JP2614845B2 - Stereoscopic imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in the following order.

A Industrial Fields B Overview of the Invention C Prior Art D Problems to be Solved by the Invention E Means for Solving the Problems (FIG. 1) F Function G Embodiment G ₁ One Embodiment ( _1st Embodiment) G and FIG. 2 G ₂ Second embodiment (FIGS. 3 and 4) G ₃ Third embodiment (FIGS. 5 and 6) G ₄ Fourth embodiment (FIGS. 7 and 4) (FIG. 8) G ₅ Fifth Embodiment (FIGS. 9 and 10) H Effect of the Invention A Industrial Field of the Invention The present invention enables left and right images to be alternately displayed on a receiver so that stereoscopic viewing is possible. The present invention relates to a three-dimensional imaging device.

B. Summary of the Invention The present invention is configured to receive a pair of optical inputs corresponding to left and right images to obtain left and right field double-speed video signals and to interlace both field double-speed video signals. This is a three-dimensional imaging device that prevents the vertical resolution of a moving image from deteriorating.

C Prior Art In order to enable an image displayed on a screen of a receiver (monitor) to be stereoscopically viewed, information of a left eye (left signal) and information of a right eye (right signal) are obtained. Two television cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as cameras) held at substantially the same interval as the distance between the eyes are prepared, and they are synchronized with each other to perform horizontal and vertical scanning. A left signal is displayed in an odd field (hereinafter, referred to as an O field), and a right signal is displayed in an even field (hereinafter, referred to as an E field). The object can be achieved by alternately opening and closing the left and right every cycle (1/60 second in the standard television system).

According to this, in the standard television system, each of the left and right reproduced images is a repetitive image of 30 Hz, so that flicker is easily noticeable.

As a means to solve such problems, two NTSCs
The left and right signals L and R obtained by the camera are each double-speed converted (time axis compressed) and multiplexed on the time axis, and within one vertical cycle of the camera, that is, one field cycle (V), L
And R signals may be alternately displayed on the monitor.

The double speed conversion is easily performed by using a field memory for each of the L and R signal systems, sequentially writing the data into the field memories, and reading the data at the double speed.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the left signals L ₀₁ , L ₀₂ ,... Of each field are alternately written into the two field memories, and as shown in FIGS. , And are sequentially read from both field memories at a double speed (（field period) with a delay of one field period V.
In addition, as shown in FIGS.
R ₀₁ , R ₀₂ ,... Are written alternately in the two field memories, and as shown in FIGS.
The data is sequentially read from both field memories at a double speed (1/2 field cycle) with a delay of V.

In this manner, the left signals L ₁ , L ₂ ‥‥ and the right signals R ₁ , R ₂た read out from each field memory after being compressed in the time axis.
Are time-multiplexed and supplied to the monitor so as to fill the other gap.

D Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, this method has the following problems.

FIG. 12 shows the state of the screens of both cameras and the monitor when this method is adopted. In the same figure, A and B denote O-field and E-field screens obtained from an L-signal camera, and G and H denote O-field and E-field screens obtained from an R-signal camera. It is assumed that synchronization and interlaced scanning are performed.

These signals L and R are double-speed-converted (time-axis compression) so that the horizontal and vertical scanning periods are H and V, respectively.
Is 1/2, that is displayed is twice the frequency 2f _H and 2f _V respectively on the monitor. C to F indicate this state,
Each display period is a half field cycle.

On the monitor, first, the first field I (V /
In the period 2) (the O field period on the monitor), as shown in C, the L signal by the O field indicated by A is displayed, and the period of the second field II (V / 2) (E on the monitor). In the field period), as shown in E, the R signal by the O field shown in G is displayed. Further, in the third field III period (monitor O field period), as shown in D, the L signal by the E field indicated by B is displayed, and in the fourth field IV period (monitor E field period). Then, as shown in F, H
The R signal by the E field shown in FIG.

As described above, since the second field II is the E-field period on the monitor, the original right signal R ₀₁ (see FIG. 11) corresponding to the right-axis signal R ₁ compressed on the time axis during this period is output from the camera. Even in the case of the O field, each scanning line of the monitor image in the second field II has the same relationship as shown in FIG. 13 showing the relationship between the horizontal scanning line and the vertical return period in the normal interlaced scanning. , Are interlaced with each scanning line of the monitor screen in the first field I.

Also, since the third field III is the O field period on the monitor, the time base compressed left signal of this period is
The original left signal L ₀₂ corresponding to L ₂ (see FIG. 11) is
Third field II, even if by field
Each scanning line on the monitor screen in I is interlaced with each scanning line on the monitor screen in the fourth field IV as shown in FIG.

As a result, as for the L signal, the scanning lines overlap as shown in FIGS. Also, the same result is obtained for the R signal as shown in FIGS. E and F, and there is a problem that the image quality is deteriorated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of image quality deterioration, the present applicant has already proposed a stereoscopic image viewing apparatus in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-54432.

Hereinafter, an example of the proposed device will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16. In FIG. 14, (1L) and (1R) denote NTSC cameras for the left and right eyes, respectively, which are well-known 525 cameras.
The left signal and the right signal of 30 frames are supplied to the time axis multiplexing circuit (2).

This time axis multiplexing circuit (2) has field double speed memories (3L) and (3R) for the left signal and the right signal, and performs time axis compression from both memories (3L) and (3R) as described above. The left signal and right signal read out are the camera (1L),
In synchronization with the scanning of (1R), the signals are multiplexed by a switch (4) that is switched and controlled every half field period (V / 2), and are sequentially supplied to a field double speed monitor (5).

(6) shutter glasses, which are controlled by a shutter driver (7) so that the left and right shutters are alternately opened and closed with a cycle V.

Further, in the proposed device, as shown in FIG. 15, the starting point and the ending point of the vertical deflection are appropriately selected.

In the case of the ordinary interlaced scanning shown in FIG. 13, as is well known, the O field and the E field are alternately repeated, but the left signal is displayed only in the O field and the right signal is displayed only in the E field. Is done.

On the other hand, in the case of the already proposed method, as shown in FIG. 15, the first field I (V / 2) and the second field I (V / 2)
And I (V / 2) together form the O field.
Field III (V / 2) and Fourth Field IV (V / 2)
The start time and the end time of the second field II and the start time and the end time of the third field III are set to be H / 2 earlier than in the case of FIG. 13 so that both form the E field. Thus, by controlling the second and third fields II and III to shift forward by H / 2, respectively, the O, O, E, E, O, O, E, E ‥‥
Each field can be configured like
An image based on the L signal and the R signal can be alternately displayed on the monitor (5). Note that the trace periods of the respective O fields and E fields are equal to each other, and are also equal to the trace periods shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, in the existing proposal, the first vertical return period before the second field II is shortened by H / 2, and the third vertical return period after the third field III is used. Return period is extended by H / 2.

Generally, a charge / discharge circuit using a capacitor is used to form a deflection signal. Therefore, in order to change the above-mentioned vertical return period, it is conceivable to change the discharge time constant of the charge / discharge circuit (or conversely, the charge time constant) in accordance with these return periods, but this configuration is easy. is not.

Therefore, in the existing proposal, the purpose can be achieved by appropriately selecting the time point of the start of charging and / or the start of discharging without changing the time constant of the charge / discharge circuit. Since the time constant of the charge / discharge circuit does not change in this way,
The slope of each rising curve of the vertical deflection current is equal to each other,
The slopes of the falling curves are also equal to each other.

Now, assuming that the shortest return period is 19.5H, the increase in this return period is Becomes Therefore, by storing such timing information in the time axis multiplexing circuit (2), the second and third
And the fourth return period can be increased, that is, the display as described in FIG. 15 can be performed.

FIG. 16 shows an image obtained in this manner by horizontal scanning lines, and is denoted by the same reference numerals in correspondence with FIG. 12 for explaining the conventional example. According to the already proposed method, as shown in FIG. 15, the L and R signals are, of course, sequentially displayed on the monitor (5), but in this case, the monitor (5)
16 are sequentially O, O, E, E, 、, that is, interlaced scanning is performed for each of the L signal and the R signal, and therefore, as shown in FIGS. It is possible to obtain a completely skipped image and avoid the problem of overlapping scanning lines as shown in FIGS. 12C to 12F.

However, in the above-mentioned proposed device, since the screen of the monitor (5) is interlaced every two fields, the displayed screen is the same as the conventional one even though the field double speed monitor (5) is used. , 525 lines and 30 frames, and there is a problem that the scanning line structure becomes conspicuous when approaching the screen, and the vertical resolution of a moving image is deteriorated. In view of such a point, an object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic television apparatus in which the scanning line structure is not noticeable due to a change on the camera side and the vertical resolution for a moving image is not deteriorated.

E Means for Solving the Problems The present invention is a means for receiving a pair of optical inputs corresponding to the left and right subject images, photoelectrically converting them, and obtaining left and right video signals by scanning at twice the normal speed for each field. The three-dimensional image pickup apparatus is characterized in that interlaced information is obtained when the increasing information is viewed three-dimensionally.

According to such a configuration, the left and right reproduced images are interlaced on the monitor screen, thereby preventing the vertical resolution of the moving image from deteriorating.

G Example G ₁ an embodiment below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description will be given of an embodiment of a stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, (11L) and (11R) are 262.5 lines / 60 frames progressive scanning (non-interlaced) cameras for the left and right eyes, respectively, and change the scanning system of a normal NTSC camera. The left camera (11L) scans only the O field and the right camera scans only the E field. To this end, both cameras (11L) and (11R) are synchronously coupled via a phase adjustment circuit (12). Each camera (11L) and (11R)
, The left and right video signals of 525/2 lines and 60 frames respectively are supplied to the time axis multiplexing circuit (2). The rest of the configuration is the same as the previously proposed device of FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, since the left camera (11L) scans only the O field and the right camera (11R) scans only the E field, the screens of both cameras (11L) and (11R) are respectively shown in FIG. , B and G, H in FIG.

The left signal and the right signal corresponding to each of such screens are supplied to a time axis multiplexing circuit (2), and multiplexed on a field basis as shown in FIG. 11 and supplied to a double speed monitor (5). Therefore, on the screen of the monitor (5), FIG.
As shown in F, the first field I in which the left signal is displayed and the second field II in which the right signal is displayed are interlaced. Similarly, the third field III and the fourth field IV are interlaced, and thereafter one frame is formed every two fields, and the monitor (5) has 525 lines.
A zero-frame screen is formed, and deterioration of the vertical resolution for a moving image is avoided.

G2 _Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, (13L) and (13R) are line double-speed progressive scanning cameras for the left and right eyes, respectively, and are high-definition TVs (ExtendedTV) compatible with the normal NTSC system.
It is used for the system. Both cameras (13L) and (13R) are synchronously coupled to perform horizontal and vertical scanning at the same phase. The left and right video signals of 525 lines and 60 frames, respectively, are supplied from the cameras (13L) and (13R) to the odd line sampling circuit (14L) and the even line sampling circuit (14R). The left signal of 263 (first to 525th) odd lines is output from the odd line sampling circuit (14L), and 262 (second to second) signals are output from the even line sampling circuit (14R).
The right signal of the (524th) even line is output and supplied to the time axis multiplexing circuit (2). The rest of the configuration is the same as the previously proposed device of FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

As mentioned above, the left camera (13L) and the right camera (13R)
Are scanning 525 lines and 60 frames sequentially, so the screens of both cameras (13L) and (13R) are
FIGS. A and B and FIGS.

Further, only the odd-line video signal is extracted from the screen of the left camera (13L) by the odd-line extracting circuit (14L), and the even-line video signal is extracted from the screen of the right camera (13R) by the even-line extracting circuit (14R). Is extracted and supplied to the time base multiplexing circuit (2).
As shown in FIG. 11, since the data is multiplexed on a field basis and supplied to the double speed monitor (5), the left signal of only the odd lines is displayed on the screen of the monitor (5) as shown in FIGS. Are interlaced with the second field II in which the right signal of only the even lines is displayed. Similarly, the third field III and the fourth field IV are interlaced. Thereafter, one frame is formed every two fields, and a screen of 525 lines and 60 frames is formed on the monitor (5). Degradation of vertical resolution is avoided.

G ₃ Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, reference numerals (15L) and (15R) denote field double-speed interlaced cameras for the left and right eyes, respectively, which are configured by changing the scanning system of a normal NTSC camera. 15L) and (15R) are synchronously coupled to perform horizontal and vertical scanning at the same phase. The left and right video signals of 525 lines and 60 frames are supplied from the cameras (15L) and (15R) to the signal selection circuit (2S).
The signal selection circuit (2S) includes a switch (4) that is switched and controlled every half field period (V / 2). The rest of the configuration is the same as the previously proposed device of FIG.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

As mentioned above, left camera (15L) and right camera (15R)
Are both 525-line, 60-frame interlaced cameras, the screens of both cameras (15L) and (15R) are as shown in FIGS. 6A1 to B2 and G1 to H2, respectively.

Further, in the signal selection circuit (2S), the left camera (15
Only the video signal of the O field of L) is selected, and only the video signal of the E field of the right camera (15R) is selected, and the left signal and the right signal are alternately supplied to the double speed monitor (5). Therefore, on the screen of the monitor (5), as shown in FIGS. 6C to 6F, the first field I where the left signal of the O field is displayed and the second field where the right signal of the E field are displayed Interlace with II.
Similarly, the third field III and the fourth field IV are interlaced. Thereafter, one frame is formed every two fields, and a screen of 525 lines and 60 frames is formed on the monitor (5). Degradation of vertical resolution is avoided.

G4 _Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, (20) shows a binocular optical system as a whole, and (21L) and (21R) denote reflecting surfaces for the left and right eyes, respectively, which are almost equal to the distance between the human eyes. It is arranged at intervals. A reflecting surface (23) and a semi-transparent semi-reflecting surface (22) are disposed opposite to both reflecting surfaces (21L) and (21R), respectively, and reflected light from left and right reflecting surfaces (21L) and (21R). Are made to coincide with each other. (24L) and (24R)
Is an objective electronic shutter for the left eye and the right eye, facing the left reflecting surface (21L) and the right reflecting surface (21R), respectively.
Is disposed on the object side of the binocular optical system (20) is controlled by the shutter driver (7D) to be alternately opened and closed in the normal horizontal frequency f _H. A single line double-speed progressive scanning camera (13) is provided facing the reflecting surface (22) and the semi-reflecting surface (23) of the binocular optical system (20).

(2D) is a signal distribution circuit, which includes a pair of field memories (8L) and (8R) and a distribution switch (9), and outputs the camera (13) via the switch (9).
The output is supplied to both the field memories (8L) and (8R), and the outputs of the field memories (8L) and (8R) are supplied to the double speed monitor (5) via the switch (4). In addition, horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are supplied from the signal distribution circuit (2D) to the shutter driver (7D).

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

Objective shutter (24L) and (24R) is in synchronization with the scanning of the camera (13), since it is alternately opened and closed in the usual horizontal scanning frequency f _H, in the screen of the line double speed camera (13), 8
Figure A, as shown in B, among the horizontal scanning lines of the frequency of 2f _H, odd scan line corresponds to the left image signal, the even scan lines corresponding to the right image signal.

In the signal distribution circuit (2D), the switch (9) is switched in synchronization with the opening and closing of the objective shutters (24L) and (24R), and the left video signal of each odd scan line is sequentially stored in the left field memory (8L). At the same time, the right video signal of each even scanning line is sequentially written to the right field memory (8R). Both memory (8L) and (8R) signal read in field units from the use the switch (4) which is switching control in f _V, because they are supplied to the double-speed monitor (5) alternately monitor (5) As shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D, the first field I in which the left signal of the camera (13) is displayed by the odd scan lines and the right signal by the even scan lines of the camera (13) are displayed as shown in FIGS. Interlaced with the second field II. Next, as shown in FIGS. 8E and 8F, the third field III and the fourth field IV are interlaced, and thereafter, one frame is formed every two fields, and the monitor (5) has 525 60 frames. Is formed, and deterioration of the vertical resolution for the moving image is avoided.

G ₅ Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, parts corresponding to FIGS. 7 and 14 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, reference numerals (25L) and (25R) denote objective electronic shutters for the left and right eyes, which are arranged on the subject side of the binocular optical system (20) and controlled by a shutter driver (7). It is alternately opened and closed in the normal vertical frequency f _V Te. A field double-speed interlaced camera (15) is provided facing the output side of the binocular optical system (20).

The output of the camera (15) is supplied to the monitor (5) via the control circuit (2C), and a vertical synchronization signal is supplied from the control circuit (2C) to the shut driver (7).

Next, the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

Since the objective shutter (25L) and (25R) are alternately opened and closed in the normal vertical scanning frequency f _V in synchronization with the scanning of the camera (15), the field double speed camera (15), FIG. 10 A
To D, as shown in FIGS.
Becomes the left screen, and the second and fourth fields II and IV become the right screen. Since a video signal corresponding to each of these screens is supplied as it is via the control circuit (2C), an O field where a left signal is displayed and a right signal are displayed on the screen of the double speed monitor (5). A screen of 525 lines and 60 frames is formed by interlacing with the E field, and deterioration of the vertical resolution for a moving image can be avoided with a simple structure.

H Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since the scanning system of the camera is appropriately changed, a stereoscopic imaging apparatus can be obtained in which interlacing is reliably performed and the vertical resolution of a moving image is not deteriorated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a three-dimensional imaging apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a screen for explaining an operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the operation of the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a screen for explaining the operation, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. Conceptual diagram showing the configuration of
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a screen for explaining the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a double speed conversion operation for explaining the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a screen based on double speed conversion for explaining the present invention, FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of an interlaced scan for explaining the present invention, FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the proposed device, and FIG. FIGS. 15 and 16 are conceptual diagrams of interlaced scanning and screens for explaining the operation of the proposed device. (2) is a time axis multiplexing circuit, (2S) is a signal selection circuit, (2C) is a control circuit, (2D) is a signal distribution circuit,
(11L) (11R) are line-sequential scanning cameras, (13) (13L) (1
3R) is a line speed camera, and (15), (15L) and (15R) are field speed cameras.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] A stereoscopic image pickup device configured to output left-eye and right-eye images on a field-by-field or line-by-line basis by field double-speed interlaced scanning or line-sequential double-speed non-interlaced scanning; A stereoscopic image pickup device, wherein the output of the image pickup device for the left eye and the image for the right eye are output so as to have a field double speed interlace relationship. 2. The three-dimensional imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional imaging device is constituted by two imaging devices of line sequential double-speed non-interlace, and is configured to extract odd or even lines of said imaging device. 3. The three-dimensional imaging device according to claim 1. 3. The stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said three-dimensional image pickup device is constituted by two field double-speed interlaced image pickup means, and an odd field or an even field is extracted from said image pickup means. 3. The three-dimensional imaging device according to claim 1. 4. The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stereoscopic imaging apparatus switches one line-sequential double-speed non-interlaced imaging means to a right-eye and left-eye subject image for each line and transmits the image to said imaging means. 2. A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said three-dimensional image pickup device is constituted by an optical system, and wherein odd lines or even lines of said image pickup means are extracted. 5. The stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stereoscopic image pickup apparatus includes one image pickup means of a field double-speed interlace, and a binocular optical system for switching between right-eye and left-eye object images for each field and transmitting to said image pickup means. 2. A three-dimensional imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means is configured to extract an odd field or an even field. 6. The right image pickup means for picking up an image for the right eye uses only an even (or odd) field position, and the left image pickup means for picking up an image for the left eye uses only an odd (or even) field position in a non-interlaced manner. The phases are adjusted so as to be scanned, and the imaging signals output from the two imaging units are alternately taken out at double speed and double-speed so that the left-eye and right-eye images have a field double-speed interlace relationship. A three-dimensional imaging device, which is output to a display means.