JP2012159769A - Imaging apparatus for generating stereoscopic image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image which is capable of taking in enough subject light and is easy to stereoscopic image process after photographing.SOLUTION: A deflection optical element DM, according to charge reading timing of a solid-state imaging element CCD, reflects subject light having passed through a first light guiding optical system OS1 and a second light guiding optical system OS2 so that the subject light having passed through the first light guiding optical system OS1 and the subject light having passed through the second light guiding optical system OS2 alternately enter a light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging element CCD. As a result, it is possible to guide subject light with enough intensity to the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging element CCD. Also, it is possible to reduce costs and is easy to stereoscopic image process after photographing with the use of a single solid-state imaging element CCD.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device that forms a stereoscopic image by forming an image of subject light incident through two light guide optical systems on a single solid-state imaging device.

  A stereoscopic imaging device that generates a stereoscopic image based on the parallax between right eye information and left eye information of a subject image is known. As such a stereoscopic imaging device, for example, a pair of digital cameras and camcorders are photographed by a distance corresponding to the amount of parallax, and then image information from each camera or the like is combined by image processing to produce a stereoscopic image or stereoscopic video. It has gained. However, when a stereoscopic image is generated by such a method, there is a problem that image processing takes time. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses an image pickup apparatus that can make light beams from two optical systems incident on one image pickup element by combining them with a beam splitter. According to such an imaging apparatus, since there is one imaging element, image processing becomes easy.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-226895

  However, in the imaging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the light beam from one optical system is reflected by the beam splitter and the light beam from the other optical system is transmitted through the beam splitter. However, it can only be incident on the image sensor, which is inconvenient for taking a dark scene, for example.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image that can take in sufficient subject light and can easily perform stereoscopic image processing after shooting. And

An imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to claim 1,
A first light guide optical system and a second light guide optical system separated from each other by a predetermined distance;
A solid-state imaging device having a light receiving surface for receiving subject light;
Subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system and subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system are alternately switched according to the charge reading timing of the solid-state image sensor. And a deflecting optical element that reflects at least one of subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system so as to be incident on the light receiving surface of .

  According to the present invention, the deflection optical element passes through the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system according to the charge reading timing of the solid-state image sensor. The subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system is reflected so that the subject light alternately enters the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. Therefore, a sufficiently strong subject light can be guided to the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. In addition, by using a single solid-state imaging device, the cost can be reduced, and stereoscopic image processing after photographing is easy.

  An imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to a second aspect is the invention according to the first aspect, wherein only the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system is used as the deflection optical element. So that only the first position that reflects the subject light and the subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system are incident on the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. It is possible to move between a second position where light is reflected. Thereby, subject light with sufficient intensity can be guided to the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. As such a deflection optical element, for example, a MEMS mirror or a galvanometer mirror described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-292951 can be used.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the deflection optical element is configured so that only subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system is the solid-state imaging element. The first position that reflects the subject light and the subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system are not prevented from entering the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device so as to enter the light receiving surface. The first light guide optical system is movable between a second position that shields subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system. Thereby, subject light with sufficient intensity can be guided to the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. As such a deflecting optical element, a MEMS mirror, a galvanometer mirror, or the like described in JP 2008-292951 A can be used.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image, wherein the deflecting optical element is in the first position and / or the second position in the second or third aspect of the invention. It has a sensor. By detecting the operation of the deflection optical element with the sensor, it is possible to synchronize with the signal reading timing of the solid-state imaging element.

  The imaging device for generating a stereoscopic image according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system have the same configuration. It has the element. Thereby, the optical characteristics such as the aberration amount of the two light guide optical systems can be made the same, and the uncomfortable feeling at the time of generating the stereoscopic image can be reduced.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a diaphragm is provided in the vicinity of the deflection optical element. By providing the stop in the vicinity of the deflection optical element, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the imaging apparatus. Further, the deflection optical element itself may function as a stop.

  An imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an incident angle of subject light incident on the deflection optical element is within 30 degrees. And By suppressing the incident angle to the deflection optical element, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the deflection optical element. In addition, since the subject image can be switched at a higher speed by reducing the incident angle, it can also function as a high-speed shutter. The term “30 degrees” as used herein refers to a principal ray with an imaging height of 0 that is incident on the deflecting optical element in a state where one of the object lights appropriately reaches the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor. Angle of incidence (angle from the normal line of the deflection optical element). Increasing the chief ray incident angle on the deflecting optical element (≦ 45 degrees) can shorten the distance from the lens closest to the object side to the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor, but also increases the maximum deflection angle of the deflecting optical element. Therefore, the deflection optical element is increased in size.

  An imaging device for generating a stereoscopic image according to an eighth aspect is characterized in that in the invention according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, a light shielding member for suppressing stray light is provided. Thereby, it can suppress that unnecessary stray light arrives at the light-receiving surface of a solid-state image sensor, and degrades an image quality.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image that can take in sufficient subject light and can easily perform stereoscopic image processing after shooting.

It is a schematic block diagram of the imaging device concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the imaging device of this Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the imaging device concerning 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus includes a first light guide optical system OS1 and a second light guide optical system OS2, which are separated from each other in parallel by the amount of parallax, a deflection optical element DM, a common optical system COS, A solid-state imaging device CCD.

  The first light guide optical system OS1 includes, in order from the object side, a convex lens L11, a mirror M1, a concave lens L12, and a diaphragm S1. The second light guide optical system OS2 includes, in order from the object side, a convex lens L21, a mirror M2, a concave lens L22, and a diaphragm S2. As is clear from FIG. 1, the first light guide optical system OS1 and the second light guide optical system OS2 have the same components, and they are symmetric with respect to the optical axis of the common optical system COS. Placed in position.

  A deflection optical element DM is disposed between the diaphragms S1 and S2 and in the vicinity thereof. The deflecting optical element DM is, for example, a MEMS mirror, and can be rotated around a central axis between a first position A and a second position B shown in FIG. It has a configuration. At the first position A, the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 is reflected by the deflecting optical element DM, passes through the convex lens L3, and enters the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. However, the subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system OS2 does not enter the convex lens L3. On the other hand, at the second position B, the subject light that has passed through the second light guiding optical system OS2 is reflected by the deflecting optical element DM, passes through the convex lens L3, and enters the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. However, the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 does not enter the convex lens L3.

  Around the frame of the deflection optical element DM, a black paint is formed as a light shielding member. The common optical system COS has a convex lens L3 for focusing. In addition, a zoom lens may be provided somewhere in the optical system. Furthermore, a light shielding member that suppresses stray light may be provided in a lens barrel of the common optical system COS. The solid-state imaging device CCD has a light receiving surface RP.

  A sensor SS is disposed in the vicinity of the deflection optical element DM. The sensor SS is, for example, a photodetector, and projects detection light on the back surface of the deflecting optical element DM and detects the reflected light, so that the deflecting optical element DM is at the first position A or the second position B. It is possible to detect whether or not

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. When imaging is started by operating a shutter button (not shown), first, a drive unit (not shown) rotates the deflection optical element DM toward the first position A in step S101. Further, in step S102, when the sensor SS detects that the deflection optical element DM has reached the first position A, the subject light incident on the first light guide optical system OS1 passes through the convex lens L11 and is mirrored. After being reflected by M1 and passing through the concave lens L12 and the stop S1, it is reflected by the deflecting optical element DM and travels toward the convex lens L3. In step S103, the subject light incident on the light receiving surface RP is converted into an image signal. The solid-state imaging device CCD is imaged. Using this, an image for the right eye is formed.

  Thereafter, the image data is read out in step S104 and stored in a memory (not shown). In parallel with this, the deflection optical element DM is rotated toward the second position B in step S105. The rotating deflection optical element DM can take an intermediate position that is neither the first position nor the second position. At this time, the solid-state image pickup device CCD stops imaging (closes the shutter) and reads image data. Therefore, unnecessary light is not taken in.

  Further, in step S106, when the sensor SS detects that the deflection optical element DM has reached the second position B, the subject light incident on the second light guide optical system OS2 passes through the convex lens L21 and is mirrored. After being reflected by M2 and passing through the concave lens L22 and the stop S2, it is reflected by the deflecting optical element DM and travels toward the convex lens L3. In step S107, the subject light incident on the light receiving surface RP is converted into an image signal. The solid-state imaging device CCD is imaged. By using this, an image for the left eye is formed.

  Thereafter, the image data is read out in step S108 and stored in a memory (not shown). However, in the case where continuous imaging is not performed in step S109 without completing the imaging operation, in parallel with this, again. In step S101, the deflection optical element DM is rotated toward the first position A. Thereafter, the operation is executed in the same manner. On the other hand, when an operation for ending imaging is performed in step S109, imaging is ended.

  According to the present embodiment, the deflection optical element DM has subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 and the second light guide optical system OS2 in accordance with the charge read timing of the solid-state image sensor CCD. The subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 and the second light guide optical system OS2 is reflected so that the subject light that has passed through the first and second light guide optical systems OS2 alternately enters the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. It is possible to guide the subject light having a sufficient intensity to the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. In addition, by using a single solid-state image pickup device CCD, the cost can be suppressed, and stereoscopic image processing after photographing is easy.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 3, the imaging apparatus includes a first light guide optical system OS1 and a second light guide optical system OS2, which are separated in parallel by the amount of parallax, a deflection optical element DM, a common optical system COS, A solid-state imaging device CCD.

  The first light guide optical system OS1 includes a lens L11, a mirror M1, and a lens L2 in order from the object side. The second light guide optical system OS2 includes a lens L21 and a lens L22 in order from the object side.

  A deflection optical element DM is disposed at the intersection of the optical path from the lens L12 and the optical path from the lens L22. The deflecting optical element DM is, for example, a MEMS mirror, and can be rotated around an end axis between a first position A and a second position B shown in FIG. 1 by a signal from a driving unit (not shown). It has a configuration. At the first position A, the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 is reflected by the deflecting optical element DM, passes through the convex lens L3, and enters the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. However, the subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system OS2 is shielded by the back surface of the deflecting optical element DM and does not enter the convex lens L3. On the other hand, at the second position B, the deflecting optical element DM is retracted so that the subject light that has passed through the second light guiding optical system OS2 passes through the convex lens L3 and enters the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. However, the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 is reflected in the incident direction by the reflecting surface of the deflecting optical element DM and does not enter the convex lens L3.

  A black paint is formed as a light shielding member on the back surface of the deflection optical element DM. The common optical system COS has a convex lens L3 for focusing. In addition, a zoom lens may be provided somewhere in the optical system. The solid-state imaging device CCD has a light receiving surface RP.

  A sensor SS is disposed in the vicinity of the deflection optical element DM. The sensor SS is, for example, a photodetector, and projects the detection light onto the deflecting optical element DM and detects the reflected light, so that the deflecting optical element DM is at the first position A or the second position B. Can be detected.

  Also in the present embodiment, the deflecting optical element DM transmits the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 and the second light guide optical system OS2 in accordance with the charge reading timing of the solid-state image sensor CCD. One of the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system OS1 and the second light guide optical system OS2 is allowed to pass so that the subject light that has passed passes through the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD alternately. Since the other is shielded, a sufficiently strong subject light can be guided to the light receiving surface RP of the solid-state imaging device CCD. In addition, by using a single solid-state image pickup device CCD, the cost can be suppressed, and stereoscopic image processing after photographing is easy.

CCD solid-state imaging device COS common optical system DM deflection optical element L11 lens L12 lens L21 lens L22 lens L3 convex lens M1 mirror M2 mirror OS1 first light guide optical system OS2 second light guide optical system RP light receiving surfaces S1, S2 stop SS Sensor

Claims (8)

A first light guide optical system and a second light guide optical system separated from each other by a predetermined distance;
A solid-state imaging device having a light receiving surface for receiving subject light;
Subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system and subject light that has passed through the second light guide optical system are alternately switched according to the charge reading timing of the solid-state image sensor. And a deflecting optical element that reflects at least one of subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system so as to be incident on the light receiving surface of An imaging device for generating a stereoscopic image.   The deflecting optical element has a first position that reflects subject light so that only subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system is incident on a light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging element; It is possible to move between a second position that reflects subject light so that only subject light that has passed through the light guide optical system is incident on a light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device. Item 3. An imaging device for generating a stereoscopic image according to Item 1.   The deflecting optical element has a first position that reflects subject light so that only subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system is incident on a light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging element; The object light that has passed through the light guide optical system does not prevent the object light from entering the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device, but between the second position that blocks the subject light that has passed through the first light guide optical system. The imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is movable.   4. The image pickup apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to claim 2, further comprising a sensor that detects that the deflection optical element is in the first position and / or the second position. 5.   The imaging device for generating a stereoscopic image according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first light guide optical system and the second light guide optical system have the same components.   The imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a diaphragm is provided in the vicinity of the deflection optical element.   The imaging apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an incident angle of subject light incident on the deflecting optical element is within 30 degrees.   The imaging apparatus for generating a three-dimensional image according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a light shielding member for suppressing stray light.

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