JP2009200886A - Imaging/projection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To irradiate a subject with light according to a situation by using either a light source of a projection portion or a flash device. <P>SOLUTION: In consecutive shooting such as through-image display control and video imaging, the light source of the projection portion is used for continuously irradiating the subject with light. In one-frame photography, a dedicated flash device is used to emit flash light. An operator is allowed to previously set a lighting method to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging / projection apparatus having both a function of capturing an image of a subject and generating image data and a function of projecting image data to the outside as a light image.

  As an electronic device having both an imaging function and a projection function, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In this electronic apparatus, when performing imaging, the light source of the projection unit can be used as a light source for subject illumination.

JP 2006-67469 A

  However, since the projection unit is designed to irradiate light suitable for projection, the irradiation light may not be suitable as subject illumination light depending on the situation.

The present invention forms an optical image based on image data to be projected using light from a light source in the projection mode, and captures the optical image to the outside. When projecting, the projection unit that irradiates the light of the light source as subject illumination light during the imaging mode, the flash device that illuminates the subject during the imaging mode, and the subject other than the light source, and the subject that needs to be illuminated during imaging And a control means for controlling the light source of the projection unit and the flash device based on the photographing conditions.
The flash device may have a larger amount of light than the light source.
The irradiation angle of the flash device may be larger than the irradiation angle of the projection unit.
When it is necessary to illuminate the subject when performing imaging with the imaging unit continuously, it is necessary to illuminate the subject when imaging only one frame while performing continuous irradiation with the light source of the projection unit In some cases, flash light may be emitted by a flash device.
When it is necessary to illuminate the subject when performing moving image shooting, continuous irradiation by the light source of the projection unit may be performed.
When it is necessary to illuminate the subject when performing a through image display in which images based on image data are sequentially updated and displayed on a display device, continuous irradiation by a light source of a projection unit may be performed.
The projection unit may be formed by forming a substantially L-shaped optical path by using a bending optical system, and the imaging unit may be disposed in a portion corresponding to the L-shaped depression.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform illumination according to the situation by properly using the light source of the projection unit and the flash device when illuminating the subject.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 and 2 show an imaging / projection module according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1 is a side sectional view, and FIG. 2 is a front view seen from the line II-II. This module M is configured by housing an imaging system and a projection system in a single case 11, and by incorporating this into a digital camera or mobile phone, both a camera function and a projector function can be realized. You may incorporate in another electronic device.

  The case 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and its internal space is partitioned by the partitioning portion 12 into a substantially L-shaped projection unit accommodation space SP1 and an imaging unit accommodation space SP2 corresponding to a position corresponding to the L-shaped recess. The projection unit 20 accommodated in the projection unit accommodating space SP1 has a light source 21 such as an LED provided at a position corresponding to one end of the L shape, a condensing lens 22 for condensing the light source light, and a corner portion of the L shape. It has a polarization beam splitter (hereinafter referred to as PBS 23) and a reflective liquid crystal display element 24 provided at corresponding positions, and a projection lens 25 provided at a position corresponding to the other end of the L-shape.

  On the other hand, the imaging unit 30 accommodated in the imaging unit accommodating space SP2 includes an imaging optical system 31 and an imaging element 32 such as a CCD. Further, a metal heat radiation block 40 for releasing heat generated from the light source 21 is fixed to the lower surface of the case 11 in the figure. The module M of the present embodiment as a whole includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped including the heat dissipation block 40 as illustrated.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a cellular phone in which the module M is incorporated. An imaging / projection window W1 is formed in the metal outer cover 1, and a module M is disposed inside the imaging / projection window W1. As shown in FIG. 1, a transparent protective cover 3 is fitted into the window W1. The heat dissipation block 40 is in contact with the back surface of the outer cover 1. W2 is a flash emission window. In the present embodiment, as described later, the light source of the projection unit 20 can be used as a light source for subject illumination, but a flash device is provided separately.

FIG. 4 shows a control system of a device (for example, the mobile phone) in which the module M is incorporated, and only the configuration according to the present invention is shown.
When the camera mode (imaging mode) is set by the electronic device, the CPU 41 repeats imaging and displays a through image. That is, the subject light flux that has passed through the imaging optical system 31 by controlling the camera driving device 42 is imaged by the imaging element 32, image data is generated based on the output, and an image based on the image data is displayed on the display device 45. Repeat the operation. The display device 45 is constituted by a color liquid crystal monitor, for example, and the operator performs composition adjustment while viewing the display image. When a release operation is performed by the operation unit 46, the CPU 41 performs imaging and records the generated image data on the recording medium 43. In the electronic device of this embodiment, not only still image shooting but also moving image shooting is possible.

  On the other hand, when the projector mode (projection mode) is set by the electronic device, the CPU 41 controls the projection drive device 44 to project an image. That is, when the operator selects image data to be projected from the image data in the recording medium 43, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display element 24 and the light source 21 is turned on. The light source light enters the display surface of the liquid crystal display element 24 via the condenser lens 22 and the PBS 23, and the reflected light becomes an optical image to be projected. The optical image is bent 90 degrees by the PBS 23 and projected outside through the projection lens 25 and the window W1.

  The heat generated from the light source 21 is transmitted to the metal outer cover 1 of the electronic device from the heat dissipation block 26 fixed to the lower portion of the case 11 and is released to the outside. This prevents damage to the light source 21 due to heat and adverse effects on the image.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the entire module has a rectangular parallelepiped shape by disposing the rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 30 in a portion corresponding to the recess of the L-shaped projection unit. The degree of freedom of arrangement in the electronic device can be increased, and the assemblability can be improved.

  Here, in the imaging mode, the light source 21 of the projection unit 20 can be used as a light source for subject illumination. That is, when it is necessary to illuminate the subject for imaging, the light source 21 is turned on with the liquid crystal display element 24 in a white display state, and the subject is illuminated with white light. In this case, flash emission like a flash device is possible, and continuous irradiation like a photographing light is also possible. Moreover, the color of illumination light can be freely changed by changing the display color of the liquid crystal display element 24.

  As described above, the electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment can use the light source 21 of the projection unit 20 as an illumination light source, but also includes a flash device 50 separately from the light source 21. The flash device 50 is a general device that emits light from a xenon tube with the electric charge stored in the main capacitor. Compared with the light source 21 of the projection unit 20, the flash device 50 has a large amount of light, a long irradiation distance, and a large irradiation angle. On the other hand, the flash device 50 cannot perform continuous irradiation. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light source 21 and the flash device 50 are selectively used according to the situation as described below.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the CPU 41 in the camera mode.
When the camera mode is set, the live view display described above is started in step S1, and it is determined in step S2 whether illumination is necessary. For example, if the operator is set to forcibly illuminate or the subject luminance information obtained by photometry is below a predetermined value, it is determined that illumination is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the liquid crystal display element 24 of the projection unit 20 is displayed in white, for example, and the light source 21 is turned on. That is, since it is necessary to illuminate the subject continuously when displaying a through image, continuous illumination is performed using the light source 21 of the projection unit 20 to facilitate composition adjustment even in the dark.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not a release operation has been performed. If affirmative, it is determined in step S5 whether still image shooting or movie shooting. If it is a still image, the process proceeds to step S6. If illumination is necessary, the flash device 50 is caused to emit light in step S7. That is, since continuous illumination is not necessary for still image shooting, the flash device 50 performs illumination. In this case, the light source 21 of the projection unit 20 that was turned on at the time of through image shooting may be turned off or may remain turned on. In any case, by illuminating with the flash device 50 having a large light amount and a large irradiation angle, appropriate illumination can be performed even when the subject distance is long or the imaging angle of view is wide, and insufficient light amount can be suppressed. In step S <b> 8, imaging is performed and the generated image data is recorded on the recording medium 43.

  On the other hand, in the case of a moving image, continuous illumination is indispensable. When it is determined in step S9 that illumination is necessary, the light source 21 is turned on in step S10 to perform continuous illumination. Then, until the release operation is determined to be released in step S12, the imaging / recording in step S11 is repeated.

  In the case of a device that does not have a moving image shooting function, the flow is obtained by deleting steps S5 and S9 to S12. Further, in the case of a device that does not have a through image display function, the flow is obtained by deleting steps S1 to S3.

  In a device capable of continuous shooting of still images, the subject may be illuminated by the light source 21 of the projection unit 20 during continuous shooting. Alternatively, the user may select and set whether to illuminate with the light source 1 or with the flash device 50. Furthermore, the irradiation angles of the projection unit 20 and the flash device 50 may be variable.

  The flash device 50 may be a module different from the module M including the imaging unit 30 and the projection unit 20 or may be incorporated in the module M. Conversely, the above three may be used as separate modules.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging / projection module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure seen from the II-II line of FIG. The perspective view which shows an example of the mobile phone incorporating the said imaging / projection module. The block diagram which shows the control system of the apparatus which incorporated the imaging / projection module. The flowchart which shows the process sequence at the time of imaging of the said apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer cover 20 Projection part 21 Light source 22 Condensing lens 23 Polarizing beam splitter 24 Reflective liquid crystal display element 25 Projection lens 30 Imaging part 31 Imaging lens 32 Imaging element 41 CPU
42 Camera Drive Device 43 Projection Drive Device 45 Display Device 50 Flash Device

Claims (7)

An imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates image data in an imaging mode;
A projection unit that forms an image based on image data of an image to be projected using light from the light source in the projection mode, projects the image to the outside, and irradiates the light from the light source as subject illumination light in the imaging mode When,
A flash device separate from the light source for illuminating the subject in the imaging mode;
An image pickup / projection apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the light source and the flash device of the projection unit based on a shooting condition when it is necessary to illuminate a subject during image pickup. The imaging / projection device according to claim 1, wherein the flash device has a larger light amount than the light source. The imaging / projection device according to claim 1, wherein an irradiation angle of the flash device is larger than an irradiation angle of the projection unit. When it is necessary to illuminate the subject when the imaging unit continuously performs imaging by the imaging unit, the control unit performs continuous irradiation with the light source of the projection unit, while performing imaging of only one frame The imaging / projection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when it is necessary to illuminate a subject, flashing is performed by the flashing device. The imaging / projection device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit performs continuous irradiation with the light source of the projection unit when it is necessary to illuminate a subject when performing moving image shooting. The control means performs continuous irradiation with the light source of the projection unit when it is necessary to illuminate a subject when performing live view display for sequentially updating and displaying an image based on the image data on a display device. The imaging / projection device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The projection unit is formed by forming a substantially L-shaped optical path by using a bending optical system, and the imaging unit is provided in a portion corresponding to the L-shaped depression. The imaging / projection device according to any one of? 6.

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