Non-mechanical step scanner for electro-optical sensors
US5448395A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/48
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A non-mechanically scanned optical sensor system includes a stationary sensor array having an image plane, a lens system characterized by a field of view corresponding to image of a scene viewed by the lens system, an image divider for dividing the image into plural contiguous sub-images and a device for directing each of the sub-images onto substantially the entirety of the image plane of the sensor array. The directing device in one embodiment is an array of small lenses coextensive with respective light beams of respective sub-images of an image viewed by the lens system. In another embodiment, both the image divider and the directing device are realized together as an X-Y addressable array of electrically deformable optical elements, such as silicon micro-mirrors, individually directing respective ones of the sub-images to the sensor array. In another embodiment, the image divider is a spatial light modulator having an array of optical shutters controlling respective sub-images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.