Patent ID: 6583865
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: G01J,G01N,G06K

Abstract:
A system for obtaining at least one output signal corresponding to at least one image of an object that is formed along an inclined focal plane passing through the object, wherein there is relative motion between the object and the system, comprising:(a) a time delay integration (TDI) detector disposed to receive light from the object along an imaging path, forming said at least one image of the object on a plane of said TDI detector that is inclined at an angle relative to the imaging path, so that the plane of the TDI detector is not perpendicular to the imaging path, said angle determining an angle of the inclined focal plane; and (b) an optical element disposed between the object and the TDI detector and oriented so that light traveling from the object is directed along the imaging path to form said at least one image of the object on the plane of the TDI detector, in response thereto, said TDI detector producing one of: (i) an output signal corresponding to an image of the object relative to the inclined focal plane, said output signal being a composite of the light from the object at differing focal positions within the object, taken along the inclined focal plane, and being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at the differing focal positions; and (ii) a plurality of output signals, each output signal corresponding to an image of the object formed on the plane of the TDI detector relative to a different focal position along the inclined focal plane, said plurality of output signals being indicative of at least one characteristic of the object at different focal positions within the object, along the inclined focal plane.