JP2002287008A - Multidirectional imaging device and telephone set mounted with multidirectional imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional imaging device which facilitates the use of existing lenses without requiring a shutter and is substantially trouble-free and to provide a downsized telephone set mounted with this multidirectional imaging device. SOLUTION: The lenses 2 and 3 facing plural different directions are arranged at a lens mount 1 rotatable around a revolving shaft 4a. An optical mirror 8 is arranged on the optical axes of the lenses 2 and 3. An imaging element 7 is arranged in parallel to the plane orthogonal with the revolving shaft 4a. Only the light from either one lens is made incident on the imaging element 7 by rotating the lens mount 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-directional imaging device capable of switching between a plurality of different imaging directions with a single imaging device and a telephone equipped with the multi-directional imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a demand for photographing in a plurality of different directions from one imaging device (such as a camera) without changing the direction of the imaging device itself, and various devices have been proposed. . For example, the one shown in FIG. 18 is a multidirectional imaging device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-347699, which can be inserted into a thin tube and switch between the wall surface of the tube and the axial direction of the tube to shoot. (Hereinafter referred to as an imaging device). In the figure, P indicates a longitudinal section of a pipe to be observed, and 211 indicates a casing of the imaging device inserted inside the pipe P. 210 is an image sensor, M and N are optical axes shown for explanation, and are orthogonal to each other. 201 is a block body made of optical glass or synthetic resin, etc., 202 is a first light incident part formed on one side surface of the block body 201,
Numeral 203 denotes a second light entrance section formed on the other side surface of the block body 201.

Reference numeral 212 denotes a first shutter mechanism provided outside the block 201 on the optical axis M, and reference numeral 213 denotes a second shutter mechanism provided outside the block 201 on the optical axis N.
Reference numeral 214 denotes a light source for illumination. First shutter mechanism 2
When the second shutter mechanism 213 is closed and the second shutter mechanism 213 is closed, the light guided from the first light incident portion 202 is refracted by the first refraction surface 204 and is converted into parallel light by the block 2.
01 and is reflected by the internal reflection surface 207. Further, the refraction / reflection surface 206 provided on the second light entrance 203
Is reflected and converged.

Then, the light is guided along the second optical axis N, passes through the light transmitting portion 208 opened on the internal reflection surface 207, is refracted by the final refraction surface 209, and forms an image on the image pickup device 210. Therefore, the state of the peripheral wall of the pipe P can be observed. First
When the shutter mechanism 212 is closed and the second shutter mechanism 213 is opened, the light guided to the second light entrance 203 is refracted and condensed on the second refraction surface 205 and is transmitted to the light transmission part 208. And is refracted by the final refraction surface 209,
An image is formed by the image sensor 210. Therefore, it is possible to observe the presence or absence of an obstacle in the traveling direction (white arrow) of the optical device.

As a method of photographing in multiple directions, there is, of course, a method of directing the direction of the entire image pickup apparatus to the photographing direction. FIG. 19 shows a conventional multidirectional imaging apparatus (FIG. 1).
FIG. 9 is an external view of a mobile phone equipped with a camera different from that shown in FIG. In the figure, 12
Is a case of a mobile phone, 13 is an operation button (including an image display unit) arranged on the front surface, 90 is a camera, which has a rotating mechanism (not shown) at a portion where the case 12 is attached to the case, and which rotates By doing so, shooting in any direction is possible. However, since the camera 90 and the case 12 are connected by an electric wire (not shown), each time the camera 90 is rotated, stress is applied to the electric wire, and a failure such as cutting is likely to occur. There was a problem that it was difficult to see it upside down. In addition, since the camera 90 includes an image processing circuit, the camera 90 becomes large, protrudes from the case 12, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the mobile phone.

[0006]

The conventional imaging apparatus capable of imaging in a plurality of directions has the following problems because it is configured as described above. 1) Since a shutter is required for each light input section, the structure is complicated. 2) Since the lens in each direction and the internal reflection surface are designed and manufactured as an integrated exclusive device as one block body,
In order to change the imaging direction and the zoom magnification, it is necessary to start over from the optical design of the block body, and the change is not easy. 3) When the camera itself is rotated, a failure such as disconnection of wiring is likely to occur.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional imaging device that does not require a shutter, can easily use an existing lens, and is less likely to cause a failure. It is another object of the present invention to obtain a downsized telephone equipped with the multidirectional imaging device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-directional imaging apparatus, comprising: a lens mount rotatably arranged around a rotation axis; an imaging element arranged parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis; A plurality of sets of imaging lenses arranged in different directions on a mount, mounted on the lens mount, arranged on at least one optical axis of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses, and exiting from the lens mount; And an optical mirror that reflects the reflected light toward the image sensor.

A base plate having at least one plane; a rotation axis fixed to the base plate and perpendicular to the plane;
An imaging element arranged on the base plate in parallel with the plane;
A lens mount rotatably arranged around the rotation axis, a plurality of sets of imaging lenses arranged in different directions on the lens mount, and at least one of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses on the lens mount. An optical mirror is provided on one optical axis and reflects light emitted from the lens mount toward the image sensor.

The lens mount has a plane that rotates while contacting the one plane of the base plate when the lens mount rotates with respect to the base plate.

[0011] The image pickup device further includes a flexible circuit board on which the image sensor is mounted and which is fixed in the image sensor embed-side opening provided on the base plate.

The thickness of the flexible circuit board on which the image sensor is mounted, including the image sensor, is smaller than the thickness of the base plate.

Further, there is provided an image inverting circuit for inverting the captured image vertically or horizontally, and inverts the image with the rotation of the lens mount.

Further, a plurality of sets of imaging lenses which are directed in different directions from each other and are fixed such that their optical axes are in the same plane, and near the intersection of the optical axes of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses, A rotation axis arranged perpendicular to the plane, an optical mirror rotatably arranged around the rotation axis, and an image sensor fixed in a plane parallel to the rotation axis.

A telephone according to the present invention is equipped with the above-described multi-directional imaging device, and enables multi-directional imaging.

Further, at least one of the imaging directions is a front direction of the telephone equipped with the multi-directional imaging device, and at least one of the remaining imaging directions is a rear direction of the telephone. It is what it was.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 1 to 5 show the configuration of the multidirectional imaging device according to the first embodiment. Here, an example in which images can be captured in two directions will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective external view of the multi-directional imaging device, and FIG. 2 is a perspective external view from the same direction as FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the structure of FIG. 1 exploded to facilitate understanding of the structure (a part of the inside is shown in perspective).
It is. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens mount that houses imaging lenses (hereinafter, referred to as lenses) arranged in a plurality of different directions, 2 denotes a combination of one or more lenses on a lens mount 1, and A first lens 3 which is an imaging lens arranged in a normal direction, and a lens mount 1
The second lens is an imaging lens which is configured by combining one or more lenses on the first lens and arranged in the horizontal direction. 4 is a bearing for rotating the lens mount 1,
4a is a rotating shaft inserted into the bearing 4. As shown in FIG. 3, a first lens 2, a second lens 2,
3, light paths 20, 30 for passing light in and out
It has. The lens mount 1 is manufactured by processing metal or resin.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a base plate on which the photographing module (image pickup device) 7 and its wiring 11 are mounted, and has a base-side shaft mounting hole 5b into which the shaft 4a is inserted. Since the shaft 4a is fixed vertically to the shaft mounting hole 5b, the base plate 5 is orthogonal to the rotation shaft 4a. The lens mount 1 is rotatable around a rotation axis 4a. The base plate 5 is, for example, a ceramic plate,
It can be composed of a glass plate, a resin plate, or a metal plate. The lens mount 1 is rotatable around a rotation axis 4a. The first and second lenses 2 and 3 are arranged in different directions. FIG. 1 shows the position of the lens mount 1 (position with respect to the base plate 5) during horizontal shooting,
FIG. 2 shows the position of the lens mount 1 during normal direction photographing. 4 and 5 are sectional views showing the optical structure inside the lens mount 1. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. In the figure, 2
a is a first lens holder that holds the first lens 2; 3a is a second lens holder that holds the second lens 3;

Reference numeral 7a denotes a light receiving surface provided on the image sensor 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes an optical mirror such as a mirror or a prism mirror for reflecting light to change the direction. Optical mirror 8
Is arranged on the optical axis of the second lens 3. 4 and 5 indicate an optical path of light for explanation. In FIG. 4, subject information from the horizontal direction enters through the second lens 3, is further reflected by the optical mirror 8, changes its direction, and forms an image on the light receiving surface 7 a of the image sensor 7. In FIG. 5, subject information from the normal direction enters through the first lens 2 and the light receiving surface 7 of the image sensor 7
An image is formed on a. The lens mount 1 has a flat surface in contact with the base plate 5 and rotates while always in contact with the base plate 5 to prevent dust and the like from entering the contact surface.

In the above description, the example in which the imaging direction is the two directions of the horizontal direction and the normal direction has been described, but the direction is not limited to this, and the arrangement angle of the optical mirror 8 can be changed, By changing the arrangement angle of the lens, the lens may be oriented in a direction other than the horizontal and normal lines. Further, the number of switching directions is not limited to two. The size of the lens mount 1 may be increased, and a combination of lenses and optical mirrors for more directions may be used. The optical mirror 8 may be a flat mirror or a total reflection prism for total reflection inside the prism, or the lens mount 1
May be configured by plating a part of it.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, since the optical system for imaging in different directions is switched by rotating around one rotation axis 4a, there is no need to provide a shutter in the light incident portion. Further, the moving range of the lens mount 1 can be reduced, and the outer shape of the multi-directional imaging device can be reduced. In addition, since the image pickup device 7 is configured to rotate around the rotation axis 4a orthogonal to the light receiving surface 7a (that is, rotate in parallel with the light receiving surface 7a), the focal position relationship between the imaging lens and the image pickup device is rotated. The fixed focus camera in which the imaging lens is fixed to the lens mount with little fluctuation due to wear of the portion can be provided.

Embodiment 2 FIG. In order to explain the use of the multidirectional imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment, an example in which the apparatus is mounted on a mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is an external view of the mobile phone 12 equipped with the multi-directional imaging device of FIG. 1 and shows an example in which the imaging directions are set to two directions, ie, forward (front) and upward. In the figure, 12a is a front window for photographing the front direction, 12b
Denotes an upper window for photographing the upper side, and 13 denotes an operation switch (including a display unit for displaying a captured image) indicating the front of the portable telephone. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a state in which the lens mount 1 rotates inside the mobile phone 12. The lens mount 1 is rotated by a knob (not shown) attached to the outer surface of the mobile phone 12 or a solenoid actuator mounted inside. . Here, the case of the mobile phone has been described, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone but can be applied to a general phone.

Embodiment 3 FIG. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the portion of the base plate 5 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
0 will be described. FIG. 8 shows the base plate 5 in which the lens mount 1 is removed from the configuration shown in FIG. 5 in the figure
Reference numeral a denotes an opening provided in the base plate 5, and reference numeral 11 denotes a circuit board formed of a flexible printed circuit board as a wiring from the image sensor 7 to the outside, and also has a role of holding the image sensor 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a cross section taken along the line Z-Z of FIG. 8, in which the image pickup device 7 is shown as being attached to the circuit board 11 and integrated therewith. Image sensor 7 and circuit board 1
The portion obtained by integrating the first and the first is referred to as an image sensor module 10. Reference numeral 5a denotes an image-receiving-side opening provided in the base plate 5, and 5C denotes an image-capturing-element-embedding-side opening provided in the base plate 5, which is weaker than the image-receiving-side opening 5a. 5d is the circuit board 1
A cutout provided on a side surface of the base plate 5 for drawing out one circuit portion to the outside is formed continuously with the image sensor embedment side opening 5C.

FIG. 10 shows a state of the image sensor module 10 in which the circuit board 11 and the image sensor 7 are integrated. FIG.
In this case, the imaging element 7 and the circuit board 11 are integrated while being electrically connected by a known method such as flip chip bonding. An electrical connection terminal 11b of the circuit board 11, an electrical connection terminal 7b of the image sensor 7, and
Opening 11a of circuit board 11 and light receiving surface 7 of image sensor 7
a and the relative positional dimensions thereof are set such that the center of the light receiving surface 7a is located at the center of the opening 11a and the circuit board 11 is positioned on the image sensor side of the base plate 5 in consideration of the mounting variation of the flip chip bond. When inserted into the opening 5c, it is determined so as to coincide with the center of the opening 5a within an allowable error. The size of the opening 5a is determined to be large within an allowable range.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a state in which the image pickup device module 10 is inserted into the image pickup device side opening 5C of the base 5. Here, the thickness of the image sensor module 10 (that is, the thickness when the image sensor 7 is mounted on the flexible circuit board 11) is smaller than the thickness of the base plate 5. However, even if it is a part, it does not protrude from either the upper surface or the lower surface of the base plate 5. With this structure, the base plate 5 of the imaging device can be reduced in thickness, and the size of the multi-directional imaging device can be reduced. The imaging device 7 is assembled with the base plate 5 as a reference, and the imaging lenses 2 and 3 are mounted on the lens mount 1.
In addition, since the lens mount 1 and the base plate 5 are positioned in the axial direction by the rotation shaft 4, the occurrence of optical axis shift between the imaging lenses 2, 3 and the image sensor 7 can be reduced.

Embodiment 4 FIG. 12 shows a configuration of the multidirectional imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIGS. 13 and 14 show diagrams for explaining the operation. The imaging device according to this embodiment includes:
This is for photographing by switching light from the 180-degree direction (reverse direction). 100 is a lens mount. For convenience of explanation, only the configuration of the lens mount 100 will be described. In FIG. 12, 8a is a first optical mirror,
8b is a second optical mirror corresponding to the first and second optical mirrors, respectively.
The light incident from the second lenses 2 and 3 is arranged to be reflected toward the drawing (toward the back side of the drawing). Note that the image sensor 7 is a first optical mirror 8a of FIG.
(On the side facing the figure).

The lens mount 100 can be rotated clockwise by 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. Then, at this time, the second optical mirror 8b moves on the image sensor 7. 13 and 14 show the lens mount 100 of FIG.
FIG. 13 shows the state of the first lens 2 when the lens mount 100 is in the state shown in FIG.
FIG. 14 shows a state in which the lens mount 1 is being photographed.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a state in which the second lens 3 is being photographed while being rotated clockwise. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 98 denotes a path of light incident from the left as viewed in the figure. 9 in FIG.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a path of light incident from the right. The rotational position of the lens mount 100 differs between FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 by 90 degrees.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show examples in which the multidirectional imaging apparatus of the present embodiment is applied to a portable telephone. 1 in the figure
2 shows a cross section of the case of the portable telephone, 12a is a front window, and 12b is a rear window. The lens mount 100 is installed in a direction in which the shaft 4 is orthogonal to the paper surface as shown in the figure. Then, it is rotated by a knob (not shown). FIG. 15 shows the case where the front is photographed, and FIG. 16 shows the case where the rear is photographed. It should be noted that the case of FIG.
In the case of 6, the image projected on the image sensor 7 is upside down, so that the image sensor 7
It is necessary to obtain an erect image by reversing the scanning direction of the signal of the image taken out of the device, but the technique for this is known as an image inversion circuit and is not difficult at all.

Embodiment 5 FIGS. 17A and 17B show a configuration in which the rotating portion of the multidirectional imaging device is further reduced in size.
In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a mirror mount for rotating only the optical mirror 8. The first and second lenses 2 and 3 are arranged and fixed so that their optical axes are in the same plane, and do not move or rotate. The rotation axis 4a is disposed substantially at the center of the optical mirror 8, perpendicular to a plane on which the optical axes of all the imaging lenses exist, and near the intersection of the optical axes. As the optical mirror 8 rotates, any one optical axis of the imaging lens can be reflected toward the image sensor 7. The image sensor 7 is arranged parallel to the rotation axis 4a. FIG. 17A shows a state of photographing on the left side in the figure, and FIG. 17B shows a state of photographing on the right side in the figure. The optical mirror 8 is rotated by 90 degrees. Mirror mount 10
1 is extremely small because it has only an optical mirror, and can be made even smaller than that of FIG.

[0031]

As described above, according to the multi-directional imaging apparatus of the present invention, the lens arranged in different directions on the rotatable lens mount and the optical mirror are arranged, and the lens mount is rotated. In this way, the imaging direction is switched, so that an existing lens can be used, and it is not necessary to provide a shutter for each light-entering portion, and the structure is simple.

Further, since the rotation axis perpendicular to the base plate is provided and the image pickup device is provided on the base plate, the configuration is simple and the size can be reduced.

Further, since the lens mount and the base plate have a plane that rotates while being in contact with each other, it is possible to prevent dust from entering from the rotating part.

Further, since the imaging device is mounted on a flexible circuit board, the size can be reduced.

Further, since the thickness of the flexible circuit board including the image pickup device is made smaller than the thickness of the base plate, the size can be reduced.

Further, since an image inversion circuit is used, an erect image can be obtained even when photographing is performed using an optical mirror.

Further, the optical system includes a fixed lens arranged so that each optical axis is in the same plane in a plurality of different directions, and a rotatable optical mirror arranged on the optical axis of the fixed lens. Therefore, the size can be further reduced.

The telephone equipped with the multidirectional imaging device according to the present invention can be miniaturized because the imaging device does not protrude from the case of the telephone, and can be disconnected because no stress is applied to the electric wires and the like for switching the imaging direction. Failure is unlikely to occur.

Further, it is possible to easily switch front and rear photographing of a small-sized telephone.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective external view of a multidirectional imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective external view in a state different from FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an exploded configuration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an external view of a mobile phone according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the inside of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a base plate according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a partial detailed view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a fourth embodiment.

13 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG.

15 is a cross-sectional view of a mobile phone equipped with the multidirectional imaging device of FIG.

16 is a cross-sectional view of a mobile phone equipped with the multi-directional imaging device of FIG. 12, showing a state in which a shooting direction is different from that of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a multidirectional imaging device according to a fifth embodiment and a portable telephone equipped with the multidirectional imaging device.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional two-way imaging device.

FIG. 19 is an external view showing an example in which a conventional camera is mounted on a portable telephone.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lens mount, 2 first lens, 3
2nd lens, 4 bearings, 4a rotating shaft, 5 base plate, 5a opening, 5b rotating shaft fixing hole, 5c
Opening for image sensor, 5d notch, 7 image sensor,
7a Light receiving surface, 7b Electrical connection terminal, 8, 8
Reference Signs List a, 8b optical mirror, 9 optical path, 10 imaging module, 11 flexible circuit board, 11a light receiving opening, 11b electrical connection terminal, 12
Mobile phone case, 13 operation buttons, 90 camera, 100 lens mount, 101 mirror mount.

Claims (9)

[Claims] A lens mount rotatably arranged around a rotation axis; an image sensor arranged parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis; a plurality of image sensors arranged in different directions on the lens mount. A set of imaging lenses, an optical mirror mounted on the lens mount, arranged on at least one optical axis of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses, and reflecting light emitted from the lens mount toward the image sensor. A multidirectional imaging device, comprising: 2. A base plate having at least one plane, a rotation axis fixed to the base plate and perpendicular to the plane, an image sensor arranged on the base plate in parallel with the plane, and rotatable around the rotation axis. A plurality of sets of imaging lenses arranged in different directions on the lens mount; and a plurality of sets of imaging lenses on the lens mount arranged on at least one optical axis of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses. A multi-directional imaging device, comprising: an optical mirror that reflects light emitted from the lens mount toward the image sensor. 3. The lens mount according to claim 2, wherein the lens mount has a plane that rotates while being in contact with the one plane of the base plate when the lens mount rotates with respect to the base plate. Multi-directional imaging device. 4. An imaging device embedded side opening provided in said base plate, and a flexible circuit board mounted with said imaging device and fixed in said imaging device embedded side opening. 2. The multidirectional imaging device according to 2. 5. The multidirectional imaging device according to claim 4, wherein a thickness of the flexible circuit board on which the imaging element is mounted, including a thickness of the imaging element, is smaller than a thickness of the base plate. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an image inverting circuit for inverting a captured image vertically or horizontally, and inverting the image with the rotation of the lens mount. Multi-directional imaging device. 7. A plurality of sets of imaging lenses, which are directed in different directions from each other and are fixed so that respective optical axes are in the same plane, near an intersection of the plurality of sets of imaging lenses with the optical axes, A rotation axis arranged perpendicular to the plane, an optical mirror rotatably arranged around the rotation axis, and an imaging element fixed in a plane parallel to the rotation axis. Directional imaging device. 8. A telephone equipped with the multidirectional imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the multidirectional imaging device according to claim 1 is mounted to enable multidirectional imaging. 9. At least one of the imaging directions is a front direction of the telephone equipped with the multi-directional imaging device, and at least one of the remaining imaging directions is a rear direction of the telephone. A telephone equipped with the multi-directional imaging device according to claim 8.