DE19922261A1 - Digital image converter with chip having light sensitive or light emitting surfaces for electronic cameras and projectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The image converter includes a chip with light sensitive or light emitting surfaces. The optical image axis or image plane is displaced, relative to the chip, horizontally, vertically and/or in the axial direction of the image axis. In this way a spatial volume pattern can be created in the surrounding field of each pixel, producing multiple picture elements for each pixel of the chip.

Description

The number of available pixels from electronic cameras and Projectors is technologically limited.

There is a great need to produce high-resolution digital images. This is in the desire for image enlargement, photo printing and digital zooming justified.

The same applies to LCD or LED projectors.

The depth of field of recordings with optical systems is limited. Autofocus systems can focus on image sections, but never that whole picture at the same time if this contains foreground and background.

Optical systems with optics cannot do the third dimension record, three-dimensional data cannot be obtained.

The object of the invention is given a number of photosensitive Points or light-emitting points, here called pixels, on the electronic chip for recording or playback, here chip for short called to get a substantial increase in the pixel count and the Sharpness of all image areas largely independent of their distance from the Ensure optics and data related to the third dimension too receive.

This is achieved according to the invention by, on the one hand, a chip with normal or even rough division of the pixels is used, that is, with proportionality low number of pixels, the pixels of which are however several times smaller than their number Distance, here called division, and all pixels together relative to optical image plane step by step within the pitch and are shifted column by column so that that of the respective pixel unfilled area of a graduation area is scanned and on the other hand, the image plane opposite the recording chip in the direction of the optical axis can be shifted in stages and in each stage Image data sets are generated, which are selected after the division area of the Chips most contrasting image sections to a completely sharp image can be put together.

In the example in Fig. 1, a recording chip ( 1 ) with the dimensions 18 mm. 24 mm is selected.

The division of the pixels is 0.04 mm, the size of the pixels is 0.005 mm, i.e. in this example eight times smaller than the division. The number of pixels is 270,000.

If the chip ( 1 ) with all pixels ( 2 ) is moved and exposed relative to the optical axis in steps of 0.005 mm horizontally and vertically up to 0.04 mm, i.e. the pitch of the pixels (in the example), you get from everyone Pixels 64 pixels that are assigned to the graduation area ( 3 ) where there are no pixels. This results in a total of 270 000.64 = 17.28 million pixels. With a grid of a paper image of 0.125 mm, the image can be enlarged to the format 600 mm. 400 mm in the example.

A further increase is, of course, logically possible. It can also do that Ratio of the size of the pixels to the division can be chosen arbitrarily.

The enlargement potential can of course also be used for digital zooming be used.

It can also be scanned in coarser steps or not at all if the Image claim is low. This would be a setting parameter on the camera.

Scanning can take place by the chip parallel to the image axes is shifted (here 0.04 mm in the two image axes) or in which the Beam path to the chip is influenced so that the optical image around the Division is deflected. The latter is ideally done with electronic Prisms that deflect in the image axes.

The generation of recordings of the distances z. B. Infinite / 5m / 3.5m / 2m / 1.4m. . . can be adjusted by gradually changing the optics (e.g. in 8 Steps from infinity to 0.4 m) are reached according to the distance step become and is synonymous with spatial scanning. An autofocus is not necessary.

After analysis of all image areas, those with the highest contrast can be seen are put together and thus provide a sharp picture overall.

Image plane errors of the optics are eliminated, which is the use of lens systems allowed today when using sheet films and plan chips are unthinkable.

Bright lenses can be used without losing depth of field become.  

In addition, chromatically uncorrected lenses can be used become.

From the distance values of the most contrasting graduation areas, their Distance to the camera can be determined and evaluated if necessary become.

The improvement in depth of field that can be achieved and that higher image resolution can of course also be used independently be applied.

The empty areas on the recording chip, which are located between the pixels can result for analog-digital conversion, storage units, input Output units and arithmetic units are used.

The exchange of light-sensitive chips for light-emitting chips (e.g. LCD projection) can from a recording system Projector system.

Theoretically, a combination on a chip is also conceivable that both a light sensitive pixel as well as a light emitting pixel each Includes division area.

Of course, all known pixels can be used on the pixels obtained in this way Algorithms for image optimization are applied.

A scan in smaller steps than the pixel size can be in Connection with appropriate algorithms also leads to an increase of accuracy.

The high number of pixels in the example with spatial scanning in eight levels of 270 000.8.8.8 = 138.24 million, would be at conventional systems lead to very long recording times.

However, since each pixel or division field has an analog-digital converter and Buffer can be assigned, the AD conversion time in Example 270,000 times reduced compared to conventional systems. The same applies to arithmetic operations that run 270,000 times in parallel become.

Claims (9)

1. Digital image converter with a chip with a plurality of light-sensitive or light-emitting surfaces, pixels, characterized in that the optical image axis, or image plane relative to the chip is shifted horizontally, vertically and / or in the axial direction of the image axis, a The volume of space in the vicinity of each pixel can be scanned, so that a multiple of pixels can be generated for each pixel of the chip. 2. Claim according to 1, characterized in that the pixels are essential are smaller than their pitch. 3. Claim according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the relative horizontal and vertical shift of the chip to the optical Axis done by means of electronic prisms. 4. Claim according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the relative horizontal and vertical shift of the chip to the optical Axis is carried out by means of electrical actuators that hold the receiving chip deflect parallel to the image plane. 5. Claim according to one of the preceding claims or one Combination of these, characterized in that the relocation the recording chip in the direction of the optical axis by method of the lens set. 6. Claim according to one of the preceding claims or one Combination of these, characterized in that the receiving chip in the direction of the optical axis of an actuator relative to the Lens system is moved. 7. Claim according to claim 1 and 2 optionally in combination with the other claims, characterized in that the images from different distance setting of the optics in partial areas Contrast are analyzed and the areas with the highest contrast too an optimally sharp overall picture. 8. Claim according to one of the preceding claims or one Combination of these, characterized in that the areas between the pixels for analog-digital converters, arithmetic units, input Output units and / or memory can be used. 9. Claim according to claims 1 to 4 and combinations thereof, characterized in that the beam path originates from the pixels and so a projector with high resolution at comparatively low Number of pixels is enabled.