JP2012253472A - Three-dimensional camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a 3D camera which is capable of photographing while keeping a stereoscopic effect even in zooming to a remote subject.SOLUTION: In response to change in zoom magnification, an interval between two objective lenses is automatically adjusted to properly obtain the binocular parallax of a subject, thereby allowing for photographing a moving image or a still image of even a remote matter in zooming photographing, without losing a stereoscopic effect. Furthermore, when photographing, a diaphragm is adjusted manually to change the depth of field, thereby removing discomfort in the image of a peripheral portion.

Description

The present invention relates to the design of 3D cameras.

In commercially available 3D cameras for consumer use (including video cameras), there are mainly two factors that give viewers a three-dimensional impression.
A. Depth sensation by generating multiple layers according to distance (including cases where writing is arranged side by side)
B. Stereoscopic view of a specific object due to the difference between left and right binocular images

At present, in commercial 3D cameras, the design that suppresses the distance between the two lenses (less than the distance between human eyes) is the mainstream, and for objects of 4 or 5 meters or less, stereoscopic vision of a specific object can be obtained with B. If it is a little far away, only the three-dimensional feeling of A can be obtained, and it will be in a state where the writings are arranged side by side, and it will not be very valuable as a video asset, apart from a toy in an appendix of a children's magazine.

For this reason, it is limited to only a few situations that a decent 3D image can be taken in the field of camera use for general users such as railway photography, wild bird observation, and concert recording. However, even for consumer use, there is a demand to leave video in 3D in these various scenes, and 3D video is recognized as a personal video asset only after it is realized, and will quickly spread to the market. Also become.

Also, with current 3D cameras for consumer use, the method of checking images at the time of shooting is mainly a liquid crystal monitor, and details are difficult to check even with autostereoscopic monitors. Even if a finder is attached, a single camera is not sufficient for 3D confirmation. Will.

In the present application, a design is presented that enables stereoscopic viewing of the target object itself by the element B, even if the subject is far away, and improves usability such as 3D video confirmation at the time of shooting.

The first aspect of the present invention is a method for preventing a subject from becoming flat, that is, a so-called “writing split” style at the time of far-field photography of 3D camera photography.

A second aspect of the present invention is a method for removing a sense of incongruity caused by the failure of 3D synthesis of the peripheral portion during zooming in the camera according to the first aspect.

The third aspect of the present invention is a method for confirming at a level closer to the actual viewing environment at the time of photographing, and particularly enabling photographing while confirming the stereoscopic effect of the subject more accurately.

Claim 4 makes it easy to shoot in a posture that is difficult with a camera in which the camera body and eyepiece are fixed, such as a low angle and a high angle when shooting with a 3D camera, and with a better quality of the captured 3D image. It is a method for providing an easy means for viewing.

Claim 5 is a method for enhancing the safety of photographing when both eyes are blocked by 3D photographing during 3D photographing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the subject from being in a so-called “writing split” style when the subject is taken far away by the 3D camera. It is also easy to handle because it is linked with zoom. Even in a scene such as an athletic meet or a performance that is required by an actual home video camera, such as about 10 m away, it is possible to shoot in 3D, which allows stereoscopic viewing of the subject itself that is not specially written. As a result, the value of the captured 3D image as a video asset increases.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the camera according to the method of claim 1, it is possible to remove the uncomfortable feeling caused by the failure of 3D synthesis at the peripheral portion during zooming. As a result, the value of the captured 3D image as a video asset increases.

According to the invention of claim 3, at the time of shooting, it can be confirmed at a level closer to the video when viewed on the actually viewed 3D infrastructure. In particular, it is possible to shoot while confirming the stereoscopic effect of the subject more accurately.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate shooting in a posture that is difficult with a camera in which the camera body and the eyepiece are fixed, such as a low angle and a high angle when shooting with a 3D camera. Further, it provides an easy means for viewing a photographed 3D image with better quality.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for enhancing the safety of photographing when both eyes are blocked by 3D photographing during 3D photographing.

It is a conceptual diagram of this application 3D camera. It is the figure which showed the eyepiece part and isolation | separation mechanism of Claim 4. It is the figure which showed the fluctuation | variation of the distance between lenses of Claim 1. It is the figure which showed the imaging principle of Claim 1. It is the figure which showed the imaging principle of Claim 1. It is a usage figure as HMD (head mounted display) at the time of eyepiece part separation of Claim 4.

A stereoscopic image based on the difference between the left and right images of a specific object (binocular parallax) is basically shown to the viewer with the same angle of view as that of the object when viewed with the naked eye. May be unnatural because both sides of the object can be seen even though they are displayed in full field of view). Hereinafter, description will be made on the premise of this.

In FIG. 4, a case is considered where the photographer shoots a subject at the same distance (position B) as when viewed by the naked eye at half the distance (position A).
As shown in the figure, the line passing through the pupil positions E1 and E2 at half the distance (position A) is extended from the subject, and the intersections at the position B are defined as camera lens positions L1 and L2. Further, zooming is performed with each lens so that the subject is projected on the eyepiece screen at the same size (angle) as when the subject was seen with the naked eye at position A. By combining the left and right, a stereoscopic image as if viewed at half the distance (position A) is generated.
* When the object is magnified α times by the actual zoom operation, the distance between the pupils of the human eye is multiplied by the reciprocal of the distance to the position where the subject can be seen α times with the naked eye. (Figure 5).
However, it may be possible to deviate somewhat from this lens position due to various circumstances such as the case size, handling, and zoom variable range setting.

At this time, the image viewed from L1 at position B is “directionally” the same as that viewed at E1 at half the distance (position A) (the size is also made the same by zooming). However, it is not an original image actually approached at a distance of 1/2 but is viewed from a long distance, and the shape of the target object is different from that actually viewed at a short distance.
Also, the closer to the peripheral part of the image, the larger the difference from the video when taken closer to the image, and the greater the sense of discomfort the closer to the peripheral part during 3D composition.

If you want a 3D image close to the object, you only need to get close to it, but if you want to shoot situations or animals taken by general users Often cannot approach the subject even if they want to get closer. With this method, it is possible to shoot a video with a three-dimensional effect (different from writing) when zooming, even if it is pseudo, although it is pseudo.

The failure at the time of 3D composition of the peripheral portion of the image is dealt with by adjusting the depth of field (claim 2). The aperture is manually adjusted, but at that time, the brightness is basically maintained by the automatic gain adjustment (the brightness adjustment may have a separate dial). Also, by default, the focus is automatically maintained around the center.

The third aspect of the present invention is a binocular that uses a 3D display in a binocular format (images from the left and right lenses are displayed on each of the left and right eyepieces). The binocular eyepiece unit confirms 3D at the time of shooting and reproduces and displays a 3D image.
As a result, the accuracy of confirmation of 3D stereoscopic images at the time of shooting is dramatically increased compared to liquid crystal panels and the like.

Claim 4 is conceptually as shown in FIG. The eyepiece is designed to be separated as an HMD.

Since the HMD section in the previous section is used not only for viewing but also for shooting, it is desirable for safety to be able to visually check the surrounding situation immediately when necessary. According to the fifth aspect, the HMD screen is made transparent by one switch so that the surroundings can be visually observed, or the actual surrounding scenery is always displayed transparently around the screen.

For example, a transmissive organic EL display for notebook PCs is currently available from Samsung, etc., but using the same principle, it is possible to make the HMD screen transparent and look around .
When displaying images from a camera on a transmissive organic EL display, if the scenery behind the screen overlaps and is difficult to see, you can put another LCD shutter on the outside of the transmissive display. Good. The inner display plays video from the camera, and the outer side is dedicated to blocking and controls how much the external scenery is transmitted. When both are transmissive, the surroundings are visible.

It is possible to always transmit the actual surrounding scenery around the display screen of the HMD with an appropriate luminous intensity with a liquid crystal shutter.
If you want to move around and shoot, you may want to use this method so that you can see the surrounding area by shifting the line of sight while simultaneously displaying the screen.

FIG.
The design includes claims 1 to 3.
If it is creepy that the widths of the two lenses fluctuate during shooting, the lens can be moved within the box with the housing itself fixed (FIG. 3). Still, it is quite practically useful because it is a 20cm wide body (with a human eye width of about 6.5cm) and can get a stereoscopic view (although it is pseudo) near the subject. .

FIG. 2 shows a design with claim 4. An image at the time of photographing is shown in FIG.
The data link with the main body may be wired or wireless. However, it is desirable that the HMD unit can be completely disconnected so that it can be used with other devices such as a video deck, and the interface standard is unified with those other devices.
In addition, it is desirable that a plurality of 3D images can be output simultaneously from the main body regardless of whether they are wired or wireless (in the case of a wired connection, the main body has two or more output terminals to the HMD). As a result, it is possible to view by a plurality of people or to give an instruction from the side at the time of shooting.

HMD can be fixed to the head using an ear hook like glasses or a band type like swimming glasses. The main body has a band storage part, and it can be stored by wrapping up when uniting, and when disconnecting the HMD, the band can be pulled out and hooked to the opposite hook and worn on the head.
Of course, if it is not necessary to shoot in an unreasonable posture, it may be easier to see the surroundings while shooting with the HMD incorporated in the main body, and there may be a sense of security. Instead of always using HMD separately, it should be possible to use it while it is united with the main body.

With regard to claim 5, the operation switch may be on the main body or on the HMD side, but it is better to provide the operation switch on the HMD side in consideration of using the HMD unit alone with other devices. It is also conceivable to detect the tilt of the photographer's head regardless of the switch, and automatically make the screen transparent so that the surroundings can be visually observed while facing downward or tilting the head (straight. For example, you can only show the camera image when you are looking forward).

Claims (5)

By automatically adjusting the distance between the two objective lenses according to the change in zoom magnification so that the binocular parallax of the subject can be obtained appropriately, even if the object is far away during zoom shooting, it can be a moving image or still image without losing the stereoscopic effect A 3D camera device that can take pictures. A 3D camera apparatus having the structure according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to remove a sense of incongruity in a peripheral image by manually adjusting an aperture and changing a depth of field at the time of photographing. Features two eyepieces, allowing you to look in 3D while looking through your eyes like binoculars, and to view recorded image data in 3D using the same method during playback. 3D camera device. A 3D camera device having a structure according to claim 3, wherein the eyepiece is detachable from the main body and can be used in the form of an HMD (head mounted display). In the HMD (head mounted display) of the 3D camera having the structure according to claim 4, the screen can be immediately switched to transparent by a switch or one-touch operation so that the surroundings can be visually observed, or in the periphery of the HMD screen. A 3D camera device characterized by being able to see the surrounding scenery with arbitrary transparency.

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