Super-resolution digital zoom

Abstract

When a user selects digital zooming in a camera such as might be included in a wireless telephone or PDA, a series of images are automatically obtained and superimposed using super-resolution techniques to produce an improved digital zoom image transparently to the user.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus, comprising:
 an imager;   and   a processor configured for accessing instructions to configure the processor for combining at least two images derived from signals from the imager to render a modified digital zoom image from the at least two images, the modified zoom image having a higher resolution than at least one of the two images; and   the processor when accessing the instructions being configured for sending to computer storage or to a display the modified digital zoom image, wherein the processor when executing the instructions renders the modified zoom image.   
     
     
         15 . Apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the images are superimposed using super-resolution. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus has no capability for optical zooming. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the imager is a charge coupled device (CCD). 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is embodied as a wireless telephone. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is embodied as a personal digital assistant (PDA).