JP3933715B2 - Imaging tool - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an imaging tool, and more particularly to an imaging tool that can selectively perform normal video camera-like imaging and high-magnification enlarged imaging.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, small and high-performance video cameras have been widely used and widely used. This general-purpose video camera is generally equipped with a zoom function that usually has a zoom ratio of about 10 times as well as an autofocus function, and an image of a desired size can be freely obtained within this zoom ratio range. And it has brought a big spread in the video image field. However, a general-purpose video camera is based on an image with a daily size (generally, an image that is less than 1 time as an image on a display screen). Therefore, with a general video camera, for example, several times to several hundred times It is impossible to obtain an image magnified to the microscope level.
[0003]
On the other hand, the video camera is used as a “video microscope” for, for example, magnifying and observing skin and hair for barber and beauty management, magnifying and observing lesions on skin, and inspection of minute defects in industrial products. Is also widely used. These special video cameras are known, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-308527 and 2-207401. However, since these have special optical systems, they are ordinary video cameras. It is not possible to perform typical imaging, and only a high-magnification magnified image can be obtained.
[0004]
By the way, with respect to various observations and inspections as described above, there are many cases in which it is necessary to observe and inspect not only the objective part but also the objective part in relation to the whole. For example, when observing skin spots or wrinkles, first image the part of the face where the spots or wrinkles are, and then perform enlarged imaging of the spots and wrinkles. It is also very useful to combine the whole image and the enlarged partial image when used to explain the state of the lesion and the treatment process. In the case of inspection of industrial products, it is desired to indicate in which part of the product the defect is present from the overall image of the product having minute defects.
[0005]
However, as described above, the conventional “video microscope” can only perform enlarged imaging at high magnification, and a general video camera cannot perform imaging at high magnification. For this reason, it is not possible to easily meet the above-mentioned demands, and even if the two types of “video microscope” for enlargement imaging and a general video camera for normal magnification imaging are used properly, handling is troublesome. There are many inconveniences.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This is the background of the present invention, which makes effective use of a simple magnification change by the zoom function, and at the same magnification as in a general-purpose video camera and at a high magnification as in a “video microscope”. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging tool that can easily use enlarged imaging as needed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An imaging tool according to the present invention includes an imaging tool body having a camera unit having a zoom function and an auxiliary lens having a predetermined magnification, and the incident path of image light to the camera unit in the imaging tool body. And an illuminating means incorporated in the imaging tool body or the magnifying imaging adapter, and the auxiliary lens is removed from the incident path of the image light to the camera unit. Imaging with the imaging tool main body and enlarged imaging performed while illuminating the imaging object with the illumination means in a state where the auxiliary lens is positioned in the incident path of the image light to the camera unit. It has become.
[0008]
When this imaging tool is used in a state where the auxiliary lens is removed from the incident path of the image light to the camera unit, it is usually a video camera-like imaging, that is, a shadow image having a size of 1 times or less as a reproduced image on the display screen. In addition, it is possible to perform imaging such as imaging an object from a relatively distant position. To do so, hold the image pick-up body in the same way as a general video camera, and pick up images from a free distance within the range of the closest possible distance in the zoom function.
[0009]
On the other hand, when the auxiliary lens is positioned in the incident path of the image light to the camera unit, enlargement imaging at a high magnification according to the enlargement magnification given by the auxiliary lens is variably performed within the zoom ratio range of the zoom function. be able to. Here, “high magnification” substantially means a case where the image is enlarged to about 5 times or more, which is larger than 1 time or less in the normal imaging.
[0010]
For the imaging tool as described above, an object distance fixing unit that fixedly provides an object distance with respect to the auxiliary lens is provided in the enlargement imaging adapter, and the enlargement imaging adapter is detachable from the imaging tool body. By attaching this magnifying imaging adapter to the imaging tool body, the auxiliary lens can be positioned in the incident path of the image light to the camera unit, and imaging can be performed with the tip of the object distance fixing unit in contact with the imaging object. A structure is possible.
[0011]
According to this structure, by fixing the object distance by the object distance fixing unit, it is possible to eliminate the influence of camera shake that is easily received in the case of imaging at high magnification. In other words, by fixing the object distance with the tip of the object distance fixing unit in contact with the object to be imaged or the support that supports the object, it is possible to eliminate the effects of camera shake and to stably capture images at a high magnification. Can be done.
[0012]
For the imaging tool as described above, the auxiliary lens in the magnifying imaging adapter can be moved, and this movement enables the auxiliary lens to be selectively positioned with respect to the incident path of the image light to the camera unit in the imaging tool body. Is also possible.
[0013]
This structure has the advantage that the trouble of attaching and removing the enlarged imaging adapter each time can be saved. With respect to the method of moving the auxiliary lens, it is possible to provide an object distance fixing portion in the magnifying imaging adapter, and by doing so, the same advantages as described above can be obtained.
[0014]
【Example】
Examples of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the imaging tool according to the first embodiment includes an imaging tool body 1 and an enlarged imaging adapter 2 that can be attached to and detached from the imaging tool body 1.
[0015]
The imaging tool body 1 is covered with a casing 3 that is formed in a box shape that can be grasped lightly with one hand. As shown in FIG. 3, the camera unit 4 and the control unit 5 are built in the casing 3, and a cylindrical image light path 6 is provided on the front end side of the casing 3. Illumination means 7 is provided so as to surround the front side, and a first polarizer 8 is provided on the front surface thereof. The image light path 6 is provided with a vibrating surface rotating means 9 and a second polarizer 10. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an image operation switch 11, a polarization operation switch 12, a zoom operation switch 13, and an illumination operation switch 14 are provided on the outer surface of the casing 3.
[0016]
The camera unit 4 is formed by unitizing a CCD, a control processing mechanism thereof, an electric zoom mechanism, and an autofocus mechanism.
[0017]
The illuminating means 7 is used for illuminating the object to be imaged during high-magnification imaging or normal imaging using polarized light described later. The illuminating means 7 in this example uses a horseshoe-shaped fluorescent lamp and has a structure surrounded by a reflective cover 7c having a similar shape to the illuminating means 7 so that the illumination light can be irradiated forward in a substantially circular shape from the periphery of the image light path 6. It is arranged in. And the illumination light from there is polarized by the 1st polarizer 8 arrange | positioned ahead, and illuminates a target object.
[0018]
The second polarizer 10 functions to block the polarization component from the image light incident on the camera unit 4 from the image light path 6. As a result, a non-reflective image excluding the surface reflected light can be obtained. That is, the illumination light from the illuminating means 7 is polarized by the first polarizer 8 as described above to illuminate the imaging object, but the image light from the imaging object illuminated by this polarized illumination light is not included in the image light. The image light reflected on the surface and maintaining its polarization state is mixed with the image light converted to natural light by non-surface reflection. Accordingly, when the polarization rotating switch 9 is operated by the polarization operation switch 12 and the polarized image light is blocked by the second polarizer 10, the surface reflected light is removed and an unreflected image can be obtained, and the polarized image light is blocked. If it is not performed, an image including surface reflected light can be obtained.
[0019]
The control unit 5 includes a lighting control circuit for the illumination unit 7, and also includes a control unit for image memory and image fixing control. The lighting control circuit controls lighting of the illumination means 7 and outputs an image signal output from the image pickup unit to a display (not shown) via an image memory. Further, the image fixing switch controls the image operation switch. In response to the operation 11, the image data capturing to the image memory is stopped, and at the same time, the image fixing control for repeatedly outputting the last captured image data to the display device is performed.
[0020]
The magnification imaging adapter 2 has a structure in which an auxiliary lens 16 is held on a hood body 15. The hood body 15 is formed into a tapered square tube as a whole, an image light intake opening 17 is provided at the tip, and a bracket portion 18 is provided inside the base end, and the auxiliary lens 16 is provided on the bracket portion 18. Holding. The hood body 15 is provided with a predetermined interval W (FIG. 3) between the auxiliary lens 16 held in the bracket portion 18 and the image light intake opening 17, and a portion corresponding to the interval W is the object distance fixing portion 19. Then, the tip, that is, the image light intake opening 17 is brought into contact with the imaging target portion of the imaging target, so that the object distance with respect to the auxiliary lens 16 is fixedly set as W. Further, the hood body 15 has a base end corresponding to the shape of the distal end of the casing 3, and is attached to and detached from the imaging tool body 1 via a connection receiving portion 20 (FIG. 2) provided at the distal end of the casing 3. It has been made possible to connect. The auxiliary lens 15 in the magnifying imaging adapter 2 has a focal length of about several centimeters and a lens design with a magnification of about 10 times. Therefore, a combination with a zoom ratio of 10 enables an enlargement magnification of 10 to 100 times.
[0021]
In order to perform imaging at normal magnification using the imaging tool as described above, only the imaging tool main body 1 in the state of FIG. 2 is used, and the target imaging target object is operated while holding the imaging tool main body 1 in hand. Capture the image while making the necessary adjustments. This adjustment is performed by selecting an image size and an imaging angle that the operator considers appropriate. While the image captured during the operation and continuously displayed on the display device is viewed, the imaging object and the imaging tool body 1 can be adjusted. The zooming state is adjusted by the distance relation and the zoom operation switch 13 to advance. When this is completed, that is, when the obtained image is in a state desired by the operator, the image operation switch 11 is operated there. Then, the image fixing control as described above is activated, and the image at the time of operation of the image operation switch 11 is fixedly displayed on the display device as a target presentation material.
[0022]
In the case of imaging using only the imaging tool main body 1, the external light is basically used as illumination light. However, when imaging is performed at an object distance in a range where the illumination light by the illumination unit 7 works effectively, illumination is performed. The above-described non-reflective imaging can also be performed using the means 7.
[0023]
On the other hand, in the case of magnified imaging at a high magnification, the magnified imaging adapter 2 is connected to the imaging tool body 1 and used as shown in FIG. 1, and the tip of the hood body 16 of the magnified imaging adapter 2 is brought into contact with the imaging object. In this state, the imaging object is illuminated and imaged by the illumination means 7 that is turned on by operating the illumination operation switch 14. In this case as well, zoom adjustment and image fixation are performed as necessary as described above.
[0024]
5 and 6 show an imaging tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The imaging tool of this example is basically the same as the imaging tool of the above embodiment, but there is a difference in the structure of the enlarged imaging adapter 30. That is, the magnifying imaging adapter 30 is attached to the imaging tool body 1 in advance, and the lens holder 33 is illustrated on the hood body 32 that forms the object distance fixing portion 31 via the guide portion 32g in the same manner as in the above embodiment. 6 is configured to be slidably held as indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 6, and the lens holding body 33 is moved by operating the operation lever 34, whereby the auxiliary lens 16 held by the lens holding body 33 is shown by a solid line in FIG. The state that is positioned on the incident path of the image light to the camera unit 4 and the state indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, that is, the state that is removed from the incident path of the image light to the camera unit are selectively taken. Have been able to.
[0025]
Therefore, with this imaging tool, imaging at normal magnification is performed with the auxiliary lens 16 in the state indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6, while enlarged imaging at high magnification is performed with the auxiliary lens 16 as illustrated by a solid line in FIG. Will be imaged. Since other configurations are the same as those in the above embodiment, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0026]
In each of the above embodiments, the illumination means is provided in the imaging tool body. However, even if the illumination means is incorporated in the enlargement imaging adapter as necessary, basic functional requirements can be satisfied.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily use imaging at a normal magnification and enlarged imaging at a high magnification as necessary while effectively utilizing a simple magnification change by a general-purpose zoom function. As a result, the video image field can be further expanded.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cutaway of an imaging tool according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an imaging tool body of the imaging tool of FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure partly omitted along line SA-SA in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure partly omitted along line SB-SB in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 of an imaging tool according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an explanatory diagram of a moving mechanism of an auxiliary lens in the imaging tool of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging tool main body 2 Magnification imaging adapter 4 Camera unit 7 Illumination means 16 Auxiliary lens 19 Object distance fixing | fixed part

Claims (1)

An imaging tool body incorporating a camera unit having a zoom function;
An enlarged imaging adapter having an auxiliary lens having a predetermined magnification, and capable of selectively positioning the auxiliary lens with respect to an incident path of image light to the camera unit in the imaging tool body;
An illumination means incorporated in the imaging tool body ,
Imaging with the imaging tool body in a state where the auxiliary lens is removed from the image light incident path to the camera unit, and an object to be imaged by the illumination means with the auxiliary lens positioned in the image light incident path to the camera unit An imaging tool that can selectively perform enlarged imaging performed while illuminating
While providing an object distance fixing portion that fixedly gives an object distance with respect to the auxiliary lens in the enlargement imaging adapter, the enlargement imaging adapter can be attached to and detached from the imaging tool body,
When magnifying imaging, attach the magnifying imaging adapter to the main body of the imaging tool so that the auxiliary lens is positioned in the incident path of the image light to the camera unit, and the tip of the object distance fixing part is in contact with the imaging object. It can be taken,
Imaging tool.

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