of the image data such that the second image corresponds to a portion of the field of view containing the one or more objects of interest. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging system of  claim 4 , wherein said image detecting elements are distributed non-uniformly over the platform. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging system of  claim 8 , wherein said non-uniform distribution comprises a plurality of image detecting clusters (tiles), each of which has a density of image detecting elements greater than an average density of the image detecting elements over the platform. 
     
     
         10 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The imaging system of  claim 9 , wherein said processor is configured to operate on image data acquired by a plurality of image detecting elements in m number of said clusters to generate said first image and to operate on image data acquired by a plurality of image detecting elements in n number of said clusters to generate said second image, where n is greater than m. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator in communication with the movable platform and the processor, said actuator effecting movement of the platform in response to instructions from the processor. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein said movable platform comprises a rotatable platform and said actuator effects rotation of said rotatable platform. 
     
     
         16 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein said movable platform comprises a translating platform that translates in two dimensions across the image plane and said actuator effects translation of said translating platform. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein said image data acquired by the image detecting elements comprises a plurality of image pixels and the processor operates on a fraction of said pixels to generate said first image. 
     
     
         19 . The imaging system of  claim 18 , wherein said fraction of the pixels comprises any of about ½, about ¼, about ⅕, about 1/10, about 1/100, about 1/200, about 1/1000, or about 1/10,000 of the image pixels. 
     
     
         20 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An imaging method, comprising:
 providing a plurality of image detecting elements disposed on a rotatable platform;   capturing light emanating from a field of view and directing the captured light to the plurality of image detecting elements at a first orientation of said platform;   generating first image data using the plurality of image detecting elements;   operating on the first image data to generate a first image of the field of view at a lower resolution;   rotating the platform;   generating second image data using the plurality of image detecting elements; and   operating on said second image data to generate a second image of a portion of the field of view depicted in the first image at a second resolution;   wherein the resolution of the second image is greater than the resolution of the first image.   
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first and second image data comprises a plurality of image pixels. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said first image data comprises a plurality of image pixels suitable for generating an image of the entire field of view. 
     
     
         37 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . An optical tracking system, comprising:
 an optical system for receiving light from a field of view and for directing the received light to a plurality of image detecting elements disposed on a rotatable platform; said image detecting elements being configured to generate image data in response to detection of said received light; and   a processor in communication with the plurality of image detecting elements configured to receive said image data;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 control the image detecting elements to acquire image data; 
 operate on said image data to generate a first image of the field of view at a first resolution; 
 analyze the first image to identify at least one object of interest, if any, in the field of view; 
 effect a rotation of the rotatable platform and control at least a portion of said image detecting elements to acquire image data corresponding to at least a portion of the field of view in which said object of interest is contained; and 
 operate on said image data to generate a second image of said object of interest at a second resolution that is greater than the first resolution. 
   
     
     
         42 . The optical tracking system of  claim 41 , wherein said processor is configured to control different portions of said image detecting elements to acquire image data of said object of interest as the platform continues to rotate. 
     
     
         43 . The optical tracking system of  claim 41 , wherein said image detecting elements are distributed non-uniformly across said platform. 
     
     
         44 . The optical tracking system of  claim 43 , wherein said non-uniform distribution of the image detecting elements is characterized by a plurality of clusters of said image detecting elements separated from one another by one or more detector-free zones. 
     
     
         45 . The optical tracking system of  claim 44 , wherein said rotation of the platform results in one or more of the image detecting elements detecting light from one or more portions of the field of view that is incident on one or more detector-free zones when the platform is stationary. 
     
     
         46 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to effect continuous rotation of the rotatable platform as the image data is gathered.