Patent ID: 7116437

Claim:
A multi-axis imaging system for imaging an object, comprising: a two-dimensions microscope array with a plurality of optical elements arranged in rows, said optical elements being configured to image respective sections of the object; a scanning mechanism for producing an imaging scan of the object as a result of a relative movement between the microscope array and the object; a plurality of image sensing elements corresponding to said optical elements and disposed in respective image spaces thereof to capture respective images of said sections of the object; and at least one baffle corresponding to a respective one of said optical elements and disposed along an optical pathway thereof to block light from outside the field of view of said respective one of said optical elements from reaching a corresponding image sensing element thereof; wherein said imaging scan is implemented along a linear direction of scan across the object and said rows of the microscope array are staggered with respect to said direction of scan, such that each of the optical elements images a respective continuous strip of the object along said direction of scan during the imaging scan of the scanning mechanism, said continuous strip being substantially free of overlap with continuous strips imaged by other optical elements.