Patent US5063450A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5063450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for preventing aliasing in an electronic still camera
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1990-11-28
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Granted: 1991-11-05
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Expires: 2010-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for eliminating aliasing in an electronic still camera without the use of a birefringent filter is disclosed. Instead of a birefringent filter, mechanical dithering is utilized to move the pixel elements of a solid-state imager in a controlled manner with respect to an incident image. The movement of the pixel elements by mechanical dithering spreads light from the incident image among neighboring pixels of the image sensor and therefore performs the same function as a birefringent filter to prevent aliasing in an electronic camera.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Pritchard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40056; H04N23/00; H04N23/58; H04N25/00; H04N25/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An image sensor structure comprising: an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes light incident on said image sensor device during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array to prevent aliasing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image sensor structure comprising: an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes light incident on said image sensor device during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array to prevent aliasing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image sensor structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion includes electromechanical elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image sensor structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electromechanical elements comprise piezoelectric elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image sensor structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein said drive means for imparting a controlled motion further comprises means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
An image sensor structure comprising: an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, said drive means including piezoelectric elements and means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes light incident on said image sensor device during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array to prevent aliasing; wherein said piezoelectric elements include first and second piezoelectric elements and said sinusoidal signals include first and second sinusoidal signals out of phase by 90 degrees that are respectively applied to said first and second piezoelectric elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An image sensor structure comprising: an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, said drive means including piezoelectric elements and means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes light incident on said image sensor device during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array to prevent aliasing; wherein said piezoelectric elements include first and second piezoelectric elements and said sinusoidal signals include first and second sinusoidal signals out of phase by 90 degrees that are respectively applied to said first and second piezoelectric elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic camera comprising: means for focusing image light on an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device to generate an output signal corresponding to said image light while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes said image light during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array thereby preventing aliasing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electronic camera comprising: means for focusing image light on an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device to generate an output signal corresponding to said image light while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes said image light during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array thereby preventing aliasing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic camera as claimed in claim 6, wherein said drive means for imparting a controlled motion includes electromechanical elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electronic camera as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electromechanical elements comprise piezoelectric elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic camera as claimed in claim 8, wherein said drive means for imparting a controlled motion further comprises means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
An electronic camera comprising: means for focusing image light on an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, said drive means including piezoelectric elements and means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device to generate an output signal corresponding to said image light while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; wherein said piezoelectric elements include first and second piezoelectric elements and said sinusoidal signals include first and second sinusoidal signals out of phase by 90 degrees that are respectively applied to said first and second piezoelectric elements; and wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes said image light during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array thereby preventing aliasing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
An electronic camera comprising: means for focusing image light on an image sensor device including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in an array; drive means for imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device, said drive means including piezoelectric elements and means for generating sinusoidal signals and applying said sinusoidal signals to said piezoelectric elements; means for controlling an exposure operation of said image sensor device to generate an output signal corresponding to said image light while said drive means is imparting said controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; wherein said piezoelectric elements include first and second piezoelectric elements and said sinusoidal signals include first and second sinusoidal signals out of phase by 90 degrees that are respectively applied to said first and second piezoelectric elements; and wherein said controlled two-dimensional motion causes said image light during said exposure operation to be distributed among neighboring pixel elements of said array thereby preventing aliasing.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of preventing aliasing in an electronic camera comprising the steps of: focusing image light on an image sensor device including an array of picture elements; imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; and exposing said picture elements to said image light while said controlled two-dimensional motion is imparted to said image sensor device, wherein said image light is distributed among neighboring picture elements of said array in order to prevent aliasing.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of preventing aliasing in an electronic camera comprising the steps of: focusing image light on an image sensor device including an array of picture elements; imparting a controlled two-dimensional motion to said image sensor device; and exposing said picture elements to said image light while said controlled two-dimensional motion is imparted to said image sensor device, wherein said image light is distributed among neighboring picture elements of said array in order to prevent aliasing.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-04 | 1995-05-06 | 1995-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-04 | 1999-05-06 | 1999-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-04 | 2003-05-06 | 2003-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |