JP2003149595A - Video correcting method in imaging device, and manufacturing method and selecting method of holder used for the imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video correcting method in an imaging device which can easily adjust a position shift of a right-left video border part. SOLUTION: Provided are a prism holder 21 which stores and holds a prism body and a lens holder 22 which stores and holds a CCD camera with a converging lens. The prism holder 21 and lens holder 22 are connected to each other by engaging a positioning rib 24 formed on the lens holder 22 with a rib groove 25 formed on the prism holder. Different kinds of prism holders 21 are formed which have rib grooves 25 shifted in position at right angles to a division plane bisecting the vertical angle of the isosceles triangle of the prism body. A prism holder 21 selected out of the different kinds and the lens holder 22 are used so that the vertical angle position of the prism body stored and held in the prism holder 21 is arranged on the optical axis of the CCD camera stores and held in the lens holder 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image correction method in an image pickup device such as a vehicle peripheral visual recognition device equipped with an optical system camera for an automobile, and a manufacturing method and a selection method of a holder used in the image pickup device. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a car approaches an intersection, it is necessary to check the left and right safety. At an intersection with poor visibility, the driver slightly moves the vehicle into the intersection.
It was necessary to check the left and right safety. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the above approach into the intersection, and it is necessary to visually check the left and right sides of the vehicle directly after the approach to check the safety, which is a mental burden on the driver.

Therefore, in order to reduce the above-mentioned burden, in recent years, an image pickup device is attached to the hood of a car, a front grill, or an upper part of a bumper. There has been proposed a visual recognition device of a type that simultaneously displays left and right images on both sides of the vehicle on the display means.

For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the image pickup device 1 is mounted on the front grill of an automobile by screwing or the like, and the image picked up by the image pickup device 1 is displayed.
In a vehicle, a display unit 2 including an LCD (liquid crystal display), a CRT, or the like, which is provided in a position such as an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment where a driver can easily see it, and a video signal captured by the image capturing apparatus 1 are predetermined. The signal processing unit 3 includes a signal processing unit 3 that converts the display signal and supplies the display signal to the display unit 2.

The image pickup apparatus 1 includes a housing case 5 and a CCD camera 6 as a camera section arranged in the housing case 5.
And a pair of right and left rectangular transparent light-transmitting window portions 5a and 5b, which are provided at the front portions of both side surfaces of the housing case 5, respectively.
The prism body 7 is formed in the shape of an isosceles triangular prism having a cross-sectional shape that reflects incident light that has entered from the above and guides it to the imaging surface of the CCD camera 6.

The CCD camera 6 is provided with a condenser lens (not shown) as an image forming lens and a CCD (not shown) as an image pickup device, and the incident light entering from the left transparent window portion 5a. Is transmitted through one side surface 7a of the prism body 7 and then reflected by the other side surface 7b to be guided to the right half portion of the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 6, and the incident light entering from the light transmitting window portion 5b on the right side of the prism body 7 After passing through the other side surface 7b, the light is reflected by the one side surface 7a and guided to the left half of the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 6, and these are horizontally reversed by a condenser lens in the CCD camera 6 to enter the CCD. Thereby, the left and right views of the left and right fields of view can be simultaneously imaged by the single imaging device 1.

The image signal picked up by the CCD camera 6 is mirror-inverted by the signal processing section 3 and supplied to the display means 2, and the light transmitting window section 5b is provided in the right half of the display section 2a of the display means 2. The right side view imaged through is displayed as a right image, and the translucent window 5 is provided on the left half of the display unit 2a.
The left side view imaged through a is displayed as a left image.

Further, when the left and right images are simultaneously displayed on the display means 2, a mask such as a boundary line that divides the left and right images is formed at the boundary portion thereof in order to improve the distinguishability between the left image and the right image. A device that displays the image 9 and the like at the same time has also appeared.

For example, it is as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-229512.

[0010]

In the image pickup apparatus 1 of this type, as shown in FIG. 16, the optical axis L on the CCD camera 6 side and the bisector of the apex angle at the apex 7c of the prism body 7 are separated from each other. In the normal state in which the two coincide with each other, the incident light from the one side surface 7a and the other side surface 7b of the prism body 7 is condensed by the condenser lens 6a of the CCD camera 6 and guided to the CCD 6b. Due to the action, as shown in FIG. 17, the images on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle are displayed in a distributed manner on both sides of the mask image 9 in the center of the screen of the display unit 2a of the display unit 2, and a left image and a right image are displayed. The divided left and right video boundary portions 10 are structured to overlap the mask image 9 position.

However, as shown in FIG. 18, C
When the optical axis L on the CD camera 6 side and the bisector of the apex angle of the prism body 7, that is, the position of the apex 7c are displaced by a predetermined amount or more, as shown in FIG. There is a risk that the left and right image boundary portions 10 may protrude to one side of the mask image 9 and the left and right images may be misaligned to deteriorate the visibility of the display unit 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, C
When the optical axis L on the CD camera 6 side and the position of the apex 7c of the prism body 7 are displaced by a certain amount or more, the left and right image boundary portions 10 are masked by the mask image 9 as shown in FIG. Of the left and right images, a part of the image on one side may be projected beyond the mask image 9 and projected on the other side, and this protruding image 11 may cause worse visibility. there were. As shown in FIG. 22, the confirmation of such a protruding image 11 is as follows.
If only one side of the prism body 7, for example, one side surface 7a side is brightened to allow light to enter, and the other side surface 7b is set to a light shielding state, as shown in FIG. 23, an image on the light shielding side is displayed. Is displayed in black, so that the protruding image 11 on the other side can be more clearly confirmed. At this time, the boundary portion between the image displayed in black and the protruding image 11 corresponds to the left and right image boundary portion 10.

In this way, the vertices 7c and C of the prism body 7 are
The optical screen center is determined by the positional relationship of the optical axis L of the CD camera 6, and if the position shift occurs in either one, the optical screen center also moves and the left and right image boundary portions 10 shift as described above. Therefore, the image on one side may be projected to the other side, and the deviation of the optical axis L of the CCD camera 6 is mainly caused by the lens position of the condenser lens 6a, the inclination of the lens, the position of the CCD 6b, and the like. The left and right image boundary portions 10 as described above are caused by manufacturing variations such as inclination.
It was difficult to correct the misalignment.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image correction method in an image pickup apparatus capable of easily adjusting the positional deviation of the left and right image boundary portions as described above, and a manufacturing method and a selection method of a holder used in the image pickup apparatus. Especially.

[0015]

Technical means for solving the above-mentioned problems include a prism holder for accommodating and holding a prism body formed in a prismatic body whose cross-sectional shape is an isosceles triangle, and guided through the prism body. And a lens holder that accommodates and holds a camera unit having a condenser lens that condenses incident light, and a positioning rib is formed on either one of the prism holder and the lens holder,
On the other hand, there is provided an imaging device in which a rib groove into which the positioning rib is removably fitted is formed, and the prism holder and the lens holder are connected to each other in a fitted state of the positioning rib and the rib groove. At least one of the rib and the rib groove is formed in a plurality of types that are displaced in a direction orthogonal to a dividing surface that bisects the apex angle of the isosceles triangle in the prism body, and is housed in the lens holder. A prism holder and a lens holder selected from the plurality of types are arranged so that the apex angle position of the prism body housed and held in the prism holder is arranged on the optical axis of the camera unit that is held. There is a point to use.

Further, in the method of manufacturing the holder used for the image correction method in the image pickup apparatus, in manufacturing the prism holder or the lens holder having the plural kinds of the positioning ribs or the rib grooves having the positional deviation, A plurality of types of the positioning ribs or rib grooves of the molding die of the prism holder or the lens holder are manufactured as the insert piece method, and the insert piece portions are exchanged to form the prism holder or the lens holder of the plurality of kinds. There is a point to do.

Further, in the method of selecting the holder used in the image correction method in the image pickup apparatus, the prism holder or the lens holder provided with the plurality of types of the positioning ribs or the rib grooves is classified according to its type. Each holder code is determined, and each protrusion level area that can be corrected by the prism holders or lens holders of the plurality of types and the holder code corresponding to each protrusion level area are attached to the monitor screen for inspection, and the prism holder In the connected state with the lens holder, only one side surface on both sides of the apex angle of the prism body is brightened to inspect the protruding position of the image boundary portion displayed on the monitor screen, and the protruding level region of the protruding position is checked. Select a prism holder or lens holder with a holder code according to That.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, as shown in FIGS.
A prism holder 21 for accommodating and holding a prism body 7 formed in the shape of an isosceles triangular prism having the same cross-sectional shape as described above.
And C as a camera unit having a condenser lens 6a for condensing the incident light guided through the prism body 7 similar to the above.
A lens holder 22 accommodating and holding the CD camera 6 is provided, and the structure is such that the prism holder 21 and the lens holder 22 are mounted in the accommodating case 5 in a state of being connected to each other.

Positioning ribs 24 extending in the direction of the axis M of the lens holder 22 are formed at the upper end and the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the lens holder 22 on the prism holder 21 side. Rib grooves 25 into which the positioning ribs 24 are removably fitted are formed in the portions corresponding to 24, respectively.

The prism holder 21 is provided with rectangular openings 21a and 21b corresponding to the light transmitting light-transmitting windows 5a and 5b of the housing case 5, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIGS.
The prism holder 21 forms the rib groove 25 at a predetermined length δ in a direction orthogonal to the dividing surface F that divides the apex angle of the isosceles triangle in the prism body 7 into two equal parts, that is, in the left-right direction in the drawing. A plurality of types of displaced arrangement are further formed (in each figure, the amount of positional displacement to the left is −, and the amount of positional displacement to the right is +).

Therefore, the positioning rib 2 that matches the shaft center M
4 to the prism holder 21 having the rib groove 25 at each position, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, various positional deviations between the dividing surface F and the axial center M are caused. The state is obtained.

In the present embodiment, the positions of the rib grooves 25 in the prism holder 21 are δ = 0.1 mm and δ respectively on the dividing surface F position (δ = 0 mm) and right and left.
= 0.2 mm, the five types of prism holders 21 are arranged with a positional deviation, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and 12, prism holder symbols A and B, which are respectively holder codes according to the positional deviation amount, are formed. C, D and E are decided.

FIG. 13 shows a monitor screen 27 for inspection. On the surface of the monitor screen 27, the protrusion level position of the protrusion region in which the positional deviation of the left and right image boundary portions 10 can be corrected by the prism holders 21 of the plurality of types. Corresponding to, the level line 28 of the protrusion level and the prism holder symbol 29 corresponding to the protrusion level region between the level lines 28 are displayed. The level line 28 and the prism holder symbol 29 may be directly displayed on the monitor screen 27, or a previously displayed sticker or the like may be pasted on the monitor screen 27.

The prism body 21 and the CCD camera 6 are assembled by using the prism holder 21 having a regular prism holder symbol 29 of "C" and the lens holder 22, and as shown in FIG. Only one side of 7, for example, the one side surface 7a side is brightened to allow light to enter, and the other side surface 7b is shielded, and the inspection is performed.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the projected image 11 is generated, the projected image 1 displayed on the monitor screen 27 is displayed.
The prism holder symbol 29 in the protrusion level area corresponding to 1 is read (for example, becomes “D” in the example of FIG. 14), and the “C” prism holder 21 is changed to the prism holder 21 corresponding to the prism holder symbol 29. If replaced and assembled, the position of the prism body 7 is corrected and the CCD camera 6 is corrected as shown by the phantom lines in FIGS.
The prism body 7 is assembled so that the apex 7c position of the prism body 7 is arranged on the optical axis L. Here, the left and right image boundary portions 10 are adjusted so as to overlap the position of the mask image 9, the protruding image 11 is effectively corrected, and the display unit 2 can be corrected so that a good image can be displayed.

A more accurate inspection can be performed by making only the other side surface 7b bright so that light can enter, making one side surface 7a a light-shielding state, and performing the inspection from the opposite side in the same manner.

As described above, by selecting the most suitable prism holder 21 from the plurality of types of prism holders 21 manufactured in advance, the positional deviation of the left and right image boundary portions 10 can be easily adjusted, and the protruding image 11 is projected. It is possible to provide the imaging device 1 that can be easily corrected and has excellent performance.

Further, when the optimum prism holder 21 is selected, the projected image 1 displayed on the monitor screen 27 is also displayed.
By reading the prism holder symbol 29 at one position, the optimum prism holder 21 can be easily selected, and there is an advantage that workability is excellent.

Further, a plurality of types (four types A, B, D and E in this embodiment) of prism holders 2 for correcting the positional deviation are used.
In the production of No. 1, a portion corresponding to the rib groove 25 in the molding die of the prism holder 21 is set as an insertion piece (nesting type) system, and a plurality of kinds of insertion pieces according to the positional deviation amount of each rib groove 25 are prepared in advance. A method of preparing and manufacturing a plurality of types of prism holders 21 by exchanging only the insert pieces may be adopted. The prism holder 21 having the prism holder symbol 29 of "C" may be manufactured as a regular product by a predetermined molding die.

By adopting such a method of manufacturing the prism holder 21, there is an advantage that the molding die of the prism holder 21 can be used also as a mother die and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the rib groove 25 in the prism holder 21 has a structure in which a plurality of types are formed, but the rib groove 2 is formed at the position of the dividing surface F.
5 may be formed to form a single type of prism holder 21, and the positioning ribs 24 of the lens holder 22 may form a plurality of types displaced in a direction orthogonal to the dividing surface F. Prism holder 2
It is also possible to adopt a structure in which a plurality of types of both 1 and the lens holder 22 are formed.

A rib groove 25 is formed on the prism holder 21 side.
Although the structure in which the positioning rib 24 is formed on the lens holder 22 side is shown, the positioning rib 24 may be formed on the prism holder 21 side and the rib groove 25 may be formed on the lens holder 22 side.

Further, although the structure adopted in the image pickup device 1 in the vehicle peripheral visual recognition device is shown, the present invention may be applied to other image pickup devices having a similar configuration and is not limited to the embodiment.

[0034]

As described above, according to the image correcting method in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the prism holder, which accommodates and holds the prism body formed in the prismatic body whose cross-sectional shape is an isosceles triangle, is passed through the prism body. And a lens holder for accommodating and holding a camera unit having a condenser lens for condensing the guided incident light, wherein a positioning rib is formed on one of the prism holder and the lens holder, and a positioning rib is formed on the other. An image pickup device in which a rib groove that can be fitted and removed is formed, and the prism holder and the lens holder are connected to each other in a fitted state of the positioning rib and the rib groove, and at least one of the positioning rib and the rib groove. On the other hand, a plurality of types are formed that are displaced in the direction orthogonal to the dividing surface that divides the apex angle of the isosceles triangle in the prism body into two equal parts, A prism holder and a lens holder selected from a plurality of types are used so that the apex angle position of the prism body housed and held in the prism holder is arranged on the optical axis of the camera unit housed and held in the lens holder. This method is advantageous in that the positional deviation between the left and right image boundaries can be easily adjusted.

When manufacturing a prism holder or lens holder having a plurality of types of positioning ribs or rib grooves that are misaligned, a plurality of types of positioning ribs or rib grooves are inserted in the molding die of the prism holder or the lens holder. If you adopt a manufacturing method that manufactures multiple types as a frame method and replaces the insertion frame parts to mold multiple types of prism holders or lens holders,
There is an advantage that the mother die of the molding die can be shared and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, a prism holder or lens holder having a plurality of types of positioning ribs or rib grooves,
Each holder code is determined for each type, on the monitor screen for inspection, each protruding level area that can be corrected by a plurality of types of prism holders or lens holders, and the holder code corresponding to each protruding level area are attached. With the prism holder and lens holder connected, only the one side on both sides of the apex angle of the prism body is made brighter to inspect the protruding position of the image boundary displayed on the monitor screen, and the protruding level area of the protruding position is checked. By selecting and using a prism holder or a lens holder having a holder code corresponding to, there is an advantage that an optimal combination of the prism holder and the lens holder can be easily selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a prism holder and a lens holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the same plane.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of different types of prism holders.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of different types of prism holders.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory plan view of different types of prism holders.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory plan view of prism holders of different types.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the prism holder and the lens holder.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of an assembled state of the prism holder and the lens holder.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an assembled state of the prism holder and the lens holder.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an assembled state of the prism holder and the lens holder.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an assembled state of the prism holder and the lens holder.

FIG. 12 is a relationship diagram between a rib groove position and a prism holder symbol.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor screen.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor screen showing an inspection example.

FIG. 15 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a vehicle surrounding visual recognition device.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of the imaging device.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the same display image.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement relationship between a prism body and a CCD camera.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of the same display image.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a positional relationship between a prism body and a CCD camera.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of the same display image.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of an inspection method.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of the same display image.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Imaging device 6 CCD camera 6a Condensing lens 6b CCD 7 Prism body 9 mask image 10 Left and right image boundary 11 Overhanging video 21 Prism holder 22 Lens holder 24 Positioning rib 25 rib groove 27 Monitor screen 28 level lines 29 Prism holder symbol

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masayuki Ishikura             1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi             Auto Network Technical Laboratory Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H043 AE04 AE21 BA00                 5C022 AA04 AC42 AC51 AC54 AC78                 5C054 CC06 FE18 HA30

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A prism holder for accommodating and holding a prism body formed into a prismatic body having an isosceles triangular cross section.
A lens holder for accommodating and holding a camera unit having a condenser lens for condensing incident light guided through a prism body, and a positioning rib is formed on either one of the prism holder and the lens holder, A rib groove into which the positioning rib is removably fitted is formed on the other side,
An imaging device in which a prism holder and a lens holder are connected to each other in a fitted state of a positioning rib and a rib groove, wherein at least one of the positioning rib and the rib groove is an isosceles triangle in the prism body. A plurality of types are formed that are misaligned in a direction orthogonal to a split surface that bisects the apex angle, and is housed and held in the prism holder on the optical axis of the camera unit housed and held in the lens holder. An image correction method in an image pickup apparatus, wherein a prism holder and a lens holder selected from the plurality of types are used so that the apex position of the prism body is arranged. 2. A method of manufacturing a holder used in the image correction method in the image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of positioning ribs having the positional deviation or the prism holder having the rib groove or the lens is provided. When manufacturing the holder, a plurality of types of positioning ribs or rib grooves of the molding die of the prism holder or the lens holder are manufactured as a inserting piece method, and a plurality of kinds of prism holders are formed by exchanging the inserting piece parts. Alternatively, a method of manufacturing a holder used in an image pickup device, characterized by molding a lens holder. 3. A method of selecting a holder used in the image correction method in the image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the prism holder or the lens holder provided with the plurality of types of the positioning ribs or the rib grooves. ,
A holder code is determined for each type, and each protrusion level area that can be corrected by the prism holders or lens holders of the plurality of types and the holder code corresponding to each protrusion level area are attached to the inspection monitor screen. , With the prism holder and lens holder connected, only one side of the prism body on both sides of the apex angle should be brightened to inspect the protruding position of the image boundary part displayed on the monitor screen. A method of selecting a holder used in an image pickup apparatus, characterized in that a prism holder or a lens holder having a holder code corresponding to a protruding level area is selected and used.