JP3593227B2 - Stereo camera and stereo photography attachment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional camera capable of capturing a three-dimensional image and Stereo photography attachment To The present invention is applicable to fields such as digital photography technology, stereoscopic image forming technology, video signal processing technology, and stereoscopic image printing technology.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It is well known that a stereoscopic image can be obtained by photographing one subject with a lens corresponding to the human left eye and a lens corresponding to the right eye, and observing the pair of left and right images independently with the left eye and the right eye, respectively. It is. There is also known a technique for obtaining a three-dimensionally viewable moving image using this principle. The invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 54-55114 filed by the present applicant is an example thereof. The invention described in this publication makes use of the fact that an image of an NTSC television is an interlaced system in which one frame is composed of two fields, and a subject corresponds to a camera corresponding to the left eye and a camera corresponding to the right eye. An image is taken by two cameras, and video signals corresponding to the left and right cameras are assigned to the first field and the second field to form one frame. On the display device side, if a normal color cathode ray tube is used, the first field is used. And the display position of the second field is shifted left and right by half a pixel, so that the right and left images of a set of three colors of R, G, and B naturally become striped in the vertical direction. This corresponds to a lenticular lens that is long in the vertical direction. When an image is observed through the lenticular lens, an image corresponding to the left eye is viewed with the left eye, and an image corresponding to the right eye is viewed with the right eye, whereby the image can be viewed as a stereoscopic image.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the invention described in the above publication, it is possible to stereoscopically view on a television screen, but it is not possible to obtain an image which can be stereoscopically viewed as a so-called hard copy such as a print image, a photographic image or a copy image. In order to obtain a hard copy image that can be viewed stereoscopically, as described above, one subject is photographed with a lens corresponding to the human left eye and a lens corresponding to the right eye, and the obtained pair of left and right images are respectively left and right eyes. In conventional technology, images are taken using silver halide photographic technology, developed and then printed on photographic paper or printed for printing. A complicated operation is required to obtain a stereoscopic photograph, and the process is complicated.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a three-dimensional camera, a three-dimensional photographing attachment, and a three-dimensional image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional photograph by a simple operation. And
[0005]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional camera capable of capturing and storing a three-dimensional image, and effectively utilizing an image sensor to obtain a panoramic three-dimensional photographic image as required.
[0006]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional photographing attachment in which a device for obtaining a three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional photograph can be easily attached to and detached from an ordinary camera, and a three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional photograph can be easily obtained. And
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens, an image sensor for capturing an image taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens, and a storage unit for storing a captured image signal. Stereoscopic camera having an image taken from each of a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens and joining them to the same imaging system Consists of a total reflection mirror When the shutter is released, the imaging device captures one image with one of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye compatible lens and immediately captures another image with the other lens when the shutter is released. An image is captured, and the storage unit stores the image signals captured by the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens in association with each other as a set of image signals.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a general camera body including a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens, and merging means for merging images taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens into the same photographing system. A stereoscopic photography attachment that attaches to The merging means is constituted by a total reflection mirror, Attaching and detaching means that can be attached to or detached from general camera bodies, left and right shutters that open and close the optical path of left eye compatible lens and right eye compatible lens, and operation of general camera body shutter and left and right shutter It is characterized by having interlocking means for interlocking.
[0010]
In the three-dimensional camera according to the first aspect, a panoramic lens may be arranged between the subject and the image pickup device as in the third aspect of the invention, and as in the fourth aspect of the invention, The panoramic lens may be capable of being taken in and out between the subject and the image pickup device. Further, as in the invention according to claim 5, the optical axis is changed between at the time of regular size photographing and at the time of panoramic size photographing using the panoramic lens. A function may be added.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a stereoscopic camera, a stereoscopic photographing attachment, and a stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Although various methods for displaying an image printed on a plane in three dimensions are known, the basic principle of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, two cameras of the same type or the same type are referred to as a left-eye camera 1 and a right-eye camera 2, and the distance between the photographing lenses of these cameras 1 and 2 is defined as the distance between human eyes. (5-10 cm) or more, and photograph the common subject 3. At this time, the stereoscopic effect is emphasized as the distance between the photographing lenses of the cameras 1 and 2 is larger than the distance between the left and right eyes of a human.
[0013]
The two images thus obtained are superimposed and printed on a base such as paper on the same scale. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a left image 5 obtained by finely cutting out an image taken by the left camera 1 into a vertical stripe shape, and an image taken by the right camera 2 is taken in the vertical direction. And the right image 6 finely cut out in the form of a stripe is alternately arranged. A lenticular lens 8 in which a number of cylindrical lenses are arranged in parallel is attached onto the printed image. In the lenticular lens 8, the large number of cylindrical lenses are formed in the same direction as the stripe direction of the left and right images 5 and 6, and one cylindrical lens is formed at a pitch over both the pair of left and right images 5 and 6. I have. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), a lenticular lens 8 is provided on the image forming layer 7 of the base 4 in which a pair of left and right images 5 and 6 in the form of stripes are alternately arranged. It is pasted with an appropriate adhesive. Here, the positions of the lenticular lens 8 and the print image are determined so that the image of the print image is formed at a position approximately 30 to 50 cm away from the image, which is substantially equivalent to the clear distance. With this configuration, of the images viewed through the lenticular lens 8, the left image 5 captured by the left-eye camera enters only the left eye 9, and the right image 6 captured by the right-eye camera enters only the right eye 10. Can feel three-dimensional.
[0014]
Various specific examples of the present invention utilizing the above principle will be described below.
The example shown in FIG. 3 is a stereoscopic camera that is substantially the same as simply storing two digital cameras in one housing 18, a lens 11 corresponding to the left eye, and an optical path passing through the lens 11 is opened and closed. And a lens 12 corresponding to the right eye, a shutter 14 for opening and closing an optical path passing through the lens 12, and a shutter 13 disposed at an image forming position by the lens 12. The imaging device 16 is provided. According to this example, since the left and right independent imaging devices 15 and 16 are provided, the left and right shutters 13 and 14 may be simultaneously opened and closed mechanically or electrically by a release signal. Video signals output from the imaging elements 15 and 16 are processed by a processing circuit described later. The imaging devices 15 and 16 can be configured by, for example, a CCD.
[0015]
In the example of the stereoscopic camera shown in FIG. 4, one image sensor 25 is shared by the left and right, so that the cost is reduced. Specifically, it has a left-eye corresponding lens 11, a shutter 13 for opening and closing an optical path passing through the lens 11, a right-eye corresponding lens 12, and a shutter 14 for opening and closing the optical path passing through the lens 12, and has a total reflection mirror 21, This is provided with a converging means composed of 22, 23 and a half mirror 24. The merging means merges the images taken from the left-eye corresponding lens 11 and the right-eye corresponding lens 12 into the same imaging system. The images taken from the left-eye corresponding lens 11 are reflected by total reflection mirrors 21 and 22. Then, the image transmitted through the half mirror 24 reaches the image sensor 25 such as a CCD, and the image taken in from the right-eye corresponding lens 12 is reflected by the total reflection mirror 23, reflected by the half mirror 24 and left-eye corresponding lens 11. From the image to the image sensor 25. According to the example shown in FIG. 4, since one half mirror 24 enters between the subject and the image sensor 25, the amount of light entering the image sensor 25 is reduced by half. In addition, when the shutter is released, a time difference is made between opening and closing one of the left and right shutters 13 and 14 and shooting with one lens immediately after shooting with the other lens. Thus, the left and right shutters 13 and 14 are opened and closed, and the left and right images are captured by the common image sensor 25. Therefore, for example, the shutters 13 and 14 may be electric or electromagnetic shutters, and the other shutters may be opened and closed by a signal output immediately after one shutter is opened and closed by a release signal.
[0016]
The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example of a three-dimensional camera in which the number of imaging elements can be reduced to one without using a half mirror. This is because the image taken from the left-eye corresponding lens 11 through the shutter 13 is reflected by the total reflection mirrors 26 and 27 to form an image on the image sensor 25, and the image taken from the right-eye corresponding lens 12 through the shutter 14 is The light is reflected by the total reflection mirrors 28 and 29 to form an image on the image sensor 25. Also in this example, when the shutter is released, the left and right images are captured by the common image sensor 25 with a time difference. According to the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the amount of light entering the image sensor 25 does not decrease by half compared to the example illustrated in FIG. 4, but the left and right optical axes and the light receiving surface of the image sensor 25 do not form a right angle, The image is slightly distorted.
Since the opening / closing timing of the shutter and the timing of capturing the video signal in the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are common to those of the other embodiments, they will be specifically described later.
[0017]
The technical idea of the present invention can also be realized by configuring as a stereoscopic photographing attachment and adding this to a general camera. FIG. 6 shows an example in which a stereoscopic photographing attachment is attached to a normal digital camera to add a stereoscopic photographing function. In FIG. 6, the upper part from the two-dot chain line AA is a stereoscopic photographing attachment, and the lower part is a general digital camera. The attachment main body 20 can be attached to or detached from a general camera main body 30 by an appropriate attaching / detaching means. The configuration of the optical system for taking a stereoscopic photograph is the same as that of the example shown in FIG. 4, and a left-eye corresponding lens 31, a shutter 33, a right-eye corresponding lens 32, a shutter 34, and the same image pickup system There are provided total reflection mirrors 35, 36 and 37 and a half mirror 38 as means for merging with the mirrors.
[0018]
In the example shown in FIG. 6, the optical system for taking a stereoscopic photograph is different from the optical system shown in FIG. 4 in that the concave lens 39 is placed instead of the imaging device 25 in FIG. The focal length of the concave lens 39 is the same as the focal length of the imaging lens (a plurality of lenses, but can be regarded as one convex lens as a whole) 40 of an ordinary camera. Is set to negative). When the attachment body 20 is mounted on the general camera body 30, the concave lens 39 is positioned immediately before the taking lens 40 of the general camera body 30 with its optical axis aligned. With such a configuration, the function of the imaging lens 40 of the normal camera is canceled by the concave lens 39, and the same condition as in a state where there is no shooting lens of the normal camera is obtained. The left and right images are connected to an image pickup device described later by a left corresponding lens 31 and a right eye corresponding lens 32. If a normal camera has a configuration in which a photographing lens can be exchanged like a single-lens reflex camera, a stereoscopic photographing attachment may be mounted without mounting a photographing lens, and the concave lens 39 is not required. Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, if the focal length of the concave lens 39 is shorter than the focal length of the photographing lens 40 on the camera side, the overall optical system becomes brighter than when the focal lengths are the same. be able to.
[0019]
In the example shown in FIG. 6, in order to obtain a color image, half mirrors 42 and 43 with color filters for separating colors into three primary colors of RGB are arranged on the general digital electronic camera main body 30 side. An image sensor 44 for blue (B), an image sensor 45 for green (G), and an image sensor 46 for red (R) are arranged. Such a form using the image pickup device for each color is one example, and a form in which three color filters are placed in front of one image pickup device may be used. In this case, the half mirrors 42 and 43 are not required.
[0020]
Stereoscopic photography attachments are not necessarily limited to electronic cameras. Even with a camera using a normal silver halide film, the shutter of one of the left and right lenses is released using the automatic film winding function, the film is advanced one frame immediately after the image is captured, and then the other shutter is released. If an image is taken by using the camera, a stereoscopic photographing attachment can be applied. Naturally, the shutter of the stereoscopic photography attachment and the shutter of the main camera are linked and opened. Alternatively, one frame of the film may be divided into left and right, and a left image and a right image may be taken on each of the divided planes. When a stereoscopic image is to be viewed on a photograph taken by attaching the stereoscopic photographing attachment to a general camera, a viewer as shown in FIG. 7 is used. In FIG. 7, a left-eye corresponding photo mounting portion 47 and a right-eye corresponding photo mounting portion 48 which form a horizontal plane are provided on the left and right sides of the vertical partition plate 49, and the left image mounted on these mounting portions 47, 48. And the right image are viewed from the left and right eyepieces 51 and 52, respectively.
[0021]
Next, an example of the configuration and operation of the electronic control unit of the attachment and the camera having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 8, SS indicates a shutter switch, and when the switch SS is turned on, the photographing operation starts. Reference numeral 54 denotes a clock generator, and the clock generator 54 generates a basic clock for synchronizing and operating the entire control unit. Reference numeral 55 denotes a file header generator for generating a file header for identifying a left-eye image file, and reference numeral 56 denotes a file header generator for generating a file header for identifying a right-eye image file. Each is shown.
[0022]
The image sensor 57 is a charge-coupled device (CCD) made of a semiconductor, which is a combination of a two-dimensional photoelectric conversion device that converts the amount of light into electrons and an analog shift register. The signal outputs are red (R) and green. (G) and blue (B) are independent. Here, in order to facilitate the description of an image forming apparatus to be described later, it is assumed that the image configuration of the image sensor has a total of 386,400 pixels of 525 (vertical) × 736 (horizontal). The gamma (γ) corrector 58 corrects the photoelectric conversion characteristics of the imaging device 57 composed of a CCD. The A / D converter 59 converts the gamma-corrected analog image signal from the image sensor 57 into a digital image signal. The parallel-to-serial converter 60 converts the parallel-converted digital signal into a serial signal, but is not necessary depending on the configuration of the file memory 61 described below. The file memory 61 is a digital file memory having a capacity enough to store at least one set of left-eye image signals, right-eye image signals, and respective headers.
[0023]
The timing generator 53 is used to drive the main shutter on the camera body side, the shutter for the left eye, the shutter for the right eye, the drive timing of the left-eye file header generator 55, the right-eye file header generator 56, and the image signal capture to the file memory 61. Generates a timing signal.
[0024]
Next, the operation of each of these functional blocks will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. First, when the shutter switch SS is closed, the timing generator 53 generates a drive signal for the main shutter and a drive signal for the left eye shutter on the camera body side, and opens the main shutter and the left eye shutter. At the same time, the left eye file header generator 55 and the file memory 61 are driven, and the left eye file header information is stored in the file memory 61. The left-eye shutter is open in the image sensor 57 until a photoelectric signal is captured from a photoelectric conversion element into an analog shift register (CCD). As soon as the photoelectric signal is taken into the image pickup device 57, the signal is transferred to the file memory 61 via the gamma corrector 58, the A / D converter 59, and the para-serial converter 60. At the timing when all the left-eye image signals have been stored in the file memory 61, a right-eye shutter drive signal is generated from the timing generator 53, and the right-eye shutter is opened. The subsequent operation and its timing are the same as those for the left-eye shutter drive. At this time, the main shutter is open until the right-eye shutter closes.
[0025]
Thus, once the shutter is pressed, the left-eye image signal and the right-eye image signal obtained through the left and right lenses are stored in the file memory 61 as a pair with the header. The image signal in the file memory 61 is transferred to a large-capacity memory in the camera or another external memory via a signal compressor before the shutter is released next time. Of course, the file memory 61 depicted here may be made of a large-capacity memory, and image signals may be stored sequentially. As will be described in detail in an example of a stereoscopic image forming apparatus described later, when printing the obtained image signal, the left and right image signals are subdivided into stripes, and the subdivided left and right image signals are used alternately. As a result, half of the information is discarded. Therefore, next, a stereoscopic camera and a stereoscopic image forming apparatus that can effectively use the image signal obtained by the image sensor 57 will be proposed. This can also be realized by making a panorama.
[0026]
FIG. 10 shows an example of a stereoscopic camera capable of obtaining a panoramic stereoscopic photograph. This is one in which panoramic lenses 64a and 64b are attached before the left and right lenses 11 and 12 in FIG. The panoramic lenses 64a and 64b are a kind of cylindrical lens designed to double the wide angle only in the horizontal direction without giving any change in the vertical direction in consideration of the lens 11 for the left eye and the lens 12 for the right eye. It is. FIG. 11 schematically shows an example of this cylindrical lens-shaped panoramic lens. When this panoramic lens is mounted as described above, a vertically long image whose half in the horizontal direction is projected on the image sensor 25 is projected. The method of capturing the image on the image sensor 25 into the file memory 61 is the same as the method described with reference to FIGS. However, since there is no main shutter, no drive signal is required. The same applies to a case where a panoramic lens is attached to the stereoscopic camera shown in FIG.
[0027]
By making the panoramic lenses 64a and 64b detachable, one camera can select both the regular size and the panoramic size as needed. In this case, although not shown, a microswitch is disposed at a portion where the panoramic lenses 64a and 64b are attached and detached, and the microswitch is turned on and off by attaching and detaching the panoramic lens, and the presence or absence of a signal from the microswitch is determined. Recording in the file header is convenient for printing in the image forming apparatus.
[0028]
FIG. 12 shows an example of a stereoscopic camera that can switch between the regular size and the panorama size while attaching the panorama lenses 64a and 64b. This means that, of the total reflection mirrors 26 and 27 on the left, which constitutes a unit for merging the images taken in from the left and right lenses 11 and 12 into one image sensor 25, the mirror 27 closer to the image sensor 25 and the mirror 27 on the right Of the total reflection mirrors 28 and 29, the mirror 29 which is closer to the imaging device 25 is a rotatable mirror, and the mirrors 27 and 29 are used for obtaining a panoramic size photograph and a regular size photograph. The rotation angle is changed. First, the rotational positions of the mirrors 27 and 29 drawn by solid lines are for capturing a panorama size, and are the same as the technical contents described with reference to FIG. When a photograph of a regular size is desired, the angles of the mirrors 27 and 29 are changed as indicated by broken lines, and the optical axes are set so that the left and right optical axes are located at the respective centers of the left half and the right half of the image sensor 25. Is shifted, and a left image and a right image are captured by the left half and the right half of the image sensor 25, respectively. Further, in the case of photographing at a regular size, a partition plate 63 is inserted between the pair of movable mirrors 27 and 28 and the image sensor 25 so that the left and right images do not interfere.
[0029]
With this configuration, during regular-size shooting, the left and right shutters 13 and 14 can be released simultaneously, and left and right images without a time difference can be obtained. Since the left and right compressed images are projected one by one on each of the left and right sides, when this image signal is used in a stereoscopic image forming apparatus to be described later, the left and right image signals are subdivided into vertical stripes, By alternately inserting them in the horizontal direction, an image having the same aspect ratio as a normal aspect ratio can be obtained. Therefore, since there is no useless image signal, the image sensor 25 is used efficiently.
[0030]
The example shown in FIG. 13 is an example in which a panoramic lens is shared by the left and right photographing lenses when a panoramic photographing function is added to the stereoscopic photographing attachment described with reference to FIG. Specifically, the panoramic lens 64 described with reference to FIG. 11 is disposed between the concave lens 39 and the half mirror 38 of the attachment body 20 described with reference to FIG. It is desirable that the panoramic lens 64 can freely enter and exit the optical path. Even when the stereoscopic photographing attachment is detachable from a general camera body, the panoramic lenses 64a and 64b may be attached in front of the left and right lenses 11 and 12, respectively, as shown in FIG. The operation in these cases is the same as that described with reference to FIGS.
[0031]
Next, an example of a three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described. 14 and 15 show an example of a lenticular lens used for forming a three-dimensional photograph, which is formed continuously so as to continuously supply the lenticular lens. Glue 66 for applying the lenticular lens 8 to a photograph is applied to the entire back surface side of the lenticular lens 8, and a release paper 67 for protecting the glue 66 until the lenticular lens 8 is affixed to the photograph is overlaid. . The glue 66 is transparent so that the photograph can be viewed through it. The lenticular lens 8 has a shape in which a number of cylindrical lenses are arranged. These sizes are arbitrary, but here, the size of one cylindrical lens constituting the lenticular lens 8 is 105 mm × 0.4 mm, and 868 of them are arranged side by side, and the size of one postcard is 105 × 147. It is assumed that it is formed in a size that covers 2 mm.
[0032]
In the example of FIG. 14, the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in the figure) of the postcard size is the width of the roll, and perforations 68 are provided for each vertical (short side direction) size of one postcard. In the example of FIG. 15, the vertical direction (short side direction) of the postcard size matches the width of the roll, and perforations 68 are provided for each horizontal size (longitudinal direction) of one postcard.
[0033]
FIG. 16 shows an example of printing paper for forming a three-dimensional image of a postcard size. The printing paper is wound up in a roll shape so as to be continuously supplied, or is folded and folded at a perforation and stored. FIG. 16A shows an example of printing paper corresponding to the lenticular lens shown in FIG. 14, in which a horizontally long postcard-sized image 70 is continuously formed in the roll direction, and a perforation 72 for folding the printing paper in a zigzag manner. Are formed along the boundary of each image 70. FIG. 16B shows an example of printing paper corresponding to the lenticular lens shown in FIG. 15, in which a vertically long postcard-sized image 73 is continuously formed in the roll direction, and a perforation 74 for folding the printing paper in a zigzag manner. Are formed along the boundary of each image 70.
[0034]
When printing a color photograph, three or four colors are multiplex-printed. Therefore, in order to prevent misregistration of the printing position of each color and to align the lenticular lens on the printing paper, both sides of the printing paper are used. Perforations are formed on the sides. The perforations may be formed on only one side of the printing paper. Further, if there is no need to precisely align the lenticular lens and the printing paper, there is no need for perforations on both sides. In short, the presence or absence of perforations and the form of formation are not essential to the present invention. In the example of FIG. 16A, perforations 71 for removing the perforation forming portions on both sides from the image 70 as necessary are formed. Similarly, in the example of FIG. Perforations 74 for removing the perforation forming portions on both sides from the image 73 as necessary are formed.
[0035]
FIG. 17 shows an example of an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional image by combining the lenticular lens shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 with the print image shown in FIG. This image forming process will be described as a method using three color sublimation ink sheets of yellow, magenta, and cyan. The printing paper has the form shown in FIG. 16A, and has a perforation for each image, and is a folded type. In FIG. 17, the perforations of the printing paper 80 are fitted into sprockets of the platen 77, and the printing paper 80 is aligned. A portion including the platen 77 and the thermal head 82 pressed toward the surface of the platen 77 forms a printing unit 105 for printing a three-dimensional image. The thermal head 82 generates heat at necessary places according to the corresponding colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan of the ink sheet 81, and transfers the dye of the ink sheet 81 to the printing paper 80. The print paper 80 is folded and folded and stored in the stocker 78, and pulled out according to the rotation of the platen 77. The ink sheet 81 is sequentially supplied from a supply roller 79. The ink sheet 81 provided for printing by transferring the dye to the printing paper 80 is taken up by a take-up reel 83.
[0036]
While the platen 77 is normally rotated, one color is printed from the leading end of the printing paper 80 for one sheet. When the printing is completed, the platen 77 is rotated reversely to return the paper 80 to the leading end, and the next color is similarly printed. And print. When this process is repeated three times for each color (four times when printing including black), the entire sketch for one sheet is completed. Feed to the position of the cutter 85. Then, the cutter 85 is operated, cut at the perforation, and sent to the lenticular lens bonding unit 110 on the left side in FIG. There, the lenticular lens sheet 90 is fed out from the lenticular lens roller 88, and at the same time, the release paper 81 is peeled off from the lenticular lens sheet 90 and wound up by the winding roller 89. The glue 84 is applied to the back surface of the lenticular lens sheet 90 as shown in FIG. 18, and the glue 84 is exposed by peeling the release paper 81 as described above.
[0037]
The lenticular lens sheet 90 from which the release paper 81 has been peeled passes through the position of the cutter 91, and the leading end of the first sheet of the lenticular lens sheet 90 and the leading end of the printed sheet 80 are aligned with each other, so that the pressing roller 93 The lenticular lens sheet 90 is inserted between the receiving roller 92 and the lenticular lens sheet 90 and the completed printing paper 80 are overlapped and extruded together by the glue 84. When the perforation at the rear end of one lenticular lens sheet 90 reaches the position of the cutter 91, the cutter 91 operates and the perforation is cut. When this rear end passes between the pressure roller 93 and the receiving roller 92, the photograph is completed as a single stereoscopic image. The pressure roller 93 and the receiving roller 92 constitute a lenticular lens bonding unit 110 for bonding a lenticular lens sheet 90 to the front surface of an image printed on the printing paper 80. A method of synthesizing the left-eye image and the right-eye image will be described later.
[0038]
FIGS. 18 and 19 show the surface of the pressure roller 93 in an exaggerated manner. The feed direction, ie, the winding direction, of the lenticular lens is the same as the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens forming the lenticular lens as shown in FIG. In the case of using a certain one, as shown in FIG. 18, a large number of circumferential grooves having a cross-sectional waveform are formed on the peripheral surface in the axial direction in accordance with the uneven shape and the number of the surface of the lenticular lens sheet 90. A pressure roller 93a is used. As shown in FIG. 15, when the lenticular lens is used in a direction in which the lenticular lens is fed or wound up in a direction in which a number of cylindrical lenses constituting the lenticular lens are arranged, as shown in FIG. A pressure roller 93b formed by forming a large number of grooves having a cross-sectional waveform in the direction parallel to the rotation axis in the circumferential direction in accordance with the uneven shape and the number of the surfaces of the surface 90. The reason why the pressure rollers 93a and 93b as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are used is to protect the shape of the lenticular lens and to eliminate the misalignment with the printing paper 80. Reference numeral 110 has a function of aligning an image printing position with the lenticular lens sheet 90. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 17, the receiving roller 92 is also integrally formed with a sprocket that fits into the perforation of the printing paper 80, thereby positioning the printing paper 80. The lenticular lens bonding section 110 composed of 93 has a function of aligning the printing position of the image in the feed direction of the printing paper 80 with the lenticular lens sheet 90.
[0039]
Next, a method of forming an image signal to be provided to the three-dimensional image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 17 will be described. First, in the case where the image signal obtained by the method described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 is used, a three-dimensional image is formed by combining the vertical lenticular lens shown in FIG. 14 with the vertical printing paper shown in FIG. Will be described.
[0040]
In the block diagram shown in FIG. 20, reference numeral 96 denotes a clock generator for synchronizing the entire control device. Based on the clock pulse from the clock generator 96, the timing generator 97 outputs a data gate signal to the file memory 95, the left-eye one-color memory 99, the right-eye one-color memory 100, and the one-line buffer 101 to exchange image signals. Clock pulses Cb, Cf, Cl, and Cr for synchronization are generated. The file memory 95 first takes in one image signal (one screen) from the image data Di. The content of the image signal is the same as the data stored in the file memory 61 shown in FIG. 8, that is, the signal composed of the left and right file headers and the R, G, B signals. The RGB / YMC converter 98 converts an additive color (red R, green G, blue B) signal into a subtractive color (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C) signal. A method of outputting a black signal in addition to these three colors may be used. Generally, a gamma corrector is inserted after this, but since the gamma corrector has no direct relation to the present invention, it is omitted in FIG.
[0041]
The left-eye one-line memory 99 is constituted by an 8-bit parallel (bit number capable of expressing the density level of one color), 386400 (525 × 736) -bit serial shift register. Only the data is stored via the RGB / YMC converter 98. The hardware structure of the right-eye one-color memory 100 is the same as that of the left-eye one-color memory 99. The header is removed from the file memory 95 and only the right-eye image signal data is stored via the RGB / YMC converter 98. That is, the left-eye one-color memory 99 sequentially stores left-eye image signal (Y, M, C) data and the right-eye one-color memory 100 sequentially stores right-eye image signal (Y, M, C) data according to the contents of the timing generator 97. Is done. The storage of the data as described above from the RGB / YMC converter 98 to the left-eye one-color memory 99 and the right-eye one-color memory 100 is performed via a gate circuit 105 which is opened and closed by a timing pulse from the timing generator 97.
[0042]
The one-line buffer 101 also serves as a serial / parallel converter, is an 8-bit parallel 736-bit serial shift register, and has an external output for each bit of each shift register. The one-line buffer 101 alternately takes out data for each pixel from the one-color memories 99 and 100 and stores data for one line. This data is stored through a gate circuit 106 which is opened and closed by a timing pulse from a timing generator 97. Since the one-line buffer 101 also serves as a serial / parallel converter, the data is transferred to the thermal head 102 when the data for one line is completed, and printing is performed. The signals AK1 to AK3 input to the timing generator 97 are signals received at the breaks of mechanical operation, and are input at the end of printing of one line, at the end of printing of one color, and at the end of printing of one sheet, respectively. Although only one one-line memory 99, 100 and one line buffer 101 are drawn, the same number of memories as the number of bits capable of expressing the density level (in this case, 8 bits as described above) are prepared in parallel.
[0043]
Next, a description will be given according to the order of printing. It is assumed that the file memory 95 contains all image signals for one sheet. A YMC signal is always output to the output side of the RGB / YMC converter 98 in accordance with the RGB input signal. First, the gate of the yellow signal is opened, the right-eye image signal is extracted from the file memory 95, and transferred to the right one-color memory 100 while synchronizing the clock of each memory. Next, the left-eye image signal is extracted from the file memory 95 and transferred to the left one-color memory 99 while synchronizing the clock of each memory. Next, the same clock is applied to each of the one-color memories 99 and 100 and the clock inputs Cl, Cr and Cb of the one-line buffer 101, and the one-color memory 99 is switched while switching the gate 106 for each clock in the order of right and left. , 100, the data is extracted for each pixel, and the data for one line (8 × 736 bits) is stored in the one-line buffer 101. That is, the data is stored in the one-line buffer 101 in such a manner that one pixel is alternately extracted in the order of right and left, and the other half of the data is discarded.
[0044]
The data stored in the one-line buffer 101 is sent to the thermal head 102, one line is printed by the thermal head 102, and one line of paper is mechanically sent while printing. At this time, the acknowledgment signal AK1 is generated from the printing mechanism side, and it can be seen that the timing generator 97 has finished printing for one line. Therefore, the same operation is repeated for the data of the next line, and printing for one color is performed. When printing of one color is completed, an acknowledgment signal AK2 is generated from the printing mechanism side, and it is found that the timing generator 97 has finished printing of one color. Therefore, after the printing paper is mechanically returned to the original position, the next magenta is printed in the same manner as yellow. Also, cyan is printed in the same manner. In the case of printing with black added, the same operation is repeated once again. When printing of one sheet is completed in this way, an acknowledgment signal AK3 is generated from the printing mechanism side, and it can be seen that the timing generator 97 has finished printing of one sheet.
[0045]
The above is the case of printing an image of a regular size. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, when the panoramic lens 64a, 64b or 64 is mounted and photographed, both the printing paper and the lenticular lens are doubled in width. A buffer having a size of, for example, 105 × 294.4 mm is prepared, and a one-line buffer 101 is prepared with a double shift register, for example, a buffer of 8 × 1472 bits. In the above-mentioned printing operation, the clock inputs Cl and Cr of the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100 are supplied with a clock which is の of the clock supplied to the clock input Cb of the one-line buffer 101, so that the left and right one-color memories are respectively supplied. The data is transferred from 99 and 100 to the one-line buffer 101. That is, the gate 106 is switched for each clock input Cb of the one-line buffer 101, and the first image signal of the right-eye image signal and the first image signal of the left-eye image signal are respectively transferred from the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100 to the one-line buffer 101. Transfer to Next, when the second clock Cb is applied, one clock Cl, Cr is applied, so that the output terminal of each of the left and right one-color memories 99, 100 has the second pixel signal of each of the left and right image signals. Appears. It is transferred to the one-line buffer 101 while switching the left and right gates of the gate 106 with the next two clocks Cb. As described above, the right and left pixel signals, such as the first pixel signal of the right eye, the first pixel signal of the left eye, the second pixel signal of the right eye, the second pixel signal of the left eye, the third pixel signal of the right eye, and the third pixel signal of the left eye, Since the entire data of 8 × 736 × 2 bits of the one-color memories 99 and 100 are alternately transferred to the one-line buffer 101, all of the image signals are used without discarding half of the image signals left and right. Only this point is different from the case of the regular size printing, and the rest of the operation may be the same as that of the regular size printing.
[0046]
Next, a case in which a three-dimensional image is formed by combining the horizontal lenticular lens shown in FIG. 15 and the horizontal printing paper shown in FIG. 16B will be described.
The image signal may be converted into XY by software processing in the file memory 95 shown in FIG. 20. However, the circuit processing function shown in FIG. A printing method using the XY conversion function will be described. This is an XY conversion method for one color.
In the description so far, the starting point of the print signal is based on the upper left of FIG. 16A, and if the mechanical configuration is the same, the case of FIG. 16B is also on the upper left. The image signal brings the first pixel of the 525th line to the head (in this case, the last signal becomes the 736th pixel signal of the first line) or the 736th signal of the first line to the top (In this case, the last signal is the first pixel signal of the 525th line of the first line). Although the finish is exactly the same in both cases, the former case will be described here.
[0047]
First, the right-eye image signal in the file memory 95 is designated, and the signal for the first pixel of the 525th line is sent to the right-eye one-color memory 100 (of course, via the RGB / YMC converter 98). The signal of the first pixel of the line is extracted and sent to the right-eye one-color memory 100. Further, by the same operation, the signal for the first one pixel on the 523th line is continued with the signal for the first one pixel on the 522th line. When the first line is completed, the process returns to the 525th line again. Therefore, the same operation is performed such that the signal for the second one pixel is taken out and sent to the right-eye one-color memory 100, and then the signal for the second one pixel on the 524th line is sent to the right-eye one-color memory 100. And then return to the 525th line after the first line. This is repeated 736 times to complete the XY conversion for one right eye for one color. Next, by specifying the left-eye image signal in the file memory 95 and transferring the signal to the left-eye one-color memory 99 by the same operation, the XY conversion for one left eye for one color is performed. The content of the result of the XY conversion in this manner is that there are 736 pixel signals on one line 525.
[0048]
Using this XY conversion, first, the yellow gate is opened and the left and right yellow signals are stored in the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100, and then the signals are transferred to the one-line buffer 101. In this method, the same clock pulse is applied to the clock pulse input terminals Cl and Cr of the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100 at the same time to open the signal side of the right-eye one-color memory 100 of the gate 106 in front of the one-line buffer 101 and one line. The signal of 525 pixels is taken into the buffer 101. At this time, data for 525 pixels in the left-eye one-color memory 99 is naturally discarded. At this timing, the data for one line is prepared, so the data is transferred to the thermal head 102 and printed. The mechanical operation at the time of printing is the same as the operation described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the same is omitted.
[0049]
Next, the gate 106 is switched to the left-eye one-color memory 99 side. At this time, the data of the first line has been discarded, and the data of the first pixel of the second line is waiting at the beginning. Therefore, a signal for 525 pixels is taken into the one-line buffer 101. At this time, data for 525 pixels in the right-eye one-color memory 100 is naturally discarded. After completing the capture of the signal of 525 pixels into the one-line buffer 101, the data is transferred to the thermal head 102 for printing. Next, the gate 106 is switched to the right eye side again, and the contents of the right eye one-color memory 100 (at this time, the data of the first and second lines are discarded, and the data of the first pixel of the third line is placed at the beginning. (Waiting) is transferred to the one-line buffer 101, and after completion of signal capture, data is transferred to the thermal head 102 for printing. In this manner, the printing of one sheet of yellow is completed by repeating 736 times alternately in the left and right directions.
[0050]
Next, after returning the printing paper to the original position, the gate 105 is switched to magenta, the same operation as that for yellow is performed, and magenta is printed after yellow is printed. Similarly, when cyan printing is performed on the same printing paper, printing for one sheet is completed. Also in this case, as a result, half of the pixel signal is discarded. In the case of printing including black, the number of operations is increased by one.
[0051]
A signal processing method for printing an image photographed by attaching the panoramic lens 64a, 64b or 64 shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 using the above method is as follows.
For each color file, the operation up to the XY conversion using the Mary 95 and the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100 is the same, but the next operation differs. That is, when the left-eye and right-eye signals are stored in the one-color memories 99 and 100 for each color, the signals are transferred to the one-line buffer 101. In this case, the clock pulse input terminals Cl of the left and right one-color memories 99 and 100 are used. , Cr are separated from each other. Then, the signal side of the right-eye one-color memory 100 of the gate 106 in front of the one-line buffer 101 is opened, and a signal of 525 pixels is transferred from the right-eye one-color memory 100 to the one-line buffer 101 via the gate 106. This transfer is performed by applying 525 clocks to the right-eye one-color memory 100. On the other hand, no clock is supplied to the left-eye one-color memory 99.
[0052]
Here, after the signal is transferred to the thermal head 102, the gate 106 is switched to the left-eye one-color memory 99 side. This time, the data of the first line is not discarded, and the data of the first pixel of the first line remains at the head. By switching the gate 106, a signal for 525 pixels is taken into the one-line buffer 101. Also in this case, since no clock is supplied to the right-eye one-color memory 100, the data of the second line is held. Thereafter, the data is transferred to the thermal head 102 for printing, and then the gate 106 is switched to the right eye side again, and the contents of the right eye one-color memory 100 (only the data of the first line are discarded at this time. Is waiting for the data of the first pixel on the second line) to the one-line buffer 101, and is printed by the thermal head 102. By repeating 736 × 2 times alternately on the left and right in this manner, the printing of one panoramic image of yellow is completed. The same operation is performed for magenta and cyan. In this case as well, the data of both the left and right are used without discarding.
[0053]
In the above, an example in which the one-color memories 99 and 100 are used to facilitate the description and to increase the processing speed has been described. Even if the data is transferred, a similar image can be obtained by changing the contents of the timing generator 97, but the detailed description is omitted. Further, as an example of the signal processing method, a hardware configuration using wired logic has been described. However, the signal processing method may be performed by software using a processor unit such as a CPU and an MPU.
[0054]
Also, for ease of explanation, the case where the pitch of the imaging element on the camera side and the pitch of the lenticular lens have been described as an example, but this pitch does not necessarily have to match. By using a known technique of interpolation (interpolation), an image signal at a position required by the pitch of the lenticular lens can be easily obtained. Of course, this indicates that the size can be easily reduced and enlarged. In other words, the object can be achieved if the image processing is performed so that the required size is obtained for each of the right and left, and then the image signal is cut out so as to match the pitch of the lenticular lens and printed at the corresponding positions on the left and right.
[0055]
Next, as shown in FIG. 12, panoramic shooting was performed with the left and right panoramic lenses 64a and 64b made detachable and configured to switch between the panorama size and the regular size by switching the mirror rotation angle. The printing method in this case will be described. In this case, the signal processing at the time of printing of the panoramic image is exactly the same as the signal processing at the time of printing described above, and the signal processing at the time of photographing the regular size is also the same as the signal processing at the time of printing the panoramic size. It is similar to signal processing. That is, printing is performed without discarding the image signal even when printing in the regular size.
[0056]
Identification of regular size and panorama size is performed by means of attaching a detection switch to the camera side, and the contents are automatically recorded in the header file when the panorama lens is attached and detached. For example, the three-dimensional image forming apparatus can easily determine the content, and the switching is easy. Of course, the hardware needs to be large enough to accommodate the panorama size.
[0057]
As described above, the example in which the sublimation printing process is used as the image forming process has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any other process may be used. For example, it can be easily understood that the same three-dimensional image can be obtained by using any one of the printing processes such as an ink jet system, a relief printing, an intaglio printing, and an offset printing. Besides, it can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the technical idea described in the claims.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens, an image sensor that captures images taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right eye corresponding lens, and a storage unit that stores the captured image signal Wherein the images taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens are merged into the same imaging system. Consists of a total reflection mirror The image pickup device has a merging unit, and when the shutter is released, immediately after taking one image with one of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens, takes another image with the other lens In addition, since the storage unit stores the image signals captured by the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens in association with each other as a set of image signals, a three-dimensional image can be obtained by a simple operation. In addition, since the left and right images can be captured by one image sensor, a low-cost stereo camera with a simple structure can be obtained. Further, since the left and right image information is stored in the storage means, a stereoscopic image can be easily formed by printing or other appropriate means using the stored image information.
[0059]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a general lens including a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens, and merging means for merging images taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens into the same photographing system. A three-dimensional photo attachment that is attached to the camera body to take a three-dimensional photo, The merging means is constituted by a total reflection mirror, Attaching and detaching means that can be attached to or detached from a general camera body, left and right shutters that open and close the optical path of the left-eye compatible lens and right eye compatible lens, and a general camera body shutter and the above left and right shutters Since it has an interlocking means for interlocking the operation, it is possible to easily make a general camera function as a three-dimensional camera simply by attaching it to a general camera, and to easily obtain a three-dimensional image or a three-dimensional photograph. .
[0060]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the three-dimensional camera according to the first aspect, since the panoramic lens is disposed between the subject and the imaging device, a panoramic three-dimensional photographic image can be easily obtained. In addition, when a panoramic stereoscopic image is obtained, there is an advantage that left and right image information can be used without waste.
[0061]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic camera according to the third aspect, since the panoramic lens can be moved in and out between the subject and the imaging device, a panoramic-sized image can be obtained as needed. Further, switching can be performed so as to obtain a regular size image as needed.
[0062]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the stereoscopic camera according to the fourth aspect, a function of changing an optical axis between regular size photographing and panoramic size photographing using a panoramic lens is provided. 3D images or panoramic size 3D images can be easily obtained, and when forming a 3D image based on the photographed left and right images, regardless of whether the regular size or the panoramic size There is an advantage that images can be used without waste.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic principle of a stereoscopic camera according to the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show the basic principle of a stereoscopic image obtainable by the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a plan view.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment of the stereoscopic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing another embodiment of the stereoscopic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing still another embodiment of the stereoscopic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the stereoscopic photographing attachment according to the present invention mounted on a general camera.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a viewer of a stereoscopic image obtained by a stereoscopic camera.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic control portion of the stereoscopic camera or stereoscopic photography attachment according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the operation of the electronic control unit according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment of a stereoscopic camera according to the present invention capable of obtaining a panoramic stereoscopic photograph.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a panoramic lens used in the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing another embodiment of the stereoscopic camera according to the present invention capable of obtaining a panoramic stereoscopic photograph.
FIG. 13 is a plan view schematically showing an embodiment of a stereoscopic photographing attachment according to the present invention capable of obtaining a panoramic stereoscopic photograph.
14A and 14B show an example of a lenticular lens required to form a stereoscopic image, wherein FIG. 14A is a side view and FIG. 14B is a front view.
15A is a plan view and FIG. 15B is a front view showing another example of a lenticular lens.
FIG. 16 is a front view showing two examples of printing paper required to form a three-dimensional image.
FIG. 17 is a side view schematically showing an embodiment of a three-dimensional image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a front view illustrating an example of a pressure roller that can be used in the stereoscopic image forming apparatus.
FIG. 19 is a front view illustrating another example of a pressure roller that can be used in the three-dimensional image forming apparatus.
FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electronic control unit of the stereoscopic image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Lens for left eye
12 Right eye compatible lens
15 imaging means
16 imaging means
20 stereoscopic photography attachment body
24 Half mirror as a joining means
25 imaging means
27 Mirror as a merging means
29 Mirror as merging means
30 General camera body
31 Lens for left eye
32 Right eye compatible lens
33 shutter
34 Shutter
38 Half mirror as a joining means
41 Camera body shutter
46 Imaging means
57 imaging means
64 panoramic lens
64a panoramic lens
64b panoramic lens
90 Lenticular lens sheet
105 Printing unit
110 Lenticular lens bonding part

Claims (5)

A three-dimensional camera including a left-eye corresponding lens and a right-eye corresponding lens, an image sensor that captures an image taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right eye corresponding lens, and a storage unit that stores a captured image signal,
Having confluence means consisting of a total reflection mirror for converging images taken from each of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens into the same imaging system,
The image sensor, when the shutter is released, immediately after taking one image with one of the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens, another image with the other lens,
The three-dimensional camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores the image signals captured by the left-eye corresponding lens and the right-eye corresponding lens as a set of image signals in association with each other. It has a left-eye compatible lens and a right-eye compatible lens, and merging means for merging images taken from each of the left-eye compatible lens and the right-eye compatible lens into the same photographing system. Is a three-dimensional photography attachment
The merging means is constituted by a total reflection mirror,
Attaching and detaching means that can be attached to a general camera body or cut off,
Left and right shutters that open and close the optical paths of the left-eye and right-eye lenses,
A stereoscopic photographing attachment having a shutter of a general camera body and interlocking means for interlocking the operations of the left and right shutters. The stereoscopic camera according to claim 1, wherein a panoramic lens is disposed between the subject and the imaging device. The three-dimensional camera according to claim 3, wherein the panoramic lens can be moved in and out between the subject and the imaging device. 5. The three-dimensional camera according to claim 4, having a function of changing an optical axis between a regular size photographing and a panoramic size photographing using a panoramic lens.

Images