JP2011249877A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of taking a stable video or image without regard to the orientation of a casing.SOLUTION: An optical system 12 projects and forms the image on an imaging element 10. Z-axis rotation means 16 rotates the imaging element 10 around a first axis (z-axis) parallel to the optical axis of the optical system. An inclination detection unit 14 detects the inclination of the casing 2 of the imaging apparatus 100. A control unit 20 controls, on the basis of the detected inclination, the z-axis rotation means 16 so that one side S1 of the imaging element 10 and the horizontal direction satisfy a predetermined relation.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In recent years, imaging devices including a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a mobile phone terminal with an imaging function have been widely used, and a wide range of users use them. Many photographers hold an image pickup apparatus in their hands and take a picture while checking an object to be photographed with a liquid crystal monitor or a viewfinder.

  If the housing of the imaging device moves during shooting, the image is blurred or tilted. It is difficult for a general photographer to take a picture without moving the imaging device. Therefore, camera shake correction functions are implemented in recent imaging apparatuses, and it is possible for general photographers to easily shoot high-quality images.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-129391 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-245726 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-173966 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-271056 JP 2009-071524 A

  A conventional camera shake correction mechanism corrects image blur based on the position of the housing or the image sensor at the moment of pressing the shutter. Therefore, if the housing is tilted before the shutter is pressed, this tilt affects the image. For example, when a landscape is photographed, if the housing is tilted, the horizontal line is tilted from the horizontal axis, so that the photograph becomes uncomfortable. Alternatively, when the building is photographed, if the vertical direction is shifted, the building appears to tilt. Although it is possible to correct the tilt by image processing after shooting, it deteriorates the image quality.

  The present invention has been made in such a situation, and one of exemplary purposes of an aspect thereof is to provide an imaging device capable of capturing a stable image and video regardless of the orientation of the housing.

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to an imaging device. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element, an optical system that projects an image on the image pickup element, a first rotation unit that rotates the image pickup element about a first axis parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, and the image pickup apparatus. An inclination detection means for detecting the inclination of the housing, and a control section for controlling the first rotation means so that one side of the image sensor and the horizontal direction satisfy a predetermined relationship based on the detected inclination.

  According to this aspect, since the orientation of the image sensor can be stabilized with reference to the horizontal direction, stable images and videos can be taken.

  The imaging device according to an aspect may further include a second rotating unit that rotates about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis so that the elevation angle of the imaging element changes. The control unit may control the second rotation unit based on the detected inclination so that the elevation angle of the image sensor satisfies a predetermined relationship with the horizontal direction.

  According to this aspect, since the elevation angle of the image sensor can be stabilized regardless of the orientation of the housing, more stable images and videos can be taken.

  Note that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention replaced with each other among methods, apparatuses, systems, and the like are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, stable images and videos can be taken regardless of the orientation of the housing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging apparatus of FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the imaging apparatus in FIG.

  The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The embodiments do not limit the invention but are exemplifications, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention.

In this specification, “the state in which the member A is connected to the member B” means that the member A and the member B are physically directly connected, or the member A and the member B are electrically connected. The case where it is indirectly connected through another member that does not affect the state is also included.
Similarly, “the state in which the member C is provided between the member A and the member B” refers to the case where the member A and the member C or the member B and the member C are directly connected, as well as an electrical condition. It includes the case of being indirectly connected through another member that does not affect the connection state.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus 100 according to the embodiment. The imaging apparatus 100 is a device with an imaging function such as a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a mobile phone terminal. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 of FIG.

  The imaging apparatus 100 includes a housing 2, an imaging element 10, an optical system 12, an inclination detection unit 14, a Z-axis rotation unit 16, an X-axis rotation unit 18, and a control unit 20 provided therein. The shape of the housing 8 in FIG. 1 and the arrangement of each member are examples, and the present invention is not limited to those in FIG.

  The image sensor 10 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, or the like, and includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. The light received by each pixel of the image sensor 10 is A / D converted and output to a signal processing unit (DSP) (not shown) to generate image data.

  The optical system 12 projects an image on the image sensor 10 to form an image. The optical system 12 includes several lenses and other optical elements arranged along the optical axis, and is appropriately designed according to the focal length, the presence or absence of zooming, and the like. The imaging element 10 and the optical system 12 may form a single imaging unit 8 or may be separately arranged.

  In FIG. 1, the axis parallel to the optical axis passing through the center of the image sensor 10 is the Z axis, and the axis passing through the center of the image sensor 10 and extending in the lateral direction of the housing 2 is the X axis, X axis, and Y axis. The axis perpendicular to the Y axis is taken.

  The Z-axis rotating unit 16 rotates the imaging element 10 around a first axis parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, that is, the Z axis. The X-axis rotating unit 18 rotates the image sensor 10 around the second axis perpendicular to the first axis (Z axis), that is, the X axis so that the elevation angle of the image sensor 10 changes. When the imaging element 10 and the optical system 12 constitute the imaging unit 8, the Z-axis rotating unit 16 and the X-axis rotating unit 18 may rotate the imaging element 10 by rotating the imaging unit 8. The Z-axis rotating unit 16 and the X-axis rotating unit 18 can be configured using a known technique such as an actuator.

  The inclination detection unit 14 detects inclinations θ and φ of the housing 2 of the imaging apparatus 100 with respect to the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V, respectively. As the inclination detecting means 14, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like can be used. Data θ and φ indicating the inclination detected by the inclination detecting means 14 are input to the control unit 20.

  The control unit 20 controls the Z-axis rotating unit 16 and the X-axis rotating unit 18 based on the inclination data θ and φ. Specifically, the control unit 20 controls the Z-axis rotating unit 16 based on the data θ so that one side (for example, the first side S1 in the horizontal direction) of the image sensor 10 and the horizontal direction satisfy a predetermined relationship. . Further, based on the data φ, the control unit 20 controls the X-axis rotation unit 18 so that another side of the image sensor 10 (for example, the second side S2 in the vertical direction) and the vertical direction satisfy a predetermined relationship.

  The predetermined relationship is determined, for example, with respect to an angle Δθ formed by one side S1 of the image sensor 10 and the horizontal direction and an angle Δφ formed by one side S2 of the image sensor 10 and the vertical direction. It is desirable that the users can freely set the angles Δθ and Δφ.

  The above is the configuration of the imaging device 100. Next, the operation will be described. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the operation of the imaging apparatus 100 in FIG. FIG. 3A shows the operation of the Z-axis rotating means 16, and is a view of the imaging device 100 as seen from the front. FIG. 3B shows the operation of the X-axis rotating means 18, and is a view of the imaging device 100 as viewed from the lateral direction.

  Referring to FIG. 3A, the inclination detection unit 14 detects the inclination θ of the housing 2 with respect to the horizontal direction H. Based on the detected inclination θ, the control unit 20 controls the Z-axis rotating unit 16 so that one side S1 of the image sensor 10 and the horizontal direction H satisfy a predetermined relationship. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the Z-axis rotating unit 16 is feedback-controlled so that an angle Δθ formed by one side S1 and the horizontal direction H becomes zero.

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus 100 including the Z-axis rotation unit 16, the imaging element 10 can be stopped at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction regardless of the inclination of the housing 2. As a result, it is possible to prevent the horizontal line from being tilted when shooting a landscape or the vertical direction from tilting when shooting a building, and a wide range of users can easily take a preferable image.

  Referring to FIG. 3B, the inclination detection unit 14 detects the inclination φ of the housing 2 with respect to the vertical direction V. Based on the detected inclination φ, the control unit 20 controls the X-axis rotation unit 18 so that one side S2 of the image sensor 10 and the vertical direction V satisfy a predetermined relationship. FIG. 3B shows a state in which the X-axis rotation means 18 is feedback-controlled so that the angle Δφ formed by the one side S2 and the vertical direction H becomes zero.

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus 100 including the X-axis rotation unit 18, the elevation angle of the imaging element 10 can be made to stand still at an arbitrary angle regardless of the inclination of the housing 2. When shooting in a crowd, the user may raise the imaging device 100 over the head and shoot blindly without looking at the viewfinder or the liquid crystal monitor. In this case, it is very difficult for the user to control the elevation angle of the imaging unit 8. Even in such a situation, according to the imaging apparatus 100, since the X-axis rotation unit 18 controls the elevation angle of the imaging device 10 to a desired angle, it is possible to capture an image with a desired composition.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. is there. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described.

  In the embodiment, the imaging apparatus in the form that the user holds in the hand has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the imaging device 100 can be suitably used for an athlete's head or a small camera fixed to a vehicle. In this case, even if the direction of the athlete or the vehicle changes, the orientation of the image sensor 10 is controlled based on the horizontal and vertical directions accordingly, so that stable images and videos with less blur can be taken. .

  In the embodiment, the imaging apparatus 100 including the rotation mechanism around the X axis and the Z axis has been described. However, in the simplest case, only the rotation mechanism around the Z axis may be provided. Alternatively, in addition to them, a rotation mechanism around the Y axis may be provided.

  Although the present invention has been described using specific words and phrases based on the embodiments, the embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention, and the embodiments are defined in the claims. Many modifications and arrangements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Housing | casing, 8 ... Imaging unit, 10 ... Imaging element, 12 ... Optical system, 14 ... Inclination detection part, 16 ... Z-axis rotation means, 18 ... X-axis rotation means, 20 ... Control part, 100 ... Imaging apparatus.

Claims (2)

An image sensor;
An optical system for projecting an image onto the image sensor;
First rotating means for rotating the imaging device around a first axis parallel to the optical axis of the optical system;
Tilt detecting means for detecting the tilt of the housing of the imaging apparatus;
A control unit for controlling the first rotating means based on the detected inclination so that one side of the image sensor and the horizontal direction satisfy a predetermined relationship;
An imaging apparatus comprising: Second rotation means for rotating about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis so that an elevation angle of the image sensor changes,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the second rotation unit based on the detected inclination so that an elevation angle of the imaging element satisfies a predetermined relationship with a horizontal direction. .

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