JPH0795619A - Stereo video input and output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a stereo video input/display device which can dispense with a complicated constitution and a complicated signal processing operation and also requires no glasses to see the images. CONSTITUTION:A stereo video input/output device consists of a TV camera 3 which contains a single image pickup means 31, a pair of optical lenses 21 and 22 which form the left-eye and right-eye images on the means 31 a display device 5, and a means which supplies the output video signals of the camera 3 to the device 5. In such a constitution, the left and right images are shown on a single screen of the device 5 at one time and side by side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image viewing apparatus for television images, and in particular, it has a simple apparatus configuration and allows stereoscopic image viewing for stereoscopic viewing without wearing accessories such as glasses. Regarding output device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a typical video system for stereoscopic viewing, there is an alternative system. This method will be briefly described. First, a subject is photographed by the left imaging device and the right imaging device, and left and right video signals are output. These output signals are sequentially switched by the switching control circuit at fixed time intervals (synchronized with a vertical synchronizing signal or the like), and are alternately transmitted. Next, a superimposition signal generator generates a superimposition signal for distinguishing the left and right video signals (sometimes ultrasonic waves are used), and superimposes this signal on the left and right video signals using a signal superimposing device. Output. By inputting this video signal to the video display device and the shutter device and synchronizing the switching of the left and right video signals of both devices using the left and right identification signals, the left eye is always the left video and the right eye is always the The right image is provided, and you can get a stereoscopic vision. The alternative method above is
It is often used for a relatively small number of people, such as games using TV screens, but as a method to watch stereoscopic images at once for a large number of people, such as theater movies, lenses with different left and right colors were used. Wear glasses to the left to cancel each color.
Well-known methods include a method of allocating different colors to the right image and simultaneously displaying them in a superimposed manner for viewing, and a method of using a deflection filter instead of the color. For example, JP-A-5-2639
In the device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8, there is an alternative / parallel / cross / full open / left open /
By switching the right open mode, a coded shutter control signal of 2 bits is generated by the operation of the pair of superposition switches. Accordingly, the stereoscopic video signal superimposed on the shutter control signal can be sent to each of the left and right video signals, and the convenience of the signal sending side is improved. In the device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 15592/1993, left and right television cameras, left and right image processing units,
Equipped with left and right input image display devices (glasses) and moving means, the images taken by the TV camera are displayed separately on the glasses for the left eye and the right eye, and a stereoscopic image is displayed even when the TV camera is telephoto. It is visible. In addition, JP-A-5-564
In the device described in Japanese Patent No. 58, the left and right cameras,
Left and right input image display device, both eye input image display device, polarization direction switching device, polarizer, left and right signal switching device, stereoscopic glasses, etc. (3D display of moving images) is made visible. Furthermore, the images obtained by stereo X-ray photography of the cardiovascular system (contrast examination of cerebral blood vessels, etc.) used in the medical field, etc.
A stereoscopic image is observed by arranging two still images (photographs) after photographing and viewing each image separately by the left and right eyes, that is, by performing so-called stereoscopic vision. A three-dimensional poster is also commonly used in which images for the left and right eyes are printed side by side on a single poster, and the eyes are carefully viewed to bring out a three-dimensional solid by utilizing parallax.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned prior art, in creating a stereoscopic video signal, processing such as generation of a left / right video identification signal and superimposition of a video signal and an identification signal is required.
Synchronous reproduction by the image display device and the shutter device is required for reproducing the image. Furthermore, except for posters, books, etc., it is generally necessary for a video viewer to wear stereoscopic glasses. An object of the present invention is to improve such problems, and to eliminate the need for a complicated process of creating a stereoscopic video signal, wearing of eyeglasses for viewing, and the like, and stereoscopic video input / output capable of viewing stereoscopic video with a simple configuration. To provide a device.
Moreover, it aims at realizing a three-dimensional television broadcast easily.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the stereo image input / output apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the following configuration. First of all, two optical lenses for left and right are prepared so that the subject can be seen with the left and right eyes, and the left and right images can be viewed on one imaging means in the TV camera by these lenses. And form an image at the same time. Next, this image is sequentially converted into a video signal by the television scanning of the image pickup means and output. The video output is displayed on one screen of the display means. At this time, the left and right images are displayed separately side by side.

[0005]

In the present invention, the two optical lenses for the left and the right are provided with the image pickup means in the television camera for capturing two images equivalent to viewing with the left and right eyes, that is, with two parallaxes. Image on top. The image pickup means converts the optical image (left / right image) formed by the lens into a video signal by TV scanning and outputs the video signal. The image forming position of the optical image at this time is determined so that the image display on the screen of the display means is such that the left image is on the left side and the right image is on the right side. Further, the display means displays the left and right images simultaneously side by side on one screen by performing the same scanning in synchronization with the television camera. The viewer can enjoy stereoscopic images by viewing this display screen (the screen on which the left and right images are displayed) with the left and right eyes.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a stereo image input / output device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the imager 2 of this embodiment, optical lenses 21 (input of left image), 22 for capturing a left image and a right image including a moving image.
(Right-side video input) and prisms 23 to 25 and an imaging lens 26 for forming an image captured by these lenses on the imaging means 31 in the television camera 3 are arranged. The image of the subject 1 is guided to the television camera 3 by the image forming device 2. The imaging unit 31 converts the formed optical image (left and right images) into a video signal by television scanning. Here, the television scanning method is NTSC, P
Adopt standard scanning methods such as AL, SECAM, and HDTV. As for the state of television scanning, as shown in FIG. 2, the scanning area shown on the imaging surface is scanned in the direction of the arrow. It should be noted that in television scanning, the vertical and horizontal scanning directions can be reversed independently, so that the positional relationship of FIG. 2 can be maintained even if optical images are formed in reverse.

Here, in FIG. 2, an image pickup tube as an image pickup means,
Specifically, the case where SATICON is used is shown. In the method of the present embodiment, the image forming size is smaller than usual due to the fact that two images are formed at the same time. Therefore, it is desirable that the image pickup means has high resolution. From this point, an image pickup tube in which the scanning area can be changed to some extent is advantageous, and particularly, an image pickup tube having a large aperture, for example, an SA having an aperture of 1 inch to 2 inches is used.
TICON is suitable for shooting high resolution images. The output video signal of the television camera 3 is input to the display means 5 through the cable 4. A CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or the like is suitable as the display means 5, and the CRT display was used in this embodiment. By scanning the input video signal on the CRT screen in synchronization with the television camera 3, the image formed on the image pickup means 31 is displayed in real time. On this occasion,
It goes without saying that the left image is displayed on the left side of the screen and the right image is displayed on the right side of the screen. The viewer can enjoy a stereoscopic image by viewing (stereoscopically) viewing the left image display with the left eye and the right image display with the right eye.
It should be noted that stereoscopic viewing of television images can be practiced by anyone without requiring special training, as in the case of the conventional technique.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a stereoscopic television broadcasting system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
Between the television camera 3 and the display means 5 shown in FIG. 1, a transmitter 6 for converting a video signal (analog signal or digital signal) into an electric wave and transmitting it to the outside, and an electric wave transmitted by the transmitter are received again. A receiver 7 for converting and outputting the video signal and a distributor 8 for distributing the video signal are provided. With this configuration, if the receiver 7 and the display device 5 are prepared, it is possible to observe the input stereoscopic image at an unspecified place. Further, by distributing the output video signal of the receiver 7 by the distributor 8, even one receiver can output video to a plurality of display devices. For example, by using a TV camera 3 with optical lenses for the left and right eyes, a video recorded in a studio or outside a TV station can be received as a TV image of each home by TV broadcasting by TV radio waves or cable TV broadcasting via a cable 4. It is possible to easily realize a stereoscopic television through the existing television broadcasting by distributing the images to the devices (display device 5) and displaying them side by side on the screen. Further, by combining this embodiment with the surround function of the television, it is possible to provide a more realistic feeling.

[0009]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a simple and comfortable stereo image input / output device which can generate a stereoscopic image signal with a simple device configuration and does not need to use glasses even when viewing images. Also, stereoscopic television broadcasting can be easily realized with the existing system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a stereo image input / output device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how television scanning is performed on an image pickup surface in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic television broadcasting system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Imager 3 Television camera 4 Cable 5 Display means 6 Transmitter 7 Receiver 8 Distributor 21 Optical lens 22 Optical lens 23 Prism 24 Prism 25 Prism 26 Imaging lens 31 Imaging means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Rika Baba 1-280, Higashikoigokubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Center, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A television camera incorporating one image pickup means, two sets of optical lenses for forming images for the left eye and the right eye side by side on the image pickup means, and a video signal of the television camera. When displaying the, a means for displaying the images for the left eye and the right eye side by side in different areas on one screen at the same time, and means for inputting the output video signal of the television camera to the display means are provided. And stereo image input / output device.