JP3092224B2 - 3D image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording a three-dimensional image, and more particularly to a three-dimensional image recording apparatus capable of recording a three-dimensional image at a high speed and reducing the size of the apparatus. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of three-dimensional image display, a method using a hologram or a lenticular sheet has been mainly used as a three-dimensional image without using glasses. In recent years, in both methods, three-dimensional information in a computer or the like is directly visualized without displaying a moving image called a stereoscopic television or photographing a real object called a three-dimensional printer. Methods have been announced.

[0003] These methods will be briefly described below.

(A) Three-dimensional television using hologram In January 1990, a MIT professor, Benton, announced at SPIE in the United States.
Modulate using M (acousto-optic modulator), create minute hologram in real time, and use hologram with polygon mirror or galvanometer mirror (both can change the direction of light by moving mirror) This is a method of creating a three-dimensional image by holograms by arranging them in a two-dimensional space.

(B) 3D Television with Lenticular Sheet As described by NHK's Motoki in January 54, Vol. 54, No. 1, "3D Television" of the Photographic Society of Japan, a lenticular sheet and a liquid crystal panel. Various methods have been proposed in various places for creating a three-dimensional moving image by driving a display element such as a liquid crystal panel in real time by making good use of the characteristics of a lens of a lenticular sheet.

(C) Three-dimensional printer using hologram In 1990, Yamaguchi et al.
This is a three-dimensional display using Lippmann holograms, which was announced at E. The pattern modulated by the liquid crystal panel is condensed by a lens, and a collection of holograms in minute dot units is formed. This method can directly create a hard copy of three-dimensional information on a computer, such as a two-dimensional image printer or plotter.

(D) Lenticular sheet three-dimensional printer As disclosed in "3D plotter using integral photography" reported by Victor Iwahara at the 3D Forum in June 1991, This is a method of creating a three-dimensional display by performing multiple exposure on a photosensitive material through a lenticular sheet while moving a point light source. In this method, a hard copy of three-dimensional information on a computer can be directly created, as in the method using a hologram.

As described above, recently, in the field of three-dimensional image display, a stereo image using a hologram or a lenticular sheet has been put to practical use. In these fields, recently, a method for creating a moving image such as a three-dimensional television or a variable image, instead of a fixed image such as a printed matter, has been developed.

These methods are generally used to represent a fictitious three-dimensional image created on a computer. However, in order to display a three-dimensional image from an original image of a real object or the like, It is necessary to record the three-dimensional information of the subject by some method.

Conventionally, as a method for obtaining a parallax image used as an original image of a three-dimensional display using a holographic stereogram or a lenticular sheet, for example, as shown in FIG. A method of obtaining a plurality of parallax images by moving the subject 1 horizontally, or placing the subject 1 on a rotating stage 4 and taking a picture with the camera 2 while rotating the subject 1 as shown in FIG. And a method of obtaining a plurality of parallax images.

However, in each of these methods, since there is a driving part in photographing, not only the three-dimensional image cannot be recorded at a high speed but also the apparatus becomes larger. In particular, in the method shown in FIG. 3, since the subject 1 needs to be placed on the rotating stage 4, the size, weight, and instability of the subject 1 (gas, liquid, etc. Can not be placed).

[0012]

As described above, the conventional method has problems that not only cannot three-dimensional images be recorded at high speed, but also that the apparatus becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to record a three-dimensional image at high speed and to downsize the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an extremely reliable three-dimensional image recording apparatus.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, first, a three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is arranged such that object light from a subject is incident on the three-dimensional image recording apparatus. An imaging lens for forming an image, an imaging element disposed at or near the imaging position of the imaging lens, and an imaging lens disposed between the imaging lens and the imaging element, for transmitting object light from the subject. a spatial modulation element transmits a portion only and that position has a freely transparent portion arbitrarily move, the intensity of light of each pixel of the imaging device is arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion of the spatial light modulator was measured, repeat an operation to record the intensity of the direction of the light
Then, the position of the changed light transmitting portion is changed by the series of operations described above.
Multiple images of the subject with corresponding parallax
I try to shoot .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image recording apparatus, wherein object light from a subject is incident, a concave mirror for reflecting the incident light, reflected light from the concave mirror is incident, and an image forming position is obtained. An imaging lens that forms an image of the subject on the
An imaging element disposed at an imaging position of the imaging lens or a position in the vicinity thereof, disposed between the imaging lens and the imaging element,
A spatial modulation device having transmitted through only part of the object light and freely translucent portion arbitrarily move its position from the subject, the image sensor optionally changing the position of the transparent portion of the spatial light modulator the intensity of light of each pixel is measured, the strength in the direction of the optical repeating the operation of recording, by a series of the operations, change
Image of the subject with parallax corresponding to the position of the transparent part
A plurality of images are taken by an image sensor .

Here, in particular, a liquid crystal panel is used as the spatial modulation element. The spatial modulation element is arranged at the focal position of the imaging lens or at a position near the focal position. Further, the imaging position is arbitrarily changed by changing the angle of the concave mirror according to the position of the subject.

[0017]

Therefore, in the three-dimensional image recording apparatus of the present invention, the object light from the subject can be separated from the spatial modulation element by using a part of the spatial modulation element as a translucent part and the other part as an opaque part. Is formed as a slit, and only light transmitted through that portion is imaged. Therefore, the direction of light is determined for each pixel of the image sensor. And
It is moved to an arbitrary position of the transparent portion of the spatial light modulator gradually
The operation of measuring the light intensity of each pixel of the image sensor and recording the intensity in the light direction is repeated, and a series of the above operations are performed.
Subject with parallax corresponding to the changed position of the light-transmitting part
Are photographed by the image sensor. This allows
View from multiple directions necessary to record 3D information
Parallax image (two-dimensional) according to (aperture of spatial modulation element)
A plurality of times per recording (for example, 3 → left → middle → right)
Times) to record an image having left and right parallax as a three-dimensional image.

In the three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the first aspect.
In addition to achieving the same effect, by arranging the concave mirror in front of the imaging lens, it is possible to reduce the size of the imaging lens and to reduce the cost.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, the concept of the present invention will be described.

In general, in a television camera, an image sensor records only light intensity, and therefore can record only two-dimensional information. On the other hand, a hologram records light intensity and phase information, so that a three-dimensional image can be displayed. However, in a stereogram synthesized from a plurality of parallax images, light phase information is not required, and a stereoscopic image can be displayed using only information on light intensity and direction. Therefore, the present invention proposes an apparatus for recording the intensity and direction of light.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention based on the above-described concept will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present invention. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the three-dimensional image recording apparatus of this embodiment
An imaging lens 13 that receives the object light from the imaging lens 1 and forms an image 12 of the subject 11 at the imaging position, an imaging element 14 that is disposed at the imaging position of the imaging lens 13, and an imaging lens 13.
And a spatial modulation element 15 having a light-transmitting portion 15a which is disposed between the image pickup device 14 and transmits only a part of the object light from the subject 11 and whose position is freely movable. I have.

Here, since the visual field of the imaging lens 13 is limited by the size of the pupil of the imaging lens 13,
For the size of the pupil of the imaging lens 13 (the range d in which light works effectively), a lens having a size corresponding to a necessary viewing zone is used.

On the other hand, the spatial modulation element 15 is constituted by using, for example, a liquid crystal panel composed of an aggregate of a plurality of liquid crystal units. As the light transmitting portion 15a, an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal unit in that portion. (The light is transmitted by the application of an electric field), and the liquid crystal units to which the electric field is applied are sequentially shifted to move the light transmitting portion 15a. Further, the light transmitting portion 1 of the spatial modulation element 15
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the shape of the slit 5a can be an elongated slit shape. Further, it is preferable that the size of the light transmitting portion 15a of the spatial modulation element 15 be set to a size that does not cause the influence of light diffraction.

Next, the operation of the three-dimensional image recording apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 1, an image 12 of a subject 11 formed by an imaging lens 13 is formed on an image sensor 14.
In this case, in the present embodiment, the imaging lens 13 and the image sensor 1
4 and a spatial modulation element 15 is disposed. And
By applying an electric field to a part of the liquid crystal unit of the spatial modulation element 15 to make it a translucent part and making the other part an opaque part, object light from the subject 11
A portion of the light transmitting portion 15a is used as a slit, and only light transmitted through that portion is imaged. Therefore, the direction of light is determined for each pixel of the image sensor 14. Therefore, the liquid crystal units to which the electric field is applied are sequentially shifted, and the light intensity of each pixel of the image sensor 14 is measured while the position of the light transmitting portion 15a of the spatial light modulator 15 is arbitrarily moved little by little. Thus, the intensity for each direction of light can be recorded.

As described above, the three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with the imaging lens 13 for receiving the object light from the subject 11 and forming the image 12 of the subject 11 at the image forming position.
And the imaging device 1 disposed at the imaging position of the imaging lens 13
4 and a liquid crystal panel which is disposed between the imaging lens 13 and the imaging element 14 and has a light transmitting portion 15a which transmits only a part of the object light from the subject 11 and whose position is movable. constructed from the spatial modulation element 15. the imaging element 1 arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion 15a of the spatial light modulator 15
The intensity of light of each pixel of the 4 measures the strength in the direction of the optical repeating the operation of recording, by a series of the operation, has changed
Of the subject 11 having a parallax corresponding to the position of the light transmitting portion 15a.
A plurality of images are captured by the image sensor 14 .

Accordingly, since there is no driving part in photographing as in the prior art, it is possible to record a three-dimensional image at high speed, and it is possible to record a three-dimensional image in real time. That is, record three-dimensional information
From multiple directions (for spatial modulation element 15
Parallax image (two-dimensional) according to the aperture)
Perform multiple times (in this example, three times from left to middle to right), tertiary
Recording an image with left and right parallax as the original image
Becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus as much as there is no driving part in photographing. Further, since the subject 21 does not need to be placed on the rotating stage as in the related art, the subject 21 is not subject to the above-described limitation.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another configuration example of the three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

That is, in the three-dimensional image recording apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a concave mirror 22 which receives object light from a subject 21 and reflects the incident light, and a concave mirror 2
2. An imaging lens 24 that receives reflected light from the imaging lens 2 and forms an image 23 of the subject 21 at an imaging position, an imaging element 25 disposed at an imaging position of the imaging lens 24, and an imaging lens 24.
And a spatial modulation element 26 having a light-transmitting portion 26a which is disposed between the image pickup device 25 and transmits only a part of the object light from the subject 21 and whose position is freely movable. I have.

Here, the spatial modulation element 26 is constituted by using a liquid crystal panel composed of an aggregate of a plurality of liquid crystal units in the same manner as described above. An electric field is applied to the units (light is transmitted by the application of the electric field), and the liquid crystal units to which the electric field is applied are sequentially shifted, so that the light transmitting portion 26 is formed.
a is moved. The spatial modulation element 26
The shape of the light-transmitting portion 26a may be an elongated slit shape as described above. Further, it is preferable that the size of the light transmitting portion 26a of the spatial modulation element 26 be set to a size that does not cause the influence of light diffraction.

Next, the operation of the three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

In FIG. 1, object light from a subject 21 is reflected by a concave mirror 22, and an image 23 of the subject 21 formed by an imaging lens 24 is formed on an image sensor 25.
In this case, in the present embodiment, the imaging lens 24 and the image sensor 2
5 and a spatial modulation element 26 is provided. And
By applying an electric field to a part of the liquid crystal unit of the spatial modulation element 26 to make it a translucent part and making the other part an opaque part, the object light from the subject 21
A portion of the light transmitting portion 26a is used as a slit, and only light transmitted through that portion is imaged. Therefore, the direction of light is determined for each pixel of the image sensor 25. Therefore, the liquid crystal units to be subjected to the electric field application are sequentially shifted, and the light intensity of each pixel of the imaging element 25 is measured while the position of the light transmitting portion 26a of the spatial modulation element 26 is arbitrarily moved little by little. Thus, the intensity for each direction of light can be recorded.

In the present embodiment, the concave mirror 22 is arranged in front of the imaging lens 24 so that the imaging lens 24
Can be made smaller than in the case of FIG. 1, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. That is, since the size of the pupil of the imaging lens used in the present invention is the size of the viewing zone of the obtained stereo image, a relatively large-diameter lens is required. By arranging 22, such a problem can be eliminated and the imaging lens 24 can be downsized.

As described above, in the three-dimensional image recording apparatus of this embodiment, the object light from the subject 21 is incident, the concave mirror 22 for reflecting the incident light, the reflected light from the concave mirror 22 is incident, and An imaging lens 24 that forms an image 23 of the subject 21 at an image position; an imaging device 25 that is disposed at an imaging position of the imaging lens 24; an imaging lens 24 and the imaging device 2
5, a light transmitting unit 2 that transmits only a part of the object light from the subject 21 and whose position is freely movable.
Constructed from the spatial modulation element 26 and having a 6a, the intensity of light of each pixel of the imaging device 25 arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion 26a of the spatial modulation element 26 is measured and recorded strength in the direction of the light Repeat the operation, and change
2 having parallax corresponding to the position of the light transmitting portion 26a
A plurality of one image is captured by the image sensor 25 .

Accordingly, since there is no driving part in photographing as in the prior art, it is possible to record a three-dimensional image at high speed, and it is possible to record a three-dimensional image in real time. That is, record three-dimensional information
Required from multiple directions (for the spatial modulation element 26)
Parallax image (two-dimensional) according to the aperture)
Perform multiple times (in this example, three times from left to middle to right), tertiary
Recording an image with left and right parallax as the original image
Becomes possible. In addition, it is possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus as much as there is no driving part in photographing. Further, since it is not necessary to place the subject 21 on the rotating stage as in the related art, the subject 21 is not subject to the above-described limitation. on the other hand,
Since the concave mirror 22 is arranged in front of the imaging lens 24, the imaging lens 24 can be downsized,
The cost can be reduced accordingly. Thereby, the size of the entire apparatus can be further reduced.

A concave mirror 22, an imaging lens 24, an image sensor 25, and a spatial modulator 2 are arranged on the same straight line as the subject 21.
There is no restriction that each optical element such as 6 must be placed. That is, by changing the angle of the concave mirror 22 in accordance with the position of the subject 21, the imaging position can be arbitrarily changed.

In each of the above embodiments, the spatial light modulator 1
The case where a liquid crystal panel is used as 5 and 26 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to use the elements of

In each of the above embodiments, the imaging lens 1
Although the case where the image sensors 14 and 25 are disposed at the image forming positions 3 and 24 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.
The same effect as described above can be obtained by disposing the image sensors 14 and 25 near the image forming position 24.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, by disposing the spatial modulation elements 15 and 26 at the focal position of the imaging lenses 13 and 24 or in the vicinity thereof, the light transmitting portions 15a and Subject 1 incident on 26a
Since the object lights from the light sources 1 and 21 all enter the imaging lenses 13 and 24 in the same direction, the positions of the objects 11 and 21 in the direction can be easily determined.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the shape of the light transmitting portions 15a, 26a of the spatial light modulators 15, 26 is as follows.
Although the case where the slit is elongated has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. is there.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, an object lens from an object is incident, and an image forming lens for forming an image of the object at an image forming position; A concave mirror that is incident and reflects the incident light; and an imaging lens that receives reflected light from the concave mirror and forms an image of a subject at an imaging position. A spatial light modulator that is disposed between the image sensor and the imaging lens that is disposed and that transmits only a part of the object light from the subject and whose position is freely movable. and a device, measuring the intensity of light of each pixel of the imaging device arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion of the spatial light modulator
And repeat the operation of recording the intensity in the direction of light ,
Parallax corresponding to the position of the translucent portion changed by the above operation
The image pickup device captures a plurality of images of the subject having the above, so that the three-dimensional image can be recorded at high speed and the device can be downsized. A high three-dimensional image recording device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration example of a spatial modulation element in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing another configuration example of the spatial light modulator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional method for obtaining a parallax image used as an original image of a stereoscopic display.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional method for obtaining a parallax image used as an original image of a stereoscopic display.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 subject, 12 image of subject 11, 13 imaging lens, 14 imaging element, 15 spatial modulation element, 15a translucent section, 21 subject, 22 concave mirror, 23 subject 21
24, an imaging lens, 25, an imaging element, 26, a spatial modulation element, 26a, a light transmitting part.

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] An imaging lens configured to receive an object light from a subject and form an image of the subject at an imaging position; and an imaging element disposed at or near the imaging position of the imaging lens. And a spatial modulation element disposed between the imaging lens and the imaging element, the spatial modulation element having a light transmitting portion that transmits only a part of the object light from the subject and the position of which is freely movable. the spatial modulation arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion of the device measures the intensity of light of each pixel of the image sensor, repeating the operation of recording the strength in the direction of the light, by a series of the operation, has changed Corresponding to the position of the light transmitting part
The image of the subject having the corresponding parallax is obtained by the image sensor.
A three-dimensional image recording device characterized by taking a plurality of images. 2. The three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a liquid crystal panel is used as said spatial modulation element. 3. The three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spatial modulation element is arranged at a focal position of the imaging lens or a position near the focal position. 4. A concave mirror that receives object light from a subject and reflects the incident light; and an imaging lens that receives reflected light from the concave mirror and forms an image of the subject at an imaging position. An imaging element disposed at an imaging position of the imaging lens or a position in the vicinity thereof, disposed between the imaging lens and the imaging element, transmitting only a part of object light from the subject, and and a spatial light modulator whose position has freely transparent portion arbitrarily move arbitrarily changing the position of the transparent portion of the spatial modulation element measures the intensity of light of each pixel of the image sensor, light The operation of recording the intensity in the direction of is repeated .
The image of the subject having the corresponding parallax is obtained by the image sensor.
A three-dimensional image recording device characterized by taking a plurality of images. 5. The three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a liquid crystal panel is used as said spatial modulation element. 6. The three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the spatial modulation element is arranged at a focal position of the imaging lens or a position near the focal position. 7. The three-dimensional image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the imaging position is arbitrarily changed by changing the angle of the concave mirror according to the position of the subject.