JP2002365747A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with which a stereoscopic image is effectively obtained without repeatedly photographing an object with reference to various objects, and many frames of stereoscopic photographs are taken without wasting the memory in the camera by enabling selective storage of only the optimum image. SOLUTION: The camera is provided with a 1st memory 3a for storing at least three pieces of several images photographed in different visual fields, a stereoscopic observation means 6 (LCD monitors 6a and 6b) enabling observation of a pair of images among the several images, a switch group 4 including a selection switch for selecting the one pair of images, and a 2nd memory 3b for storing one pair of images selected out of three or more pieces of several images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a camera called a "stereoscopic camera" for photographing an image which can be stereoscopically observed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stereoscopic camera has long been known as a "stereo camera", and it has a parallax such that when an object is viewed with the left eye and the right eye, a stereoscopic effect is obtained by the parallax. The camera is capable of taking images of the two screens that have been given. As a recent camera technology of this type, for example, a “multi-view data input device” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-12910 is known. There are attempts to provide by the application of. This proposal of the related art includes a display control unit for superimposing and displaying a plurality of two-dimensional images having a captured stereo effect. With such a technique, a subject can be stereoscopically photographed even in the related art.

[0003]

However, since a preferable parallax of a three-dimensional photograph differs depending on the distance and the shape of the subject, conventionally, ordinary users have not been able to easily take a photograph. Even if a photograph was taken, the effect that the photographer expected was not obtained in many cases, and there were many defects that resulted in a failed photograph.

[0004] Even with the multiview data input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-12910, when it is confirmed that a sufficient stereoscopic effect is not obtained when a plurality of images are superimposed, photographing is performed many times. I had to start over. Further, when digitally capturing a stereoscopic image, a plurality of images are required for one scene, and thus a large memory area is required. Therefore, there is a need for a camera that can obtain a satisfactory three-dimensional photograph more easily.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need to retake a variety of subjects many times, and to obtain a stereoscopic image effectively. It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera capable of selecting and storing only an optimum image and storing a three-dimensional photograph of many frames without wasting a memory area.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention takes the following measures. For example, a first memory for storing at least three images captured under different conditions, a stereoscopic observation unit capable of observing a pair of images of the plurality of images, and a selection switch for selecting the pair of images A camera including a second memory for storing a pair of images selected from a plurality of three or more images is proposed.

[0007] In particular, the present invention proposes the camera described above, wherein the second memory is detachable from the camera. Further, when the operation of the selection switch is detected and a pair of the n or more three or more images is selectively displayed, a display control for sequentially displaying “ _{nC 2} ” pairs of images is performed. A camera as described above, characterized by having means, is proposed.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, in the present invention, a digital image technology and a human interface technology suitable for a switch, a monitor, and the like are provided so that an effective three-dimensional photograph can be easily obtained and the effect can be easily monitored. We propose a combined camera as follows. For example, after capturing a plurality of screens by a release operation, a predetermined pair of images are selected and displayed, and the camera is configured and controlled so as to record what the user has selected and viewed. Further, in the camera of the present invention, an appropriate time lag is taken so as to obtain the most effective three-dimensional image, so that the three-dimensional image is effectively acquired.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a plurality of embodiments according to the present invention. (First Embodiment) A camera as a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG.
(D) shows the camera of this embodiment, and its configuration and usage will be described. In FIG. 1A schematically showing the configuration of the camera, a camera (ASIC) 1 having not only a control function for controlling the entire camera but also an image processing function and a subject 1 are shown.
It has a photographing unit 2 such as a CMOS image sensor for electronically photographing 00, a memory 3 for electronically storing the photographed image, and further selectively switches a photographing function part of the photographing unit 2. Switch group 4 and monitor display
LCD driver 5 as a driving unit (LCD etc.) and stereoscopic observation means (binocular finder) that can be monitored by both eyes
6 (that is, a pair of left and right LCD monitors 6L and 6R) and an external LCD 7 as a display unit.

The photographing section 2 is composed of four lenses 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D arranged in parallel, and image sensors A, B, C, D arranged behind these lenses. Since the lenses 2A to 2D have different optical axes and have parallax, the imaging devices A to D via the lenses 2A to 2D can observe and record images from different viewpoints. Have been.

A microcomputer (ASIC) 1 also serving as an image processing IC includes, for example, an image signal processing function unit and a memory control function unit, as well as a JPEG image signal processing unit.
It has a function part for compressing and expanding to a format, and a switch group 4
The sequence control of the camera is performed according to a control program (details will be described later) in the flash memory 1a.

If the camera of this embodiment is used structurally, four image signals can be obtained by one photographing. These obtained image signals are first stored in the first memory (abbreviated as “memory 1”) 3a of the memory 3 without image compression. The reason is that in order to obtain a stereoscopic image, it is sufficient that there are at least two images for the left and right eyes, and even if there are four captured images as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to use two of the images. This is because stereoscopic vision is possible with two eyes.

That is, a process for deleting two images not used is required. For this reason, the memory portion for temporarily storing the memory for the deletion process is the first memory (memory 1) 3a as described above, and the other memory portion for storing the two images after the unnecessary images are deleted is the second memory portion. As the memory (abbreviated as “memory 2”) 3b, the memory 3 is provided separately in two parts. The second memory (memory 2)
In order to record various scenes, 3b is configured so as to store only the necessary selected images and store the images in a compressed form.

The second memory 3b is a removable external memory device such as a memory card, which can be removed from the camera body when necessary.
The ASIC 1 controls the LCD driver 5 so that two LCD monitors 6a and 6b provided for the right eye and the left eye as the binocular monitor 6 can be driven for display. Further, the ASIC 1 can appropriately control the external LCD 7 so that the external LCD 7 can be checked when setting the mode of the camera.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the user 101 holds the camera 10 and photographs the subject 100 from different angles. At this time, a display as shown in FIG. 1C is performed so as to indicate that the shooting direction of the camera is from the right side. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1D, it is set so that the photographing direction is displayed so as to indicate that the photographing direction was performed from the left side. In other words, the arrangement and arrangement are such that images are taken from at least two angles out of the four. With such a configuration and arrangement, if a plurality of images are obtained by shooting, the subject image can be stereoscopically viewed in an appropriate combination.

The camera exemplified in this embodiment is controlled to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with a main routine of a control program dedicated to this function, as shown in a flowchart of FIG. The control program is stored and stored in the flash memory 1a.
The setting is such that the CPU or the ASIC 1 in the control unit (not shown) operates.

The images obtained by this camera are four images as exemplified in FIG. That is, when photographing is performed, four images A to D in FIG. 3 are obtained.
The image A is an image of the subject viewed from the right, and becomes an image of the subject viewed from the left as the image B, the image C, and the image D move.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show the appearance of the camera of this embodiment.
In addition to the release switch 4a, a mode switching switch 4b and a display change switch 4c which are operated at the time of performing the above-mentioned display LCD 7, display and screen switching, screen selection, etc. are provided at the upper part of the camera.

The photographing lens 2 and the finder objective lens 11b are arranged in front of the camera.

FIG. 4B is a view of the camera viewed from the rear side, and shows an eyepiece 11a of an optical finder.
Left and right eyepieces 6L, each comprising an LCD having a display function for checking and monitoring the captured image with the left and right eyes,
6R are provided. Further, screen shift switches 4d and 4e to be described later are provided.

The screen switching switch 4f is located at a position where it can be operated with the right thumb. Photographing is performed by a camera having such a configuration, four images A to D as shown in FIG. 3 are obtained, and a subject image viewed from the left side of the subject in the order of image A, image B, image C, and image D can be displayed. . Which of these images is better to combine and view as a stereoscopic image?
If it is very difficult to select and the user expects only the person who emerges from the background, the images C and D having a small parallax
However, in order to depict even the subtle “overlap” between the hair and the face, it is preferable that the image pair has a larger parallax (for example, a pair of the image A and the image D). Therefore, the camera of the present invention has a monitor eyepiece (LCD monitors 6L, 6R) for selecting a pair of image pairs from three or more images obtained in this way.

The combination for selecting a pair of image pairs from the plurality of n images is _n C ₂ = n! / $ 2! × (n
-2)! ｝

FIG. 5 shows a monitor screen at this time. Simply 2
Since arranging only one image is unnatural or tired at the time of viewing, one screen is fixed according to the screen shift switches 4d and 4e in FIG. 4B (A), and the other image is fixed. (C) can be shifted laterally to correspond to individual users. In other words, while operating these screen shift switches 4d and 4e, the two eyepieces
(LCD monitor) When viewing 6L and 6R with both eyes, adjustment can be made so that a natural stereoscopic image can be observed.

Further, as described above, since the user cannot always determine the viewpoint of the three-dimensional image that the user is particular about, the user can easily select which of the four images should be combined. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of various image pairs are automatically combined according to the operation of the changeover switch so that the images can be switched and displayed. As described above, the arrangement and operability suitable for the human interface technology are adopted.

When the selection switch serving also as the 2RSW of the release switch 4a is operated, the LCD driver 5 as the display control means causes the number of “ _n C ₂ ” (where n is 3 or more) to be displayed. Can be sequentially displayed.

A symbol A, B, C or D indicating which image is currently combined with which image may be displayed on the lower right of each screen as shown in FIG. For example, the symbol may be displayed on the display unit 7 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

Here, a control program for controlling the characteristic functions of the camera will be described more specifically with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step S
At 1, it is determined whether or not this camera is in a display mode (S1). This is because the camera itself is a photographing means and also a monitor means having two liquid crystal monitors for stereoscopic viewing. If a mischief is displayed at the time of photographing, energy is wasted. Switching between the photographing mode and the display mode is performed by the switching operation of the switch 4b.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the mode is the photographing mode (S
2) If the mode is the photographing mode, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the contents of the memory 1 have been erased (S3). If the contents have been erased, the operation state of the release switch (2)
If the ON state of the RSW is detected, shooting is performed in step S4 (S4). The photographing is performed under the control of the photographing unit 2 including the above-described CMOS image sensor, and as a result, image data is generated. Then, step S5
The ASIC 1 reads this image data at (S5),
The image data is stored in the memory 1 (S6), and the process returns to step S1.

In this manner, a predetermined photographed image (see FIG. 3) can be obtained from the four visual fields. If the display mode is set, the process branches from step S1 to step S40, and the memory 1
It is determined whether or not there is data in (S40).
The ASIC 1 controls the LCD driver 5 to control the memory 1
The data stored in the display is displayed (S41).
At this time, a predetermined display form in which the four images A to D are adjacent (see FIG. 7). This indicates whether or not to select, for example, two images from a screen on which four images are displayed, and a selection switch 4a that also functions as a release switch.
Is operated, the process branches to step S14, where two of the four images are displayed on the left and right display means (6L, 6R), and when the user looks through the stereoscopic eyepieces 6L, 6R, the stereoscopic image is displayed. Is visible. In this example, an image taken from the right is seen by the right eye, and an image taken from the left is seen by the left eye.

At this time, a screen shift switch (shift S
W) When 4d and 4e are operated, step S20 is branched, and in step S21, one of the pair of images is slightly moved according to the shift direction (see FIG. 5), and can be adjusted to an easily viewable position. If a different image pair is better, the user operates the screen switching switch (switch SW) 4f to change the illustrated image pair.
And stores the previous shift result in the memory 3 (S
23) The screen is switched so that the adjustment result can be reflected also at the next display. This is performed in a predetermined order (see FIG. 6).
The operation of the shift SW from step S20 (S20) and the operation of the switch SW (S20) until the predetermined time elapses (S25, S26) as long as the display mode is set.
By performing 22), the monitor screen is controlled according to the operation of each of these switches. For example, one image is shifted by the operation of the shift SW (S21). By operating the switch SW, the shift amount is stored (S23), the image is switched (S24), and as described above, S20 to S26 are repeated while a predetermined time elapses in the display mode. When the time comes, the process returns to the camera sequence control (not shown).

When an effective image pair is determined, the operation of a predetermined storage selection switch 4a (in this example, this switch is also used as a release switch) for selecting and instructing shift amount storage is detected. (S3
0), the selected image (ie, a pair of currently displayed images) is subjected to image compression processing (S31), and the image pair and the shift amount are stored in the memory 2 (S32).
At this time, since the contents stored in the memory 1 are unnecessary, the contents are erased from the memory 1 in the subsequent step S33 (S3
3) Then, in order to prepare for the next photographing, the process returns to the camera sequence control (not shown).

As described above, a pair of good image pairs can be selected and stored from a plurality of screens by a simple switch operation, so that it is easy to use, the memory capacity is reduced, and the number of recordable images is increased. A camera for stereoscopic photography can be provided.

If it is determined in step S3 that the previous data remains in the memory 1, the process branches to step S9 where a predetermined warning is issued (S9). Here, it is determined whether or not the display mode is set (S10). If not, the process returns to step S3 described above. If in the display mode, step S
At 11, four images are displayed on the monitor unit in a predetermined form (see FIG. 7) (S11) to notify the user that the selection and storage have not been completed. Then, it is determined whether or not the mode is the selection mode (S12). If not, it is determined whether or not the image is to be erased (S13). If it is to be erased, the image is erased, and the process returns to step S1. If the selection mode is selected, after a pair of image pairs are displayed in step S14 (S14), the process proceeds to the selection storage processing procedure from step S20.

On the other hand, in the display mode, the user can view the previous photographing result by operating the display change switch 4c even if the selection and storage have not been completed in the last photographing. This is determined in step S43 (S43). In step S44, the ASIC 1 expands the image data compressed in the memory 3 (S44), and performs display control in step S45 (S45). At this time, the use of the screen shift shift switches 4d and 4e is also effective.
By performing image shift processing in a direction indicated by a predetermined mark (for example, a black arrow, see FIG. 5), it is possible to make the image more visible.

If the operation of the shift SW is detected in step S46 (S46), the monitor screen is controlled according to the operation of the shift SW. That is, one image is shifted (S47). This display mode is also continued until the operation of the mode switching switch 4b or a predetermined time has elapsed (S48, S49). Then, similarly to the predetermined time, the process returns to the camera sequence control (not shown).

More specifically, how to operate the above-described camera will be described. FIG. 6 conceptually shows what combination is displayed at the time of switching, although each image is not shown. The user decides which image pair best suits his or her preference by looking at these. Since a plurality of image pairs can be sequentially checked easily by the switching operation of a predetermined switching switch, an optimum one can be easily selected and determined. Also, once the screen shift switches 4d and 4e are used, the shift amount is stored so that the shift adjustment is not required for the next display.

FIG. 7 shows a display example of four images which can be selected by the user. Under the control of the LCD driver 5, the image data stored in the memory 1 is displayed adjacent to each other, for example, as shown in the figure. Therefore, when the user selects and specifies desired two images, for example, from these four images A to D. A three-dimensional image can be obtained based on these.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
After capturing a plurality of screens by a release operation, a pair is selected and displayed from the images, and the configuration is implemented so that the image desired and selected by the user can be recorded. In this way, you do n’t need to retake many subjects over and over,
A stereoscopic image can be obtained effectively and it can be enjoyed easily. And the effect was easily confirmed and only the necessary images were recorded, so that only the optimal image could be selected and stored, so that memory was not wasted, and stereoscopic photography of many frames And a stereoscopic camera capable of enjoying a large number of stereoscopic photography can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to provide a camera capable of capturing and storing a stereoscopic image more easily than ever before.

(Modification 1) The above-described first embodiment may be further modified as follows. A camera as a product made based on the concept of the present invention is not necessarily the one shown in FIG.
It is not necessary to have four photographing lenses as in (a). For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the subject 100 is kept still, and the user 101 changes the shooting direction while changing the camera 1.
2 is obtained even when four images are obtained by controlling 0, and the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 2 includes the shift control in FIG. 5, the pair switching illustrated in FIG. 6, and the like. The idea becomes valid. At this time, arrows may be displayed on the display unit 7 such as the external LCD shown in FIG. 1A as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D to associate the shooting direction with the image. As a result, an equivalent or better effect can be expected.

Various devices can be considered for a camera capable of performing such photographing. For example, when a stereoscopic photographing mode is selected,
The display as shown in FIG. 1C is displayed, and the user carries out a modification so as to take a picture from the angle of the arrow, and switches the arrow display every time the photographing is completed, so that the user looks at the subject. A method of instructing the camera to change the angle, or taking an image first, and then associating the screen with the angle (that is, the direction of the arrow on the display unit 7) and operating the switch by a predetermined switch. It may be. In the screen thus obtained, the symbols A to D are associated with the screen as in FIG.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 schematically shows the configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 shows an LCD as a display unit of the camera. As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of images are displayed on the upper and lower dual LCDs each having a transparent LCD 6 a and 6 b superimposed on each other by changing display conditions (for example, brightness and focus position) to provide a three-dimensional effect. A certain display technology can be applied. The second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the features of the present invention are applied to a camera capable of performing such display.

The photographing lens 2 A of the camera shown in FIG. 8 is a lens whose focus position can be changed by a lens driver (LD) 20, and forms an image of a subject 100 on an image sensor 25. Further, this camera compresses / decompresses the image signal input from the image pickup device 25 and performs LCD driver 5a, 5
b) a microcomputer having a function of performing display control via
It has as IC1. This ASIC 1 is a subject 1
The image 00 is continuously photographed while changing the focus using the LD 20 and the image sensor 25, and three or more types of images are photographed. The image obtained in this way is displayed on an LCD vertically stacked as shown in FIG.
When the images are displayed on 6a and 6b, which combination of images provides the best three-dimensional effect depends on the situation of the shooting scene and the user's preference.

FIG. 10 shows the transition of the switching pattern of the upper and lower images. As shown in the drawing, the two images are sequentially displayed in a superimposed manner by operating the changeover switch, and the combination which is most suitable for the stereoscopic vision as seen by the user is displayed. You can choose. Specifically, the object distance is set to L2, the distance to the front of the object is set to L1, the distance to the back of the object 100 is set to L3, and images are taken so as to obtain images in focus at the respective distances. Among them, it is possible to visually check which focus position is appropriate for stereoscopic vision by one-touch switching. In addition, the capacity of the memory 3 is saved by appropriately controlling only the selected image to be stored.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the user can carefully examine and select an optimal image pair from a plurality of images obtained by a single continuous shooting result, so that a photographer does not miss a photo opportunity. In addition, you can enjoy shooting while saving memory capacity.

(Other Modifications) According to the first embodiment, four photographing lenses 2A to 2D are not necessarily required, and a screen division as shown in FIG. An image is obtained. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although the description has been given based on one embodiment, the present invention includes the following invention.

(1) It is possible to provide a three-dimensional camera, which is a camera capable of continuous photographing while changing the viewpoint position, wherein one of a plurality of photographed images is selectively stored. (2) In order to shoot from a different visual field while changing the viewpoint position, three or more photographing lenses are arranged in parallel, and the respective parallaxes formed by these photographing lenses are slightly different from each other. The camera according to (1), wherein a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for conversion are provided.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is no need to retake various subjects many times, and a camera that can effectively obtain a stereoscopic image is provided, and only the optimal image can be selected and stored, thereby wasting a memory area. It is possible to provide a camera that enables three-dimensional photographing of many frames without any problem.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A to 1C show a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the camera, and FIG. (C) is a plan view of this camera displaying one shooting direction, and (d) is a plan view of this camera displaying another shooting direction.

FIG. 2 shows a characteristic operation of the camera according to the embodiment;
9 is a flowchart showing a main routine of a control program for this operation.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing four image images obtained by the camera.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the appearance of the camera according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the camera as viewed obliquely from the front, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view when viewed from the rear.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of shift control of images A and C obtained.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition of a switching pattern between left and right images.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen displaying four selected images.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an LCD as a display unit of the camera.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition of a switching pattern of upper and lower images on the LCD.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ASIC (microcomputer: control means) 1a ... Flash memory 2 ... Shooting part (shooting optical system) 2A-2D ... Lens (shooting lens) 3 ... Memory (3a ... First memory, 3b ... No. 2) 4) Switch group (including operation buttons) 4a ... Release switch (also used as selection switch) 4b ... Mode switch (switch SW) 4c ... Display change switch 4d, 4e ... Screen shift Switch (shift SW), 4f: switch for screen switching, 5: LCD driver, 5a, 5b: LCD driver (for dual upper / lower LCD), 6: observation means for stereoscopic vision (binocular viewfinder: LCD monitor), 6L: LCD monitor (eyepiece for left monitor), 6R: LCD monitor (eyepiece for right monitor), 6a, 6b: LCD monitor (for dual LCD), 7: Display (Display unit: external LCD), 10 ... camera (stereo camera), 11a ... eyepiece (finder), 11b ... finder objective lens, 20 ... lens driver (LD), 25 ... imaging element. S1 to S49: Camera control processing steps.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 15/00 G03B 19/06 19/02 19/07 19/06 35/18 19/07 H04N 13/02 35/18 G01B 11/24 K H04N 13/02 NF term (reference) 2F065 AA53 BB05 CC16 DD07 FF05 JJ03 JJ05 JJ26 LL04 QQ00 QQ24 SS02 SS03 SS13 2H054 AA01 BB00 BB05 BB07 BB08 BB11 AB03 AA08 AB08 AB08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first memory for storing at least three images captured under different conditions, a stereoscopic observation unit capable of observing a pair of images of the plurality of images, and selecting the pair of images. And a second memory for storing a pair of images selected from the three or more images. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second memory is detachable from the camera. 3. A display control for sequentially displaying _n C ₂ pairs of images when detecting an operation of the selection switch and selectively displaying a pair of the three or more n images. 2. The camera according to claim 1, comprising means.