JP3348285B2 - Panoramic photography device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a panoramic photographing apparatus for photographing a scene while rotating a camera 360 degrees.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional panoramic photographing apparatus of this kind, a camera mounted on a tripod is sequentially rotated 360 degrees by using a silver halide film, and an image of the entire scene around the camera is sequentially photographed. Optical panoramic cameras were known.

There is also a panoramic camera that uses a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD and rotates the camera 360 degrees to photograph an object around the camera.

[0004]

However, in the conventional panoramic camera using a silver halide film, the film length per one frame of the panoramic image is long, and it is inconvenient to store the photographed film. There is a problem that the development of the film is troublesome, one frame is stretched at one time, printing cannot be performed, and portability is inconvenient.

On the other hand, in a conventional panoramic camera using a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD, since the camera is rotated and taken, a signal cable connected to an externally connected personal computer, computer, image memory, etc. is collected. Was inconvenient. In other words, the rotating camera and the personal computer, computer, image memory, etc. must be connected with a signal cable, and the signal cable must have slack to maintain signal exchange with the rotating camera. I had to. However, in the panoramic camera, since the camera always rotates at 360 degrees, there is a limit even if the signal cable is slackened.

For this reason, in order to smoothly route the signal cable, it is necessary to reverse the camera every time the camera makes one rotation and to return the camera to the photographing start position. In such a method, there is no problem if the number of photographed images is small, but if the number of photographed images is large, the camera must be reversed and returned every time photographing is performed.
It was troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a photocoupler is interposed between a camera and a fixing member, and image data and an angular position signal are transmitted by the photocoupler, thereby controlling the handling and loosening. An object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic photographing device capable of eliminating a signal cable that must be provided. Further, in the present invention, since the camera can be rotated indefinitely, it is possible to continuously take panoramic photos.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a panoramic photographing apparatus comprising: a fixed member provided with a driving mechanism; a turntable rotatably supported by the fixed member and rotated by the driving mechanism; A camera body fixed to the camera body, a photographing lens fixed to the camera body so that its optical axis is parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, and a focus position of the photographing lens of the camera body, forming an electric signal. While the turntable and the camera body are rotated with respect to the fixed member,
In a panoramic photographing apparatus for continuously photographing an image formed on a solid-state image sensor from a photographing lens, storing the image signal in image data storage means on the fixed member side, and synthesizing a series of images, A photocoupler for transmitting and receiving electric signals is provided at the center of rotation of the table, and a video signal captured by the solid-state imaging device is transmitted to the image data storage means on the fixed member side through the photocoupler without contact. Features.

A panorama apparatus according to the present invention comprises a fixed member having a drive mechanism, a turntable rotatably supported by the fixed member and rotated by the drive mechanism, a camera body fixed to the turntable, A photographing lens fixed to the camera body so that its optical axis is parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, and a solid-state image pickup device fixed to the focal position of the photographing lens of the camera body and outputting an image as an electric signal. While rotating the turntable and the camera body with respect to the fixed member, the image formed on the solid-state imaging device is continuously photographed from the photographing lens, and the image signal is stored in the image data storage means on the fixed member side. In a panoramic photographing apparatus that combines the images into a series of images, a photo sensor that transmits and receives signals is located at the center of rotation of the fixed member and the turntable. Provided puller, the scale link provided around the fixed member, proximate to the scale link the rotation angle sensor for generating an angle signal provided to the turntable,
A signal of the rotation angle of the turntable with respect to the fixed member detected by the rotation angle sensor is transmitted to a computer on the fixed member side through a photocoupler without contact.

[0010] A panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a fixed member having a driving mechanism; a turntable rotatably supported by the fixed member and rotated by the driving mechanism;
The camera body fixed to the turntable, the taking lens fixed to the camera body so that its optical axis is parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, and the focus position of the taking lens of the camera body A solid-state imaging device that outputs an electric signal, a signal processing circuit that generates a video signal at the angle Δθ by the solid-state imaging device, and a photocoupler that is provided at the center of rotation of the fixed member and the turntable and transmits and receives signals And a scale link provided around the fixed member, and a rotation angle sensor that is provided on the turntable in proximity to the scale link and generates an angle signal, and rotates the turntable and the camera body with respect to the fixed member. In a panoramic photographing apparatus for continuously photographing the surrounding image formed on the solid-state imaging device by the photographing lens, When the turntable rotates by an angle Δθ with respect to the fixed member, a signal of the rotation angle is generated from the rotation angle sensor, and the image data at the angle Δθ is output from the signal processing circuit according to the signal from the rotation angle sensor. It is characterized in that a rotation angle signal for each Δθ and video data are transmitted through a photocoupler to an image data storage means on the fixed member side in a non-contact manner.

In the panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention, a reference position mechanism is fixed at one place of a fixing member, and a position detection sensor is provided at one place of a turntable approaching the reference position mechanism.
When the turntable is rotated, the position detection sensor approaches the reference position mechanism, generates a position reference signal once per rotation, and starts counting the angle Δθ of the rotation angle sensor based on the reference position signal. .

[0012]

In the panoramic photographing apparatus having the above construction, a photocoupler is provided on a fixed member fixed to a tripod or the like and a rotating camera, and image data from the camera is transmitted by a pair of photocouplers. It is not necessary, and it is not necessary to take care of handling and loosening. In addition, since the camera can rotate indefinitely with respect to the fixed member, continuous panoramic shooting is possible.

Further, the scale link is fixed to the fixing member, and a rotation angle sensor is provided on the turntable on the camera side, so that the rotation angle of the camera can be measured by the rotation angle sensor. This rotation angle is indispensable data in panoramic photography, and the signal of this rotation angle is transmitted by a photocoupler to a personal computer, computer,
It can be transmitted to an image memory or the like. For this reason,
Since no mechanical contact or signal cable is required, no mechanical failure or signal cable routing is required, and photographing is simplified.

Further, image data photographed by the camera is transmitted to an external image data storage means via a photocoupler together with a signal of a rotation angle sensor generated for each angle Δθ, and both are stored in the image data storage means. Therefore, the respective image data of the angle Δθ and the data of the rotation angle are stored in synchronization with each other, and it becomes easy to create a continuous panoramic photograph by image processing by assembling both data.

The position detection sensor generates a reference position signal once for each rotation of the camera, and can be used as a reference position for a 360-degree panoramic photograph. For this reason, even if the camera rotates continuously, the start point and the end point of one 360-degree panoramic photograph can be accurately grasped. For this reason, it can be determined as a break for each sheet.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes a camera 1 mounted on a tripod 2.
A computer 3 for processing image data output from the camera 1 and a CRT for displaying a panoramic image based on the image data processed by the computer 3
4, a printer 5 for outputting a hard copy of a panoramic image, and a disk driver 6 for recording image data of the panoramic image processed by the computer 3 on a magnetic recording medium such as a floppy disk. 7 is a keyboard, 8 is a shutter release button,
9 is a power switch.

Next, a rotation mechanism of the camera 1 is shown in FIG.
The camera 1 has a fixed member 20 which is located at a lower portion and does not rotate.
And a camera body 10 and a turntable 11 which are positioned at the top and rotate. In FIG. 1, a camera body 10 including an imaging unit and the like is mounted and fixed on a turntable 11. A concave portion 13 is formed in the center of the lower surface of the turntable 11, and an engaging portion 12 is formed around the concave portion 13 so as to project annularly downward. A bearing groove 14 is formed in the circular lower surface of the engaging portion 12. A magnetic head 14 serving as a position detection sensor for detecting a reference position of the camera body 10 is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the turntable 11, and a rotation detecting a rotation angle of the camera body 10 is provided on a peripheral portion of a lower surface of the turntable 11. A magnetic head 15 as an angle sensor is provided.

The fixing member 20 is fixed to the tripod 2 and has a somewhat cylindrical shape, and a cylindrical bearing portion 27 having a central portion depressed in a circular shape is formed at an upper portion of the fixing member 20. The inner diameter of the bearing 27 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the engaging portion 12. Is formed. This projection 21
Is inserted into the recess 13 of the turntable 11 described above.

On the other hand, a scale ring 22 is provided on an annular upper surface of a bearing portion 27 formed on an upper portion of the fixing member 20.
Are formed in a circular shape. This scale ring 22
Grooves are formed at every predetermined rotation angle △ θ along the circumferential direction, and the rotation passages of the magnetic head 15 fixed to the turntable 11 are closely opposed to each other. Turntable 11
Is rotated, the magnetic head 15 can rotate close to the surface of the scale ring 22. And, on the upper surface of the fixing member 20, the inside of the bearing 27 and the protrusion 21
A bearing groove is formed between the outsides of the bearings, and a bearing 26 is disposed in the bearing groove.

In one place of the side surface of the fixing member 20,
The support member 2 is vertically fixed to a rod-shaped support member 24.
A magnet 23 as a reference position mechanism is fixed to the upper side surface of 4. The magnet 23 is disposed at a position near the fixed magnetic head 14 of the turntable 11, and the position of the turntable 11 can be detected by the magnetic head 14. When the concave portion 13 of the engaging portion 12 formed at the lower portion of the turntable 11 is inserted into the projection 21 of the bearing portion 27 of the fixing member 20, the bearing 26 is fitted into the bearing groove 14, and the turntable 11 is It is possible to smoothly turn with respect to the fixing member 20. A pinch roller 25 made of rubber is provided inside the fixing member 20 and partly on the inner periphery of the bearing portion 27, and the pinch roller 25 is in contact with the outer periphery of the engagement portion 12. The pinch roller 25 is driven to rotate by a motor 41 fixed to the fixing member 20, and the pinch roller 25 and the engaging portion 12 come into rolling contact with each other, so that the turntable 11 and the camera body 10 can rotate with respect to the fixing member 20. It is supported by.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a sectional structure of the camera 1 including the rotation mechanism. In FIG. 1, the camera body 10 has a dark box and has a hollow box shape, and a photographing lens 30 of a photographing optical system is fixed on one side surface, and a photographing lens 30 on the inner surface of the camera body 10. A solid-state image pickup device 31 such as a CCD is fixed to the focal plane of. The optical axis of the taking lens 30 is arranged so as to be parallel to the horizontal direction in which the camera body 10 and the turntable 11 rotate. An image processing unit 3 that converts a video signal output from the solid-state imaging device 31 into a predetermined format is provided inside the camera body 10.
The image processing unit 32 receives detection outputs from a magnetic head 14 for detecting a reference position of the camera body 10 and a magnetic head 15 for detecting a rotation angle of the camera body 10.

In the center of the turntable 11,
A photocoupler 33 with its optical axis directed downward is fixed. The output signal of the image processing unit 32 provided on the turntable 11 side is connected to the photocoupler 33.
Further, a photocoupler 34 whose optical axis is directed upward is fixed in the center of the fixing member 20 and inside the protruding portion 21 so that the pair of photocouplers 33 and 34 can face each other to communicate signals. It is arranged. The photocoupler 34 is connected to an interface circuit 40 housed inside the fixing member 20.

The turntable 11 is driven by a motor / drive circuit 41 as a drive mechanism via a pinch roller 12.
Is driven to rotate. The motor / drive circuit 41 is controlled by a drive control signal sent from the input / output interface circuit 40, and the input / output interface circuit 40 is connected to the computer 3 via the cable 43. That is, the motor / drive circuit 41
The operation of rotation and stop is performed by a control signal output from the computer 3.

Next, FIG. 4 shows all electrical configurations of the panoramic photographing apparatus shown in FIG. In the figure, the electric circuit section of the panoramic photographing apparatus is roughly divided into an imaging section 35, an input / output interface circuit 40, and a computer 3.

The imaging unit 35 includes a photographing lens 30 and a CCD.
And the like, and an image processing unit 32. The solid-state imaging device 31 generates a video signal corresponding to an object image formed by the imaging lens 30.

The image processing section 32 includes a solid-state image sensor 31
A signal processing circuit 36 that separates a synchronization signal and a color signal from a video signal corresponding to the object scene image generated by the above and performs processing such as white balance adjustment, and A / D converts an output signal of the signal processing circuit 36. And an A / D conversion circuit 37. The output signal of the A / D conversion circuit 37 is output to the input / output interface circuit 40. The image processing section 32 also has a position detection circuit 38, and the position detection circuit 38 detects the magnetic head 14 that detects the reference position of the camera body 10, and the magnetic head 1 that detects the rotation angle of the camera body 10.
5 is output. The position detection circuit 38 detects the timing when the camera body 10 is located at the reference position, the rotation angle of the camera body 10 from the reference position, and outputs the detection signal to the input / output interface circuit 40.
Can be output to The A / D conversion circuit 37 and the position detection circuit 38 and the input / output interface circuit 4
The signal exchange between the pair of photocouplers 3
3 and 34.

The input / output interface circuit 40
Are input with various signals from a keyboard 7, a shutter release button 8, and a power switch 9 for inputting data such as initial settings.

Various signals are output from the input / output interface circuit 40 to the motor / drive circuit 41 for rotatingly driving the camera body 10 and the turntable 11, the CRT 4, the printer 5, and the disk driver 6.

Further, the input / output interface circuit 40
And the computer 3 are mutually connected. The computer 3 has a CPU 50, an image memory 51 as image data storage means for storing image data as a panoramic image, a ROM 52 for storing various programs and fixed data, and a RAM 53.

Next, the operation of the panoramic photographing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the panoramic photographing device has a camera 1 on a tripod 2
Thus, the camera 1 is installed so as to be on a vertical line at a certain point P, and the surrounding field can be photographed over the entire circumference of the camera 1.

First, when the power switch 9 is operated, power is supplied to each circuit section, and each circuit section enters a standby state for operation. Next, initial settings such as the rotation speed of the camera body 10 are made by the keyboard 7, and preparation for photographing is completed. When the shutter release button 8 is operated, the signal is transmitted from the input / output interface circuit 40 to the motor / drive circuit 41, and the motor / drive circuit 41 rotates the camera body 10 (steps 100, 10).
1). Further, in step 102, based on the output signal of the position detection circuit receiving the detection output from the magnetic heads 14 and 15, it is determined whether or not the rotation speed of the motor, that is, whether the camera body 10 has reached the constant rotation speed set in step 100. If it is determined that the number of rotations has reached the predetermined number, it is determined whether the camera body 10 has reached the reference position (step 1).
02, 103). When the camera body 10 has reached the reference position, the capture of image data is started, and the rotation angle counter N provided in the input / output interface circuit 40 for counting the rotation angle of the camera body 10 is reset (step 104). , 105).

Next, at step 106, the camera body 1
A detection output of the magnetic head 15 for detecting a rotation angle of 0 is input to an input / output interface
Is determined, and if so, the content of the rotation angle counter N is incremented by +1 in step 107, and the process shifts to the capture of image data in step 108 (steps 106 and 107).

In parallel with the resetting of the rotation angle counter N, the solid-state imaging device 31 generates a video signal corresponding to the object image formed by the photographing lens 30, and the video signal (analog signal) Are transmitted to the signal processing circuit 36. The signal processing circuit 36 separates the synchronization signal and the color signal, performs processing such as white balance adjustment, and transmits the processed signal to the A / D conversion circuit 37. The A / D conversion circuit 37 A / D converts an analog signal from the signal processing circuit 36 and transmits the analog signal to the input / output interface circuit 40 as image data. In step 108, image data corresponding to the rotation angle △ θ is output from the input / output interface circuit 40 to the CPU 5 in synchronization with the detection output from the magnetic head 15 generated when the camera body 10 rotates by the rotation angle △ θ.
Transmit to 0. The image data having passed through the CPU 50 is stored in an image memory 51 together with the position signal of the rotation angle △ θ.
Is stored. In this manner, if the image data and the position signal at the rotation angle 記憶 θ are stored by one detection output from the magnetic head 15, the count content N of the rotation angle counter N is N = n in the next step 109. Is determined (360 degrees = n · Δθ). That is, it is determined whether or not the camera body 10 has rotated 360 degrees and all the image data for one frame of the panoramic image has been stored in the image memory 51.

If it is determined in step 109 that N = n is not satisfied, the process returns to step 106 because the camera body 10 has not made one rotation, and the operations of steps 107 and 108 described above are repeated until N = n. The same processing is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 109 that N = n, the camera body 10 makes one rotation and
This means that the image data corresponding to the angle of view has been captured, and the shooting ends. In step 110, the image data, which has been captured for each detection output from the magnetic head 15 and is stored in the image memory 51, is processed to form a panoramic image, and the image data is combined into one screen of the CRT 4. Image processing is performed. Before the image processing is performed in step 110, image data indicating a horizontally long panoramic image as shown in FIG.
1 is stored. In FIG. 7, the panoramic image 120
The mark 122 imprinted on the camera 3
This is for determining whether or not the scene image has been photographed over 60 degrees, and the marks 122 to 122 in the panoramic image 120 are the photographing range of 360 degrees.

The panoramic image subjected to the image processing in step 110 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The above processing is performed so that a plurality of rows 140 and 141 are displayed vertically.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the image processing in step 110. In the case of the figure, the ends of the panorama image at 0 degrees and 360 degrees are connected to form a circumferential band, and the panorama image is displayed on the screen 130 of the CRT 4 such that the top and bottom of the panorama image are directed from the outside to the inside. Is processed to be displayed in.

Another example of the image processing in step 110 is shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the 0 ° and 360 ° ends of the panoramic image are connected to be processed into a circular band shape, and the display screen 130 of the CRT 4 is displayed so that the top and bottom of the panoramic image are directed from inside to outside. Is subjected to image processing so as to be displayed on the screen.

As described above, in step 110, processing is performed so as to obtain various panoramic images according to the image processing mode selected in the initial setting in step 100.

Next, in step 111, step 11
Image data indicating a panorama image subjected to image processing at 0 is recorded on a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk by the disk driver 6.

Further, the panoramic image obtained by the image processing in step 110 is displayed on the screen of the CRT 4, a hard copy is output by the printer 5, and the driving of the motor for rotating the camera body 10 is stopped ( Steps 112, 113, 114).

Next, FIG. 11 shows a configuration of another embodiment of the panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention. The basic configuration and operation of this embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10. However, the panoramic photographing apparatus shown in FIG. That is, the main body 10 rotates 360 degrees in the vertical direction about the axis parallel to the horizontal plane as the rotation axis. Thereby, the imaging range XY having a band shape in the vertical direction is obtained.
Is obtained so as to obtain a panoramic image. In the figure, the panoramic photographing device is mounted on a pedestal 151 fixed on the upper side surface of an L-shaped fixed leg 150. Therefore, the camera main body 10 is arranged so that its rotation axis is horizontal with respect to FIG.

The panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment is extremely convenient to use for the purpose of monitoring or inspecting the state of the joint surface 153 of the tunnel 152, fume tube or the like 152, for example.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a panoramic image photographed by the panoramic photographing apparatus shown in FIG. In the figure, a panoramic image 160 is displayed on a screen 130 of the CRT 4 in a circumferential band shape. Here, the reference number 161 is, for example,
It is an image which shows the joining surface 153 of a fume tube.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to accurately grasp the condition of the joint surface of the fume tube and the like.

[0046]

According to the present invention, image data, a rotation angle signal and a reference position signal can be transmitted by a photocoupler between a rotating camera body and a fixing member supporting the camera body without contact. No cables are required. For this reason, there is no mechanical wear or failure, and it is not necessary to pay attention to routing and loosening of the signal cable. Further, there is a feature that even if the camera body is rotated indefinitely, signal transmission can be continuously continued.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a rotation mechanism of the camera in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the camera in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the panoramic photographing device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the panoramic photographing device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which panoramic photography is performed by the panoramic photography apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

7 is an explanatory diagram showing an image before data processing obtained when panoramic photography is performed by the panoramic photography apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a panoramic image displayed on a CRT screen by the panoramic photographing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a panoramic image displayed on a CRT screen by the panoramic photographing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a CRT using the panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of a panoramic image displayed on the screen of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the panoramic photographing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of a panoramic image captured by the panoramic image capturing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera 2 Tripod 3 Computer 4 CRT 5 Printer 6 Disk driver 7 Keyboard 8 Shutter release button 9 Power switch 10 Camera body 11 Turntable 14 Magnetic head as position detection sensor 15 Magnetic head as rotation angle sensor 20 Fixing member 23 Reference position Magnet as a mechanism 30 Imaging lens 31 Solid-state imaging device 32 Image processing unit 33, 34 Photocoupler 35 Imaging unit 36 Signal processing circuit 37 A / D conversion circuit 38 Position detection circuit 40 Input / output interface circuit 41 Motor / drive circuit as drive mechanism 50 CPU 51 Image memory as image data storage means 52 ROM 53 RAM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222 H04N 5/225 H04N 5/232 F16M 11/08 G03B 17/56

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A fixed member having a drive mechanism, a turntable rotatably supported by the fixed member and turned by the drive mechanism, a camera body fixed to the turntable, and an optical axis thereof. An imaging lens fixed to the camera body so as to be parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, and a solid-state imaging device fixed to the focal position of the imaging lens of the camera body and outputting an image as an electric signal,
While rotating the turntable and the camera body with respect to the fixed member, the image formed on the solid-state imaging device is continuously photographed from the photographing lens, and the image signal is stored in the image data storage means on the fixed member side. In a panoramic photographing device for synthesizing a series of images, a photocoupler for transmitting and receiving an electric signal is provided at a center of rotation of a fixed member and a turntable, and a video signal captured by a solid-state imaging device is fixed via a photocoupler to the fixed member. A panoramic photographing apparatus characterized in that the image data is transmitted to an image data storage means on the side without contact. A fixed member provided with a drive mechanism, a turntable rotatably supported by the fixed member and rotated by the drive mechanism, a camera body fixed to the turntable, and an optical axis thereof. An imaging lens fixed to the camera body so as to be parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, and a solid-state imaging device fixed to the focal position of the imaging lens of the camera body and outputting an image as an electric signal,
While rotating the turntable and the camera body with respect to the fixed member, the image formed on the solid-state imaging device is continuously photographed from the photographing lens, and the image signal is stored in the image data storage means on the fixed member side. In a panoramic photographing device that synthesizes a series of images, a fixed member and a photocoupler that transmits and receives signals are provided at the center of rotation of the turntable, a scale link is provided around the fixed member, and a scale link is provided near the turntable. A rotation angle sensor that generates an angle signal is provided, and the signal of the rotation angle of the turntable with respect to the fixed member detected by the rotation angle sensor is transmitted to the computer on the fixed member side through a photocoupler without contact. Panoramic photography device. 3. A fixing member having a driving mechanism, a turntable rotatably supported by the fixing member and turned by the driving mechanism, a camera body fixed to the turntable, and an optical axis thereof. A photographing lens fixed to the camera body so as to be parallel to the turning direction of the turntable, a solid-state image sensor fixed to the focal position of the photographing lens of the camera body and outputting an image as an electric signal, and a solid-state image sensor. A signal processing circuit that generates a video signal at the angle Δθ, a photocoupler that is provided at the center of rotation of the fixed member and the turntable and transmits and receives signals, and a scale link that is provided around the fixed member, It consists of a rotation angle sensor that is provided on the turntable in proximity to the scale link and generates an angle signal. In a panoramic photographing device that continuously captures the surrounding image formed on the solid-state imaging device by the photographing lens while rotating with respect to the fixed member, when the turntable rotates by an angle Δθ with respect to the fixed member, the rotation angle Signal from the rotation angle sensor, the image data at that angle Δθ is output from the signal processing circuit according to the signal from the rotation angle sensor, and the rotation angle signal and image data for each angle Δθ are A panoramic photographing device for transmitting the image data to the image data storage means in a non-contact manner. 4. A reference position mechanism is fixed at one position of a fixing member, a position detection sensor is provided at one position of a turntable approaching the reference position mechanism, and when the turntable is rotated, the position detection sensor moves to the reference position. 4. The panoramic photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a position reference signal is generated once per rotation by approaching the mechanism, and counting of the angle Δθ of the rotation angle sensor is started based on the reference position signal.