JP2005109622A - Multiple-lens imaging apparatus and mobile communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multiple-lens imaging apparatus which dispenses with a drive mechanism for matching a focus even when a super-telescopic function and an increased number of pixels are employed, and is miniaturized, low-cost and highly reliable, and also to provide a mobile communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: Object images being focused by a plurality of imaging lenses having focal positions different from each other with respect to an object, and an imaging section 15 applies photoelectric conversion to a plurality of object images formed on an imaging device. An image processing section 62 applies prescribed digital processing to the image subjected to photoelectric conversion, an image memory 8 stores a plurality of object images subjected to image processing, and an image extract section 61 selects and segments the images with matched foci among a plurality of the object images stored in the image memory 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-view imaging apparatus and a mobile communication terminal that capture an image of a subject with a plurality of photographing lenses.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-lens camera that captures a subject with a plurality of lenses is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The multi-lens camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a CCD that receives and shoots a light beam of a subject image, and a plurality of photographing optical systems that guide the subject image to the CCD, and each of the plurality of photographing optical systems has a different visible. A light transmittance optical filter is attached, and a plurality of subject images from a plurality of photographing optical systems are photographed simultaneously. Then, a plurality of subject images obtained are combined to obtain a subject image with a high dynamic range.

In recent years, mobile phones incorporating a small camera have become widespread. In a small camera built in this mobile phone, more telephoto and higher pixels are required.
JP 2002-281361 A

  However, in a small camera built in a conventional mobile phone, it is difficult to achieve pan-focusing if it is desired to achieve more telephoto and higher pixels, and a mechanism for focusing is required. When the focusing mechanism is incorporated in a small camera, the apparatus becomes large and the cost is increased, and the problem of reliability of the movable part of the mechanism arises.

  Since the multi-lens camera of Patent Document 1 is intended to obtain a subject image with a high dynamic range, there is no description or suggestion regarding the focus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and does not require a driving mechanism for focusing even with a telephoto or a higher pixel, and ensures downsizing, low cost, and high reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-lens imaging device and a mobile communication terminal that can be used.

  The multi-lens imaging device according to the present invention is configured such that a plurality of photographing lenses each having a different focus position with a subject and each subject image focused by the plurality of photographing lenses are formed, An image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image, and an image selection unit that selects an in-focus image from a plurality of subject image images photoelectrically converted by the image sensor.

  According to this configuration, each subject image focused by a plurality of photographing lenses having different focus positions with respect to the subject is formed, and the plurality of formed subject images are photoelectrically converted by the imaging element, The selection unit selects an in-focus image from among a plurality of subject image images photoelectrically converted by the image sensor. Therefore, a driving mechanism for focusing is not required even when the pixels are more telephoto and higher in size, and downsizing, low cost, and high reliability can be ensured.

  The multi-lens imaging device may further include a sharpness calculation unit that calculates a sharpness in a predetermined region in each image, and the image selection unit may calculate the sharpness calculated by the sharpness detection unit. It is preferable to select an image having the highest value from each image.

  According to this configuration, the sharpness in a predetermined area in each image is calculated, and an image having the highest calculated sharpness is selected from each image. Therefore, a plurality of images captured by a plurality of photographing lenses are used. It is possible to easily select a focused image from among the images.

  In the multi-lens imaging device, the plurality of photographing lenses may include a first photographing lens having a predetermined focal length, a second photographing lens having a focal length longer than the first photographing lens, and the second photographing lens. A third photographic lens having a focal length longer than that of the photographic lens is substantially the same as that of the third photographic lens, and a photographic distance range that falls within the depth of focus is shorter than the third photographic lens. It is preferable to include a photographic lens.

  According to this configuration, the plurality of photographing lenses have the first photographing lens having a predetermined focal length, the second photographing lens having a longer focal length than the first photographing lens, and the focal length longer than the second photographing lens. The third photographic lens includes a fourth photographic lens having a focal length substantially the same as that of the third photographic lens and having a photographic distance range within the focal depth that is shorter than the third photographic lens. The first imaging lens, the second imaging lens, the third imaging lens, and the fourth imaging lens form an image, and a focused image is selected from the photoelectrically converted images. . Accordingly, by using the first photographing lens, the second photographing lens, the third photographing lens, and the fourth photographing lens that have different focal lengths and different photographing distance ranges within the focal depth, more telephoto and higher pixels can be secured. In addition, a driving mechanism for focusing is not necessary, and it is possible to ensure downsizing, low cost, and high reliability.

  In the multi-lens imaging device, the plurality of photographing lenses may form respective subject images on a single imaging device, and the image selection unit may be a plurality of subjects photoelectrically converted by the imaging device. It is preferable to select one image from the images.

  According to this configuration, a subject image is formed by a plurality of photographing lenses on one image pickup device, and one image is selected from a plurality of subject image images photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device. There is no need to provide an image sensor according to the number of photographing lenses, and it is possible to ensure downsizing and cost reduction.

  The mobile communication terminal which concerns on this invention is a mobile communication terminal provided with the camera, Comprising: The said camera is the multiview imaging device in any one of Claims 1-4.

  According to this configuration, by adopting the above multi-lens imaging device as a camera of a mobile communication terminal, a driving mechanism for focusing is not required even if the camera is made more telephoto and higher in pixel, and driving The power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the case of focusing by the mechanism.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is no need for a drive mechanism for focusing even when the telephoto and the number of pixels are higher, and it is possible to ensure downsizing, low cost, and high reliability.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sharpness in a predetermined area in each image is calculated, and the image having the highest calculated sharpness is selected from each image, so that a plurality of photographing lenses It is possible to easily select an image in focus from among a plurality of images taken by the above method.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, by using the first photographing lens, the second photographing lens, the third photographing lens, and the fourth photographing lens that have different focal lengths and different photographing distance ranges that fall within the focal depth. Therefore, a driving mechanism for focusing is not required even if the pixel is more telephoto and higher in size, and downsizing, low cost, and high reliability can be ensured.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a subject image is formed by a plurality of photographing lenses on one image sensor, and one image is selected from among a plurality of subject images photoelectrically converted by the image sensor. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an image sensor according to the number of a plurality of photographing lenses, and it is possible to ensure downsizing and cost reduction.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, by adopting the above multi-lens imaging device as a camera of a mobile communication terminal, a drive mechanism for focusing even if the camera is made more telephoto and higher in pixel. Is unnecessary, and power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the case of focusing by a drive mechanism.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a mobile phone to which the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention is applied. A mobile phone (mobile communication terminal) 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a camera unit 2, a display unit 3, an operation unit 4, a speaker 5, and a microphone 6.

  The camera unit 2 is configured to form a plurality of photographing lenses having different in-focus positions with a subject and each subject image focused by the plurality of photographing lenses, and photoelectrically convert the plurality of formed subject images. It consists of elements, etc., and images the subject. The camera unit 2 will be described later with reference to FIG. The display unit 3 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like, and displays an image photographed by the camera unit 2.

  The operation unit 4 includes a shutter button 41, a numeric keypad 42, and a zoom button 43. The shutter button 41 accepts photographing when pressed by the user. The numeric keypad 42 includes a plurality of buttons associated with numbers 0 to 9 and the like, and accepts an input of the other party's telephone number when pressed by the user. The zoom button 43 is for accepting a zooming operation by the user, and can be zoomed up by pressing the zoom-up button 43a, and zoomed-down by pressing the zoom-down button 43b. The speaker 5 outputs the voice transmitted from the other party to the outside. The microphone 6 inputs a voice to be transmitted to the other party.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a mobile phone to which the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention is applied. The mobile phone 1 includes a camera unit 2, a display unit 3, an operation unit 4, an image processing unit 7, an image memory 8, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 9, a memory 10, a wireless communication unit 11, and a voice input / output unit 12. Configured. The camera unit 2, the display unit 3, the operation unit 4, the image processing unit 7, the image memory 8, the CPU 9, the memory 10, the wireless communication unit 11, and the audio input / output unit 12 are connected by a data bus 14.

  The image processing unit 7 is configured by, for example, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like, and performs predetermined digital signal processing on the image signal output from the camera unit 2. This digital signal processing will be described later.

  The image memory 8 temporarily stores captured images for image processing such as digital zoom. The memory 10 stores ROM (Read Only Memory) storing a program executed by the CPU 9, RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU 9, data such as an address book input by the user, captured images, and the like. It consists of a rewritable EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) or the like to be stored. The CPU 9 controls the overall operation by executing a program stored in the ROM of the memory 10. The wireless communication unit 11 communicates with the other party via the base station by the antenna 13.

  The voice input / output unit 12 is connected to a microphone 6 for inputting voice to be transmitted to the other party and a speaker 5 for outputting voice or the like transmitted from the other party, and performs voice input / output.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera unit 2 of FIG. The camera unit 2 includes a photographing optical system 21, an image sensor 22, an AGC (auto gain control) unit 23, and an ADC (analog / digital conversion) 24.

  The photographing optical system 21 forms a subject light image on the image sensor 22. The image sensor 22 is configured by, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like, and receives a subject light image for a predetermined exposure time and converts it into an image signal (charge accumulation signal).

  The AGC unit 23 adjusts the level of the image signal output from the image sensor 22. Note that the AGC unit 23 also has a function of compensating for a shortage of the level of a captured image when appropriate exposure cannot be obtained (for example, when a very low-luminance subject is captured).

  The ADC 24 converts the analog image signal whose level has been adjusted by the AGC unit 23 into a digital signal. The image signal converted into the digital signal is output to the image memory 8 and stored.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention. The photographing optical system 21 for forming a subject image is composed of a plurality of photographing lenses having different focal positions and different focal lengths. The photographic optical system 21 in this embodiment includes a first photographic lens 211 having a predetermined focal length, a second photographic lens 212 having a longer focal length than the first photographic lens 211, and a focal length longer than the second photographic lens 212. The third photographing lens 213 having a long focal length is substantially the same as that of the third photographing lens 213, and the fourth photographing lens 214 has a photographing distance range within the focal depth that is closer than the third photographing lens 213. Is done.

  For example, the first photographing lens 211 is a lens that can be photographed at a field angle corresponding to a lens having a focal length of about 30 mm with a 35 mm camera. The second photographic lens 212 is a lens that can shoot at an angle of view equivalent to a lens having a focal length of about 60 mm with a 35 mm camera twice as large as the first photographic lens 211. The third photographic lens 213 is a lens that can shoot at an angle of view equivalent to a lens having a focal length of about 120 mm with a 35 mm camera that is twice the size of the second photographic lens 212. The fourth photographic lens 214 is a lens that has the same focal length as the third photographic lens 213 but is provided at a position slightly extended toward the subject side. As described above, the first photographing lens 211 is photographed at an angle of view equivalent to 30 mm with a 35 mm camera, the second photographing lens 212 is photographed at an angle equivalent to 60 mm with the 35 mm camera, and the third photographing lens 213 and the fourth photographing lens 214 are photographed with an angle of view equivalent to 120 mm. can do.

  The F number (aperture value) is F2 for the first photographing lens 211 and the second photographing lens 212, and F4 for the third photographing lens 213 and the fourth photographing lens 214. In this case, the shooting distance range that falls within the depth of focus for each shooting lens is from infinity to about 15 cm for the first shooting lens 211, and from about infinity to about 60 cm for the second shooting lens 212. If the subject is a subject at a general distance from the two-photographing lens 212, the subject can be photographed without focusing. The third photographing lens 213 is capable of photographing in focus from infinity to about 1 m, and the fourth photographing lens 214 from about 1 m to about 50 cm. Therefore, when shooting at the angle of view of the third shooting lens 213 and the fourth shooting lens 214, the one that enables clearer shooting depending on the subject distance is selected.

  The image sensor 22 is divided into a plurality of regions, and a photographing lens for generating an image is provided in each of the divided regions. The image sensor 22 in the present embodiment is divided into four regions, a first region 221, a second region 222, a third region 223, and a fourth region 224. Further, the number of pixels of the image sensor 22 in the present embodiment is, for example, 1280 × 960 pixels.

  The first photographing lens 211 forms a subject image in the first region 221. The second photographing lens 212 forms a subject image in the second region 222. The third photographic lens 213 forms a subject image in the third region 223. The fourth photographic lens 214 forms a subject image in the fourth region 224.

  FIG. 5 is an external view of the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the internal configuration of the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the multi-lens imaging device includes a field stop 31, a first lens unit 32, a first light shielding plate 33, a second lens unit 34, and a second light shielding plate in the main body 30 in order from the subject side. 35 and an image sensor 22 are provided.

  The field stop 31 is a stop that removes excess incident light, and four holes are formed in an opaque plate. It should be noted that, when a CCD is used for the image sensor 22, an IR cut filter is affixed to the hole so that the CCD has sensitivity to infrared light, and unnecessary infrared light is removed by the IR cut filter. The

  The first lens unit 32 and the second lens unit 34 are each made of a transparent resin, and four lenses are formed by integral molding, and the first lens unit 32 and the second lens unit 34 are imaged at predetermined positions of the image sensor 22. The curvature of the second lens unit 34 and the position in the optical axis direction are determined.

  The first light-shielding plate 33 and the second light-shielding plate 35 are each formed of an opaque material that does not transmit light, are partitions between adjacent lenses, and remove unnecessary light that leaks from adjacent lenses.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration related to zooming and focusing of the multi-lens imaging device. The multi-lens imaging device shown in FIG. 7 includes an imaging unit 15, an image memory 8, a CPU 9, and an image processing unit 7.

  The imaging unit 15 includes the imaging element 22, AGC 23, and ADC 24 of the camera unit 2 described above.

  The image processing unit 7 performs predetermined digital signal processing on the image signal converted into a digital signal by the ADC 24 of the imaging unit 15, and this digital signal processing is performed for each pixel signal constituting the image signal. The image processing unit 7 performs black level correction, white balance adjustment, γ correction, and the like as predetermined digital signal processing. In the black level correction, the black level of each pixel data subjected to AD conversion is corrected to a reference black level. White balance adjustment is for adjusting the white balance of a captured image. In the γ correction, gradation correction is performed by correcting the γ characteristic of each pixel data.

  The image memory 8 stores an image captured by the imaging unit 15 and subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 7.

  The CPU 9 includes an image extraction unit 61, an AF (autofocus) unit 62, and a digital zoom unit 63.

  The image extraction unit 61 reads an image stored in the image memory 8 and cuts out one image from the divided images. The image extraction unit 61 cuts out one image from an image divided into a plurality of images according to a value set in advance according to the zoom ratio (here, N value).

The digital zoom unit 63 determines the digital zoom ratio and enlarges the image cut out by the image extraction unit 61. The digital zoom unit 63 determines the digital zoom ratio according to a preset value (here, M value). Here, the enlargement ratio of the image (zoom ratio) is set to K ^M. However, it is K = ⁴ √2. Therefore, when M = 4, the enlargement ratio is 2, and the image is enlarged twice. The digital zoom is to obtain a zoom effect by trimming a central portion of an image according to a zoom ratio and enlarging the trimmed region.

  The N value for cutting out one image from the plurality of images divided by the image extraction unit 61 and the M value for determining the digital zoom ratio by the digital zoom unit 63 are stored in the memory 10. The image extraction unit 61 reads the N value from the memory 10 and cuts out one image from the divided images. The digital zoom unit 63 reads the M value from the memory 10 to determine a digital zoom ratio, and performs digital zoom on the image cut out by the image extraction unit 61.

  The AF unit 62 calculates the sharpness in a predetermined region in each image among a plurality of images having the same focal length and different in-focus positions, and the image having the highest calculated sharpness is included in each image. Select from. Note that the sharpness can be calculated by obtaining a contrast value representing a difference in brightness between images. That is, when the image is out of focus, the contrast value of the image is low. When the image is in focus, the contrast value is high. Therefore, the AF unit 62 calculates the contrast value in a predetermined area in each image. The calculated contrast values are compared, and an image showing the highest contrast value is selected from each image.

Table 1 below shows combinations of N and M values and zoom ratios in the present embodiment. In Table 1, zooming up as you go to the right and zooming down as you go to the left. Here, when the N value = 1, the image of the first region 221 shown in FIG. 4 is selected, and when the N value = 2, the image of the second region 222 shown in FIG. 4 is selected, and the N value = 3. In this case, the image of the third area 223 shown in FIG. 4 is selected. When the N value = 4, the image of the fourth area 224 shown in FIG. 4 is selected. As shown in Table 1, when the zoom ratio is “1 ×”, the N value is 1, the M value is 0, and when the zoom ratio is “K ×”, the N value is 1, and the M value. Is 1, and when the zoom ratio is “K ³ ×”, the N value is 1 and the M value is 3. That is, when the zoom ratio is 1 to K ³ times, the image of the first region 221 is cut out.

When the zoom ratio is “2 ×”, that is, when the zoom ratio is doubled, the N value is set to 2 and the M value is set to 0, so that the second image captured at the focal length twice that of the image of the first region 221 is obtained. Switch to the image in area 222. When the zoom ratio is from 2 times to 2K ³ times, the image of the second region 222 is cut out.

  Similarly, when the zoom ratio is set to “4 ×”, that is, 4 times, by setting the N value to 3 or 4 and the M value to 0, the image is picked up with a focal length that is four times that of the image of the first region 221. The image is switched to the image in the third area 223 or the image in the fourth area 224. When the zoom ratio is 4 to 8 times, the image of the third area 223 or the image of the fourth area 224 is cut out.

  The user operates the zoom-up button 43a assigned for the zoom-up operation and the zoom-down button 43b assigned for the zoom-down operation, thereby switching between the N value and the M value for zooming. That is, in the zoom-up operation, the combination of the N value and M value in the right direction of Table 1 is selected, and in the zoom-down operation, the combination of the N value and M value in the left direction of Table 1 is selected. Thus, zooming can be performed every K times (1 / K times).

  Further, in the region where the zoom ratio shown in Table 1 is “4 ×” or more, the image of the third region 223 focused on the subject at infinity and the fourth region 224 focused on the proximity. Focus is selected by selecting one of the images. When zooming at a zoom ratio of 4 times or more, the AF unit 62 compares the contrast of the image in the third region 223 with the contrast of the image in the fourth region 224, selects the image with the higher contrast, and selects A number corresponding to the selected image is substituted for the N value. For example, the AF unit 62 compares the contrast of the image in the third region 223 with the contrast of the image in the fourth region 224, and the contrast of the image in the third region 223 is higher than the contrast of the image in the fourth region 224. In this case, an image in the third region 223 is selected, and “3”, which is a number corresponding to the selected image, is substituted for the N value.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a contrast comparison area for comparing contrasts in an original image captured by the image sensor. The original image GM imaged by the image sensor 22 is divided into a plurality of images, and the first divided image G1 corresponding to the first area 221 of the image sensor 22 and the second area 222 corresponding to the second area 222 of the image sensor 22. The image is divided into a divided image G2, a third divided image G3 corresponding to the third region 223 of the image sensor 22, and a fourth divided image G4 corresponding to the fourth region 224 of the image sensor 22. The central rectangular portions of the third divided image G3 and the fourth divided image G4 are the contrast comparison region C3 and the contrast comparison region C4. The AF unit 62 calculates the contrast value of the contrast comparison area C3 in the third divided image G3, calculates the contrast value of the contrast comparison area C4 in the fourth divided image G4, and compares the contrast values in the respective areas. Here, the contrast value is calculated based on the following equation (1).

In the above equation (1), C represents the contrast value, a represents the number of pixels in the vertical direction in the contrast comparison area, b represents the number of pixels in the horizontal direction in the contrast comparison area, and P _jk represents the contrast comparison area. Represents the j-th pixel value in the j-th horizontal direction in the vertical direction.

  In this way, each subject image focused by a plurality of photographing lenses 211, 212, 213, and 214 having different in-focus positions with the subject is formed on the image sensor 22, and formed by the image sensor 22. The plurality of subject images are photoelectrically converted, and the image extraction unit 61 selects an image in focus from the plurality of subject image images photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 22. Therefore, a driving mechanism for focusing is not required even when the pixels are more telephoto and higher in size, and downsizing, low cost, and high reliability can be ensured.

  Further, the AF unit 62 calculates a contrast value in a predetermined area (contrast comparison area) in each image, and an image having the highest calculated contrast value is selected from each image. An image in focus can be easily selected from a plurality of images captured by the lens.

  The plurality of photographing optical systems 21 includes a first photographing lens 211 having a predetermined focal length, a second photographing lens 212 having a longer focal length than the first photographing lens 211, and a focal length longer than the second photographing lens 212. The third photographic lens 213 having a long focal length and the fourth photographic lens 214 whose focal distance is substantially the same as that of the third photographic lens 213 and whose photographing distance range within the focal depth is shorter than that of the third photographic lens 213. The image extraction unit 61 forms an image with each of the first photographic lens 211, the second photographic lens 212, the third photographic lens 213, and the fourth photographic lens 214. The in-focus image is selected. Therefore, by using the first photographic lens 211, the second photographic lens 212, the third photographic lens 213, and the fourth photographic lens 214 that have different focal lengths and different photographing distance ranges that fall within the depth of focus, it is possible to achieve more telephoto and more Even if the pixels are high, a driving mechanism for focusing is not necessary, and it is possible to ensure downsizing, low cost, and high reliability.

  Further, a subject image is formed by a plurality of photographing lenses on one image pickup device 22, and one image is selected from a plurality of subject image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device 22. There is no need to provide an image sensor in accordance with the number of lenses, and a reduction in size and price can be ensured.

  Furthermore, by using the first photographing lens 211, the second photographing lens 212, the third photographing lens 213, and the fourth photographing lens 214 that have different focal lengths and different photographing distance ranges that fall within the focal depth, it is possible to achieve more telephoto and more. Even if the pixels are high, a driving mechanism for focusing is not necessary, and it is possible to ensure downsizing, low cost, and high reliability.

  Furthermore, by adopting the above multi-lens imaging device as the camera of the mobile phone 1 which is a mobile communication terminal, a driving mechanism for focusing is not required even if the camera is made more telephoto and higher in pixel. The power consumption can be suppressed as compared with the case of focusing by the drive mechanism.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of images obtained by a plurality of photographing lenses are picked up by one image pickup device. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and image pickup devices corresponding to the number of photographing lenses are provided. A plurality of images obtained by a plurality of photographing lenses may be captured by each image sensor.

  In this embodiment, the multi-view imaging device is described as being built in a mobile phone that is a mobile communication terminal. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and other devices such as a PDA (mobile phone) (Information terminal), notebook personal computer, desktop personal computer, PC camera, and the like.

It is an external view showing an example of a mobile phone to which the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the mobile telephone to which the multi-lens imaging device of this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the camera unit of FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the multi-lens imaging device of this invention. 1 is an external view of a multi-lens imaging device of the present invention. It is an exploded view which shows the internal structure of the multi-lens imaging device of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure which concerns on zooming and focusing of a multi-lens imaging device. It is a figure which shows the contrast comparison area which compares the contrast in the original image imaged with the image pick-up element.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile phone 2 Camera unit 3 Display part 4 Operation part 5 Speaker 6 Microphone 7 Image processing part 8 Image memory 9 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Memory 11 Wireless communication part 12 Audio | voice input part 13 Antenna 14 Data bus 15 Image pick-up part 22 Image pick-up element 61 Image extraction part 62 AF part 63 Digital zoom part 211 1st shooting lens 212 2nd shooting lens 213 3rd shooting lens 214 4th shooting lens

Claims (5)

A plurality of photographic lenses with different focus positions with the subject;
An image sensor that forms each of the subject images focused by the plurality of photographing lenses, and photoelectrically converts the plurality of formed subject images;
A multi-lens imaging apparatus comprising: an image selection unit that selects an image in focus from a plurality of subject image photoelectrically converted by the imaging element. A sharpness calculation unit for calculating the sharpness in a predetermined area in each image;
The multi-view imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image selection unit selects an image having the highest sharpness calculated by the sharpness detection unit from each image.   The plurality of photographing lenses include a first photographing lens having a predetermined focal length, a second photographing lens having a longer focal length than the first photographing lens, and a third photographing having a focal length longer than the second photographing lens. And a third photographing lens having a focal distance substantially the same as that of the third photographing lens and having a photographing distance range within a focal depth closer to that of the third photographing lens. Item 3. The multi-lens imaging device according to Item 1 or 2. The plurality of photographing lenses form respective subject images on one image sensor,
The multi-lens imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the image selection unit selects one image from among a plurality of subject image photoelectrically converted by the imaging device. . A mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera,
A mobile communication terminal, wherein the camera is the multi-lens imaging device according to claim 1.

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