Higher resolution still image generation from lower resolution video camera frames

1. A method to generate a higher resolution still frame, comprising:

configuring a video camera to capture a video that includes successive video frames captured by alternating between a first configuration of the video camera and a second configuration of the video camera, the first configuration adapting the video camera to capture video at a first pixel offset and the second configuration adapting the video camera to capture the video at a second pixel offset;

capturing a first frame of a field-of-view through the video camera configured at the first configuration, the first frame containing the field-of-view captured at the first pixel offset;

upon capturing the first frame of the field-of-view through the video camera, adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration, the adjustment using a hardware mechanism; and

upon adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration, capturing a second frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the second configuration, the second frame containing the field-of-view captured at the second pixel offset.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising integrating the first frame and the second frame to generate the higher resolution still frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises driving an adaptive optic arranged between two lenses within a multi-element lens of the video camera, wherein the adaptive optic is driven to shift a position of projected pixels on a focal plane array of the video camera from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adaptive optic comprises plain glass.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adaptive optic is electrically driven by operating the hardware mechanism on the video camera.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hardware mechanism comprises a microactuator configured to drive the adaptive optic.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hardware mechanism drives the adaptive optic in a predetermined configuration from the first configuration to the second configuration.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hardware mechanism drives the adaptive optic in an arbitrary configuration from the first configuration to the second configuration.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises adjusting a focal plane array contained in the video camera, wherein the focal plane array is adjusted to shift a position of projected pixels on the focal plane array from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the focal plane array comprises a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor array or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor array.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the focal plane array is electrically adjusted by operating the hardware mechanism on the video camera.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises driving an adaptive optic arranged between a focal plane array and a multi-element lens of the video camera, wherein the adaptive optic is driven to shift a position of projected pixels on the focal plane array of the video camera from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the adaptive optic is electrically driven by operating the hardware mechanism on the video camera.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a difference between the first pixel offset and the second pixel offset is less than one pixel.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises:

receiving feedback from a computer coupled to the video camera;

determining the second pixel offset based on the feedback from the computer;

determining the second configuration that causes the video camera to capture the video at the second pixel offset; and

adjusting the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration.

16. A video camera, comprising:

a multi-element lens;

a focal plane array coupled to the multi-element lens; and

a hardware mechanism adapted to configure the video camera to

capture a video that includes successive video frames captured by alternation between a first configuration of the video camera and a second configuration of the video camera, wherein the first configuration adapts the video camera to capture video at a first pixel offset and the second configuration adapts the video camera to capture the video at a second pixel offset;

capture a first frame of a field-of-view through the video camera configured at the first configuration, wherein the first frame contains the field-of-view captured at the first pixel offset;

upon capture of the first frame of the field-of-view through the video camera, adjust the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration; and

upon adjustment of the video camera from the first configuration to the second configuration, capture a second frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the second configuration, wherein the second frame contains the field-of-view captured at the second pixel offset.

17. The video camera of claim 16 , wherein the multi-element lens comprises an adaptive optic arranged between two lenses in the multi-element lens; and wherein the hardware mechanism is adapted to electrically drive the adaptive optic such that a position of projected pixels on the focal plane array is shifted from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

18. The video camera of claim 17 , wherein the adaptive optic comprises plain glass.

19. The video camera of claim 17 , wherein the hardware mechanism comprises a microactuator and a controller coupled to the microactuator.

20. The video camera of claim 16 , wherein the hardware mechanism is adapted to electrically adjust the focal plane array such that a position of projected pixels on the focal plane array is shifted from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

21. The video camera of claim 16 , further comprising an adaptive optic arranged between the focal plane array and the multi-element lens; and wherein the hardware mechanism is adapted to electrically drive the adaptive optic such that a position of projected pixels on the focal plane array is shifted from the first pixel offset to the second pixel offset.

22. The video camera of claim 16 , wherein the focal plane array comprises a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor array or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor array.

23. The video camera of claim 16 , wherein a difference between the first pixel offset and the second pixel offset is less than one pixel.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

configure a video camera to capture frames of a video using different configurations that includes a default configuration, a first configuration, a second configuration, a third configuration and a fourth configuration, the default configuration adapting the video camera to capture video at a default pixel offset;

capture a first frame of a field-of-view through the video camera configured at the default configuration, the first frame containing the field-of-view captured at the default pixel offset;

operate a hardware mechanism on the video camera to shift the video camera from the default configuration to a first configuration, the first configuration adapting the video camera to capture the video at a first pixel offset;

capture a second frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the first configuration, the second frame containing the field-of-view captured at the first pixel offset, the second frame immediately succeeding the first frame;

operate the hardware mechanism on the video camera to shift the video camera from the first configuration to a second configuration, the second configuration adapting the video camera to capture the video at a second pixel offset;

capture a third frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the second configuration, the third frame containing the field-of-view captured at the second pixel offset, the third frame immediately succeeding the second frame;

operate the hardware mechanism on the video camera to shift the video camera from the second configuration to a third configuration, the third configuration adapting the video camera to capture the video at a third pixel offset;

capture a fourth frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the third configuration, the fourth frame containing the field-of-view captured at the third pixel offset, the fourth frame immediately succeeding the third frame;

operate the hardware mechanism on the video camera to shift the video camera from the third configuration to a fourth configuration, the fourth configuration adapting the video camera to capture the video at a fourth pixel offset;

capture a fifth frame of the field-of-view through the video camera configured at the fourth configuration, the fifth frame containing the field-of-view captured at the fourth pixel offset, the fifth frame immediately succeeding the fourth frame; and

generate a higher resolution still frame by integrating the first frame, the second frame, the third frame, the fourth frame, and the fifth frame.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 24 , wherein the first pixel offset and the second pixel offset comprise offsets on each side of a horizontal plane with respect to the default pixel offset; and wherein the third pixel offset and the fourth pixel offset comprise offsets on each side of a vertical plane with respect to the default pixel offset.