JP2009188931A - Compound-eye camera and photographing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize imaging devices in longitudinal photographing and lateral photographing using a compound-eye camera, and to enable a photographed image to be stereoscopically viewed. <P>SOLUTION: The compound-eye camera 1 comprises: two imaging units 1A, 1B which are provided on a camera body 10, include an imaging optical system and laterally long imaging devices 1c, 1d, respectively, and image a subject from different viewpoints separated in a horizontal direction; a stereoscopic display means 12 comprising stereoscopic view optical panel parts 12-2 to 12-4, which can change an optical path time-sequentially in a horizontal direction, for stereoscopically displaying the images picked up by the imaging units 1A, 1B; a revolution mechanism for making the two imaging units 1A, 1B revolve by approximately 90° around a common axis D; an autorotation mechanism by which autorotation of at least the imaging devices 1c, 1d of the two imaging units 1A, 1B is made by approximately 90° around the optical axis of each of the imaging optical systems; and a rotation mechanism for rotating the stereoscopic view optical panel parts 12-2 to 12-4 by approximately 90° in accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a compound eye camera having a plurality of optical systems, and more particularly to a compound eye camera capable of horizontal photographing and vertical photographing and a photographing method using the compound eye camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, development of a compound-eye camera that captures a subject with, for example, two right and left imaging units and generates a stereoscopic image from a parallax image acquired by imaging has been advanced. In such a compound-eye camera, since a pair of image sensors are generally arranged horizontally apart from each other on the camera body in a so-called horizontally long state with the longitudinal direction horizontal, for example, photographing a human photograph or the like If you want to perform so-called vertical shooting with the camera body rotated approximately 90 degrees and the image sensor in a vertically long state, that is, the shooting field of view is vertically long, the pair of image sensors are placed apart in the vertical direction. Therefore, the direction of the parallax in the parallax image becomes the vertical direction, and it is difficult to generate a stereoscopic image.

  However, in order to generate a stereoscopic image, when the so-called horizontal shooting is performed in which the shooting field of view is horizontally long without rotating the orientation of the camera body and the pair of imaging elements are arranged apart in the horizontal direction, Since both sides of the photographing field of view are located in the vicinity of the center, there is a problem that only a part of the image sensor is used and the use efficiency of the image sensor is deteriorated.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses that a pair of optical systems including a photographing lens and an image sensor are rotated by approximately 90 degrees about each optical axis, and each image sensor is positioned from a horizontally long state to a vertically long state. There has been proposed a compound-eye camera device that can perform vertical shooting without changing the orientation of the camera body.

On the other hand, a display device mounted on an electronic device such as a camera has been proposed that can display a stereoscopic image. As such a display device, Patent Document 2 discloses a prism that extends in the vertical direction behind a liquid crystal panel. A double-sided prism sheet having a row and a light guide plate are sequentially provided, and a pair of light sources are arranged on the left and right sides of the light guide plate, and the light from the light sources is alternately flashed through the light guide plate and the double-sided prism sheet. By emitting light from the liquid crystal panel in different directions on the left and right, and displaying the parallax images corresponding to the left and right on the liquid crystal panel so as to synchronize with this blinking, the viewer can recognize the different parallax images with the left and right eyes, thereby rendering the image three-dimensional. What is shown is proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-224820 Japanese Patent No. 3930021

  However, in the compound eye camera described in Patent Document 1, the display means disposed on the back surface of the camera main body includes a lenticular lens in which a lens group in the shape of a semi-cylindrical shape is arranged on the front surface of the liquid crystal panel. Since a backlight is arranged on the back and a composite image in which parallax images having a predetermined parallax are alternately arranged according to the pitch of the lenticular lens is displayed on the liquid crystal panel, a stereo stereoscopic image can be displayed. When rotating the above optical system alone without rotating the camera, the liquid crystal panel placed on the back of the camera body is in a horizontally long state, so that the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel is used to display a stereoscopic image. In order to display a stereoscopic image on the entire surface, it is necessary to rotate the liquid crystal panel approximately 90 degrees apart from the above optical system to make the liquid crystal panel vertically long. The wrench cured lens had to the landscape, there are cases operations are troublesome.

  In addition, in a compound eye camera equipped with the display device described in Patent Document 2, when vertical shooting is performed by rotating the camera body, the prism rows of the double-sided prism sheet extend in the horizontal direction and the light source is arranged in the vertical direction. As a result, the observer cannot recognize a different image between the left and right eyes and cannot stereoscopically view the image.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a compound eye camera that can effectively use an image sensor in vertical shooting and horizontal shooting and can stereoscopically view the shot image.

The compound-eye camera of the present invention includes two imaging units that are provided on the camera body and each have an imaging optical system and a horizontally long imaging element, and that image a subject from different viewpoints separated in the horizontal direction,
Stereoscopic display means including a stereoscopic viewing optical panel unit capable of stereoscopically displaying an image captured by the imaging unit and capable of changing an optical path in a horizontal direction in time series;
A revolving mechanism for revolving the two imaging units about 90 degrees around a common axis;
A rotation mechanism that rotates at least the image pickup element of the two image pickup units approximately 90 degrees around the optical axis of each of the image pickup optical systems in accordance with the revolution by the rotation mechanism;
And a rotation mechanism that rotates the stereoscopic optical panel portion by approximately 90 degrees in accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism.

  Here, “horizontal image sensor” refers to image sensors having different aspect ratios.

  The “stereoscopic optical panel unit” has a lenticular lens, for example, as long as the optical path can be changed in the horizontal direction, that is, the recognizable region of the right eye and the recognizable region of the viewer of the stereoscopic display unit. Even if it has a cylindrical lens, it may have a prism sheet of triangular shape and / or kamaboko shape.

  The compound eye camera of the present invention includes a fixing member on which the two imaging units are fixed, and the stereoscopic optical panel unit is fixed to the fixing member, and the two imaging units and the stereoscopic optical panel unit are fixed. May rotate integrally.

  In this case, in the compound eye camera of the present invention, one or more camera boards each having a circuit for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from the two imaging units may be further fixed to the fixing member.

The imaging method of the present invention includes two imaging units that are provided on the camera body, each having an imaging optical system and a horizontally long imaging element, and imaging a subject from different viewpoints separated in the horizontal direction;
3D display means comprising a 3D optical panel capable of changing the optical path in the horizontal direction in a time-series manner to stereoscopically display an image captured by the imaging unit;
A revolving mechanism for revolving the two imaging units around a common axis;
A rotation mechanism for rotating at least the image sensor of the two imaging units around the optical axis of each of the imaging optical systems in response to the revolution by the revolution mechanism;
In accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism, a photographing method using a compound eye camera including a rotation mechanism that rotates the optical panel unit for stereoscopic vision,
The two imaging units are revolved approximately 90 degrees by the revolution mechanism, and at least the image sensor of the two imaging units is rotated approximately 90 degrees by the rotation mechanism, and the stereoscopic optical panel unit is rotated. An image is taken after being rotated approximately 90 degrees by a mechanism.

  According to the compound eye camera and the photographing method of the present invention, when the two imaging units provided on the camera body are revolved by about 90 degrees around the common axis by the revolving mechanism, the two revolving mechanisms are separated according to the revolving. Since at least the image sensor of the imaging unit rotates about 90 degrees around the optical axis of each imaging optical system, and the rotation mechanism can rotate the stereoscopic optical panel unit by about 90 degrees, the two imaging units It is possible to move the image sensor from the position arranged in the horizontal direction by the revolution to the position arranged in the vertical direction, and to hold the two image sensors in the horizontally long state by the rotation. The panel unit can change the changeable direction of the optical path from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction.

  This makes it possible to perform so-called vertical shooting with a long field of view, such as when shooting a human photograph, and the camera body is rotated approximately 90 degrees after revolving and rotating the two imaging units. Then, if the subject is photographed, in a state where the camera main body is rotated approximately 90 degrees, the two image pickup units are arranged apart from each other in the horizontal direction, the image pickup elements are arranged vertically, and the stereoscopic display means is the camera main body. In addition, since the optical path of the stereoscopic viewing optical panel unit can be changed in the horizontal direction by rotating substantially 90 degrees, the parallax images respectively captured by the two imaging units have the horizontal direction, and the stereoscopic viewing optical panel. Since the right-eye parallax image and the left-eye parallax image can be optically distributed to the eyes corresponding to the observer, the observer can stereoscopically view the image. .

  Furthermore, since the parallax image is an image taken with the shooting field of view being vertically long, the use efficiency of the image sensor can be improved, and the stereoscopic display means rotates approximately 90 degrees together with the camera body. The image can be displayed on the stereoscopic display means at the same time as the horizontal shooting.

  Hereinafter, a compound eye camera 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of the compound eye camera 1, and FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of the compound eye camera 1. In the compound eye camera 1 of the present embodiment, for the sake of convenience, the side on which the shutter button 11 is disposed will be referred to as the upper side, and the surface on which the liquid crystal monitor 12 is disposed will be described as the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the compound-eye camera 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a shutter button 11 for instructing photographing on the upper surface of the camera body 10, and a viewpoint separated in the horizontal direction on the front of the camera body 10. A pair of imaging units 1A and 1B are provided so as to be separated from each other in the horizontal direction in order to image the subject.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, a liquid crystal monitor (stereoscopic display means) 12 for displaying an image picked up by the image pickup units 1A and 1B is arranged on the back surface of the camera main body 10 with the longitudinal direction being horizontal. In the vicinity of the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 12, operation buttons 13 such as a zoom button and various setting buttons are arranged.

  The liquid crystal monitor 12 displays a parallax image captured by the imaging units 1A and 1B and a parallax image recorded in a storage unit (not shown) in a stereoscopic manner. Here, FIG. 2 shows a diagram for explaining the structure of the liquid crystal monitor 12. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal monitor 12, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main part of the liquid crystal monitor 12, and FIG. 2C is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the double-sided prism sheet 12-2. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the liquid crystal monitor 12. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal monitor 12 when a right-eye parallax image is displayed, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal monitor 12 when a left-eye parallax image is displayed. FIG. The liquid crystal monitor 12 according to the present embodiment can use a display device collectively referred to as a scan backlight method described in Japanese Patent No. 3930021. Therefore, a detailed description is omitted, and a brief description is given below. To do.

  The liquid crystal monitor 12 is disposed facing the outside of the camera body 10 as shown in FIG. 1B, and includes a transmissive liquid crystal panel 12-1 for displaying an image as shown in FIG. Behind this liquid crystal panel 12-1, a double-sided prism sheet 12-2 that refracts and / or reflects light, and a light guide plate 12- that propagates light emitted by light sources 12-4a and 12-4b described later. 3 are arranged in order from the liquid crystal panel 12-1 side, and these constitute a backlight part (stereoscopic optical panel part).

  The light guide plate 12-3 is provided with a light extraction portion 12-3a for extracting light to the outside of the light guide plate 12-3 on the surface on the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 side. As shown in FIG. 2B, the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 has a plurality of triangular prism rows 12-2a extending in one direction on the light guide plate 12-2 side. A plurality of semi-cylindrical, that is, so-called kamaboko-shaped prism rows 12-2b are arranged on the panel 12-1 side so as to extend in the same direction as the triangular prism row 12-2a. In the double-sided prism sheet 12-2, when the compound eye camera 1 is in the state of FIGS. 1A and 1B, that is, in the state of horizontal photographing, the extending direction of the prism row is substantially parallel to the vertical direction of the camera body 10. It arrange | positions so that it may become.

  The light guide plate 12-3 has, for example, two light sources 12-4a and 12-4b arranged on both side surfaces along the direction in which the prism rows 12-2a and 12-2b extend. Since the two prism rows 12-2a and 12-2b are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the incident direction of the light sources 12-4a and 12-4b, they are emitted from the light sources 12-4a and 12-4b. The lights 12-4aa and 12-4bb are distributed only in the horizontal direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the liquid crystal monitor 12 displays the right-eye and left-eye parallax images alternately on the liquid crystal panel 12-1, and the light source 12-4a and the light source 12-4b. A control unit 12-5 that alternately turns on in synchronization with the image is provided. The control unit 12-5 can be mounted as a control circuit on a substrate (not shown) installed in the camera body 10.

  In the thus configured liquid crystal monitor 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, when only the light source 12-4a is turned on, the light 12-4aa emitted from the light source 12-4a is transmitted through the light guide plate 12-3. As shown in FIG. 2 (c), the extracted light 12-4aa is propagated inward and extracted to the outside by the light extraction unit 12-3a. Is incident on the end surface of the light source 12-4a, is reflected and refracted by the inner surface of the end surface of the light source 12-4b, and is emitted from the prism array 12-2b as a lightly inclined light toward the light source 12-4a. .

  The light 12-4aa emitted from the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 passes through the optical panel 12-1 and reaches the right eye 12-6a of the observer of the liquid crystal monitor, as shown in FIG. The observer can recognize the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12-1 with the right eye 12-6a. At this time, the parallax image for the right eye is displayed on the optical panel 12-1 by the control unit 12-5.

  When only the light source 12-4b is turned on, the light 12-4bb emitted from the light source 12-4b reaches the left eye 12-6b of the observer in substantially the same manner as described above, as shown in FIG. Thus, the observer can recognize the parallax image for the left eye displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12-1.

  In this way, the light source 12-4a and the light source 12-4b are alternately turned on in synchronization with the parallax images for the right eye and the left eye, so that the observer can display the parallax image for the right eye and the parallax image for the left eye, respectively. Since it can be recognized with the corresponding eyes, stereoscopic viewing of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12-1 becomes possible. The liquid crystal monitor 12 of this embodiment is configured in this way.

  The liquid crystal monitor 12 according to the present embodiment uses the so-called scan backlight method as described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any three-dimensional display can be used. Alternatively, a parallax barrier method (parallax barrier method) or a lenticular method such as a parallax dividing method may be used.

  Next, the internal mechanism of the compound eye camera 1 will be described. 4A is a front perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1, FIG. 4B is a rear perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1, and FIG. 5A is an operation of the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1. FIG. 5B is a rear perspective view illustrating the operation of the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1, and FIG. 6A is a front perspective view illustrating a state during vertical shooting of the compound-eye camera 1. FIG. 6B is a rear perspective view showing a state of the compound eye camera 1 during vertical shooting.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the pair of imaging units 1A and 1B of the compound-eye camera 1 are arranged behind the imaging optical system including the imaging lenses 1a and 1b, respectively. Imaging elements 1c and 1d that image the passed subject image light on a photoelectric surface and perform photoelectric conversion are provided. The imaging elements 1c and 1d are substantially rectangular with different aspect ratios, and are fixed to lens gears 3A and 3B (described later) via fixing plates 1c 'and 1d' with their longitudinal directions horizontal.

  The taking lenses 1a and 1b are fixed to cylindrical barrels 1a ′ and 1b ′, respectively, and these barrels 1a ′ and 1b ′ are respectively connected to lens gears 3A and 3B to be described later via fixing plates 1c ′ and 1d ′. It is fixed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, a circular hole 10 a is provided in the approximate center of the front surface of the camera body 10, and the fixed gear 2 is opposed to the fixed gear 2 in the approximately central part of the hole 10 a. It is being fixed to the inner surface of the hole 10a via the holding | maintenance part 2a extended on a substantially straight line from the outer peripheral surface to do.

  A common gear 4 is provided behind the fixed gear 2 so as to be rotatable about a substantially central axis D of the fixed gear 2. The teeth of the common gear 4 are connected to the motor 6 b of the motor unit 6. It arrange | positions so that it may mesh | engage with the tooth | gear of the connected motor gear 6a, and the common gear 4 rotates by rotating the motor 6b.

  The lens gears 3A and 3B are fixed to shafts (not shown) provided on the common gear 4 so as to be rotatable around the optical axes C1 and C2 of the imaging lenses 1a and ab fixed to the lens gears 3A and 3B, respectively. Further, between the lens gears 3A and 3B and the fixed gear 2, idle gears 5A and 5B that are rotatably fixed to a shaft portion (not shown) provided separately from the common gear 4 are provided. The teeth of the gears 5A and 5B are configured to mesh with the teeth of the fixed gear 2 and the lens gears 3A and 3B, respectively. At this time, the fixed gear 2 and the lens gears 3A and 3B are gears having substantially the same specifications with equal pitch circles.

  The liquid crystal panel 12-1 described above is fixed to the camera body 10 on the back of the camera body 10 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 4B. It is formed in a rectangular shape with an aspect ratio of 3 to 4 or 9 to 16, and is fixed to the camera body so that its longitudinal direction is substantially parallel to the camera body 10.

  And the backlight part which consists of double-sided prism sheet 12-2, light source 12-4a, 12-4b, and the light-guide plate 12-3 is fixed to the backlight gearwheel 7 as shown to Fig.4 (a), (b). Yes. The double-sided prism sheet 12-2 and the light guide plate 12-3 are formed such that each of the four sides has a length equal to or longer than the long side of the liquid crystal panel 12-1, as shown in FIG. 4B. In this embodiment, it is formed in a square shape.

  The backlight gear 7 is composed of gears having substantially the same specifications with the same pitch circle as the common gear 4, and the teeth of the backlight gear 7 are connected to the motor 6b together with the motor gear 6a of the motor unit 6 as shown in FIG. By being arranged so as to mesh with the teeth of the backlight motor gear 6c that is connected and has the same specifications as the motor gear 6a, when the motor 6b is rotated, it is configured to rotate by the same angle in the same direction as the common gear 4. ing.

  The fixed gear 2, the common gear 4, and the fixed gear 2 and the backlight gear 7 are inserted into a hole provided in the center of the common gear 4 and the backlight gear 7 with a shaft portion protruding from the back side of the fixed gear 2. As a result, it can be rotated about the axis D. The common gear 4 and the lens gears 3A and 3B and the common gear 4 and the idle gears 5A and 5B are also rotatable in the same manner as described above.

  In the present embodiment, the backlight gear 7 is configured to rotate about the axis D of the fixed gear 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the backlight gear 7 is in the same direction as the common gear 4. As long as they can be rotated by the same angle, any configuration may be used.

  Next, the operation of the compound eye camera 1 configured as described above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the motor 6b is operated in a state where the image pickup devices 1c and 1d are horizontally long with the longitudinal direction horizontal and the image pickup units 1A and 1B are spaced apart in the horizontal direction. Thus, the motor gear 6a and the backlight gear 6c are rotated, and the common gear 4 and the backlight gear 7 are rotated 90 degrees clockwise around the axis D of the fixed gear 2 as shown in FIGS. Let

  Then, the lens gears 3A, 3B and the idle gears 5A, 5B fixed to the shaft portion (not shown) of the common gear 4 and the imaging units 1A, 1B fixed to the lens gears 3A, 3B and the idle gear. 5A and 5B rotate 90 degrees clockwise together with the common gear 4. At this time, since the teeth of the idle gears 5A and 5B mesh with the teeth of the fixed gear 2, the idle gears 5A and 5B rotate in the same direction as the rotation direction of the common gear 4, that is, clockwise, and the idle gears 5A and 5B. The lens gears 3A and 3B meshing with the other teeth also rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the idle gears 5A and 5B, that is, the common gear 4, that is, counterclockwise.

  At this time, since the lens gears 3A and 3B are engaged with the fixed gear 2 via the idle gears 5A and 5B, the rotation angle of the common gear 4 rotating around the axis D of the fixed gear 2 is determined. Will rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise. Therefore, as the lens gears 3A and 3B are rotated, the imaging units 1A and 1B are also rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the imaging elements 1c and 1d have their longitudinal directions horizontal. They are placed apart in the vertical direction in a horizontally long state.

  On the other hand, along with the rotation of the backlight gear 7, as shown in FIG. 4B, the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 in which the direction of the backlight portion fixed to the backlight gear 7, that is, the prism row is arranged in the vertical direction, The light sources 12-4a and 12-4b and the light guide plate 12-3 are also rotated by approximately 90 degrees in the same direction as the backlight gear 7, so that the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 has a prism array as shown in FIG. The light source 12-4a is disposed above the light guide plate 12-3, and the light source 12-4b is disposed below the light guide plate 12-3.

  At this time, each of the four sides of the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 and the light guide plate 12-3b is formed to have a length equal to or longer than the long side of the liquid crystal panel 12-1. Even if it is rotated 90 degrees, the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 and the light guide plate 12-3b are positioned on the entire back surface of the liquid crystal panel 12-1.

  In the compound eye camera 1 that operates in this way, the shaft portion of the fixed gear 2, the common gear 4, and the motor portion 6 rotate or revolve the imaging portions 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B about 90 degrees around the axis D of the fixed gear 2. It functions as a revolving mechanism, and the fixed gear 2 (including the shaft portion), the lens gears 3A and 3B, the common gear 4 (including the shaft portion), the idle gears 5A and 5B, and the motor portion 6 respond to the revolving by the revolving mechanism. Thus, the imaging imaging units 1A and 1B function as a rotation mechanism that rotates or rotates about 90 degrees around the optical axes C1 and C2 of the imaging optical system including the imaging lenses 1a and 1b. The common gear 4, the motor unit 6, and the backlight gear 7 function as a rotation mechanism that rotates the backlight unit by approximately 90 degrees in accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism.

  In the case of the compound eye camera 1 configured as described above, when it is desired to perform so-called vertical shooting in which the shooting field of view is vertically long, for example, when shooting a human photograph, FIG. If the subject is photographed by rotating the camera body 10 of the compound-eye camera 1 90 degrees counterclockwise, for example, in the state shown in FIG. 6A, the camera body 10 is rotated 90 degrees as shown in FIG. Since the imaging units 1A and 1B are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and the imaging elements 1c and 1d are arranged in a vertically long shape with the longitudinal direction vertical, the parallax images captured by the imaging units 1A and 1B are respectively Since the direction of the parallax becomes the horizontal direction, a stereoscopic image can be generated. Further, since the parallax image is an image shot with the shooting field of view being vertically long, the use efficiency of the imaging element can be improved.

  Moreover, since the imaging units 1A and 1B are provided on the front side of the camera body 10 which is unlikely to be held by the user, the user can hold the camera body 10 firmly.

  In the state where the camera body 10 is rotated 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 6B, the liquid crystal panel 12-1 is also rotated 90 degrees together with the rotation of the camera body 10, so that the liquid crystal panel 12-1 is positioned vertically long. Therefore, when displaying a vertically long parallax image photographed by the imaging units 1A and 1B, the entire screen can be used as it is to confirm the image, which is convenient.

  Further, at this time, the backlight unit located behind the liquid crystal panel 12-1, that is, the double-sided prism sheet 12-2, the light sources 12-4 a and 12-4 b, and the light guide plate 12-3 also rotate 90 degrees with the rotation of the camera body 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6B, the prism rows of the double-sided prism sheet 12-2 are arranged in the vertical direction, and the light source 12-4a and the light source 12-4b are arranged on the left and right sides of the light guide plate 12-3. Since they are located on both sides, the light emitted from the light sources 12-4a and 12-4b is respectively transmitted to the left and right eye viewing areas of the observer via the light guide plate 12-3 and the double-sided prism sheet 12-2. And the observer recognizes the parallax image for the right eye and the parallax image for the left eye displayed on the liquid crystal panel 12-2 in synchronization with the lighting of the light sources 12-4a and 12-4b, respectively, with the corresponding eyes. The ability, it is possible to stereoscopically viewed images on the LCD panel 12-2.

  Thus, stereoscopic display can be performed using the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 12-1 in both horizontal shooting and vertical shooting, so that a through image or a captured image can be easily viewed as a stereoscopic image.

  In the compound eye camera 1 of the present embodiment, the entire imaging units 1A and 1B including the imaging elements 1c and 1d are rotated at the time of rotation by the rotation mechanism. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a lens barrel 1a ′ and 1b ′ may be fixed to the common gear 4 so as not to be affected by the rotation of the lens gears 3A and 3B, and only the imaging elements 1c and 1d may be rotated.

  Next, the compound eye camera 1-2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 7A is a front perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1-2, FIG. 7B is a rear perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the compound-eye camera 1-2, and FIG. 8 is a vertical view of the compound-eye camera 1-2. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the main part of the compound eye camera 1-2. FIG. In the compound eye camera 1-2 of this embodiment, the same parts as those of the compound eye camera 1 of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The compound eye camera 1-2 of the present embodiment is different from the compound eye camera 1 of the above embodiment in that the backlight gear 7 is not provided. In the compound-eye camera 1-2, as shown in FIG. 7, a backlight unit, that is, a double-sided prism sheet 12-2, light sources 12-4a and 12-4b, and a light guide plate 12-3 are fixedly installed on a common gear 4. Further, camera boards 8a and 8b on which two imaging units 1A and 1B and circuits (not shown) for transmitting and receiving electrical signals are mounted are also fixed to the common gear 4.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, two camera parts 1A and 1B on the one surface of the common gear 4 as a fixing member (the front side of the camera body 10), and the camera boards 8a and 8b in the vicinity of the image pickup parts 1A and 1B. Are fixed, and the backlight portion is fixed on the other surface (the back side of the camera body 10).

  In the compound eye camera 1-2 configured in this manner, the backlight unit is also rotated 90 degrees by rotating the common gear 4 by 90 degrees by the motor gear 6a of the motor unit 6, and thus the backlight gear 7 of the above embodiment. Even if it is not provided, it becomes possible to rotate the said backlight part, and can simplify the structure of the compound-eye camera 1-2.

  If the subject is photographed after the common gear 4 is rotated 90 degrees and then the camera body 10 is rotated 90 degrees, the imaging unit 1A, as shown in FIG. 1B are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, and the image sensors 1c and 1d are arranged in a vertically long shape with the longitudinal direction vertical, so that the parallax images captured by the imaging units 1A and 1B are in the direction of parallax. Since the three-dimensional image becomes horizontal, a three-dimensional image can be generated. Further, since the parallax image is an image captured with the shooting field of view being vertically long, the utilization efficiency of the image sensor can be improved.

  When the camera body 10 is rotated 90 degrees, the camera boards 8a and 8b can be positioned in the gap between the back surface of the holding portion 2a of the fixed gear 2 and the common gear 4 as shown in FIG. The space in the vicinity of the imaging units 1A and 1B that has not been used in the embodiment can be used effectively, and the compound eye camera 1-2 can be downsized.

  Further, when the camera body 10 is rotated 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal panel 12-1 is also rotated 90 degrees with the rotation of the camera body 10, so that the liquid crystal panel 12-1 is positioned vertically. Thus, when displaying a vertically long parallax image captured by the imaging units 1A and 1B, the entire screen can be used as it is, so that the image can be confirmed, which is convenient.

  At this time, the backlight unit located behind the liquid crystal panel 12-1, that is, the double-sided prism sheet 12-2, the light sources 12-4 a and 12-4 b, and the light guide plate 12-3 also rotate 90 degrees with the rotation of the camera body 10. Therefore, the image can be stereoscopically viewed on the liquid crystal panel 12-1 as in the above embodiment.

  Thus, stereoscopic display can be performed using the entire surface of the liquid crystal panel 12-1 in both horizontal shooting and vertical shooting, so that a through image or a captured image can be easily viewed as a stereoscopic image.

  The compound eye camera of the present invention is not limited to the compound eye camera of the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(A) Front perspective view of compound eye camera of first embodiment (b) Rear perspective view of compound eye camera of first embodiment (A) Cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal monitor (b) is a cross-sectional perspective view of the main part of the liquid crystal monitor (c) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a double-sided prism sheet (A) Schematic configuration cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal monitor when a right-eye parallax image is displayed (b) Schematic configuration cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal monitor when a left-eye parallax image is displayed (A) Front perspective view showing internal mechanism of compound eye camera of first embodiment (b) Rear perspective view showing internal mechanism of compound eye camera of first embodiment (A) Front perspective view explaining operation of internal mechanism of compound eye camera of first embodiment (b) Rear perspective view explaining operation of internal mechanism of compound eye camera of first embodiment (A) Front perspective view showing a state during vertical shooting of the compound eye camera of the first embodiment (b) Rear perspective view showing a state during vertical shooting of the compound eye camera of the first embodiment (A) Front perspective view showing internal mechanism of compound eye camera of second embodiment (b) Rear perspective view showing internal mechanism of compound eye camera of second embodiment Front perspective view showing a state during vertical shooting of the compound-eye camera of the second embodiment Main part perspective view of compound eye camera of 2nd embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound eye camera 1A, 1B Image pick-up part 1a, 1b Shooting lens (imaging optical system)
1c, 1d Image sensor 1e, 1f Image sensor gear 10 Camera body 11 Shutter button 12 Liquid crystal monitor (stereoscopic display means)
12-1 Liquid crystal panel 12-2 Double-sided prism sheet 12-3 Light guide plate 12-4a, 12-4b Light source (12-2, 12-3, 12-4a, 12-4b) Back light unit (stereoscopic optical panel) Part)
13 Operation button 2 Fixed gear 3A, 3B Lens gear 4 Common gear (fixing member)
5A, 5B Idle gear 6 Motor part 6a Motor gear 6b Motor 6c Backlight gear 7 Backlight gear 8a, 8b Camera board (2, 4, 6) Revolution mechanism (2, 3A, 3B, 4, 5A, 5B, 6) Rotation Mechanism (2, 4, 6, 7) Rotating mechanism D Common gear shaft (common shaft)
C1, C2 Optical axis of the imaging unit

Claims (4)

Two image pickup units provided on the camera body, each having an image pickup optical system and a horizontally long image pickup device, for picking up an object from different viewpoints separated in the horizontal direction;
Stereoscopic display means including a stereoscopic viewing optical panel unit capable of stereoscopically displaying an image captured by the imaging unit and capable of changing an optical path in a horizontal direction in time series;
A revolving mechanism for revolving the two imaging units about 90 degrees around a common axis;
A rotation mechanism that rotates at least the image pickup element of the two image pickup units approximately 90 degrees around the optical axis of each of the image pickup optical systems in accordance with the revolution by the rotation mechanism;
A compound eye camera, comprising: a rotation mechanism that rotates the stereoscopic optical panel unit by approximately 90 degrees in accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism.   A fixing member on which the two imaging units are fixed, the stereoscopic optical panel unit being fixed to the fixing member, and the two imaging unit and the stereoscopic optical panel unit rotating integrally; The compound-eye camera according to claim 1, wherein:   The compound eye camera according to claim 2, wherein one or more camera boards each having a circuit for transmitting and receiving electrical signals to and from the two imaging units are further fixed to the fixing member. Two image pickup units provided on the camera body, each having an image pickup optical system and a horizontally long image pickup device, for picking up an object from different viewpoints separated in the horizontal direction;
Stereoscopic display means comprising a three-dimensional optical panel that can stereoscopically display an image picked up by the image pickup unit and that can change the optical path in the horizontal direction in time series;
A revolving mechanism for revolving the two imaging units around a common axis;
A rotation mechanism for rotating at least the image sensor of the two imaging units around the optical axis of each of the imaging optical systems in response to the revolution by the revolution mechanism;
In accordance with the revolution by the revolution mechanism, a photographing method using a compound eye camera including a rotation mechanism that rotates the optical panel unit for stereoscopic vision,
The two imaging units are revolved approximately 90 degrees by the revolution mechanism, and at least the image sensor of the two imaging units is rotated approximately 90 degrees by the rotation mechanism, and the stereoscopic optical panel unit is rotated. An imaging method comprising: imaging after rotating by approximately 90 degrees by a mechanism.

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