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A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the

A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector. Depth enhancement is determined by correlating images detected by the respective detectors, or alternatively by a range finding method based on phase difference, time of flight, frequency or interferometry.

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A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the

A minimally invasive, medical, image acquisition system outputs a light beam or pulse which illuminates a precise spot size. A plurality of photon detector detect returning photons from the object, including the spot. Pixel resolution is determined by the area of the illumination spot (and thus the lens configuration), rather than an area sensed by the detector. Depth enhancement is determined by correlating images detected by the respective detectors, or alternatively by a range finding method based on phase difference, time of flight, frequency or interferometry. a passageway that can be used to house a cable for conveying information from the optical imaging device to said display. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a roller attached to said mounting member and configured to mate with a notch on said bearing when the optical imaging device is oriented in a forward position, said roller and said notch deterring rotation between said mounting member and said bearing at said forward position. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stop pin extending from said bearing and being received within a recess in said mounting member, said recess being configured to limit rotation about the vertical axis of said bearing with respect to said mounting member. 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a latch attached to said mounting member and configured to selectively engage and hold said stop pin; and a release operatively engaged to said latch and configured to selectively disengage said latch from said stop pin. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means coupled to said bearing for sensing a rotational direction of the optical imaging device about the vertical axis. 13. A mounting and control system for mounting an optical imaging device to an enclosed structure, comprising: a support member having an optical imaging device including an optical system and an electronic detection system fixed at an end of the support member; means supporting said support member for rotational movement about a horizontal axis and for rotational movement about a vertical axis; means for manually controlling movement of the electronic detection system, said means for manually controlling being mechanically connected to said support member at an opposing end opposite to the end having the electronic detection system fixed thereto; and means for displaying images obtained by said optical imaging device, said means for displaying being remote to said optical imaging device, wherein said means for supporting said support member is configured to mount said optical imaging device to said enclosed structure such that said electronic detection system is external to the enclosed structure and said control handle is internal to the enclosed structure. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein: said first means comprises a ball and socket joint; and said second means comprises a bearing having a generally cylindrical outer surface received within a generally cylindrical opening. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said ball and socket joint comprises: a ball portion on said support member received within a socket portion on said bearing, said ball portion having a slot extending in a vertical direction; and a pin fixed to said socket portion and engaging said slot. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said slot is configured to limit a freedom of rotation of said support member about the horizontal axis. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein said first means comprises a bearing having an inner hollow region configured to receive said support member, said inner hollow region having a generally trapezoidal cross-section extending in a first vertical plane and a generally rectangular cross-section extending in a second vertical plane that is perpendicular to the first vertical plane, and wherein said support member is free to rotate with respect to said bearing in the first vertical plane only. 18. An optical imaging system for a vehicle comprising: a sensor module including an optical system and an electronic detection system located external of the vehicle; an image display module located within the vehicle; a mounting and control system configured to support said sensor module and to allow an operator to orient said sensor module, said mounting and control system including: a support member attached to said sensor module, a bearing configured to support said support member and to provide for rotational movement of said support member about a horizontal axis, a handl e mechanically connected to said support member at an opposing end opposite to the end having the electronic detection system fixed thereto, and a mounting member configured to support said bearing and to provide for rotational movement of said bearing about a vertical axis, wherein said mounting member is configured to mount said optical imaging device to said vehicle such that said electronic detection system is external to the vehicle and said control handle is internal to the vehicle. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said sensor module comprises: an array of infrared radiation detector cells as said electronic detection system; an optical system consisting exclusively of refractive optical components for projecting infrared radiation emanating from a scene onto said array of infrared radiation detector cells as said optical system; and a housing containing said array of infrared radiation detector cells and said optical system. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said support member defines a passageway, the optical imaging system further comprising: an image processing and display module spaced from said sensor module and configured for displaying an image from the scene; and a modulation-free bidirectional digital communication path passing through said passageway and coupling said sensor module with said image processing and display module. 21. A mounting and control system for mounting an optical imaging device to a structure, comprising: a single hollow support member having an optical imaging device including an optical system and an electronic detection system fixed to an end of the hollow support member; a single sleeve bearing configured to support said hollow support member in such a way to provide for rotational movement of said hollow support member about a horizontal axis; a mounting member configured to support said sleeve bearing within the mounting member in such a way to provide rotational movement of said hollow support member and said sleeve bearing about a vertical axis, and to mount said mounting and control system to the structure; a display located remote to said imaging device and electrically connected to said imaging device by way of a hardwired medium, wherein said hollow support member provides a cavity for routing said hardwired medium through said structure. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein: said hollow support member and said sleeve bearing are joined together by a ball and socket joint; said sleeve bearing has an outer surface that is generally cylindrical in shape; and said outer surface of said sleeve bearing is received within a generally cylindrical opening in said mounting member. 23. The system of claim 22, further comprising: a first O-ring configured to seal said ball and socket joint; and a second O-ring configured to sealingly engage said outer surface of said sleeve bearing within said cylindrical opening in said mounting member. 24. The system of claim 22, wherein said ball and socket joint comprises: a ball portion on said hollow support member, said ball portion having a slot extending in a vertical direction; a socket portion on said sleeve bearing configured to receive said ball portion; and a pin fixed to said socket portion and engaging said slot, wherein said slot is configured to limit a freedom of rotation of said hollow support member about the horizontal axis. 25. The system of claim 21, further comprising a stop pin extending from said sleeve bearing and being received within a recess in said mounting member, said recess being configured to limit rotation about the vertical axis of said sleeve bearing with respect to said mounting member. 26. The system of claim 25, further comprising: a latch attached to said mounting member and configured to selectively engage and hold said stop pin; and a release operatively engaged to said latch and configured to selectively disengage said latch from said stop pin. 27. The s