JP2011254265A - Multi-eye camera device and electronic information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-eye camera device and an electronic information apparatus having no parallax between optical systems in terms of hardware.SOLUTION: For a multi-eye optical system 11, comprising multi-eyes, for instance, three or four, an original incident light is divided and separated into plurality (three primary colors R, G, and B, for instance) corresponding to a frequency range (light wavelength range) according to each color (three primary colors R, G, and B, for instance) from the same image light of the incident light by using, for instance, three or four or more of stage numbers of beam splitters (two to four beam splitters, here) and such. A multi-eye imaging device 7 is disposed correspondingly directly under the multi-eye optical system 11 to image through photoelectric conversion of each wavelength region light after a plurality of wavelength region light are incident from the multi-eye optical system 11.

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-lens camera device using a solid-state imaging device represented by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) that photoelectrically converts image light from a subject, and the multi-lens camera. For example, a digital camera such as a digital video camera and a digital still camera, an image input camera such as a surveillance camera, a scanner device, a facsimile device, a television phone device, a mobile phone device with a camera, etc. Relates to electronic information equipment.

  In recent years, conventional camera modules are required to have high resolution performance, low profile, and low cost, and a multi-lens camera structure has been proposed for a long time as one proposal for these requirements.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-eye structure that is one of conventional multi-eye camera devices and synthesizes a plurality of optical systems by signal processing. That is, in this multi-lens camera device, in order to improve image quality, it has a plurality of optical systems, a plurality of image sensors corresponding to the respective optical axes are arranged, signal processing is performed using those output signals, It is a multi-lens multi-plate type that finally obtains one imaging output signal, and is added with a function that makes it difficult to be affected by parallax during close-up shooting and enables imaging.

  FIG. 7 is a conventional configuration example disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram simply showing a multi-lens multi-plate image pickup device, and FIG. 7B is a single plate image pickup device. It is a schematic diagram shown simply.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the conventional multi-lens multi-plate image sensor 100, light from the subject incident on the image sensor 101 is parallel light, that is, the distance from the subject is basically assumed to be infinite. Therefore, a similar light beam is incident on each independent optical system. The light 102 passes through the aperture 103 and enters each lens 104, and the color filter 105 selects light in each band such as red (hereinafter R), blue (hereinafter B), and green (hereinafter G). It is converted into an electric signal by the element 101. This image sensor is composed of a plurality of independent image pickup pixel areas corresponding to effective image circles in which each optical system connects subject images.

  Here, an optical system is required for each color. However, if a primary color is used for the color filter 105, each optical system only needs to pass the band of each color, so that chromatic aberration is not considered, and the lens The number of sheets and coating can be simplified.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the single-plate image sensor 110, similarly, the incident light 112 from the subject passes through the aperture 113 and the lens 114 and enters the image sensor 111 through the color filter 115. Here, the color filter 115 uses a mosaic-like object having a different pass color band for each pixel unit of the image sensor 111.

  In the single plate type, since it is necessary to pass all the color bands, the optical system normally uses a combination of a plurality of lenses in order to correct chromatic aberration caused by a difference in refractive index for each color.

  Here, the difference in structure between the two image sensors 101 and 111 will be further described. In order to obtain a plurality of signals from independent imaging pixel areas for each color, the multi-eye multi-plate imaging element 100 has a small number of pixels in each imaging pixel area, and the subject image on the imaging element 101 is small. The distance is short. On the other hand, since the single-plate image sensor 110 processes all colors with one image sensor, the subject image on the element becomes larger and the focal length becomes longer.

  As described above, in Patent Document 1, the multi-lens multi-plate image pickup device 100 has a short focal length of the optical system, and therefore the thickness direction of the image pickup system can be made very thin along with the simplification of the optical system described above. There is a big merit. The following Patent Document 2 shows that the dynamic range is expanded using a multi-lens multi-plate image pickup device having such characteristics. A method for manufacturing a multi-lens multi-plate image sensor is shown in Patent Document 3 below. A method for solving the parallax problem as a disadvantage of the multi-eye multi-plate image sensor is disclosed in the following Patent Document 4.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a multi-lens structure that realizes a camera with a wide dynamic range by changing the sensitivity of each lens to luminance. In short, in a multi-lens structure, one side can open the aperture so that it can capture images in dark places, and the other side can stop the aperture so that it can capture images even in places that are too bright. Realize a camera with a wide dynamic range.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a method of manufacturing a multi-lens lens at low cost by integrally molding adjacent lenses with the same material.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260260 discloses a method of performing parallax image correction by software by photographing a subject with a plurality of cameras 2A to 2E.

JP 2006-128762 A JP 2002-171430 A JP 2005-338505 A JP 2009-60378 A

  However, in the conventional multi-lens camera devices disclosed in these Patent Documents 1 to 4, parallax occurs between the optical systems. In particular, in Patent Document 4, parallax image correction is performed by software. Even in such a case, it is difficult to completely correct the parallax between the optical systems.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a multi-lens camera device having no hardware parallax between optical systems, and a mobile phone device with a camera, for example, using this multi-eye camera device as an image input device in an imaging unit The purpose is to provide such electronic information equipment.

  The multi-view camera device of the present invention includes a multi-view optical system that divides incident light from a subject into light of a plurality of wavelength regions, and a plurality of wavelength region lights that are incident from the multi-view optical system. And a multi-lens imaging device that performs photoelectric conversion of light and images, thereby achieving the above object.

  Preferably, the multi-lens optical system in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention provides wavelength dependency for reflection and transmission of a plurality of stages of beam splitters so that the same image light of the incident light is transmitted in a plurality of wavelength ranges. Divide into light.

  Further preferably, the plurality of wavelength ranges in the multi-view camera device of the present invention are the wavelength ranges of the three primary colors of red, green and blue, or the three primary colors of red, green, green and blue obtained by dividing the green wavelength range into two. And the complementary wavelength range of cyan, magenta and yellow.

  Further, preferably, the multi-view optical system in the multi-view camera apparatus of the present invention is configured by a tri-view optical system or a 4-view optical system, and the multi-view image capture apparatus is configured by a tri-view image capture apparatus or a 4-view image capture apparatus. Yes.

  Further preferably, the multi-lens optical system in the multi-lens camera apparatus of the present invention receives incident light from the subject, emits transmitted light in the first wavelength region, and reflects reflected light in other wavelength regions. A first beam splitter that receives the reflected light from the first beam splitter, emits reflected light in the second wavelength region, and transmits transmitted light in other wavelength regions, and A transmitted light from the two-beam splitter is incident, and a third beam splitter that reflects part or all of the transmitted light is included, and the same image light of the incident light is divided into three image lights.

  Further preferably, the multi-lens optical system in the multi-lens camera apparatus of the present invention receives incident light from the subject, emits transmitted light in the first wavelength region, and reflects reflected light in other wavelength regions. A first beam splitter that receives the reflected light from the first beam splitter, emits reflected light in the second wavelength region, and transmits transmitted light in other wavelength regions, and The transmitted light from the two beam splitter is incident, the reflected light in the third wavelength region is emitted, the transmitted light from the other wavelength region is transmitted, and the transmitted light from the third beam splitter is incident. And a fourth beam splitter that reflects part or all of the transmitted light, and is split into four image lights from the same image light of the incident light.

  Further preferably, the last stage optical system in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention is configured by a mirror or a prism instead of the beam splitter.

  Further preferably, the multi-lens image pickup device in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention includes one or a plurality of stacked lens arrays into which transmitted light and reflected light from the multi-eye optical system are respectively incident, and the lens array There are a plurality of sets of image sensors that collect the incident light from each.

  Further, preferably, the imaging sensor in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention is a solid-state imaging device constituted by a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor.

  Further, preferably, the image sensor in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention is provided with a color filter of a color corresponding to the wavelength region or does not require the color filter.

  Further preferably, the number of lenses in a planar view of the lens array in the multi-lens camera device of the present invention corresponds to the number of the optical systems, and is composed of a plurality of sub-lenses arranged in a row, It has a lens focal length that matches the wavelength characteristics of the wavelength range.

  An electronic information device according to the present invention uses the multi-lens camera device according to the present invention as an image input device in an imaging unit, thereby achieving the above object.

  With the above configuration, the operation of the present invention will be described below.

  In the present invention, a multi-view optical system that divides incident light from a subject into light of a plurality of wavelength regions, and a plurality of wavelength region lights are incident from the multi-view optical system, and each wavelength region light is photoelectrically converted. A multi-eye imaging device that converts and images. This multi-view optical system can add wavelength dependency to the reflection and transmission of a plurality of stages of beam splitters and divide the same image light of incident light into light of a plurality of wavelength ranges.

  As a result, for example, three or four optical systems constituting a multi-view, the original incident light is the same image light by using, for example, three or four or more stages of beam splitters or the like. Thus, a multi-view camera device that does not generate parallax is obtained by dividing / separating into a plurality (for example, three primary colors; RGB) corresponding to a frequency range (light wavelength range) corresponding to each color (for example, three primary colors; RGB). It becomes possible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, for example, three or four optical systems constituting the multiview, the original incident light is used, for example, three or four, a beam splitter having a higher number of stages, etc. From the same image light of the incident light, a plurality of (for example, three primary colors R, G, B or R, G1, G2, B) corresponding to a frequency range (light wavelength range) corresponding to each color (for example, R, G, B or R, G1, G2, B). By dividing / separating into G, B or R, G1, G2, B), it is possible to obtain a multi-view camera device that does not generate parallax.

It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structural example of the multi-lens camera apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the trinocular imaging device in the multi-lens camera apparatus of FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the light wavelength range of three primary colors (RGB), (b) is a figure which shows the light wavelength range of three primary colors (R, G1, G2, B). It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structural example of the multi-lens camera apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the 4-eye imaging device in the multi-lens camera apparatus of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the schematic structural example of the electronic information apparatus which used the multi-lens camera apparatus of Embodiment 1 or 2 of this invention for the imaging part as Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is the conventional structural example currently disclosed by patent document 1, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows a multi-lens multi-plate type image pick-up element simply, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows a single plate image pick-up element simply.

  Embodiments 1 and 2 of the multi-lens camera device of the present invention and electronic information equipment such as a camera-equipped mobile phone device using the multi-camera camera device of the first or second embodiment as an image input device in an imaging unit will be described below. The third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, each thickness, length, etc. of the structural member in each figure are not limited to the structure to illustrate from a viewpoint on drawing preparation.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of main parts of a multi-view camera device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a multi-lens camera device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a trinocular optical system 11 as a multi-lens optical system that divides incident light from a subject into a plurality of (here, three) wavelength region lights, and 3 A multi-lens imaging device 7 as a multi-lens imaging device (multi-lens imaging module) that receives a plurality of wavelength region lights from the eye optical system 11 and photoelectrically converts each wavelength region light. Yes.

  The trinocular optical system 11 constitutes a multi-lens optical system that does not generate parallax by splitting from one image light into three image lights, and the incident light L from the subject is incident and transmitted light in the first wavelength region L1 is emitted, the first beam splitter 2 that reflects the reflected light L11 in the other wavelength region, and the reflected light L11 from the first beam splitter 2 is incident, and the reflected light L2 in the second wavelength region is emitted, The second beam splitter 3 that transmits the transmitted light L12 in the other wavelength region, and the third beam splitter that receives the transmitted light L12 from the second beam splitter 3 and reflects part or all of the transmitted light L12. 4.

  The beam splitters 2 to 4 divide the same incident light into a plurality of (here, three primary colors of green, red, and blue), and divide them into optical systems for each color constituting the multi-view. The beam splitters 2 to 4 do not require a color filter in the subsequent stage, and provide wavelength dependency to the reflection and transmission of the beam splitters 2 to 4 in order to simplify the sensor structure, thereby constituting a multi-view. The wavelength received by each optical system is divided into a plurality of pieces of color information to be acquired, such as the three primary colors of green, red, and blue.

  The trinocular imaging device 7 includes one or a plurality of lenses 5 to which transmitted light and reflected light from the first to third beam splitters 2 to 4 are respectively incident, and incident light from the lens 5 is condensed and incident. There are three sets with the imaging sensor 6 to be used.

  The imaging sensor 6 is composed of a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor in order to realize a high-resolution digital camera.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of the trinocular imaging device 7 in the multi-lens camera device 1 of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the trinocular imaging device 7 is a trinocular in which an aperture stop array 71, a lens array 72, a flat plate 73 such as a transparent glass substrate, a light shielding mask 74, and an imaging element substrate 75 are sequentially laminated. An imaging module.

  The lens array 72 includes sub lenses 72a, 72b, and 72c for each sub imaging module.

  The image pickup device substrate 75 is divided into three divided image pickup regions 75a, 75b, and 75c by a light shielding mask 74 and is isolated from each other. Here, a single color filter is not required for each. For example, the divided imaging area 75a corresponds to R (red), the divided imaging area 75b corresponds to G (green), and the divided imaging area 75c corresponds to B (blue). The incident light incident from the trinocular optical system 11 for each of the sub lenses 72a, 72b, and 72c is selectively transmitted or reflected for each wavelength (each color) and is incident directly below each sub lens. Images are formed on the existing divided imaging regions 75a, 75b and 75c, respectively. These sub-lenses 72a image R (red), sub-lens 72b G (green), and sub-lens 72c B (blue). Further, stray light to the sub-cameras adjacent to each other is blocked by the light shielding mask 74.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the original incident light is input to the multi-view optical system 11 constituting the multi-view using the beam splitters 2 to 4 having three stages, for example. Are divided / separated into a plurality of (for example, three primary colors R, G, B) corresponding to a frequency range (light wavelength range) corresponding to each color (for example, three primary colors R, G, B). A multi-view imaging device 7 that receives a plurality of wavelength region lights from the multi-view optical system 11 and photoelectrically converts each wavelength region light is arranged correspondingly directly below the multi-view optical system 11. Yes.

  Therefore, with respect to the three optical systems constituting the multiview, the original incident light is used for the three colors (three primary colors; RGB) from the same incident light image using the three beam splitters 2 to 4 as shown in FIG. By dividing / separating into a plurality (three primary colors; RGB) corresponding to the frequency range (wavelength range) shown in (a), it is possible to obtain the multi-view camera device 1 that does not generate parallax.

  In the first embodiment, the third beam splitter 4 is used as the final optical system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Since the final optical system only needs to be reflected, a reflection mirror, that is, a mirror may be used. It may be a prism.

  In the first embodiment, the first to third beam splitters 2 to 4 have a wavelength region separation function, and the incident light from the subject is divided / separated into three wavelength region lights, that is, RGB three primary color lights. The trinocular optical system 11 is configured and no color filter is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the wavelength of incident light can be limited using a color filter. It is not necessary to consider chromatic aberration for each optical system, and high resolution can be realized by reducing the number of lenses. As the color filter, for example, a color filter having a Bayer color arrangement (RGB three primary colors) can be used.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, three R, G from the same incident light image are used by using three beam splitters 2 to 4 corresponding to the light wavelength range of the three primary colors (RGB). In the second embodiment, the three primary colors (R, R, B) are matched to the high green (G) sensitivity even in the case of the three primary colors (RGB) as shown in FIG. Corresponding to the optical wavelength range of G, G, and B), using four beam splitters 2 to 4 and 14 to divide / separate the same incident light image into four R, G, G, and B components explain.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a main part of the multi-lens camera device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 4, the multi-lens camera device 1 </ b> A according to the first embodiment includes a four-lens optical system 11 </ b> A as a multi-lens optical system that divides incident light from a subject into a plurality of (here, four) wavelength region lights, and four A four-lens imaging device 7A as a multi-lens imaging device (multi-lens imaging module) that picks up a plurality of wavelength region lights from the eye optical system 11A and photoelectrically converts each wavelength region light. Yes.

  The four-eye optical system 11A constitutes a multi-lens optical system that does not generate parallax by dividing one image light into four image lights, and the incident light L from the subject is incident, and the transmitted light in the first wavelength region L1 is emitted, the first beam splitter 2 that reflects the reflected light L11 in the other wavelength region, and the reflected light L11 from the first beam splitter 2 is incident, and the reflected light L2 in the second wavelength region is emitted, The second beam splitter 14 that transmits the transmitted light L12 in the other wavelength region and the transmitted light L12 from the second beam splitter 14 are incident, the reflected light L3 in the third wavelength region is emitted, and the other wavelength regions The third beam splitter 15 that transmits the transmitted light L13 and the transmitted light L13 from the third beam splitter 15 are incident and a part or all of the transmitted light L13 is reflected. It has three and.

  The beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 separate the same incident light into a plurality of colors (here, the three primary colors of red, green, green and blue; the green wavelength range is divided into two), and each color constituting the multiview Divide into each optical system. The beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 do not require a color filter in the subsequent stage, and are wavelength-dependent with respect to the reflection and transmission of the beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 in order to simplify the sensor structure. Multiple (four in this case) with the color information to be acquired, such as the three primary colors red (R), green (G1 and G2), and blue (B) It is divided into.

  The four-eye imaging device 7A includes one or a plurality of lenses 5 to which transmitted light and reflected light from the first to fourth beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 are respectively incident, and incident light from the lens 5 is collected. There are four sets of the image sensor 6 that is incident upon being incident.

  The imaging sensor 6 is composed of a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor in order to realize a high-resolution digital camera.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of a four-eye imaging device 7A in the multi-lens camera device 1A of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the four-eye imaging device 7 </ b> A has a four-eye structure in which an aperture stop array 71, a lens array 72, a flat plate 73 such as a transparent glass substrate, a light shielding mask 74, and an imaging element substrate 75 are sequentially laminated. An imaging module.

  The lens array 72 includes sub lenses 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d for each sub imaging module.

  The image pickup device substrate 75 is divided into four divided image pickup regions 75a, 75b, 75c, and 75d by a light shielding mask 74 and is isolated from each other. Here, a single color filter is not required for each. For example, the divided imaging area 75a corresponds to R (red), the divided imaging area 75b corresponds to G1 (green), the divided imaging area 75c corresponds to G2 (green), and the divided imaging area 75d corresponds to B (blue). Incident light incident from the four-lens optical system 11A for each of the sub lenses 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d is selectively transmitted or reflected for each wavelength (for each color). Images are formed on the divided imaging regions 75a, 75b, 75c, and 75d existing immediately below. These sub lenses 72a image R (red), the sub lens 72b G1 (green), the sub lens 72c G2 (green), and the sub lens 72d B (blue). Further, stray light to the sub-cameras adjacent to each other is blocked by the light shielding mask 74. The wavelength range of G (green) is divided into two, G1 (green) and G2 (green).

  In this case, each of the sub lenses 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d of the lens array 72 has a lens focal length that matches the wavelength characteristics of the wavelength range of each color corresponding to each sub lens. For example, the distances from the subject side lens surfaces (upper lens surfaces) of the sub lenses 72a, 72b, 72c, and 72d to the corresponding imaging regions 75a, 75b, 75c, and 75d of the corresponding image sensor substrate 75 are set to wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range. It is optimized for each lens focal length. The lens focal length is optimized by the thickness of each of the sub lenses 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d of the lens array 72.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, for example, four stages of beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 are used for the original incident light with respect to, for example, four multi-view optical systems 11A constituting the multi-view. From the same image light of the incident light, a plurality of (for example, three primary colors R, G1, G2, B) corresponding to the frequency range (light wavelength range) corresponding to each color (for example, three primary colors R, G1, G2, B). Divide / separate into B). A multi-view imaging device 7A that receives a plurality of wavelength region lights from the multi-view optical system 11A, photoelectrically converts each wavelength region light, and images the corresponding light is provided directly below the multi-view optical system 11A. Yes.

  Therefore, with respect to the four optical systems constituting the multi-view, the original incident light is converted from the same incident light image using the four beam splitters 2, 14, 15 and 4 from each color (three primary colors; R, G1,. By dividing / separating into multiple (three primary colors; R, G1, G2, B) corresponding to the frequency range (wavelength range) shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to obtain the multi-lens camera device 1A that does not generate parallax. In addition, it is possible to achieve high resolution without chromatic aberration by using an accurate lens having a focal length corresponding to each color. Accordingly, it is possible to realize a four-lens camera device 1A that achieves both high resolution and thinning.

  In the second embodiment, the fourth beam splitter 4 is used as the final stage optical system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the final optical system only needs to be a reflection mirror. May also be a prism.

  In the second embodiment, the first to fourth beam splitters 2, 14, 15, and 4 are provided with a wavelength region separation function, and incident light from the subject is converted into four wavelength region lights, that is, R, G1, Although the four-eye optical system 11A that divides / separates into the three primary color lights of G2 and B is configured and the color filter is not used, the present invention is not limited to this, and the incident light wavelength can be limited using the color filter. It is not necessary to consider chromatic aberration for each optical system, and high resolution can be realized by reducing the number of lenses. As the color filter, for example, a color filter having a Bayer color arrangement (RGB three primary colors) can be used.

  In the first embodiment, the plurality of wavelength ranges that the multi-view optical system divides from the same image light of the incident light is the wavelength range of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue. In the second embodiment, the wavelength range of green The wavelength range of the three primary colors of red, green, green, and blue divided into two is not limited thereto, but may be a wavelength range of complementary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow as a plurality of wavelength ranges.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an electronic information device using the multi-lens camera device 1 or 1A of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention as an imaging unit as Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, the electronic information device 90 according to the third embodiment performs a predetermined signal processing on the imaging signal from the multi-lens camera device 1 or 1 </ b> A according to the first and second embodiments to obtain a color image signal. A memory unit 92 such as a recording medium capable of recording data after a predetermined signal processing for recording the color image signal from the solid-state image pickup device 91, and the color image signal from the solid-state image pickup device 91 for display. After performing predetermined signal processing for communication of the color image signal from the display unit 93 such as a liquid crystal display device that can be displayed on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display screen after predetermined signal processing and the solid-state imaging device 91 A communication unit 94 such as a transmission / reception device that enables communication processing and a color image signal from the solid-state imaging device 91 are subjected to predetermined print signal processing for printing, and then print processing is enabled. And an image output unit 95 such as a printer. The electronic information device 90 is not limited to this, but in addition to the solid-state imaging device 91, at least one of a memory unit 92, a display unit 93, a communication unit 94, and an image output unit 95 such as a printer. You may have.

  As described above, the electronic information device 90 includes, for example, a digital camera such as a digital video camera and a digital still camera, an in-vehicle camera such as a surveillance camera, a door phone camera, and an in-vehicle rear surveillance camera, and a video phone camera. An electronic device having an image input device such as an image input camera, a scanner device, a facsimile device, a camera-equipped mobile phone device, and a portable terminal device (PDA) is conceivable.

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment, based on the color image signal from the solid-state imaging device 91, it can be displayed on the display screen, or can be printed out on the paper by the image output unit 95. (Printing), communicating this as communication data in a wired or wireless manner, performing a predetermined data compression process in the memory unit 92 and storing it in a good manner, or performing various data processings satisfactorily Can do.

  Although not particularly described in the first and second embodiments, the three-eye optical system 11 or the four-eye optical system 11A that divides incident light from the subject into light of a plurality of wavelength regions, and the three-eye optical system 11 Alternatively, by having the three-eye imaging device 7 or the four-eye imaging device 7 that receives a plurality of wavelength region lights from the four-eye optical system 11A and photoelectrically converts each wavelength region light, respectively. The object of the present invention that can obtain the multi-lens camera device 1 or 1A having no parallax between optical systems can be achieved.

  As mentioned above, although this invention has been illustrated using preferable Embodiment 1-3 of this invention, this invention should not be limited and limited to this Embodiment 1-3. It is understood that the scope of the present invention should be construed only by the claims. It is understood that those skilled in the art can implement an equivalent range based on the description of the present invention and the common general technical knowledge from the description of specific preferred embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention. Patents, patent applications, and documents cited herein should be incorporated by reference in their entirety, as if the contents themselves were specifically described herein. Understood.

  The present invention relates to a multi-lens camera device using a solid-state imaging device represented by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) that photoelectrically converts image light from a subject, and the multi-lens camera. For example, a digital camera such as a digital video camera and a digital still camera, an image input camera such as a surveillance camera, a scanner device, a facsimile device, a television phone device, a mobile phone device with a camera, etc. In the field of electronic information equipment, the original incident light is incident on, for example, three or four optical systems constituting a multiview using, for example, three or four beam splitters having a higher number of stages. The same of light From the image light, a plurality of (for example, three primary colors R, G, B, or R) corresponding to a frequency range (light wavelength range) corresponding to each color (for example, three primary colors R, G, B or R, G1, G2, B). By dividing / separating into R, G1, G2, and B), it is possible to obtain a multi-view camera device that does not generate parallax.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A Multi-lens camera apparatus 2 1st beam splitter 3 2nd beam splitter 4 3rd beam splitter 5 Condensing lens 6 Imaging sensor 7 Trinocular imaging device (trinocular imaging module)
7A 4-eye imaging device (4-eye imaging module)
71 Aperture stop array 72 Lens array 72a, 72b, 72c, 72d Sub lens 73 Flat plate (transparent glass substrate)
74 Shading mask 7
75 Image sensor substrate 75a, 75b, 75c, 75d Divided imaging region 11, 11A Multi-eye optical system 12, 12A Multi-eye imaging device (multi-eye imaging module)
L incident light L1, L12, L13, transmitted light L11, L2, L3, L4 reflected light 90 electronic information equipment 91 solid-state imaging device 92 memory unit 93 display means 94 communication means 95 image output means

Claims (12)

  A multi-lens optical system that divides incident light from a subject into light of a plurality of wavelength regions, and a plurality of wavelength region lights that are incident from the multi-eye optical system, respectively, photoelectrically convert each wavelength region light and image it A multi-eye camera device having a multi-eye imaging device.   2. The multi-view optical system according to claim 1, wherein the multi-view optical system divides the same image light of the incident light into light of a plurality of wavelength ranges by giving wavelength dependency to reflection and transmission of a plurality of beam splitters. Eye camera device.   The wavelength ranges of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, or the wavelength ranges of the three primary colors of red, green, green, and blue obtained by dividing the wavelength range of green, and complementary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow. The multi-lens camera device according to claim 2, which is in a wavelength range.   The multi-view camera apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the multi-view optical system is configured by a tri-view optical system or a quad-view optical system, and the multi-view image capturing apparatus is configured by a tri-view image capturing apparatus or a 4-view image capturing apparatus.   The multi-view optical system receives incident light from the subject, emits transmitted light in a first wavelength region, and reflects reflected light in other wavelength regions, and the first beam splitter Reflected from the second beam splitter, the reflected light in the second wavelength region is emitted, the transmitted light in the other wavelength region is transmitted, and the transmitted light from the second beam splitter is incident, The multi-lens camera device according to claim 2, further comprising a third beam splitter that reflects a part or all of the transmitted light, wherein the same image light of the incident light is divided into three image lights.   The multi-view optical system receives incident light from the subject, emits transmitted light in a first wavelength region, and reflects reflected light in other wavelength regions, and the first beam splitter The reflected light from the second beam splitter is incident, the reflected light of the second wavelength region is emitted, the transmitted light of the other wavelength region is transmitted, and the transmitted light from the second beam splitter is incident, A third beam splitter that emits reflected light in three wavelength regions and transmits transmitted light in other wavelength regions, and transmitted light from the third beam splitter is incident, and part or all of the transmitted light is reflected. The multi-camera apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a fourth beam splitter configured to be split into four image lights from the same image light of the incident light.   The multi-lens camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the last stage optical system is configured by a mirror or a prism instead of the beam splitter.   The multi-view imaging device includes one or a plurality of stacked lens arrays into which transmitted light and reflected light from the multi-view optical system are incident, and an imaging sensor in which incident light from the lens array is condensed. The multi-lens camera device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of sets.   The multi-lens camera device according to claim 8, wherein the imaging sensor is a solid-state imaging device configured by a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor.   The multi-view camera device according to claim 8, wherein the imaging sensor is provided with a color filter of a color corresponding to the wavelength region or does not require the color filter.   The number of lenses in plan view of the lens array corresponds to the number of optical systems, and is composed of a plurality of sub-lenses arranged in a row, and the sub-lens has a lens focal length that matches the wavelength characteristics of the wavelength range. The multi-lens camera device according to claim 8.   The electronic information apparatus which used the multiview camera apparatus in any one of Claims 1-11 as an image input device for the imaging part.