JP2009244491A - Multiple-lens imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease a distance between the principal points of adjacent cameras of a multiple-lens imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The multiple-lens imaging apparatus 1 includes a plurality of cameras 10 which pick up an image of a subject from view points at widthwise intervals. In this apparatus 1, the cameras 10 are set in positions alternately displaced widthwise so that a widthwise interval between the adjacent cameras may be smaller than the camera width. An optical member by which an optical axis extending from the adjacent camera 10 to a subject is made smaller than the camera width in the widthwise direction is disposed in front of at least every other camera 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-view imaging apparatus for capturing a stereoscopic parallax image using a plurality of cameras.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for capturing a parallax image necessary for generating a three-dimensional image in which a subject can be viewed stereoscopically, shooting with a multi-lens imaging device having a plurality of cameras is known. In this multi-lens imaging device, for example, in the case of a two-lens imaging device having two cameras, it can be recognized as a stereoscopic image using the parallax between the left and right images obtained by photographing.

  In this case, when the target object is a small target such as an insect, for example, it is necessary to reduce the parallax in order to obtain an appropriate stereoscopic effect in the three-dimensional image. In other words, the distance between the principal points must be reduced. It is desirable that the angle formed by the optical axes of adjacent cameras, that is, the convergence angle, can be adjusted according to the subject distance and the base line length.

  However, in the conventional multi-lens imaging apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 6A, and 6B, the lens barrel 12 in which the housings (camera main bodies) 11 of the adjacent cameras 10 and the photographing lens 13 are disposed. It has been difficult to reduce the distance t ′ between the principal points by contacting each other.

Therefore, as a method for shortening the distance t between the principal points and adjusting the convergence angle θ, the imaging light from the subject is separated into imaging light for the left eye and imaging light for the right eye using a half mirror, respectively. A method of adjusting the positions of the left and right cameras and the angle of the half mirror in a stereoscopic imaging apparatus configured to be guided to the left and right cameras has been proposed (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-312545 A

  However, although the method described in Patent Document 1 is effective for a stereoscopic imaging device including two left and right cameras, it is difficult to use a multi-eye imaging device including three or more imaging devices. It is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a multi-view imaging apparatus capable of obtaining an appropriate stereoscopic effect by reducing the distance between principal points in a multi-view imaging apparatus including two or more cameras. Is intended to provide.

The multi-lens imaging device of the present invention is a multi-lens imaging device comprising a plurality of cameras for imaging a subject from viewpoints spaced in the width direction.
The plurality of cameras are alternately installed at positions shifted from the width direction so that the interval in the width direction between adjacent cameras is smaller than the width of the camera,
A multi-lens imaging apparatus, wherein an optical member is provided in front of at least every other camera so that an optical axis directed from the adjacent camera toward the subject is an interval smaller than the width of the camera in the width direction.

  Here, the “width direction” means the horizontal direction of the left and right sides of the multi-view imaging device as viewed from the subject, and the “interval in the width direction of adjacent cameras” means the distance between principal points of adjacent cameras.

Further, in the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention, the photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras are alternately arranged upward and laterally,
The optical member may be provided in front of the photographing lens of the camera disposed upward.

Further, in the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention, the photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras are alternately arranged downward and laterally,
The optical member may be provided in front of the photographing lens of the camera disposed downward.

  Here, “upward” refers to the direction in which the subject image light enters the photographing lens from above, “lateral” refers to the direction in which the subject image light enters the photographing lens from the horizontal direction, and “downward” refers to the subject image in the photographing lens. It means the direction in which light is incident from below.

  In the multi-lens image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the optical member may be provided in front of the taking lenses of all the cameras.

  In this case, the photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras can be arranged so as to alternately face upward and downward.

  Also, in this case, the upwardly arranged camera and the downwardly arranged camera are respectively arranged in a straight line, and the optical member provided in front of the photographing lens of each camera is the optical member. It can be made rotatable with each of the cameras around the optical axis.

Moreover, the multi-lens imaging device of the present invention includes a housing that accommodates each of the optical members,
The said adjacent housing | casing may be mutually couple | bonded by the hinge so that rotation is possible.

  According to the multi-view imaging apparatus of the present invention, in the multi-view imaging apparatus including a plurality of cameras that capture a subject from viewpoints spaced in the width direction, the plurality of cameras are alternately arranged with the width of adjacent cameras. At least an optical member that is installed at a position shifted from the width direction so that the interval in the direction is smaller than the width of the camera, and that makes the optical axis from the adjacent camera to the subject smaller than the width of the camera in the width direction, Since it is provided in front of every other camera, the adjacent cameras are shifted in the width direction by a distance smaller than the width of the camera, and the optical axis distance from the adjacent camera to the subject is set by the optical member. By setting the interval smaller than the camera width in the width direction, the interval in the width direction of adjacent cameras, that is, the distance between the principal points can be made smaller than the camera width. Thus, for example, a parallax image having an appropriate parallax can be acquired even for a small subject such as an insect, and the image can be stereoscopically viewed with an appropriate stereoscopic effect.

  Hereinafter, a multi-eye imaging device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a four-viewpoint lenticular imaging system is shown as an example of an imaging system including the multi-view imaging device 1 and will be described below. Here, FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a four-view lenticular imaging system, FIG. 1B is a schematic top view of the main part of FIG. 1A, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part of the multi-eye imaging device 1, and FIG. -A sectional view and bb sectional view, FIG. 4A is a top view of a conventional multi-view imaging device, FIG. 4B is a front view of the conventional multi-view imaging device, and FIG. 5A is a top view of the multi-view imaging device 1. 5B is a front view of the multi-eye imaging device 1 of FIG. 5A, FIG. 6A is a top view of another conventional multi-eye imaging device, FIG. 6B is a front view of FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7A is another multi-eye imaging of this embodiment. FIG. 7B is a top view of the apparatus, and FIG. 7B is a front view of FIG. 7A.

  The multi-view imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a four-lens imaging apparatus including four cameras 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of cameras 10 may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the imaging system of the present embodiment is connected to the multi-view imaging apparatus 1 that captures the subject 2 and the multi-view imaging apparatus 1 via a cable 1a or a wireless system. A personal computer 3 (hereinafter referred to as a PC) that processes an image captured by the multi-view imaging device 1, a monitor 4 that displays an image captured by the multi-view imaging device 1 via the PC 3, and an image processed by the PC 3. A keyboard 5 and a mouse 6 are provided as operating means for operating the PC 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the multi-lens imaging device 1 is roughly configured by four camera units 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D (hereinafter referred to as 1A to 1D) each having a camera 10, and the camera units 1A to 1D include The camera 10 and the mirror unit 20 are provided. As shown in FIG. 1B, the camera units 1A to 1D are arranged so that the distance between the optical center of the camera 10, that is, the principal point (front principal point) and the subject 2 is substantially equal. For example, the camera unit 1A and the camera unit 1B are arranged such that an angle formed by the optical axis aA and the optical axis aB, a so-called convergence angle, has an angle θ. In addition, the camera units 1A to 1D have the mirror unit 20 so that the subject is imaged from viewpoints spaced in the width direction, that is, viewpoints having a horizontal distance in the left-right direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1B) as viewed from the subject 2. The optical axis that has passed is arranged so that the principal points of the adjacent cameras 10 have a distance t.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the cameras 10 of the camera units 1A to 1D have the photographing lenses 13 (see FIG. 3) alternately facing downward and upward so that the optical axes a are alternately directed in different directions. That is, the tip of the lens barrel 12 is fixed to a casing 21 (described later) of the mirror unit 20 so that the subject image light C is incident on the photographing lens 13 alternately from below and above.

  The four cameras 10 have the same specifications. As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 10 has a camera body 11 in which a camera board (not shown) is installed, and a camera lens 11 connected to the camera body 11 and fixed inside. A lens barrel 12, a photographing lens 13 for converging subject image lights C and C ′ of the subject 2, and a subject that is installed in the camera body 11 and is located behind the photographing lens 13 and has passed through the photographing lens 13. And an image sensor 14 that performs image conversion on the photocathode by imaging the image lights C and C ′.

  Also, the four mirror parts 20 have the same specifications, and the mirror part 20 has an opening where the photographing lens 13 faces on the side connected to the lens barrel 12 and the subject 2 side is opened as shown in FIG. The housing 21 is accommodated in the housing 21 as shown in FIG. 2, and is arranged at an inclination of about 45 degrees so as to reflect the subject image light C and C ′ to the photographing lens 13 as shown in FIG. The mirror (optical member) 22 is provided.

  The mirror 22 is configured to have a size that matches the angle of view of the camera 10, that is, a size that can guide subject image light C and C ′ in the same range as the shooting range of the camera 10 to the shooting lens 13.

  Since the subject image lights C and C ′ incident on the photographing lens 13 via the mirror 22 are reversed left and right by the mirror 22, as shown in FIG. 3, the camera 10A with the photographing lens 13 facing downward is positioned above the camera 10A. The camera 10 </ b> B, which is installed on the side away from the subject 2 and the photographing lens 13 faces upward, is installed with the upper part of the camera 10 </ b> B positioned on the subject side, and an image obtained by photographing is built in the camera 10, for example. By subjecting the image processing unit (not shown) or the PC 3 to right / left reversal, the subject 2 is directly photographed at the time of normal photographing, that is, with the upper part of the cameras 10A, 10B upward. Same as time.

  As explained in the section “Problems to be Solved by the Invention”, the convergence angle θ and the distance t between principal points are important values for giving a stereoscopic image an appropriate stereoscopic effect. When photographing a small subject 2 such as the above, it is preferable to reduce the distance t between the principal points. Conventionally, however, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the maximum horizontal width (horizontal width) h of the camera body 11 of the camera 10 is larger than the diameter d of the lens barrel 12, the distance between main points t ′. Is determined by the horizontal width h of the camera body 11, and thus cannot be made smaller than the horizontal width h of the camera body 11.

  Therefore, in the multi-lens imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the four cameras 10 are arranged so that the photographing lenses 13 of the cameras 10 are alternately upward and downward as shown in FIGS. 1A and 2. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5B, one camera 10 is shifted from the other camera 10 in the width direction by a distance t and spaced apart in the vertical direction. As a result, the camera bodies 11 do not come into contact with each other, and therefore the distance t between principal points of adjacent cameras 10 can be made smaller than the width h of the camera body 11 without being limited by the width h of the camera body 11.

  At this time, since the mirror unit 20 is provided in front of the photographing lens 13 of the adjacent camera 10, an optical axis directed from the adjacent camera 10 to the subject 2 via the mirror 22 of the adjacent mirror unit 20. Since the gap a is also smaller than the horizontal width h of the camera 10, the multi-view imaging device can be used even if the distance between the principal points of adjacent cameras 10 is smaller than the horizontal width h of the camera body 11 as described above. 1 can acquire the image which image | photographed the to-be-photographed object 2 from the viewpoint distant from the distance t between principal points.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5B, the distance t between the principal points is determined by the maximum value in the width direction of the casing 21 of the mirror portions 20A and 20B, that is, the horizontal width m. The body 11 is formed smaller than the lateral width h.

  4 and 5, the convergence angle θ has been described as 0 degree. However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, even when the convergence angle θ has an angle larger than 0 degree, the above is true. In the same manner, the camera main bodies 11 can be prevented from coming into contact with each other. Therefore, the distance t between the principal points of the adjacent cameras 10 can be made smaller than the lateral width h of the camera main body 11.

  As described above, according to the multi-lens imaging device 1 of the present embodiment, the distance between the principal points t can be made smaller than the width h of the camera body 11, so that it is appropriate even for a small subject 2 such as a ladybug. A parallax image having an appropriate parallax can be acquired, and the image can be stereoscopically viewed with an appropriate stereoscopic effect.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, even when the diameter d of the lens barrel 12 ′ of the camera 10 is larger than the lateral width h of the camera body 11, the distance between principal points t ′ is conventionally the lens barrel. Since it is determined by the diameter d of 12 ′, it cannot be made smaller than the diameter d of the lens barrel 12 ′.

  However, in the same manner as in the above embodiment, for example, four cameras are arranged so that the photographing lenses 13 of the camera 10 are alternately directed upward and downward, so that adjacent cameras 10A and 10B as shown in FIG. 7B. Since the lens barrels 12 'are arranged apart from each other and the lens barrels 12' do not come into contact with each other, the distance t between the principal points of the adjacent cameras 10A, 10B is made larger than the diameter d of the lens barrel 12 '. Can be small. At this time, the mirror 22 that matches the angle of view of the camera 10 is used as in the above embodiment.

  Thus, even when the diameter d of the lens barrel 12 ′ (housing) of the camera 10 is larger than the lateral width h of the camera body 11, the distance t between the principal points is larger than the diameter d of the lens barrel 12 ′. Therefore, a parallax image having an appropriate parallax can be acquired even for a small subject 2 such as a ladybug, and the image can be stereoscopically viewed with an appropriate stereoscopic effect.

  Next, the multi-lens imaging device 1-2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 8 is a schematic configuration perspective view of the four-view lenticular imaging system of the present embodiment, FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the multi-lens imaging device 1-2. 11 is a schematic top view of the main part of FIG. Note that the multi-lens imaging device 1-2 of the present embodiment can be used in the above-described imaging system and is connected in place of the multi-eye imaging device 1 of the first embodiment in the imaging system. The same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, the multi-lens imaging device 1-2 of the present embodiment is a four-eye imaging device including four cameras 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of cameras 10 may be provided. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the multi-lens imaging device 1-2 of this embodiment, four cameras 10 are arranged so that the photographing lenses 13 are alternately upward and downward as in the above embodiment. The four cameras 10 are arranged on a straight line and the structure of the mirror unit 2-2 is different.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the mirror unit 20-2 according to the present embodiment includes one housing 21-2 having four openings 21a on the subject 2 side. As shown in FIG. The mirror 22 is mounted on a disk-shaped pedestal 23. As shown in FIG. 10, the pedestal 23 has one end on the back side of the opening 21a via a connecting member 12a-2 and a lens barrel 12-2. And the camera body 11-2. The pedestal 23 is provided with a rotation dial 23a that passes through the housing 21-2 and protrudes to the outside. By rotating the rotation dial 23a, the pedestal 23 rotates and the optical axis A of the photographing lens 13 is changed. As a center, the mirror 22 and the camera 10 are configured to rotate simultaneously.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, in each of the four cameras 10, the respective rotary dials 23a are rotated to simultaneously rotate the camera 10 including the photographing lens 13 and the image sensor 14 and the mirror 22 around the optical axis A. Can adjust the optical axis A from the camera 10 toward the subject 2, that is, the direction of the subject image light C, so that the convergence angle θ formed by the optical axis A of each adjacent camera 10 can be changed. Even when the subject 2 is photographed, it is possible to position the subject 2 in the approximate center of the photographed image.

  As described above, the convergence angle θ can be easily changed by simply turning the rotary dial 23a with a simple structure without changing the orientation of each camera 10 in order to change the convergence angle θ.

  In this embodiment, the mirror 22 and the camera 10 are manually rotated as described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mirror 22 and the camera 10 are simultaneously rotated around the optical axis A. If possible, other configurations may be used, such as a device that rotates automatically. Here, FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration perspective view including a partial cross-sectional view of an imaging system including a multi-lens imaging device 1-2 ′ of another embodiment. In FIG. 12, for the sake of convenience, the same parts as those in FIGS. In FIG. 12, for convenience, a cross-sectional view of one multi-eye imaging device 1-2 ′ is shown. However, a plurality of multi-eye imaging devices 1-2 ′ are connected to the PC 3.

  Unlike the multi-eye imaging device 1-2 of the above-described embodiment, the multi-eye imaging device 1-2 'of the present embodiment rotates the mirror 22 and the camera 10 automatically instead of manually. As shown in FIG. 12, in the multi-lens imaging device 1-2 ', a pedestal 23 is connected to a motor 24 via a motor shaft 23b. The motor 24 is connected to a camera board 15 provided in the camera body 11-2. The camera board 15 is connected to the PC 3, and an image captured by the camera 10 is confirmed on the monitor 4 by operating the PC 3. However, the rotation by the motor 24 can be controlled. Thus, even if it is the structure which rotates the mirror 22 and the camera 10 automatically, the convergence angle | corner (theta) can be changed easily like the multi-eye imaging device 1-2 of the said embodiment.

  Next, the multi-lens imaging device 1-3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the lenticular photographing system with four viewpoints, FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a schematic top view of the main part of FIG. Note that the multi-lens imaging device 1-3 of the present embodiment can be used in an imaging system similar to the above-described embodiment, and is connected in place of the multi-lens imaging device 1 of the first embodiment in this imaging system. Therefore, for convenience, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The multi-lens imaging device 1-3 of the present embodiment is a four-eye imaging device including four cameras 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of cameras 10 may be provided. .

  As shown in FIG. 13, the multi-lens imaging device 1-3 of the present embodiment has four cameras 10 in which the photographing lenses 13 of the cameras 10 are alternately upward as in the multi-lens imaging device 1 of the first embodiment. Although arranged so as to face downward, as shown in FIG. 14, it differs from the multi-lens imaging device 1 of the first embodiment in that adjacent mirror portions 20-3 are respectively rotatable. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the four mirror units 20-3 of the multi-lens image pickup device 1-3 include hinges 21a at both ends of the casing 21-3, and the adjacent casings 21-3 can freely rotate. Is bound to. At this time, the mirror portions 20-3 at both ends located on the most end side may be provided with hinges 21a only on the inner side.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 15, by rotating the casing 21-3 by the hinge 21a, the camera 10 connected to the rotated casing 21-3 also rotates, so the distance from the subject 2 to the principal point The convergence angle θ can be changed while L is kept the same in the four cameras. Therefore, when the subject 2 is photographed nearby, the subject 2 can be positioned at the center of the imaging screen while maintaining the distance L by rotating the casing 21-3 and the camera 10 toward the subject 2 side. Thus, it is possible to set the accurate position of the camera 10 with respect to the subject 2 closer, and a parallax image suitable for the size of the subject 2 can be acquired. Although L has changed in the second embodiment, there is an advantage that it does not change in this embodiment.

  Next, a multiview imaging device 1-4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 16 shows a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the multi-lens imaging device 1-4, and FIG. 17 shows a side view of the main part of FIG. Note that the multi-lens imaging device 1-4 of the present embodiment can be used in the same imaging system as the above-described embodiment, and is connected in place of the multi-eye imaging device 1 of the first embodiment in this imaging system. The

  As shown in FIG. 16, the multi-lens imaging device 1-4 of the present embodiment is a 12-view multi-lens imaging device including 12 cameras 10-4, and the photographing lenses 13 of the cameras 10-4 are alternately arranged. It is arranged sideways and downward. The lens barrel 12 that accommodates the six photographing lenses 13 arranged in the horizontal direction is connected to a camera body 11-4 positioned with the upper portion of the camera 10-4 facing upward as shown in FIG. As in normal shooting, the subject image light C is directly incident on the shooting lens 13 so that the subject 2 is shot. At this time, the six camera bodies 11-4 are integrally configured so that the six photographing lenses 13 and the lens barrel 12 can be connected, and in the arrangement direction of the six cameras 10-4 as shown in FIG. The camera body 11-4a extends.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the lens barrel 12 that houses the six photographing lenses 13 arranged downward is attached to the camera main body 11-4 that has the upper part of the camera 10-4 positioned on the side away from the subject 2. It is connected. In front of the photographic lens 13, a mirror 22-4 installed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane is provided, and the subject image C is incident on the photographic lens 13 facing downward through the mirror 22-4. It is configured. At this time, the six camera bodies 11-4a are integrally configured so that the six photographing lenses 13 and the lens barrel 12 can be connected in the same manner as described above, and as shown in FIG. The camera body 11-4b extends in the arrangement direction.

  Note that the downward shooting lens 13 and the horizontal shooting lens 13 are disposed at positions adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front of FIG. Has been.

  In this way, the distance t between principal points between the adjacent camera 10-4, that is, the camera 10-4 with the photographing lens 13 facing sideways and the camera 10-4 with the photographing lens 13 facing downward is set so that the photographing lens 13 faces sideways. The distance between main points t ′ of adjacent cameras 10-4 in the case where only a plurality of camera bodies 11-4a are arranged is made smaller by the amount of the camera 10-4 with the photographing lens 13 facing downward. be able to. Further, since the image of the camera facing downward is reversed left and right by the mirror, it is reversed left and right by, for example, an image processing unit (not shown) incorporated in the camera 10 or the PC 3 to obtain a normal image.

  In the multi-lens imaging device 1-4 according to the present embodiment, the size of the apparatus main body in the vertical direction is larger than the upward and downward orientation by disposing the photographing lens 13 downward and laterally as described above. Can be reduced.

  In the multi-lens imaging device 1-4 according to the present embodiment, the camera 10-4 is disposed so that the photographing lens 13 is alternately directed downward and laterally as described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the camera 10-4 may be arranged so that the photographing lens 13 is alternately upward and lateral. In this case, a mirror 22-4 that guides the subject image light A to the photographing lens 13 is disposed in front of the photographing lens 13 that is disposed upward.

  The multi-lens imaging device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a four-view lenticular imaging system according to a first embodiment. Schematic diagram of the main part of FIG. 1A The principal part perspective view of the multi-lens imaging device of 1st embodiment Aa sectional view and bb sectional view of FIG. Top view of a conventional multi-lens imaging device Front view of FIG. 4A Top view of the multi-lens imaging device of the first embodiment Front view of FIG. 5A Top view of another conventional multi-lens imaging device Front view of FIG. 6A Top view of another multi-eye imaging device of the first embodiment Front view of FIG. 7A Schematic configuration perspective view of a four-viewpoint lenticular imaging system of the second embodiment The principal part expansion perspective view of the multi-lens imaging device of 2nd embodiment Sectional drawing of the principal part of the multi-lens imaging device of the second embodiment 8 is a schematic top view of the main part of FIG. Schematic configuration perspective view including a partial cross-sectional view of an imaging system provided with another multi-eye imaging device of the second embodiment Schematic configuration perspective view of a four-viewpoint lenticular imaging system of the third embodiment The principal part expansion perspective view of the multi-lens imaging device of 3rd embodiment 13 is a schematic top view of the main part of FIG. Partial cross-sectional perspective view of the multi-lens imaging device of the fourth embodiment Side view of main part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multi-lens imaging device 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Camera part 10 Camera 12 Lens barrel 13 Shooting lens 14 Imaging element 2 Subject 20 Mirror part (optical member)
21 Housing 21a Hinge 22 Mirror 3 Personal computer (PC)
4 Monitor 5 Keyboard 6 Mouse C Subject image light A, a Optical axis t Distance between principal points, baseline length (interval in the width direction of adjacent cameras)
θ convergence angle L distance

Claims (7)

In a multi-lens imaging device comprising a plurality of cameras for imaging a subject from viewpoints spaced in the width direction,
The plurality of cameras are alternately installed at positions shifted from the width direction so that the interval in the width direction between adjacent cameras is smaller than the width of the camera,
A multi-lens imaging apparatus, wherein an optical member is provided in front of at least every other camera so that an optical axis directed from the adjacent camera toward the subject is an interval smaller than the width of the camera in the width direction. The photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras are alternately arranged upward and laterally,
The multi-lens imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is provided in front of a photographing lens of the camera disposed upward. The photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras are alternately disposed downward and laterally,
The multi-lens imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is provided in front of a photographing lens of the camera disposed downward.   The multi-lens image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is provided in front of a taking lens of all the cameras.   The multi-lens imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein photographing lenses of the plurality of cameras are alternately disposed upward and downward.   The upward-facing camera and the downward-facing camera are each arranged in a straight line, and the optical member provided in front of the photographing lens of each camera is centered on the optical axis of the optical member The multi-lens imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the multi-lens imaging device is rotatable together with each of the cameras. A housing for accommodating each of the optical members;
The multi-view imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent housings are coupled to each other by a hinge so as to be rotatable.

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