JP2002191059A - Stereoscopic photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a conventional stereoscopic photographing device cannot naturally photograph a stereoscopic image when the alignment error of a photographing optical axis of left and right parallax images is large due to a change over aging or vibration or the like. SOLUTION: The stereoscopic photographing device is provided with an optical system 100 that allows an imaging device 200 to photograph the left and right parallax images and with an optical axis deviation detection means that obtains information corresponding to the deviation in the photographing optical axis of the left and right parallax images in the optical system on the basis of the correlation of the left and right parallax images obtained from the output of the imaging device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus such as a video camera and an electronic still camera, and more particularly to a stereoscopic photographing apparatus for photographing a left-right parallax image capable of stereoscopic observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a stereoscopic image display device for observing various stereoscopic images has been proposed. For example, there has been proposed a stereoscopic image display apparatus in which left and right parallax images are displayed on a monitor and viewed by an observer wearing liquid crystal shutter glasses.

The two liquid crystal shutters on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal shutter glasses operate alternately in synchronization with the image signal of the parallax image. That is, while the image for the right eye is being displayed on the monitor, the right liquid crystal shutter is in the transmissive state and the liquid crystal shutter on the left is in the non-transmissive state, and the image for the left eye is being displayed on the monitor. During this time, the liquid crystal shutter for the right eye is in the non-transmission state, and the liquid crystal shutter for the left eye is in the transmission state.

Thus, even if the image for the right eye and the image for the left eye are alternately displayed on the monitor, the observer can view the image for the right eye with the right eye and the image for the left eye with the left eye. By observing the image, a stereoscopic image having a depth can be observed.

In recent years, a head-mounted display or a glasses-type display, a so-called head-mounted display, has been proposed. Similarly, in this head mounted display, the viewer can observe a stereoscopic image by selectively displaying an image for the right eye with the right eye and an image for the left eye with the left eye. It is possible.

Further, by combining a liquid crystal display with a lenticular sheet having a predetermined pitch or a mask in which openings and non-openings are formed in a predetermined pattern, directivity is given to the light from the liquid crystal display. In some cases, by matching an image pattern to be displayed on a display, an image for the right eye is observed by the right eye, an image for the left eye is observed by the left eye, and an observer observes a stereoscopic image.

Conventionally, these display images are generally taken by a twin-lens camera having two lenses.

However, since the twin-lens camera has a lens for photographing a right-eye image and a lens for photographing a left-eye image,
Performance differences between the two lenses due to manufacturing errors and the like, such as magnification and optical axis shift, tint, brightness, distortion,
If the image plane is tilted, the viewer of the stereoscopic image may feel tired or may not be able to perform proper fusion. For this reason, in order to match the performance of both lenses, it is necessary to increase the component accuracy, or it is necessary to adjust when the performance is not achieved only with the component accuracy, or to absorb the difference in performance. It is necessary to take special measures such as electrical correction of the image.

Further, in the case of a zoom lens, it is necessary to link the zooming operations of the two lenses on the left and right in a state where these performances are matched at the time of zooming.
The production is troublesome and the mass production is poor.

Further, in order to observe an image photographed by a twin-lens camera, two monitors are required as they are, which is not practical.

Further, when these two images are recorded, it is necessary to record the two image signals in a synchronized state, and a special recording device for this is required.

In order to avoid this, it is conceivable to convert two image signals into one image signal. For this purpose, a special converter for alternately displaying and recording left and right parallax images is used. is necessary.

Therefore, the twin-lens camera is larger than a normal single-lens camera, and the entire system requires a special device as described above. This makes it less mobile and difficult to spread widely.

Therefore, a stereoscopic photographing apparatus which does not require two lenses is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-27499. This has two liquid crystal shutters, a total reflection mirror, and a half mirror, and alternately shoots left and right parallax images through one lens.

However, also in the camera proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-27499, the optical paths of the left and right parallax images are coupled to each other by a half mirror and guided to a lens. There is a disadvantage that the amount of light becomes less than half when an image is incident on the lens.

[0016] In addition to the twin-lens camera and the lens that captures the left and right images in a time-division manner, it is necessary to adjust the parallax of the left and right images at the time of shooting, that is, so-called convergence adjustment. Is generally performed manually.

[0017]

The alignment of the photographing optical axes of the left and right parallax images is adjusted to a predetermined allowable range at the time of shipment of the camera. May be shifted.

If the error in the alignment of the photographing optical axes of the left and right parallax images becomes large, this may cause fatigue when observing the photographed image, or may make it impossible to fuse the image and make it impossible to stereoscopically view the image. Connect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic photographing apparatus capable of properly maintaining the photographing optical axis alignment of the left and right parallax images and photographing a natural and high-quality stereoscopic image.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, in a stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the present invention, an optical system for photographing left and right parallax images by an image sensor is obtained from an output of the image sensor. An optical axis shift detecting means for obtaining information corresponding to a shift of a photographing optical axis of the left and right parallax images in the optical system based on a correlation between the left and right parallax images is provided.

Accordingly, when the deviation of the photographing optical axis of the left and right parallax images (for example, the deviation of the photographing optical axis in the vertical direction) becomes large, a warning operation for notifying the photographer of the deviation or performing photographing is performed. For example, an operation for correcting a shift of the optical axis can be performed.

In the present invention, the optical system may include a left objective optical system and a right objective optical system, and an optical axis synthesizing element for making the optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems substantially coincide with the optical axes of the image pickup device, respectively. The present invention is suitable for a stereoscopic image pickup device having left and right shutters for alternately causing the imaging light beams from the left and right objective optical systems to enter the image pickup device via the optical axis combining device.

[0023]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a stereoscopic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an interchangeable lens unit standardized in a predetermined format, which includes an imaging optical system 100 and a liquid crystal control circuit 1.
23, the IG driver 124, and the motor driver 12
5, 126, 130, a lens microcomputer 127 for controlling them, an image input terminal 128, a lens mount (not shown) standardized in the above-mentioned predetermined format, and a contact block (not shown).

Reference numeral 2 denotes a camera body, which includes a camera mount (not shown) standardized in the predetermined format and a contact block (not shown).

The lens mount and the camera mount are mechanically engaged with each other, and the lens unit 1 is detachably mounted on the camera body 2.

The contact block of the lens unit 1 and the contact block of the camera body 2 come into contact with each other with the engagement between the lens mount and the camera mount, and the communication corresponding to the arrow 7, ie, the lens microcomputer 127 and the camera microcomputer 208, The communication of the predetermined data is performed according to a predetermined format. Power is also supplied from the camera body 2 to the lens unit 1 via these contact blocks.

The photographing optical system 100 has a right objective optical system 100R and a left objective optical system 100L which are separately arranged on the right and left sides. These objective optical systems 100R, 10R
0L has a reflecting mirror 10 rotatable around a predetermined axis.
7 and 112, and negative refraction first lens groups 108 and 113 each including one or more lenses.

The left and right objective optical systems 100R, 100R
Between L, a combining prism (optical axis combining element) 110 having reflecting surfaces 109 and 111, a stop 114, and a negative refracting focusing lens group 115 including one or more lenses are arranged. .

The arrangement angles of the reflection mirrors 107 and 112 are automatically adjusted by a drive unit (not shown). Note that the drive unit has a drive source such as a DC motor or a step motor. Further, the reflection mirrors 107 and 11
The arrangement angle of 2 is detected through a detector such as an encoder.

Here, both objective optical systems 100R, 100L
The optical axes 4 and 5 of the left and right light fluxes guided to the combining prism 110 are originally substantially in the same plane and substantially intersect at a predetermined position including the point at infinity. That is, congestion occurs. As described above, the reflecting mirrors 107 and 112 are rotatable around a predetermined axis, and by rotating them in synchronization with each other, the position of convergence, that is, the convergence angle can be changed. By making the convergence position or the convergence angle variable in this manner, a natural stereoscopic image corresponding to the subject distance can be taken.

Further, by detecting the arrangement angle of the reflection mirrors 107 and 112 by the detector such as the encoder described above, the distance from the front surface of the lens to the point where the optical axes 4 and 5 of the left and right images intersect (hereinafter referred to as the convergence distance) ) Can be obtained by the lens microcomputer 127.

Further, behind the focusing lens group 115, a positive refraction variator lens group 116, a compensator lens group 117, and a flange back adjustment lens group 119, each having one or more lenses, are arranged. On the rear side, a negative refraction fixed lens group 119 composed of one or more lenses is arranged.

In such a photographing optical system 100, the photographing light beams incident on the left and right reflecting mirrors 107 and 112 are:
The light is bent toward the combining prism 110 by the reflecting mirrors 107 and 112, further bent backward by the reflecting surfaces 109 and 111 of the combining prism 110 so that the optical axes 6 coincide with each other, and is emitted backward through the stop 114. .

In the present embodiment, the stop 114 is disposed on the object side so that the left and right objective optical systems 100R and 100R can be used.
The effective light flux at 0 L is reduced, and these objective optical systems 1
00R and 100L are made compact.

The light beam emitted from the stop 114 is focused on a focusing lens group 115, a variator lens group 116,
The light passes through the compensator lens group 117, the flange back adjustment lens group 119, and the fixed lens group 119, and is guided in the direction of a three-plate imaging unit 200 described later.

Liquid crystal elements (liquid crystal shutters) 102 and 105 having a shutter function are disposed between the first lens groups 108 and 113 and the combining prism 110. The glass surfaces of these liquid crystal elements 102 and 105 are coated with a coating for preventing reflection. Further, polarizing plates 101, 103, 104, and 106 are disposed on the incident surface side and the emission surface side of the liquid crystal elements 102 and 105, respectively.

By combining the polarizing plates 101, 103, 104 and 106 with the liquid crystal elements 102 and 105, the liquid crystal element 1
02, 105 by applying a predetermined electric field alternately,
The light beams that have entered the two objective optical systems 100R and 100L alternately enter the reflection surfaces 109 and 111 of the combining prism 110. Accordingly, the light beams incident on the two objective optical systems 100R and 100L are alternately guided to the three-plate imaging unit 200.

The liquid crystal elements 102 and 105 include:
Ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), twisted nematic (TN)
Liquid crystal, super twisted nematic (STN) liquid crystal, or the like can be used. In addition, the polarizing plates 101, 103,
The liquid crystal elements 104 and 106 may be fixed to the liquid crystal elements 102 and 105 by bonding or the like, or may be arranged separately from the liquid crystal elements 102 and 105.

In this embodiment, the interval (base line length) between the intersections of the optical axes 4 and 5 and the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting mirrors 107 and 112 is set to, for example, around 63 mm. this is,
This is the average human pupil distance, and is a consideration for capturing a natural stereoscopic image. However, the base line length may have other lengths. Further, an ND filter (not shown) is arranged in the photographing optical system 100.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a subject distance detector, which in the present embodiment measures the subject distance by triangulation.

Here, the measurement principle will be described with reference to FIG. The distance measuring unit 8 includes a light emitting unit including a light projecting lens and a light receiving lens, an IRED, a light receiving unit including a line sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a line, and receiving an output from the line sensor to determine a subject distance L. And a calculation unit (not shown) for calculating.

The light emitted from the IRED is reflected by the object, collected by the light receiving lens L and the light receiving lens R, and forms an image on the line sensor L and the line sensor R. At this time, the difference between the light receiving positions on each line sensor (X1-X
By calculating r), the subject distance L can be obtained in the calculation unit from the focal length fj of the light receiving lenses L and R and the interval B between the light receiving lenses L and R.

In the present embodiment, the subject distance information is calculated by triangulation.
Object distance information may be obtained from position information of each lens group of 0.

Numeral 120 denotes an IG meter for driving the aperture 114, and numeral 121 a DC motor for rotating a cam ring 118 for driving the variator lens group 116 and the compensator lens group 117 in the direction of the optical axis 6. Also,
Reference numeral 131 denotes a DC motor that drives the focusing lens group 115 in the direction of the optical axis 6. Reference numeral 122 denotes a step motor for driving the flange back adjustment lens group 119 in the direction of the optical axis 6.

The IG meter 120 and the motor 12
1, 122, and 131 respectively include the IG driver 12
4. Motor drivers 125, 126 and 130 are connected respectively.

In the lens unit 1 configured as described above, the lens groups 116 and 117 are used during zooming.
Is driven and controlled by the lens microcomputer 127 with a predetermined positional relationship.

The position of the lens groups 116 and 117 in the direction of the optical axis 6 is detected by the motor 12 driving the cam ring 118.
1 is based on a rotation variable resistance encoder that detects the rotation angle. With this encoder, the focal length of the lens unit 1 can be obtained in the lens microcomputer 127.

The step motor 122 drives the flange back adjustment lens group 119 according to an output from a temperature sensor (not shown) in order to correct a flange back variation due to a temperature change.

The position of the flange back adjustment lens group 119 in the direction of the optical axis 6 is obtained by counting the drive pulses for driving the step motor 122 and converting the position.

This flange back adjustment lens group 1
Reference numeral 19 has a so-called wobbling function for auto-focusing. At the time of focusing, the flange back adjustment lens group 119 is reciprocated slightly in the direction of the optical axis 6 so that an image signal from a three-plate type The best focus direction is obtained by the so-called hill-climbing method, and the focusing lens group 1 is moved in that direction.
15 is driven by a DC motor 131.

The position of the focusing lens group 115 in the optical axis direction is detected by a rotation variable resistance type encoder which is engaged with a reduction gear train (not shown) which meshes with the DC motor 131. This is to output an amount corresponding to the rotation angle of the motor 131.

However, the position detection of each lens group is not particularly limited to the above method, and any of a variable resistance type, a capacitance type and an optical type position detection method may be used.

The method of driving the lens groups 116 and 117 is not limited to the above-described method. The lens groups 116 and 117 may be individually driven by a motor without using the cam barrel 118.

The drive source of each lens group is not limited to a step motor, but may be an electromagnetic motor such as a DC motor, a solid motor such as a vibration motor, an electrostatic motor, or the like.

The lens unit 1 of the present embodiment is an inner focus zoom type lens.
If the subject distance is constant, the lens group 11
6, 117 alone and the focusing lens group 11
5 is not driven.

However, the zoom type is not particularly limited to this, and a so-called rear focus zoom type that performs an electronic zoom in which predetermined lens groups are driven in cooperation during zooming may be used.

By configuring the lens unit 1 as described above, it is possible to capture a left-right parallax image with one lens without requiring two independent lenses. This makes it possible to reduce the size and cost of the entire camera, eliminate the effects of individual differences between left and right lenses, and capture high-quality stereoscopic images with a simple configuration.

Further, by arranging the reflection mirrors 107 and 112 and the liquid crystal shutters 102 and 105 symmetrically with respect to the lens optical axis, the optical path length from the imaging unit 200 for capturing the right and left parallax images to the subject is made equal. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the difference in magnification between the left and right parallax images, and to capture a high-quality stereoscopic image.

Further, the left and right parallax images are taken by one imaging unit 200.
Therefore, an unnecessary electric circuit is not required, and the size and cost of the camera can be reduced.

Further, the lens unit 1 is
, It is not necessary to add a special function or the like for taking a stereoscopic image to the camera body 2. In other words, a normal two-dimensional lens can be used with the same camera body, which has high expandability and great user merit. In addition, lenses for stereoscopic image photographing having different specifications such as focal length are the same. Multiple can be used in the camera body.

Next, the configuration of the camera body 2 will be described. The camera body 2 includes a three-chip imaging unit 200 and imaging elements 201, 202,
The amplifiers 204, 205, 2 connected correspondingly to 203
06, a signal processing circuit 207 connected to the amplifiers 204, 205, 206, a camera microcomputer 208 connected to the signal processing circuit 207, a zoom switch 210 connected to the camera microcomputer 208, and an image output terminal 209.
And an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as EVF) 3.

The signal processing circuit 207 includes a camera signal processing circuit 207a and an AF signal processing circuit 207b. The output of the camera signal processing circuit 207a is output as an image signal, and the output of the camera microcomputer 208 is output from the lens unit 1. It is supplied to the lens microcomputer 127.

Camera microcomputer (optical axis deviation detecting means) 20
A field memory 8 is provided with a plurality of field memories (not shown), and is used to detect an alignment error (deviation) between the photographing optical axes of the left and right parallax images.

In the three-panel imaging unit 200, first to
By the third prism (hereinafter referred to as a color separation prism),
The incident light from the photographing optical system 100 is color-separated into three primary colors,
The red component of the three primary colors is on the image sensor 201, the green component is on the image sensor 202, and the blue component is the image sensor 203.
Each is imaged above.

Each of the image sensors 201, 202, and 203 photoelectrically converts a subject image formed on the image sensor and supplies the electric signal to a corresponding one of the amplifiers 204, 205, and 206.

The electric signals amplified to the optimum signal levels by the amplifiers 204, 205, and 206 are converted into standard television signals by the camera signal processing circuit 207a, output as image signals, and output from the AF unit.
The signal is supplied to the signal processing circuit 207b.

The AF signal processing circuit 207b includes the amplifier 20
An AF evaluation value signal is generated using the three primary color signals from 4, 205, and 206.

The camera microcomputer 208 executes the AF signal processing circuit 20 by using a data reading program stored in advance.
The AF evaluation value signal generated in 7b is read and transferred to the lens microcomputer 127.

The lens microcomputer 127 drives and controls the focusing lens group 115 (and / or the lens group 119) based on the transferred AF evaluation value signal (or / and the output result from the subject distance detector 8) to perform focusing. Do.

Next, the operation in which the left and right parallax images are imaged through the imaging unit 00 will be described. Image output terminal 209 of camera body 2 and image input terminal 1 of lens unit 1
28 is connected by a cable 129, and a captured image is input to the liquid crystal control circuit 123. Note that the image signal in the present embodiment is an NTSC interlace signal. Therefore, image signals for 60 images are output per second.

These image signals are synchronized by a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal. The vertical sync signal is 6
It is superimposed on the head of the image signal for zero image. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal control circuit 123 separates the vertical synchronization signal every 1/60 second from the input image signal.

Also, an odd / even signal for determining whether the field is an odd field or an even field is generated from the input image signal.

Whether an odd field or an even field is determined is whether the vertical synchronizing signal coincides with the edge of the horizontal synchronizing signal (odd field) or is delayed by 1 / 2H (H is the horizontal synchronizing cycle) (even field). Can be determined by

Next, a left-eye liquid crystal drive signal and a right-eye liquid crystal drive signal are generated and output from the vertical synchronizing signal and the odd / even signals, respectively.

The left and right liquid crystal drive signals are drive signals for causing the imaging section 200 to alternately capture the left and right parallax images in a time-division manner. When one of the parallax images is captured, the liquid crystal corresponding to the parallax image is used. The shutters (102, 105) are set in a transmission state, and the other liquid crystal shutter is set in a non-transmission state. When capturing the other parallax image, the liquid crystal shutter corresponding to the parallax image is set to the transmitting state, and the one liquid crystal shutter is set to the non-transmitting state.

As shown in FIG. 2, if the liquid crystal shutter is opaque when a positive voltage is applied and is transmissive when a negative voltage is applied, the right-eye liquid crystal shutter 10
A drive signal is applied to the liquid crystal shutters 102 and 105 so that the liquid crystal shutter 105 for the left eye transmits while the liquid crystal shutter 2 is opaque and the liquid crystal shutter 102 for the left eye does not transmit while the liquid crystal shutter 105 for the right eye transmits. Can be

By driving in this manner, an image formed by the light transmitted through the liquid crystal shutter 105 is captured by the image pickup section 200 while the liquid crystal shutter 102 is not transmitted, and the liquid crystal is displayed while the liquid crystal shutter 105 is not transmitted. An image formed by the light transmitted through the shutter 102 is captured by the imaging unit 200.

In this embodiment, since even / odd field signals are included as information, image signals for the left eye are picked up in odd fields, and image signals for the right eye are picked up in even fields.

With the above operation, the left and right parallax images are alternately picked up by the imaging unit 200, that is, 30 images per second alternately.

Further, since the timing of reading from the imaging unit 200 is also synchronized with this, the parallax image for the left eye and the parallax image for the right eye are alternately output from the signal processing circuit 207 as image signals.

Note that the method of vertical synchronization separation and the method of field detection are not particularly limited to the above-described methods.

In the present embodiment, the image signal is input to the liquid crystal control circuit 123 via the cable 129. However, in the data communication between the lens microcomputer 127 and the camera microcomputer 208, the vertical synchronizing signal information is transmitted. Or, even / odd field information may be communicated and used.

In FIG. 2, the right-eye liquid crystal drive signal and the left-eye liquid crystal drive signal fall and rise in synchronization with the fall of the vertical synchronizing signal. Fall of the drive signal and the left eye LCD drive signal,
It is sufficient that the rising edge occurs during the vertical blanking period (20H) of the image signal.

In the present embodiment, the image signal for the left eye is taken in the odd field, and the image signal for the right eye is taken in the even field. However, the image signal for the right eye is taken in the odd field. The image signal for the left eye may be captured in the even field.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of issuing a warning when the alignment error between the left and right photographing optical axes (deviation of the photographing optical axes of the left and right parallax images) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the camera of the present embodiment. This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the alignment error of the photographing optical axis is detected by correlating the left and right parallax images in the vertical direction. In general, the same subject in the parallax image has a high correlation, and by taking the vertical correlation of the parallax image, it is possible to detect the amount corresponding to the photographic optical axis shift of the left and right parallax images of the shooting subject. it can.

First, in step 1, the camera microcomputer 208 starts detecting an error in optical axis alignment. This is instructed by the lens microcomputer 127.

Next, in step 2, the calculation of the correlation in the vertical and horizontal directions of the imaging screen is started. First, the image signal of the odd field (the image signal for the left eye in this embodiment) is read from the field memory. In step 3, the image signal of the even field (the image signal for the left eye in the present embodiment) is read from the field memory. This is an image for the right eye in the present embodiment.

Next, in step 4, a correlation operation is performed between the read image signal of the odd field and the image signal of the even field.

More specifically, the difference between the image signals in a predetermined range between the odd field and the odd field is obtained, and the calculation is repeatedly performed until the difference value becomes smallest. In this embodiment, the correlation calculation is performed on the subject image near the center of the screen.
However, the correlation calculation may be performed on any portion of the subject image on the screen. Further, in order to increase the accuracy, a similar correlation may be obtained for the entire screen or a plurality of areas.

As a result, a motion vector amount component as information corresponding to the vertical shift of the photographing optical axis is obtained.

Next, in step 5, it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the motion vector amount obtained in step 4 is larger than a predetermined value α. If it is larger, the process proceeds to step 6; Return to

At step 6, an operation is performed to warn that the optical axis deviation has exceeded a predetermined value. Specifically, EVF3
A warning display is superimposed on the captured image or independently. As a warning operation, a warning sound may be emitted, a warning RED or the like may be emitted, or a continuous or intermittent vibration may be generated in the camera.

By performing the warning operation in this way, it is possible to notify the photographer that an error of a predetermined value or more has occurred in the optical axis alignment, and it is possible to prevent an unnatural three-dimensional image from being photographed.

Then, the photographer sets the left and right reflection mirrors 11
The optical axis alignment is corrected by adjusting the vertical inclination of 2,107.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a warning operation is performed when the optical axis alignment error is equal to or more than a predetermined value. For example, the warning operation is performed based on the error direction and the error amount represented by the motion vector amount. Alternatively, the inclination of the left and right reflection mirrors 112 and 107 in the vertical direction may be changed by a driving mechanism to perform automatic correction of optical axis alignment.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the left and right liquid crystal shutters in the lens unit are alternately transmitted and non-transmitted to capture the left and right parallax images has been described. The mechanical shutters may be opened and closed alternately using left and right shutters.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the information corresponding to the shift of the imaging optical axis of the left and right parallax images in the optical system is obtained based on the correlation between the left and right parallax images obtained from the output of the imaging element, the imaging optical axis of the left and right parallax images is determined. When the displacement (for example, the displacement in the vertical direction of the photographing optical axis) becomes large, a warning operation for notifying the photographer of the displacement or an operation for correcting the displacement of the photographing optical axis is performed. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unnatural three-dimensional image from being shot, and to shoot a three-dimensional image with high quality and little fatigue for the observer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a driving signal of a liquid crystal shutter in the camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process of generating a drive signal for the liquid crystal shutter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the principle of distance measurement in the camera.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of detecting an optical axis alignment error in the camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Interchangeable lens unit 2 Camera main body 3 Viewfinder 8 Distance measuring unit 100 Imaging optical system 102,103 Liquid crystal shutter 129 Cable 107,112 Reflection mirror 110 Synthetic prism 200 Three-element imaging part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 35/10 H04N 17/00 K H04N 17/00 G02B 7/11 A F-term (Reference) 2H051 AA00 BB07 BB10 CB20 FA09 FA19 2H059 AA08 2H081 AA72 AA79 2H102 AB00 BA27 BB00 BB01 BB32 BB41 5C061 AA03 AA13 AB03 BB03 BB09 BB15 CC01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An optical system for causing an image sensor to photograph left and right parallax images, and a photographing optical axis of the left and right parallax images in the optical system based on a correlation between left and right parallax images obtained from an output of the image sensor. An optical axis shift detecting unit for obtaining information corresponding to the shift of the three-dimensional image. 2. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis shift detecting unit obtains information corresponding to a vertical shift of a shooting optical axis of the left and right parallax images. 3. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis shift detecting unit obtains a vector amount indicating a shift of a shooting optical axis of the left and right parallax images. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that performs a warning operation when a deviation amount of the photographing optical axis represented by the information obtained by the optical axis deviation detection unit is larger than a predetermined value. 3. The stereoscopic imaging device according to any one of 3. 5. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying a captured image, wherein the warning means displays a warning on the display means. 6. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the warning unit generates sound, light, or vibration as a warning operation. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that performs an operation of correcting a shift of a photographing optical axis in accordance with information obtained by the optical axis shift detection unit. Three-dimensional photography device. 8. The optical system, comprising: a left objective optical system and a right objective optical system; and an optical axis synthesizing element for making optical axes of the left and right objective optical systems substantially coincide with optical axes of the image sensor, respectively. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising left and right shutters that alternately make light beams from the left and right objective optical systems incident on the image pickup device via the optical axis combining device. A stereoscopic imaging device according to any of the claims. 9. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the shutter is a liquid crystal shutter or a mechanical shutter. 10. A system for transmitting left and right parallax images alternately.
One shutter, an even number of mirrors for forming left and right parallax images on the image sensor, a photographic optical system having a plurality of lens groups and light amount adjusting means, and a drive signal for driving the shutters Shutter control means, first control means for controlling the shutter control means, photographed image input means,
Driving means for driving a part or all of the even number of mirrors, a photographing lens unit having a lens mount and a first contact point, and an image sensor; and a processing means for processing a signal from the image sensor. A second control means for controlling this, a means for outputting a photographed image, a memory manual for storing and holding the photographed image, and a method for controlling the optical system based on the correlation between the left and right parallax images held in the memory means. Optical axis shift detecting means for obtaining information according to the shift of the photographing optical axis of the left and right parallax images, and means for performing a warning operation or an operation of correcting the shift of the photographing optical axis according to the detection result by the optical axis shift detecting means And a camera unit having a display means for displaying a photographed image, a camera mount, and a second contact connectable to the first contact.