Imaging method

摘要

The invention relates to an imaging method, including reconstructing a final image (IF) from intensity values inputted by a limited selection of photodetectors (2). One out of every two photodetectors is selected along columns (CDET) and rows (LDET). The final image has a resolution that is double that of a picture within the plane of the photodetectors. With identical resolution, the modulation transfer function is improved relative to an image that would be inputted while using all the photodetectors. Additionally, an image-sensing optical system that is used for an imaging method according to the invention can be of reduced size and weight, having constant resolution and constant modulation transfer functions.

主权项

1. An imaging method for providing a final image composed of intensity values assigned respectively to pixels of a matrix of the final image consisting of adjacent columns and adjacent rows of pixels, the method comprising:
carrying an image-capturing instrument on board an aircraft or spacecraft, said image-capturing instrument comprising an image-sensing optical system and at least one array of photodetectors which is arranged in a focal plane of the image-sensing optical system, said array of photodetectors consisting of adjacent columns and adjacent rows of photodetectors; using the image-capturing instrument to capture radiation intensity values originating from unit regions of a scene; then constructing the final image by assigning certain of the intensity values to the pixels of the final image matrix, wherein: the captured intensity values are restricted to a selection of one photodetector out of two along the columns and along the rows of the array of photodetectors, in a manner that constructs a selection of one photodetector out of four in said array of photodetectors; and the pixels of the final image matrix to which are assigned the intensity values captured by the selected photodetectors are adjacent to each other in the columns and rows of said final image matrix, and wherein the resolution in the focal plane of the image-sensing optical system which results from the size of each photo detector is two times smaller than the resolution associated with each pixel in the final image.