JP2007127683A - Imaging apparatus, prevention system for surreptitious photographing and information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of easily suppressing surreptitious photography and lessening damage caused by the surreptitious photography. <P>SOLUTION: A subject 200 which should be restricted from being photographed is illuminated by an illuminator 150 emitting only either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light at least in specified-wavelength light out of visible light, so that a specified region is set to be under environment artificially biased such that polarized light is either the right-handed one or the left-handed one, whereby a photography restricting region is defined. By providing a polarizing plate equipped with a right-handed polarized light transmission region 100a through which only the right-handed polarized light is transmitted and a left-handed polarized light transmission region 100b through which only the left-handed polarized light is transmitted at least relative to specified-wavelength transmitted light in a finder system and an imaging system, the difference of a color tone is made between the image of the subject viewed with the naked eye and the image of the subject through a finder 6 or an image taken by the imaging apparatus 21, or a part of the image is missed if the subject exists under the environment biased such that the polarized light is either the right-handed one or the left-handed one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, a voyeurism prevention system including such an imaging device, and an information terminal device equipped with such an imaging device.

  Along with the downsizing of imaging devices such as digital cameras, digital cameras have recently been installed in terminal devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants and are used as simple photographing means. Such downsizing of the imaging device has improved convenience, but on the other hand, voyeurism of people, objects, and images that misuse the imaging device is small and light, and theft of information described in books, magazines, etc. This causes problems such as theft of information displayed on the display by photographing the screen of a computer display.

  As a first countermeasure against sneak shots that enables notification of the occurrence of a shooting action against various problems such as voyeurism, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 originally discloses a digital camera for checking the operation of the digital camera with respect to the photographer himself / herself. There is disclosed a terminal device including means for expanding a pseudo shutter sound, which is an operation notification sound generated at the time of shooting, attached to the camera so that it can be understood by a person other than the photographer, such as a subject.

  In addition, as a second countermeasure against sneak shots informing the possibility of shooting action, Patent Document 2 discloses a sneak shot detection device that emits and blinks a light emitting element such as an LED to indicate that the digital camera is ready for shooting. Has been.

  Further, as a third countermeasure against voyeurism, a voyeurism prevention device that restricts the photographing function depending on the angle of the camera is disclosed in Patent Document 3, and this device has a vertical angle such as an elevation angle and a depression angle of the digital camera larger than a certain angle. In this case, the digital camera body has a function of stopping the photographing function, and this digital camera is incorporated in the information device.

  Further, as a fourth countermeasure against sneak shots, as shown in FIG. 18, in order to provide shooting restriction by the shooting function limit signal, a shooting function limit signal is transmitted or a shooting function limit signal from the shooting function limit signal generator 175 is received. When received, the digital camera 201 incorporating the function 172 for stopping / limiting the photographing function, the mobile phone 202 equipped with the digital camera 201, the video camera 203, etc., as shown in FIG. Patent Document 4 discloses a voyeurism prevention system in which an object 175 such as a person or a device 175 that transmits a shooting function restriction signal is arranged in the vicinity of the subject 200 to create an environment for restricting the shooting function. It is being considered as a measure to prevent voyeurism in Japan.

  However, in the case of the above-described first and second countermeasures against voyeurism, voyeurism is reported by notifying the surroundings including the subject of the occurrence of voyeurism, the possibility of occurrence of voyeurism, and the presence of a person who intends to voyeurize. Although it has a deterrent effect, it cannot prevent voyeurism itself.

  In addition, in the case of the above-mentioned third voyeurism countermeasure, voyeurism can be prevented for voyeurism shooting at a large depression angle or elevation angle, but for authorized users who have purchased books and magazines, etc., Use of information such as magazines becomes difficult. In addition, there is a problem that the usability of the digital camera itself as a photographing means is remarkably lowered.

  Furthermore, the above-mentioned fourth countermeasure against voyeurism is equipped with a photographing function restriction signal generator as a facility and has a function of receiving and detecting a photographing function restriction signal in a digital camera or an information device such as a mobile phone equipped with a digital camera. By incorporating it, it is possible to prevent the voyeur action itself without deteriorating the usability of the digital camera as a photographing means as in the first to third voyeur measures. However, since it is difficult to set the effective range of the shooting function restriction signal, if the shooting function restriction signal is unexpectedly transmitted, there is a high possibility that the leaked shooting function restriction signal will adversely affect the surroundings. For this reason, non-sealing of bookstores and offices in towns, etc., except for sealed locations such as movie theaters and theaters where the effective range of shooting function restriction signals and the prevention of leakage of shooting function restriction signals are relatively easy It had the problem that it was difficult to use in a public place of the mold.

  As a fifth countermeasure against voyeurism that solves the various problems that arise in the above countermeasures against voyeurism, Patent Document 5 discloses a light source that emits a plurality of monochromatic lights (red, green, and blue) having different wavelengths, and the light source is controlled. There is disclosed an illuminating device including light source control means for adding and mixing a plurality of monochromatic lights periodically in a time division manner. In this lighting device, it appears to human eyes as white illumination produced by simultaneously lighting three types of light sources R (red) 31, G (green) 32, and B (blue) 33 as shown in FIG. However, these three kinds of light sources 31, 32, and 33 are sequentially time-divisionally lit on the image sensor 2, and the states shown in FIGS. 21 (a), 21 (b), and 21 (c) are repeatedly irradiated. The pseudo-white illumination that appears as if it is being used is used as the illumination to prevent voyeurism.

  When the subject 200 illuminated with the above-described pseudo-white illumination is photographed with a digital camera 204 or the like as shown in FIG. 22, the subject 200 viewed as shown in FIG. 24 (a), 24 (b), and 24 (c), the color tone between the images of the subject 200 obtained by voyeurism under the irradiation of the light sources 31, 32, and 33 described above. Therefore, the voyeur cannot obtain a desired image. In other words, it is possible to prevent color reproduction of a voyeur image and prevent voyeurism of an illumination target by using pseudo white illumination that utilizes the difference between the reaction speed of the human eye and the light of the imaging device 2 of the imaging device and the way of image recognition. .

That is, the fifth countermeasure against voyeurism does not have the same problems as the first to third countermeasures against voyeurism, similar to the fourth countermeasure against voyeurism described above. Further, as in the fourth countermeasure against sneak shots, white illumination appears to the human eye without using a shooting function restriction signal, but the image sensor has R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Since the shooting restricted area can be set by a simple means of using the illumination recognized as the three types of light sources being lit in time division for the target illumination to be prevented from voyeurism, the fourth voyeur shooting function Problems caused by the limit signal do not occur. Further, there is an advantage that the photographing device can be made compact because it is not necessary to incorporate a receiving device and a detection device for the photographing function restriction signal in the photographing device as in the fourth countermeasure against voyeurism.
JP 2004-163563 A JP 2001-186546 A JP 2004-343434 A JP 2004-153324 A JP 2004-1111213 A

  However, for the above-described fifth voyeurism countermeasure, for an image pickup apparatus that performs time integration type image processing that time-integrates image information input to the image pickup device in the same manner as a human being, Since there is no difference in the captured images, the effect of suppressing voyeurism is lost.

  In observation of an object under the illumination of a pseudo white light source in which three types of light sources R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are lighted in a time-sharing manner, If there is movement, etc., a phenomenon called “color break” occurs in which the color component of light from the observation target input to the observer's eyes is biased or missing, and the color tone of the object appears to change. .

  Further, when a plurality of the pseudo-white illuminations are used for setting the photographing restricted area, the light emission timing for each color of the three types of light sources R (red), G (green), and B (blue) is set for all the illuminations. Since a synchronized system is required to synchronize and prevent the state in which the three types of light sources R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are turned on simultaneously as a whole, such a system is provided. There was a problem that it took time.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of conventional countermeasures against voyeurism, and an object of the present invention is to easily voyeurize after preventing a color tone change (color break) during imaging of an observation target. It is an object to provide a new and improved imaging device capable of reducing the damage caused by suppression and voyeurism, a voyeurism prevention system including such an imaging device, and an information terminal device equipped with such an imaging device.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a lens optical system for photographing a subject, an image sensor that converts light transmitted through the lens optical system into an electrical signal, and a subject that aims at the subject Aiming setting means, transmitted light branching means for branching the transmitted light of the lens optical system to the subject aiming setting means and the image sensor, and transmission of at least a specific wavelength from visible light that is incident on the lens optical system and transmitted from the subject A polarizing plate having a right-handed polarized light transmission region that transmits only right-handed polarized light and a left-handed polarized light transmission region that transmits only left-handed polarized light, and the polarizing plate includes a lens optical system and transmitted light branching means. An imaging apparatus is provided, characterized in that the imaging apparatus is provided at least one of between the transmitted light branching unit and the subject aim setting unit and between the transmitted light branching unit and the imaging element. .

  At this time, the imaging apparatus may further include a color tone correction filter that compensates for the wavelength transmission characteristics in the visible light region of the transmitted light of the polarizing plate.

  Further, the right-handed polarization transmission region and the left-handed polarization transmission region may be provided so as to be divided by the center line of the polarizing plate. One of them may be provided, and either the right-handed polarized light transmission region or the left-handed polarized light transmission region may be provided at the outer edge of the central portion.

  Further, when a plurality of polarizing plates are provided, the wavelength of visible light that causes transmission and non-transmission depending on the polarization of these polarizing plates may be different.

  By adopting such a configuration, for example, when a polarizing plate is placed between the half mirror and the viewfinder, an attempt is made to shoot a subject having a shooting restriction area defined by the polarization deviation of the visible light area of the illumination light. In this case, a difference in color tone or the like occurs between an image viewed directly and an image viewed through the viewfinder. In addition, when a polarizing plate is inserted between the half mirror and the image sensor, the color tone of the subject image seen through the viewfinder and the image of the subject image taken when shooting the subject in the restricted shooting area, etc. However, the image intended by the voyeur cannot be obtained. Further, when the polarizing plate is inserted between the lens optical system and the half mirror, the color tone of the image obtained by viewing the subject in the photographing restriction area through the viewfinder and the photographed image can be changed by one polarizing plate.

  In other words, with a simple configuration in which the above-described polarizing plate is provided in the viewfinder system or the imaging system, when the subject included in the shooting restricted area is shot, the color tone of the subject viewed with the viewfinder changes or the shot is taken. Since the image quality desired by the voyeur cannot be obtained due to the change in the color tone of the image, the voyeur's willingness to voyeur can be reduced.

  In addition, by providing a color correction filter, it is possible to correct the change in luminance and color tone of the subject caused by the polarizing plate when the subject in the non-shooting restricted area outside the shooting restricted area is viewed with the viewfinder. There is no possibility that the usability of the camera itself as a photographing means will be significantly reduced.

  Furthermore, when a plurality of polarizing plates described above are provided, by adopting a polarization arrangement pattern so that the wavelength of visible light that causes transmission and non-transmission differs depending on the polarization of these polarizing plates, The difference in brightness and color tone between the image of the subject and the image of the subject in the photographing restricted area that has been photographed can be increased, so that the above-described effect of preventing voyeurism easily appears.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, at least visible light having a specific wavelength out of light incident on an imaging device from a subject is biased to either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light. And a voyeurism prevention system comprising the above-described imaging device.

  By adopting such a configuration, for example, a polarizing plate provided with a part that transmits only right-handed polarized light and a part that transmits only left-handed polarized light in an imaging system including a finder system including an object aiming setting unit and an image sensor. If the subject has a photographing restriction area in which the polarization polarization of light is defined by a polarization adjusting unit composed of a polarizing plate, a color filter, and the like, and the subject is to be photographed, This can reduce the willingness of voyeurism due to changes in the color tone of the subject visually recognized by the camera, or prevent the voyeurism due to effects such as a change in the color tone of the captured image and the inability to obtain an image with the desired image quality of the voyeur. Damage caused by voyeurism can be reduced.

  At this time, the means for deflecting at least a specific wavelength of visible light incident on the imaging device from the subject to either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light before the light reaches the subject. Among them, the illumination device may include a polarization adjusting unit that adjusts so that at least a specific wavelength of light is irradiated with either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is difficult to define the imaging restriction area because the imaging restriction area can be easily defined by an illumination device that emits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light and its arrangement. Therefore, unlike conventional shooting restriction signal transmission methods that could only be used in sealed locations such as movie theaters and theaters, it can also be used in non-sealed locations such as town bookstores and offices, making it easy to prevent voyeurism. Can be built.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, an information terminal device is provided, which is characterized by mounting the above-described imaging device.

  By adopting such a configuration, it becomes difficult to voyeurize in a terminal device such as a mobile phone equipped with the above-described imaging device, and it becomes impossible to obtain an image of the image quality desired by the voyeur by voyeurism. Suppress voyeurism and reduce damage caused by voyeurism.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when a voyeur tries to shoot a subject, the voyeur's willingness to voyeurize due to the occurrence of a change in the color tone of the subject viewed through the viewfinder, or the change in the color tone of the photographed image. By making it impossible to obtain an image having the image quality desired by the voyeur, the voyeur's voyeurism can be easily reduced or prevented.

  In addition, the shooting restriction area defined by the polarization polarization of light can be easily defined by the illumination device that emits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light and the arrangement of such devices, so that it can be easily defined in town bookstores and offices. It is possible to construct an environment that can easily prevent voyeurism even in non-sealed places such as.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the first embodiment of the imaging apparatus used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a voyeurism prevention system according to the present invention and a configuration of a digital camera that is a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus used in the voyeurism prevention system.

  The voyeurism prevention system of the present invention is a system for preventing a voyeurism action using the digital camera 21 that is an imaging device with respect to the subject 200 irradiated on the illumination device 150 serving as a light source. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 21 according to the present embodiment includes a lens optical system 1 configured by an imaging lens group that captures an image of a subject 200, and an optical signal of light transmitted through the lens optical system 1 as an electrical signal. An imaging device 2 formed by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like to be converted, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3 for controlling each component provided in the digital camera 21, and an image memory 4 for storing image data The image display unit 5 that displays the captured image, the finder 6 that is a means for determining the subject 200 and the shooting range, the shutter button 7 that is pushed when performing the imaging operation, and the generation of pseudo operation sound / warning sound A part of the light transmitted through the lens optical system 1 and the image data output terminal 9 used for connection when displaying the captured image data on another device, and to the viewfinder 6 It includes a half mirror 10 for that, a mirror 11 for guiding such branched light to the finder 6. In the present embodiment, a first polarizing plate 100 and a first color correction filter 101 are further provided between the mirror 11 and the viewfinder 6 for guiding the light branched from the half mirror 10 to the viewfinder 6. ing. The functions and operations of the first polarizing plate 100 and the first color tone correction filter 101 will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 21 in the present embodiment will be described using the drawings. First, in the visible light region, in red visible light (hereinafter, referred to as visible light R1) having a wavelength of R1 having an emission spectrum as shown in FIGS. A photographing restriction region for restricting imaging by the imaging device 21 is defined by illuminating with the illumination device 150 that outputs the white light polarized in the right-handed polarization shown in FIG. 2A or the left-handed polarization shown in FIG. The operation of the digital camera 21 in FIG. 1 that attempts to photograph the subject 200 in this photographing restriction area will be described. The configuration of the illumination device 150 will be described later.

  The light L0 from the subject incident on the lens optical system 1 is transmitted through the half mirror 10 disposed between the lens optical system 1 and the image sensor 2 through the light L1 branched to the viewfinder 6 and the half mirror 10. It is divided into light L2 that reaches the image sensor 2. The light L1 branched by the half mirror 10 is output from the finder 6 through the first polarizing plate 100 and the color tone correction filter 101. As shown in FIG. 3, the photographer visually recognizes the subject 200 with the viewfinder 6 through the first polarizing plate 100 and the color tone correction filter 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first polarizing plate 100 includes a right-handed polarized light transmitting region 100a that transmits only right-handed polarized light and a left-handed polarized light transmitting region 100b that transmits only left-handed polarized light, as shown in FIGS. Are provided with a polarization region arrangement pattern divided at the center of the image region. FIG. 5 shows the light transmission characteristics of the right-handed polarized light transmission region 100a and the left-handed polarized light transmission region 100b. As shown in FIG. 5, the visible light transmitted through the first polarizing plate 100 transmits only the right-handed or left-handed polarized light in the red visible light R1 having a wavelength of R1 and its vicinity. The transmittance decreases. In the present embodiment, the polarization region arrangement pattern of the first polarizing plate 100 is divided in the vertical direction, but such division may be performed in other directions such as the horizontal direction.

  Further, the transmission characteristic of the color tone correction filter 101 is such that when the wavelength is R1, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to correct the change in color balance that occurs when the light passes through the first polarizing plate 100. Since the transmission characteristic has a peak, the transmission characteristic is opposite to that of the first polarizing plate 100 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the photographer passes through the finder 6 of the digital camera 21, and the subject 200 in the photographing restriction area, which is the area illuminated by the illumination device 150 in which the polarization of the visible light R1 is biased to the right-handed polarization as shown in FIG. 7A, the photographer seems to change the color tone because the photographer loses the visible light R1 component in which the left half region of the subject 200 is biased to the left-handed polarized light, as shown in FIG. In other words, since the plane of polarization of the light is inverted when reflected, the imaging restricted area is reflected by the subject 200 and reflected to the digital camera 21 in the case where the imaging restricted area is illuminated by the right-handed polarized light of the visible light R1. The polarization of the visible light R1 of the incident illumination light is biased to left-handed polarization. In the case of the first embodiment, the light incident on the digital camera 21 is reflected twice and then passes through the first polarizing plate 100.

  On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the subject 200 in the photographing restriction area, which is an area illuminated with illumination polarized in the left-handed polarized light, is viewed as shown in FIG. In this way, the photographer sees the color tone changing because the right half region of the subject 200 loses the visible light R1 component biased to the right-handed polarized light. That is, since the plane of polarization of the light is inverted when reflected, when the photographing limited area is an area illuminated with illumination that is polarized to the left-handed polarized light of the visible light R1, the light is reflected by the subject 200 and enters the digital camera 21. The polarization of the visible light R1 of the illumination light is biased to right-handed polarization.

  As described above in detail, in the digital camera 21 according to the present embodiment, the polarizing plate 100 is provided between the half mirror 10 and the viewfinder 6, so that when the subject 200 in the photographing restricted area is to be photographed. Since a difference in color tone or the like occurs between the image viewed directly and the image viewed through the viewfinder 6, the voyeur's willingness to voyeurize is reduced, so that voyeurism can be reduced or prevented.

  When the subject 200 existing in the non-photographing restricted area, which is an area where the polarization of light does not have a bias with respect to the visible light R1, is viewed through the finder 6 of the digital camera 21 in FIG. As shown in c), no change in color tone occurs in the visually recognized image area.

  Next, the configuration of the illuminating device 150 for defining a photographing restriction area used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a lighting device 150 for defining a restricted shooting area used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention. The illuminating device 150 includes a light source 151 including an incandescent lamp, a reflector 152 serving as a reflector for illumination light emitted from the light source 151, a polarizing plate 153 disposed so as to cover an opening of the reflector 152, And a color filter 154 disposed so as to cover the polarizing plate 153.

  Light emitted from the incandescent bulb 151 is output through the polarizing plate 153 and the color filter 154. The polarizing plate 153 transmits only the right-handed polarized light with respect to the visible light R1 described above. The color correction color filter 154 has a wavelength transmission characteristic such that white light is obtained by correcting the spectral deviation in the visible light region caused by the light from the light source 151 being transmitted through the polarizing plate 153. For this reason, the illumination device 150 outputs white light having the spectrum and polarization characteristics shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration example of an indoor shooting restricted area using the lighting device 150 of FIG. The imaging restriction area portion 161 shown on the left side of FIG. 9 is provided with the illumination device 150 for defining the imaging restriction area shown in FIG. 8 as illumination, and the imaging restriction area portion 161 shown on the left side of FIG. For the visible light R1 of the digital camera 21 of the first embodiment, illumination that is biased to light having a right-handed polarization component is superior.

  In this state, when the terminal device including the digital camera 21 of the present embodiment is used to shoot the subject 200 in the shooting restriction area 161, the color tone of the subject 200 varies greatly depending on the location, and the subject 200 may be shot. It becomes difficult.

  On the other hand, in the portion shown on the right side of FIG. 9, a normal illumination device 155 having no polarization in the polarization of light is arranged as illumination, and the illumination device 150 for defining a photographing restriction area used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention. Light from illumination that is farther away and has no polarization in the polarization of the light is dominant. For this reason, the polarization of light from the subject 200 in the non-shooting restricted area 162 that does not restrict the shooting area is reduced due to the dominant light from the normal illumination device 155. For this reason, the subject included in the non-shooting restricted area 162 shown on the right side of FIG. 17 can be shot with the terminal device including the digital camera 21 of the present embodiment. In other words, the ratio of right-handed polarized light and left-handed polarized light in the light emitted from the light source is usually one to one regardless of natural light or artificial light, and the ratio of the polarization of light is either right-handed or left-handed. There is usually no biased environment. For this reason, the imaging device 21 used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention is for the subject 200 in the non-photographing restricted area 162 in an environment where the existence ratio of the polarization of light is not shifted to either the right or left. Thus, the subject 200 can be visually recognized and photographed normally.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which an artificial light source such as an incandescent lamp is used as the light source 151 has been described as an example of the construction of the photographing restriction region 161. However, the light source used to construct the photographing restriction region 161 is It is not limited to such a light source. For example, by installing a polarizing film that transmits only a specific polarization component through the window and a color filter for color correction, etc., it can be used as a light source that defines outdoor light such as sunlight and streetlight as a shooting restriction area. May be. That is, it is only necessary to provide polarization adjusting means for adjusting so that either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light is irradiated until the light emitted from the light source reaches the subject.

  As described above, the imaging restriction region 161 defined by “polarization of polarization of light” is easily defined by the illumination device 150 that emits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light and the arrangement of the illumination device 150. Because it is possible to define the restricted shooting area 161, it is difficult to define the restricted shooting area 161. Thus, unlike conventional shooting restriction signal transmission methods that can only be used in closed places such as movie theaters and theaters, it is not sealed in bookstores in towns, offices, etc. It can be used in places of molds, and an environment that can easily prevent voyeurism can be constructed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera 22 that is the second embodiment of the imaging apparatus used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the digital camera 22 of the present embodiment has a lens optical system 1, an image sensor 2 such as a CCD, a CPU 3, and an image memory 4, as in the first embodiment described above. , An image display unit 5, a viewfinder 6, a shutter button 7, a pseudo operation sound / warning sound generator 8, an image data output terminal 9, a half mirror 10, and a mirror 11. In the present embodiment, a second polarizing plate 110 and a second color tone correction filter 111 are provided between the half mirror 10 and the image sensor 2. The functions and operations of the second polarizing plate 110 and the second color tone correction filter 111 will be described later.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 22 in the present embodiment will be described using the drawings. First, in the visible light R1 having an emission spectrum as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in the visible light region, the polarization is right-handed polarization shown in FIG. 2A, or FIG. 2B. When the photographing restriction area for restricting the image pick-up by the image pickup apparatus 22 is defined by illuminating with the illumination device 150 that outputs the white light biased to the left-handed polarized light shown in FIG. The operation of the digital camera 22 of this embodiment will be described.

  A part of the light L0 from the subject incident on the lens optical system 1 is branched into the viewfinder 6 as light L1 by the half mirror 10 disposed between the lens optical system 1 and the image pickup device 2, and the other part. The light L2 passes through the half mirror 10, passes through the second polarizing plate 110, and the color tone correction filter 111, and reaches the image sensor 2.

  As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the second polarizing plate 110 is provided with a right-handed polarized light transmission region 110a that transmits only right-handed polarized light at the center of the image region for the red visible light R1. The left-handed polarized light transmission region 110b is formed by providing a left-handed polarized light transmission region 110b that transmits only the left-handed polarized light in the peripheral portion of the right-handed polarized light transmission region 110a. The light transmission characteristics of the right-handed polarized light transmission region 110a and the left-handed polarized light transmission region 110b of the second polarizing plate 110 are the same as those of the first polarizing plate 100 described in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Same as Similarly, the transmission characteristics of the color correction filter 111 are the same as those of the first color correction filter 101 described in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  A photographer uses the digital camera 22 of the present embodiment to photograph the subject 200 in the photographing restricted area 161, which is an area illuminated by the illumination device 150 in which the polarization of the visible light R1 is polarized to the right-handed polarization shown in FIG. When photographed, as shown in FIG. 13A, the photographed image changes its color tone because the central portion of the subject 200 loses the visible light R1 component. That is, since the plane of polarization of the light is inverted upon reflection, when the imaging restricted area 161 is an area illuminated with illumination in which the visible light R1 is polarized to right-handed polarized light, the light is reflected by the subject 200 and the digital camera 22 The polarized light of the visible light R1 of the illumination light incident on the light is polarized to left-handed polarized light.

  On the contrary, when the subject 200 in the photographing restriction area 161, which is an area illuminated by the illumination device 150 in which the polarization of the visible light R1 is polarized to the left-handed polarization shown in FIG. 2B, is photographed, the photographed image is shown in FIG. As shown in b), the peripheral region loses the visible light R1 component, and its color tone changes. In other words, since the plane of polarization of the light is inverted upon reflection, when the imaging restricted area 161 is an area illuminated with illumination in which the visible light R1 is polarized to the left-handed polarized light, it is reflected by the subject 200 and is reflected on the digital camera 22. The polarization of the visible light R1 of the incident illumination light is biased to right-handed polarization.

  As a result, when the subject 200 in the photographing restriction area 161 is photographed by the digital camera 22 of the present embodiment, the subject 200 viewed through the finder 6 and the photographed subject 200 are operated by the second polarizing plate 110. The color of the image is different, and an image intended by the voyeur cannot be obtained.

  When the subject 200 existing in the non-shooting restricted area, which is an area where the polarization of light is not biased, is photographed with the digital camera 22 of the present embodiment, the visible light R1 is shown in FIG. As described above, the color tone does not change in the photographed image.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the third embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera which is the third embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the digital camera 23 according to the present embodiment is similar to the first and second embodiments described above, the lens optical system 1, the image pickup device 2 such as a CCD, the CPU 3, and the image. A memory 4, an image display unit 5, a viewfinder 6, a shutter button 7, a pseudo operation sound / warning sound generator 8, an image data output terminal 9, a half mirror 10, and a mirror 11 are provided. In the present embodiment, a first polarizing plate 100 and a first color tone correction filter 101 are provided between the mirror 11 and the finder 6, and the second polarizing plate 100 is disposed between the half mirror 10 and the image sensor 2. A polarizing plate 110 and a second color tone correction filter 111 are provided. The functions and operations of the first polarizing plate 100 and the first color correction filter 101, the second polarizing plate 110, and the second color correction filter 111 are used in the first and second embodiments. The description is omitted because it is the same as that described.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the first polarizing plate 100 and the first color tone correction filter 101 are provided between the mirror 11 and the viewfinder 6, and the half mirror 10 and the image sensor 2 are arranged. A second polarizing plate 110 and a second color tone correction filter 111 are provided between them. For this reason, in the present embodiment, by adopting different polarization region arrangement patterns for the first polarizing plate 100 and the second polarizing plate 110, an image obtained by visually confirming the subject 200 in the photographing restriction region 161 with the viewfinder 6 Since the difference from the photographed image can be increased, it is expected that the effect of cutting the voyeur's willingness to voyeurize is increased.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera which is the fourth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the digital camera 24 according to the present embodiment is similar to the first to third embodiments described above, the lens optical system 1, the image sensor 2 such as a CCD, the CPU 3, and the image. A memory 4, an image display unit 5, a viewfinder 6, a shutter button 7, a pseudo operation sound / warning sound generator 8, an image data output terminal 9, a half mirror 10, and a mirror 11 are provided. In the present embodiment, a third polarizing plate 120 and a third color correction filter 121 are provided between the lens optical system 1 and the half mirror 10.

  The third polarizing plate 120 used in this embodiment serves as both the first polarizing plate 100 and the second polarizing plate 110, and the third color correction filter 121 is the first polarizing plate 120. The color tone correction filter 101 and the second color tone correction filter 111 also serve as the same. That is, in the fourth embodiment, it is possible to change the color tone of both the image obtained by visually recognizing the subject 200 in the shooting restricted area 161 with the viewfinder 6 and the color of the shot image using one polarizing plate 121.

  As described above, in the voyeurism prevention system according to the present invention, the definition method of the photographing restriction region 161 is that the lighting apparatus 150 emits only light of either right-handed or left-handed polarization with respect to visible light having a specific wavelength. Is used to artificially create a region in which the polarization of light is skewed to either the right or left rotation in a specific region.

  For this reason, when the observer's line of sight, blinking, or movement of an object, the color component of light input to the observer's eyes is biased or missing, and the color tone of the object appears to change. The so-called image quality degradation phenomenon does not occur. When the photographer intends to photograph the subject 200 in the photographing restricted area 161, the photographer passes through the polarizing plates 100, 110, and 120 in which the polarization components (right-handed polarized light and left-handed polarized light) that transmit visible light differ depending on the location. Thus, in order to visually recognize the subject 200, the image of the subject 200 in the photographing restriction region 161 has a brightness and color tone of a part of the image of the subject 200 according to the arrangement pattern of the polarizing regions of the polarizing plates 100, 110, and 120. Changes in quality or a part of the image is lost, resulting in quality degradation, and the subject 200 cannot be viewed normally. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the shooting angle at the time of shooting, and it is difficult to voyeurize.

  Further, when the subject 200 in the photographing restriction area 161 is photographed, the light from the subject 200 incident on the image sensor 2 is polarized with different polarization components (right-handed polarized light and left-handed polarized light) transmitted by visible light depending on the location. In order to enter the imaging device 2 through the plates 100, 110, and 120, the image of the subject 200 in the imaging restriction region 161 is changed according to the arrangement pattern of the polarization regions of the polarizing plates 100, 110, and 120. Quality deterioration such as a change in brightness and color tone of a part of the image or a part of the image missing occurs, and a normal image cannot be obtained. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an image obtained by voyeurizing the subject 200 in the photographing restricted area 161 from obtaining the image quality desired by the voyeur.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the use of a light source defines a shooting restriction area to prevent shooting of a subject. However, the method of defining the imaging restriction region is not necessarily limited to the method using the polarized illumination described above. For example, in order to prevent information voyeurism displayed on a computer display or the like, a filter that transmits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light is attached to the display, and the output light from the display is turned right-handed or left-handed. The screen of the display may be defined as a photographing restriction area so that it is biased to light of any left-handed polarization. In this case, the output light from the screen of the display is biased to either right-handed or left-handed polarized light, so that it is possible to suppress sneak shots of data displayed on the display. Similarly, a filter that transmits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light is attached to the show window or show case, and the inside of the show window or show case is defined as a shooting restriction region, so that it can be externally applied. It is possible to restrict shooting of objects in the show window and the show case.

  In addition, the illumination means that emits only right-handed or left-handed polarized light can be easily configured by adding polarization adjusting means such as a polarizing plate to normal illumination. Production cost can be reduced. In addition, since the shooting restriction area can be constructed without using the shooting function restriction signal as in the fourth countermeasure against voyeurism, a shooting function restriction signal generator as in the fourth countermeasure against voyeurism is not required. Since the digital camera and the terminal device equipped with the digital camera do not require a means for receiving and identifying the photographing function restriction signal, the investment can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

  For example, in the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the arrangement pattern of the transmission regions of the first to third polarizing plates is divided by the center line in the vertical direction or the central part and its peripheral part. Although the thing is mentioned, the arrangement | positioning pattern of a permeation | transmission area | region is not limited to the thing in this division | segmentation. As a modification thereof, as shown in FIG. 16A, a right-hand polarized light transmission region 130a is made a character such as “photographing prohibited”, and the other part is a left-hand polarized light transmission region 130b, or FIG. The right-handed polarized light transmission region 140a is used as a sign indicating that photography is prohibited and the other part is formed as a left-handed polarized light transmission region 140b as shown in FIG. Is possible. If the arrangement pattern is formed in this manner, the color change portion of the image obtained by photographing the subject in the photographing restricted area with the photographing device used in the voyeurism prevention system of the present invention or viewing through the viewfinder of the photographing device. A certain discoloration region can be recognized as a character or a signature as shown in FIG. 17A or 17B. Thus, by indicating “photographing prohibition” with characters and signs, the nuance of “photographing prohibition” can be transmitted more directly to the voyeur, so it can be expected that the voyeur's willingness to voyeurize is reduced.

  In addition, the arrangement pattern of the transmission area of the polarizing plate is basically visually recognized when a subject in the photographing restriction area is visually recognized or a subject in the photographing restriction area is photographed through the viewfinder of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. If an image having a color tone different from that obtained by the above is obtained, the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above embodiments.

  Furthermore, in the description of each of the above embodiments, the case where the existence ratio of polarized light is changed for the visible light R1 as one kind of visible light has been described for the setting of the photographing restriction region. The type of wavelength of visible light is not limited to this.

  Also, regarding the setting of the shooting restriction area, when setting the shooting restriction area by changing the existence ratio of the polarization of multiple types of visible light, depending on the type and number of visible light used for setting the shooting restriction area Thus, it is also possible to change the wavelength characteristics of the first to third polarizing plates and the wavelength characteristics of the first to third color tone correction filters.

  The present invention can be applied to an imaging device such as a digital camera and a device such as a mobile phone equipped with such an imaging device, and in particular, when a subject has a photographing restriction area defined by a polarization polarization of light. The present invention can be applied to an imaging device that reduces damage caused by suppression and voyeurism.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of a photographing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the emission spectrum of the visible light region of the white illuminating device for imaging | photography restriction | limiting area | region setting of this invention, and the relationship of the degree of the polarization | polarized-light polarization, (a) is the emission spectrum of right-handed polarized light, and the polarization | polarized-light of that polarization | polarized-light. The relationship between the degree of polarization is shown, and (b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the emission spectrum of left-handed polarized light and the degree of polarization polarization. It is a figure which shows the visual recognition model of the to-be-photographed object by the finder through the 1st polarizing plate and the 1st color tone correction filter. With respect to the red visible light R1 of the first polarizing plate divided into a right-handed polarized light transmitting region 100a that transmits visible light R1 by right-handed polarized light and a left-handed polarized light transmitting region 100b that transmits only left-handed polarized light at the center of the image region. It is a polarization area arrangement pattern. It is a figure which shows the wavelength transmission characteristic of a 1st polarizing plate. It is a figure which shows the wavelength transmission characteristic of the color filter for color correction. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows how a subject of a photography restricted area looks, (c) is a figure which shows how a subject of a non-capturing restricted area looks. It is a block diagram of the Example of the illuminating device for imaging | photography limitation area definition of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the imaging | photography restriction | limiting area | region indoor using the illuminating device for imaging | photography limitation area definition of FIG. It is a block diagram of the configuration of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the imaging | photography model of the to-be-photographed object by the image pick-up element through the 2nd polarizing plate and the 2nd color tone correction filter. The red visible light of the second polarizing plate is divided into a right-handed polarized light transmitting region that transmits only the right-handed polarized light R1 and a left-handed polarized light transmitting region that transmits only the left-handed polarized light at the center and the periphery of the image region. It is a polarization area arrangement pattern for the light R1. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the picked-up image of the to-be-photographed object of an imaging | photography restriction | limiting area | region, (c) is a figure which shows the picked-up image of the to-be-photographed object of a non-photographing restriction | limiting area | region. It is a block diagram of the configuration of a digital camera according to a third embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the configuration of a digital camera according to a fourth embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the variation pattern of the polarization area arrangement pattern of a polarizing plate, (a) is a figure which shows the polarization area arrangement pattern by the character of "photographing prohibition", (b) is a sign of "photographing prohibition" It is a figure which shows a polarization area arrangement pattern. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an image obtained when a subject in a photographing restriction region is visually recognized or photographed with the imaging apparatus of the present invention including the polarizing plate having the polarizing region arrangement pattern in FIG. 16, and (a) shows a discoloration region. It is a figure which shows the image which floats as a character of "photographing prohibition", (b) is a figure which shows the image which a discoloration area | region floats as a sign of "photographing prohibition". It is a block diagram of the configuration of a conventional digital camera with a voyeurism prevention function based on a photographing limit signal. It is a conceptual diagram for preventing voyeurism by a conventional shooting restriction signal. It is a figure which shows the embodiment of the pseudo white illumination by the time-division lighting of three types of light sources of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) seen from the human eye of the prior art example. It is a figure which shows the embodiment of the pseudo white illumination by the time division lighting of three types of light sources of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) seen from the imaging device of the prior art example, (a) is R ( When (red) is lit, (b) is when G (green) is lit, and (c) is when B (blue) is lit. It is a conceptual diagram of the voyeurism prevention system by the pseudo white illumination of a prior art example. It is a visual image of a subject under pseudo white illumination of a conventional example. It is a photographed image of a subject under pseudo white illumination of a conventional example, (a) is an image photographed when R (red) is lit, (b) is an image photographed when G (green) is lit, and (c) is B ( Blue) Shows an image taken when lit.

Explanation of symbols

1 Lens optical system 2 Image sensor (CCD)
6 Object sighting setting means (finder)
10 Transmitted light branching means (half mirror)
21 Imaging device (digital camera)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 1st polarizing plate 100a Right-handed polarized light transmission area 100b Left-handed polarized light transmission area 101 1st color tone correction color filter 110 2nd polarizing plate 111 2nd color tone correction color filter 120 3rd polarizing plate 121 3rd Color filter for color tone correction 150 Illumination device 151 Light source (incandescent light bulb)
153 Polarization adjusting means (polarizing plate)
154 Color filter for color tone correction 161 Shooting restriction area 162 Non-shooting restriction area 200 Subject

Claims (8)

A lens optical system for photographing the subject;
An image sensor that converts light transmitted through the lens optical system into an electrical signal;
Subject aim setting means for aiming at the subject;
Transmitted light branching means for branching the transmitted light of the lens optical system to the subject aim setting means and the image sensor;
A right-handed polarized light transmitting region that transmits only right-handed polarized light and at least left-handed polarized light-transmitting region that transmits only right-handed polarized light of at least a specific wavelength of transmitted light that is transmitted from the subject to the lens optical system; Polarizing plate,
Comprising
The polarizing plate is between the lens optical system and the transmitted light branching unit, between the transmitted light branching unit and the subject aim setting unit, and between the transmitted light branching unit and the imaging element. An image pickup apparatus provided on at least one of them.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a color tone correction filter that compensates for a wavelength transmission characteristic in a visible light region of light transmitted through the polarizing plate.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the right-handed polarization transmission region and the left-handed polarization transmission region are provided so as to be divided by a center line of the polarizing plate.   Either one of the right-handed polarized light transmission region and the left-handed polarized light transmission region is provided at the center of the polarizing plate, and one of the right-handed polarized light transmission region and the left-handed polarized light transmission region is provided at the outer edge of the center portion. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is provided.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of the polarizing plates are provided, the wavelength of visible light that causes transmission and non-transmission differs depending on the polarization of the polarizing plates. Means for biasing at least a specific wavelength of visible light incident on the imaging device from a subject to either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light;
A voyeurism prevention system comprising the imaging device according to claim 1. Means for biasing at least a specific wavelength of visible light incident on the imaging device from the subject to either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light,
It is an illuminating device including a polarization adjustment unit that adjusts to irradiate either right-handed polarized light or left-handed polarized light with respect to at least a specific wavelength of the visible light before reaching the subject. The voyeurism prevention system according to claim 6.   An information terminal device, comprising the imaging device according to claim 1.

Images