Patent ID: 6947128

Claim:
A system for obtaining at least one output signal corresponding to at least one image of an object-wherein there is relative motion between the object and the system, comprising: (a) a collection lens disposed so that light traveling from the object passes through the collection lens and travels along a collection path, said collection lens substantially collimating light from the object; (b) an imaging lens disposed in the collection path to receive light that has passed through the collection lens, producing focused light that is directed along an imaging path; and (c) a time delay integration (TDI) detector configured to generated at least one output signal corresponding to at least one image of the object, said TDI detector disposed to receive the focused light directed along the imaging path, said TDI detector being inclined at an angle relative to the imaging path, so that a plane of the TDI detector is not perpendicular to the imaging path, and so that light from the imaging path that is incident on a first part of said TDI detector forms an image exhibiting a first focus, while light from the imaging path that is incident on a different part of said TDI detector forms an image exhibiting a different relative focus.