Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus and method for scanning objects, including a focusing lens defining an optical axis and a focal plane, a pivot axis, a scanning mirror defining a scanning mirror plane and located between the focusing lens and the focal plane, wherein the scanning mirror is disposed parallel to the pivot axis and is rotatably attached thereto, a detector located on a detector axis and wherein the detector axis is located between the focusing lens and the scanning mirror, and a mirror motion imparting device operative to translate the mirror such that the pivot axis is translated along a path parallel to the focal plane and to rotate the scanning mirror about the pivot axis as the pivot axis is translated such that the mirror plane at the pivot axis maintains substantial perpendicularity to the detector axis, thereby to scan an object.

Abstract: Improved spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal noise reduction apparatus (10) and also apparatus for noise reduction in conjunction with one or several of the following functions: edge enhancement, spatial interpolation, magnification adjustment by spatial interpolation, and dynamic range compression (DRC). An embodiment of apparatus (10) comprises an image preprocessing unit (12), an estimation gain parameter computation unit (14) and a two-directional processor (16).

Abstract: Apparatus for image noise reduction which employs an adaptive, acuity-preserving, multi-directional and multi dimensional smoothing method. The method and apparatus of the present invention are applicable, inter alia, for (a) adaptive spatial noise reduction in still images, (b) adaptive temporal noise reduction in time changing image sequences, and (c) adaptive spatio-temporal noise reduction by combining the first two approaches (a) and (b).