JP2007003973A - Photographic, light-emitting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographic, light-emitting device which can take high-quality photographs and project high-quality images, while suppressing power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: This device has a light-passing optical system, a photographic section to take the light images of objects to photograph, a light-emitting section to emit light to display images, an optical path switch operating on one of a 1st light path to guide the light passing through the optical system, as the light of the object or a 2nd light path to guide the image light emitted from the light to the optical system, and to switch to the 1st or 2nd optical path by changing the relative position to the optical system, and a layout changer which changes its shape, when a voltage is applied and changes the position of the optical path switch due to the stress of the changed shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing light-emitting device that captures an image of subject light and emits image light representing the image.

  In recent years, it has been widely practiced to incorporate a photographing device for photographing a subject in a small device such as a mobile phone. By providing a photographing device in a small device that is always carried around, it is possible to easily shoot anytime without having to carry a digital camera or a video camera. In addition, these small devices are generally equipped with a data communication function using wireless or infrared rays in advance, and the captured images are immediately taken on the spot to other mobile phones, personal computers, etc. There is also an advantage that can be sent to.

  However, the display provided in a mobile phone or the like is very small, and even if a captured image is displayed on the display, it is difficult to check the details of the pattern or to view the captured image together by multiple people. . Usually, when a photographed image is to be displayed in a large size, the photographed image is sent to a personal computer and the photographed image is displayed on the display of the personal computer. If a personal computer is not prepared in advance, the photographed image is displayed. There is a problem that it cannot be confirmed immediately on the spot.

  In this regard, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 describe a technique in which a projector that projects an image on a screen or the like is mounted on a photographing apparatus that photographs a subject. The photographing apparatus is provided with a photographing unit that forms an image of subject light and a reproducing unit that emits image light representing the image. When photographing the subject, the subject light that has passed through the lens is photographed by a mirror or the like. When the image is projected by being guided to the screen, the mirror or the like is moved and image light emitted from the playback section is irradiated onto the screen through the lens. According to the techniques described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, even if a personal computer or the like is not prepared, a photographed image photographed with a mobile phone or the like is greatly enlarged and confirmed on the spot. Can do.

  Here, in order to move the mirror in the photographing device, it is conceivable to attach a motor to the mirror. However, in a small device such as a cellular phone, in addition to the power for driving the normal call mechanism and photographing mechanism, the mirror is moved. It is difficult to secure sufficient electric power to drive the motor.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 proposes a method of providing a half mirror in an imaging apparatus and transmitting light to both the imaging unit and the reproducing unit instead of providing a movable mirror. By splitting the light in two directions with the half mirror, it is possible to save the electric power for driving the motor, and it is possible to mount both the photographing device and the projector on a mobile phone or the like.
JP-A-3-65879 JP 2002-369050 A

  However, when the light is split by the half mirror, the subject light incident from the lens is guided not only to the photographing unit but also to the reproducing unit, and the image light emitted from the reproducing unit is also guided to a part other than the lens, There is a problem that the amount of light is unnecessarily reduced, and the image quality of the captured image and the projected image is deteriorated.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing light-emitting device with low power consumption that captures a high-quality captured image and projects a high-quality image.

The photographing light-emitting device of the present invention that achieves the above object includes an optical system through which light passes,
An imaging unit that captures an image of the subject light;
A light emitting unit that emits image light representing an image;
It acts on light on at least one of the first optical path that guides the light that has passed through the optical system to the imaging unit as subject light and the second optical path that guides the image light emitted from the light emitting unit to the optical system. An optical path switching element that switches the first and second optical paths by changing the relative arrangement with respect to the optical system;
And an arrangement changing body for changing the arrangement of the optical path switching element by a deformation stress, which is deformed by application of a voltage.

  According to the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, the arrangement of the optical path switching element is changed by the stress that deforms the arrangement-changed body. Therefore, the first optical path that guides the subject light to the imaging unit and the image light emitted from the light emitting unit It is possible to switch the second optical path in the optical system to low power and quiet. In addition, the subject light and the image light are guided to the imaging unit and the optical system without reducing the amount of light unnecessarily, so that a high-quality captured image can be obtained, and the image quality of the projected image on which the image light is projected is also deteriorated. It can be avoided.

In the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, an optical path setting unit that selectively sets one of the first and second optical paths according to an operation;
It is preferable to include a voltage control unit that controls the voltage applied to the arrangement changing body so that the arrangement of the optical path switching element is arranged to obtain the optical path set by the optical path setting unit.

  According to the photographing light-emitting device of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between a function as a photographing device for photographing a subject and a function as a projector that emits image light and projects an image represented by the image light. .

  In the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, the optical path switching element is preferably a reflecting mirror that reflects light.

  By using a reflecting mirror as the optical path switching element, the manufacturing cost of the photographing light emitting device can be reduced.

  In the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, it is preferable that the arrangement changing body is made of a metal material that is deformed by application of a voltage.

  In recent years, metal materials that are energized when a voltage is applied and deform by heat generated by the energization have been developed. By applying such a metal material as the arrangement changing body, the arrangement of the optical path switching element can be switched to low power.

  In the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the arrangement changing body is constituted by an ion conduction actuator.

  The ion conduction actuator has a characteristic of being deformed according to an applied voltage, and can be preferably applied as an arrangement changing body according to the present invention.

  In the photographing light-emitting device of the present invention, it is also preferable that the arrangement changing body is configured by a piezoelectric actuator.

  Since the piezoelectric actuator also has a characteristic that it deforms when a voltage is applied, it can be applied as an arrangement changer according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographic light-emitting device with reduced power consumption that captures a high-quality captured image and projects a high-quality image.

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

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied as seen from diagonally above the front.

  The digital camera 100 is equipped with a photographing function for photographing a subject and a projection function for projecting an image onto a screen or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the digital camera 100, a lens group 101 that forms an image, an optical viewfinder objective window 102 that a photographer looks into in order to check a shooting angle of view, and a flash that emits flash light. A light emitting unit 103 is provided, and a changeover switch 104 for switching between a photographing function and a projection function and a release switch 105 for releasing a shutter are provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 100. Although not shown in FIG. 1, on the back of the digital camera 100, a display for displaying a menu screen and a captured image, a power switch for turning on the power, and a cross for performing various settings. Keys are provided. The lens group 101 corresponds to an example of an optical system according to the present invention, and the changeover switch 104 corresponds to an example of an optical path setting unit according to the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the digital camera 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the digital camera 100, the lens group 101 and the changeover switch 104, which are also shown in FIG. 1, are generated by the CCD 110 and the CCD 110 that receive subject light that has passed through the lens group 101 and generate subject signals. A / D unit 120 that converts the subject signal into digital photographed image data, an image processing unit 130 that performs color correction processing and compression / decompression processing on the photographed image data, and the recorded photographed image data is recorded on the recording medium 1 Or a media controller 180 that takes out captured image data recorded on the recording medium 1, a CPU 150 that controls various elements shown in FIG. 2, a light emitting unit 160 that emits image light representing an image, The optical path changing unit 170 for changing the optical path of the optical path and the voltage applying unit 140 for applying a voltage to the optical path changing unit 170 are provided. Luo A / D unit 120, the image processing unit 130, the voltage application unit 140, CPU 150, light emitter portion 160, the optical path changing unit 170, a media controller 180 and selector switch 104, are connected via a bus 190. The CCD 110 corresponds to an example of an imaging unit according to the present invention, the light emitting unit 160 corresponds to an example of a light emitting unit according to the present invention, and the CPU 150 corresponds to an example of a voltage control unit according to the present invention. The optical path changing unit 170 includes an ion conduction actuator (described later) 171 that bends according to an applied voltage, and a mirror 172 attached to the ion conduction actuator 171, and the light emitting unit 160 includes a light source 161 and The liquid crystal 162 is configured to generate image light representing an image by blocking or passing light emitted from the light source 161 for each pixel. The mirror 172 corresponds to an example of an optical path switching element according to the present invention, and the ion conduction actuator 171 corresponds to an example of an arrangement change body according to the present invention. In addition to the one shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 100 has a lens drive mechanism for driving the lens group 101 in the direction along the optical axis, a menu screen, etc. in order to realize an autofocus function, a zoom function, and the like. A display for display, a flash light emitting unit 103 and a release switch 105 shown in FIG. 1 are provided, but these are not directly related to the present invention, and are not shown.

  In the digital camera 100 of this embodiment, the optical path of the light is adjusted by the optical path changing unit 170, the subject light incident on the lens group 101 is imaged on the CCD 110, and the light emitting unit A projection function for guiding the image light emitted from 160 to the lens group 101 and projecting an image represented by the image light on a screen or the like is realized.

  Here, the description of FIG. 2 is temporarily interrupted, and the characteristics of the ion conduction actuator 171 attached to the mirror 172 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the ion conduction actuator.

  In the ion conduction actuator 10, a polymer electrolyte composed of a cation 13, a polar molecule 14, and an ion exchange resin 15 is sandwiched between gold electrodes 11 and 12 formed by special chemical plating. When no voltage is applied to the gold electrodes 11 and 12, as shown in part (A) of FIG. 3, the cations 13 are dispersed in the polymer electrolyte, and the ion conduction actuator 10 has a straight shape. is doing.

  When a voltage is applied to the gold electrodes 11 and 12 of the ion conduction actuator 10, the cation 13 is attracted to the cathode (the gold electrode 12 on the left side) as shown in Part (B) of FIG. Therefore, the ion conduction actuator 10 bends so that the cathode side (left gold electrode 12) extends and the anode side (right gold electrode 13) contracts. Further, when a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the part (B) in FIG. 3 is applied to the gold electrodes 11 and 12, the ion conductive actuator 10 is opposite to the part (B) as shown in the part (C) of FIG. Turn in the direction of. As described above, the ion conduction actuator 10 can control the bending state and the bending direction by adjusting the magnitude and polarity of the applied voltage.

  In the digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 2, the characteristics of the ion conduction actuator as described with reference to FIG. 3 are used as a mechanism for changing the optical path of light by the optical path changing unit 170.

  Returning to FIG.

  When the photographer sets the changeover switch 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the “shooting function”, the optical path of the light is adjusted so that the subject light L1 incident on the lens group 101 is guided to the CCD 110.

  When the “imaging function” is set, an instruction is given from the CPU 150 to the voltage application unit 140, and application of a voltage to the ion conduction actuator 171 is prohibited. In a state where no voltage is applied to the ion conduction actuator 171, as shown in FIG. 2, the ion conduction actuator 171 has a straight shape, and the mirror 172 attached to the ion conduction actuator 171 is subject light L1. It is arranged vertically so as not to obstruct. At this time, the subject light L1 that has passed through the lens group 101 travels straight and reaches the CCD 110. The optical path where the subject light L1 reaches the CCD 110 corresponds to an example of the first optical path according to the present invention.

  When the photographer presses the release switch 105 shown in FIG. 1, the subject light L1 that has passed through the lens group 101 is imaged by the CCD 110, and a subject signal representing the subject light is generated. The generated subject signal is converted into captured image data in the A / D unit 120 and transmitted to the image processing unit 130. In the image processing unit 130, predetermined color correction processing and the like are performed on the captured image data, and further compression processing is performed. The compressed captured image data is recorded on the recording medium 1 by the media controller 180.

  Thus, according to the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, the subject light that has passed through the lens group 101 is all guided to the CCD 110 without reducing the amount of light, so that a high-quality captured image can be obtained.

  When the photographer sets the changeover switch 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the “projection function”, the optical path of the light is adjusted so that the image light emitted from the light emitting unit 160 is guided to the lens group 101. Is done.

  When the “projection function” is set, first, the captured image data recorded on the recording medium 1 is taken out by the media controller 180, and a list of captured images represented by the captured image data is provided on the back of the digital camera 100. It is displayed on a display (not shown).

  When the photographer selects a photographed image to be projected from the photographed image list, photographed image data representing the selected photographed image is sent to the light emitting unit 160.

  Subsequently, a voltage is applied from the voltage application unit 140 to the ion conduction actuator 171 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 150.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an optical path of light passing through the lens group 101 when a voltage is applied to the ion conduction actuator 171.

  When a voltage is applied to the ion conduction actuator 171, the ion conduction actuator 171 is bent according to the applied voltage, and the angle of the mirror 172 is changed.

  When the angle of the mirror 172 is changed, a photographed image represented by the photographed image data sent from the CPU 150 is displayed on the liquid crystal 162 and light is emitted from the light source 161. When light emitted from the light source 161 passes through the captured image displayed on the liquid crystal 162, image light L2 representing the captured image is generated.

  The image light L2 travels straight from the light emitting unit 160 to the mirror 172, is reflected on the mirror 172, and is guided to the lens group 101. The image light L2 passes through the lens group 101 and is emitted to the outside of the digital camera 100, and a captured image represented by the image light L2 is projected onto a screen or the like. The optical path through which the image light L2 reaches the lens group 101 corresponds to an example of a second optical path in the present invention.

  According to the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment, since all the image light emitted from the light emitting unit 160 is also guided from the lens group 101 to the outside of the digital camera 100, a high-quality image can be projected. Further, by moving the mirror 172 using the ion conduction actuator 171 instead of a motor or the like, power consumption and noise are reduced, and a photographing function and a projection function can be mounted on a small device such as a mobile phone.

  Above, description of 1st Embodiment of this invention is complete | finished and 2nd Embodiment of this invention is described. The first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention are different in that a piezoelectric bimorph is used instead of an ion conduction actuator, but other than that, since they have almost the same configuration, the same elements have the same reference numerals. Will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

  First, the piezoelectric bimorph will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation principle of the piezoelectric bimorph.

  The piezoelectric bimorph 20 is a type of piezoelectric actuator that deforms upon application of voltage, and an electrode 23 is sandwiched between two piezoelectric elements 21 and 22 that are polarized in the same direction in the thickness direction. Furthermore, a counter electrode 24 of the electrode 23 is provided in each of the piezoelectric elements 21 and 22. A piezoelectric ceramic plate or the like is applied as the piezoelectric elements 21 and 22, and a metal plate such as a gold electrode is applied as the electrode 23 and the counter electrode 24.

  As shown in Part (A) of FIG. 5, when no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric bimorph 20, the expansion and contraction states of the two piezoelectric elements 21 and 22 are equal, and the piezoelectric bimorph 20 has a straight shape. Yes.

  When voltages having opposite polarities are applied to the electrode 23 and the counter electrode 24, one piezoelectric element (the upper piezoelectric element 21 in Part (B) of FIG. 5) contracts due to the piezoelectric lateral effect, and the other piezoelectric element ( In part (B) of FIG. 5, the piezoelectric bimorph 20 bends upward as the lower piezoelectric element 22) extends. Further, when a voltage opposite to that of the part (B) is applied to the electrode 23 and the counter electrode 24, the piezoelectric bimorph 20 bends down contrary to the part (B).

  As described above, the piezoelectric bimorph 20 also has a characteristic that it deforms in response to the application of a voltage, similarly to the ion conduction actuator shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing for changing the optical path of light in the optical path changing unit 270 to which the piezoelectric bimorph shown in FIG. 5 is applied.

  The optical path changing unit 270 of this embodiment is provided with a piezoelectric bimorph 271 instead of the ion conduction actuator 171 provided in the optical path changing unit 170 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  When the changeover switch 104 shown in FIG. 1 is set to “shooting function”, the application of a voltage from the voltage application unit 140 to the piezoelectric bimorph 271 is prohibited as in the first embodiment. As a result, as shown in Part (A) of FIG. 6, the piezoelectric bimorph 271 is maintained in a straight shape, and the mirror 272 is vertically arranged so as not to block the optical path of the subject light L1 that has passed through the lens group 101. The In the state shown in part (A) of FIG. 6, the subject light L1 advances straight without being refracted and forms an image on the CCD 110, and the subject is photographed.

  Further, when the changeover switch 104 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the “projection function”, a voltage is applied from the voltage application unit 140 to the piezoelectric bimorph 271 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 150, as shown in part (B) of FIG. Further, the angle of the mirror 272 is changed by bending the piezoelectric bimorph 271. At this time, the image light L <b> 2 emitted from the light emitting unit 160 is reflected by the mirror 272 and emitted outside the digital camera through the lens group 101.

  Thus, even if the piezoelectric bimorph 271 is used instead of the ion conduction actuator, the optical path of light can be changed with high accuracy.

  Above, description of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is complete | finished and 3rd Embodiment of this invention is described. The third embodiment of the present invention is different in that a metal material is used instead of the ion conduction actuator and the piezoelectric bimorph in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only differences are described.

  In recent years, the metal material applied to this embodiment has been used as an artificial muscle, and is soft enough to be deformed by hand at room temperature, and has the property of becoming hard and returning to its original shape when heated. is doing. Although it has substantially the same characteristics as a conventional shape memory alloy, it has an advantage that it can be energized by application of a voltage and deformed by the heat generated by energization, and its deformation amount is large.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining processing for changing the optical path of light in the optical path changing unit 270 to which the metal-based artificial muscle is applied.

  The optical path changing unit 370 of this embodiment is provided with a metal artificial muscle 371 instead of the ion conduction actuator 171 provided in the optical path changing unit 170 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the metal-based artificial muscle 371 has a longitudinal shape and is wound in a coil shape to increase the amount of displacement in the length direction. The metallic artificial muscle 371 has an elongated shape at room temperature, and contracts due to heat when a voltage is applied.

  When the changeover switch 104 shown in FIG. 1 is set to “shooting function”, the application of voltage from the voltage application unit 140 to the metal-based artificial muscle 371 is prohibited as in the first embodiment. As shown in Part (A) of FIG. 7, the metal-based artificial muscle 371 is extended, and the mirror 372 is arranged vertically at a position where the subject light L1 incident on the lens group 101 is not blocked. At this time, the subject light L1 incident from the lens group 101 is imaged on the CCD 110, and the subject is photographed.

  Further, when the changeover switch 104 shown in FIG. 1 is set to the “projection function”, a voltage is applied from the voltage application unit 140 to the metal-based artificial muscle 371 as in the first embodiment. As shown in part (B) of FIG. 7, the metal-based artificial muscle 371 is contracted by heat when a voltage is applied, and the angle of the mirror 372 is changed by the contraction of the metal-based artificial muscle 371. The image light L <b> 2 emitted from the light emitting unit 160 is reflected by the mirror 272 and is emitted to the outside of the digital camera through the lens group 101.

  As described above, the metal-based artificial muscle 371 may be applied instead of the ion conduction actuator or the piezoelectric bimorph.

  Here, in the above, a mirror that reflects light is shown as an example of the optical path switching element according to the present invention, but the optical path switching element according to the present invention may be a prism or a lens that refracts light. Good.

  Moreover, although the example which applied an ion conduction actuator, a piezoelectric bimorph, and a metal type artificial muscle was demonstrated as an example of the arrangement | positioning change body said to this invention, electric power is applied to the arrangement change body said this invention. For example, a piezoelectric hemimol or the like may be used as long as it is deformed depending on the situation.

  In the above, a CCD that receives subject light and generates a subject signal is shown as an example of the imaging unit of the present invention, but the imaging unit referred to in the present invention may be, for example, a MOS, Alternatively, the subject light may be imaged on a film.

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which one Embodiment of this invention was applied from front diagonally upward. It is a schematic block diagram of the digital camera 100 shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of operation of an ion conduction actuator. 6 is a diagram for explaining an optical path of light passing through a lens group 101 when a voltage is applied to an ion conduction actuator 171. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the principle of operation of a piezoelectric bimorph. It is a figure for demonstrating the process which changes the optical path of light in the optical path change part 270 to which the piezoelectric bimorph shown in FIG. 5 was applied. It is a figure for demonstrating the process which changes the optical path of light in the optical path change part 270 to which the metal type artificial muscle was applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ion conduction actuator 11, 12 Gold electrode 13 Cation 14 Polar molecule 15 Ion exchange resin 20 Piezoelectric bimorph 21, 22 Piezoelectric element 23 Electrode 100 Digital camera 101 Lens group 102 Optical viewfinder objective window 103 Flash light emitting part 104 Changeover switch 105 Release Switch 110 CCD
120 A / D unit 130 Image processing unit 140 Voltage application unit 150 CPU
160 Light emitting unit 161 Light source 162 Liquid crystal 170, 270, 370 Optical path changing unit 171 Ion conduction actuator 172, 272, 372 Mirror 180 Media controller 190 Bus 190
271 Piezoelectric Bimorph 371 Metal Artificial Muscle

Claims (6)

An optical system through which light passes;
An imaging unit that captures an image of the subject light;
A light emitting unit that emits image light representing an image;
On at least one of the first optical path that guides the light that has passed through the optical system as the subject light to the imaging unit and the second optical path that guides the image light emitted by the light emitting unit to the optical system And an optical path switching element that switches between the first and second optical paths by changing the relative arrangement with respect to the optical system, which acts on the light at
An imaging light-emitting apparatus comprising: an arrangement changing body that deforms in response to application of a voltage and changes the arrangement of the optical path switching element by a deformation stress. An optical path setting unit that selectively sets one of the first optical path and the second optical path according to an operation;
The voltage control part which controls the voltage applied to the said arrangement change body, and makes arrangement | positioning of the said optical path switching element the arrangement | positioning from which the optical path set by the said optical path setting part is obtained is provided. Item 1. A photographing light-emitting device according to Item 1.   The photographing light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical path switching element is a reflecting mirror that reflects light.   The photographing light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement changing body is made of a metal material that is deformed by application of the voltage.   The photographing light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement change body is configured by an ion conduction actuator.   The photographing light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement changing body includes a piezoelectric actuator.

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