JP5491961B2 - Stereo camera lens system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a stereoscopic camera lens system, and more particularly, to a stereoscopic camera lens system including a pair of left and right lens devices used in a stereoscopic camera that captures stereoscopic images.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a stereoscopic camera that acquires a stereoscopic video by, for example, arranging two television cameras in parallel and shooting parallax images for the right eye and the left eye is known. In a pair of left and right lens devices used in such a stereoscopic camera, when a zoom switch that commands zooming of the zoom lens in the tele / wide direction is operated, the left and right zooms are performed according to the command according to the operation of the zoom switch. The lens is driven (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In Patent Document 1, even when a zoom lens having the same specification is used for a stereoscopic camera, it is difficult to set the same conditions due to manufacturing errors and processing errors, and the first and the left arranged in a pair of left and right are considered. Among the second zoom lenses, the first zoom lens (master side zoom lens) issues a zooming command in the tele direction or wide direction by operating the zoom switch, while the second zoom lens (slave side zoom lens). ), The shooting magnification of the second zoom lens is set to the shooting of the first zoom lens based on the zoom position indicating the shooting magnification of the first zoom lens and the zoom position indicating the shooting magnification of the second zoom lens. The second zoom lens is driven so as to match the magnification. As a result, it is possible to reduce an error in photographing magnification of the first and second zoom lenses and to match the left and right focal lengths with high accuracy, and thus it is possible to photograph a favorable stereoscopic image.

JP-A-9-127400

  By the way, originally a zoom lens is electrically driven, manually driven, or normally electrically driven. However, when a manual operation member (for example, a zoom ring) is operated, Some can be switched to drive. The type in which the zoom lens can be driven by switching between electric and manual operation is effective when it is desired to quickly drive the zoom lens in accordance with the photographing situation.

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the zoom lenses of the pair of left and right lens devices are electrically driven. What is the case where one of the zoom lenses is driven manually? Is also not considered. For this reason, when either one of the zoom lenses is manually driven, there is a difference in zoom magnification between the left and right zoom lenses, and there is a problem that a zoom operation faithful to the photographer's intention cannot be performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and enables a zoom operation faithful to a photographer's intention even when the zoom lens of one of the lens devices is manually driven. An object is to provide a lens system for a stereoscopic camera.

In order to achieve the above object, a stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 1 includes a pair of left and right lens devices used in a stereoscopic camera that captures a stereoscopic image, and a control unit that controls each lens device. In the stereoscopic camera lens system, each lens device includes a zoom lens configured to be electrically and manually drivable in the optical axis direction, and a position detection unit that detects a zoom position indicating a shooting magnification of the zoom lens; Manual detection means for detecting that the zoom lens has been manually driven, and the control means includes a first zoom lens of one lens device by the manual detection means among the lens devices. Is detected as being manually driven, the second zoom lens of the other lens device is detected based on the zoom position detected by the position detecting means. A second stereo camera lens system zoom lens driven by motorized so over beam position coincides with the zoom position of said first zoom lens, the zoom position of the first and second zoom lens Warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal indicating whether or not the difference between the two is greater than a predetermined reference value, and each lens device moves the anti-vibration lens within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis to move the three-dimensional An image blur correction unit that corrects an image blur caused by vibration applied to the camera is included. The image blur correction unit is based on a warning signal generated from the warning signal generation unit. When the difference in zoom position of the zoom lens is larger than a predetermined reference value, the correction of the image blur is interrupted or the correction amount is reduced .

According to the present invention, of the pair of left and right lens devices used in the stereoscopic camera, the first zoom lens of one lens device is manually driven, while the second zoom lens of the other lens device is It is electrically driven so as to coincide with the zoom position of the first zoom lens. Thereby, even when the zoom lens of any one of the lens devices is manually driven, a zoom operation faithful to the photographer's intention can be realized. In particular, in the present invention, when the difference between the zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value, the image blur correction is interrupted or the correction amount is reduced, thereby allowing the observer. It becomes possible to make it difficult to be recognized as an unnatural image.

The stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 2 is the stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the image blur correction unit is configured to use the image stabilization lens when the correction of the image blur is interrupted. It is characterized by being gradually moved to the optical center.

  As described above, when the image stabilization is interrupted, the image stabilization lens is gradually moved to the optical center, so that the image stabilization lens can be arranged at a desired position.

The stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 3 is the stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein each lens device includes a focus lens movable in an optical axis direction, and the control is performed. The means determines the moving speed of the focus lens when the difference between the zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value based on the warning signal generated from the warning signal generating means. The difference is made slower than when the difference is equal to or less than the reference value.

  As described above, when the difference between the zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value, it is recognized as an unnatural image by the observer by delaying the focusing speed of the focus lens. It becomes possible to make it difficult.

According to the present invention, of the pair of left and right lens devices used in the stereoscopic camera, the first zoom lens of one lens device is manually driven, while the second zoom lens of the other lens device is It is electrically driven so as to coincide with the zoom position of the first zoom lens. Thereby, even when the zoom lens of any one of the lens devices is manually driven, a zoom operation faithful to the photographer's intention can be realized. In particular, in the present invention, when the difference between the zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value, the image blur correction is interrupted or the correction amount is reduced, thereby allowing the observer. It becomes possible to make it difficult to be recognized as an unnatural image.

1 is an external view showing a stereoscopic camera equipped with a lens system for a stereoscopic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which showed the principal part structure of the lens system for stereoscopic cameras of this embodiment The figure which showed a mode that the zoom position of the zoom lens ZL of a master side and a slave side changed according to progress of time. Diagram showing correspondence between zoom position difference signal and warning signal

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a lens system for a stereoscopic camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a stereoscopic camera equipped with a stereoscopic camera lens system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side view, and FIG. 1B is a top plan view. As shown in the figure, the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 of the present embodiment is configured to include two lens devices 12A and 12B having the same specifications. These lens devices 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B are mounted in parallel to a camera body 14 of a stereoscopic camera (stereoscopic TV camera) for shooting a stereoscopic video (parallax image), and the camera body 14 is a plate 18 attached to a camera platform 16. Placed on top. For example, the lens device 12A is used for photographing a right eye image, and the lens device 12B is used for photographing a left eye image.

  Each of the lens devices 12A and 12B includes a zoom lens ZL (see FIG. 2) that can move in the optical axis direction inside the lens barrel, and includes a drive system for electrically driving the zoom lens ZL. A zoom ring 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel as an operation member (manual operation member) for manually driving the zoom lens ZL. When the zoom ring 20 is rotated, the zoom lens ZL moves back and forth along the optical axis so that the photographing magnification (focal length) changes.

  In the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 according to the present embodiment, each of the lens devices 12A and 12B includes a manual mode in which the zoom lens ZL is manually driven according to the rotation operation of the zoom ring 20, and a control unit 40 (see FIG. 2) described later. In accordance with a zoom control signal given from the above, an electric mode for electrically driving the zoom lens ZL can be switched.

  In particular, in the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 of this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, when the zoom ring 20 of one of the two lens devices 12A and 12B is rotated, the lens device The zoom lens ZL is manually driven according to the operation of the zoom ring 20, and the zoom lens ZL of the other lens device is electrically driven so as to match the photographing magnification of the zoom lens ZL of the lens device driven manually. Driven. Hereinafter, a lens device in which the zoom lens ZL is manually driven is referred to as a master side, and a lens device in which the zoom lens ZL is electrically driven is referred to as a slave side.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the stereoscopic camera lens system according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components of the lens device 12A and the lens device 12B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 according to the present embodiment includes two lens devices 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B and a control unit 40 that comprehensively controls the lens devices 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B. Yes. The control unit 40 may be configured as a control unit separate from the lens devices 12A and 12B, or a part or all of the functions of the control unit 40 may be incorporated in the lens device 12A or 12B.

  In each of the lens devices 12A and 12B, an optical system such as a focus lens (group) FL, a zoom lens (group) ZL, and an anti-vibration lens CL is disposed inside the lens barrel.

  The focus lens FL and the zoom lens ZL are a lens group arranged to be movable back and forth along the optical axis. When the focus lens FL moves, the focus position (subject distance) changes, and when the zoom lens ZL moves, the shooting magnification ( (Focal length) changes.

  The anti-vibration lens CL is configured to be movable in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and is driven in a direction to cancel vibrations caused by camera shake or the like according to the control of the anti-vibration control unit 34. Thereby, the image blur caused by the vibration is corrected.

  The subject light that has entered the lens devices 12A and 12B and passed through these lens groups and the like is imaged on an imaging surface of an imaging device arranged in a camera body of a stereoscopic camera (not shown).

  Each of the lens devices 12A and 12B is provided with a zoom drive unit 30 and a focus drive unit 32 as a drive system for electrically driving the zoom lens ZL and the focus lens FL. Each of the drive units 30 and 32 includes a motor that generates a driving force for moving the corresponding optical system, and a motor drive circuit (motor driver) that supplies a drive signal for operating the motor. Composed. Accordingly, the zoom lens ZL and the focus lens FL are electrically driven by the zoom drive unit 30 and the focus drive unit 32, respectively.

  Each of the lens devices 12A and 12B is provided with a detection system such as a zoom position detector 36 and a zoom operation detector 38. The zoom position detection unit 36 is a detection unit that detects a zoom position indicating the photographing magnification of the zoom lens ZL, and is configured by, for example, a potentiometer. The zoom position detected by the zoom position detection unit 36 is notified to the control unit 40.

  The zoom operation detection unit 38 is a sensor that detects that the operation of the zoom ring 20 has been performed. When the operation of the zoom ring 20 is detected, a detection signal (manual operation detection signal) indicating that is controlled. The unit 40 is notified.

  The control unit 40 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and includes a master / slave determination unit 42, a zoom position difference calculation unit 44, a zoom control calculation unit 46, a switching unit 48, a comparison calculation unit 50, and a focus control calculation unit. 52 etc. are provided. In FIG. 2, functional blocks corresponding to each process performed by the control unit 40 are shown.

  The master / slave determination unit 42 determines which of the lens devices 12A and 12B is on the master side (or slave side) based on the manual operation detection signal provided from the zoom operation detection unit 38 of each of the lens devices 12A and 12B. To do. For example, when the zoom ring 20 of the lens device 12A is rotated, a manual operation detection signal is notified to the master / slave determination unit 42 from the zoom operation detection unit 38 of the lens device 12A, and the master / slave determination unit 42 Determines that the lens device 12A in which the zoom ring 20 is rotated is based on the manual operation detection signal, and the lens device 12B in which the zoom ring 20 is not rotated is determined as the slave side. The opposite is true when the zoom ring 20 of the lens device 12B is rotated. The master / slave determination unit 42 generates a master / slave identification signal (switching signal) indicating the determination result, and the identification signal is output to the switching unit 48.

  The zoom position difference calculation unit 44 calculates a zoom position difference (zoom position difference signal) notified from each zoom position detection unit 36. The zoom position difference signal calculated by the zoom position difference calculation unit 44 is output to the zoom control calculation unit 46 and the comparison calculation unit 50.

  The zoom control calculation unit 46 instructs the slave side zoom lens ZL to move to the wide side (wide angle side) or the tele side (telephoto side) according to the zoom position difference signal calculated by the zoom position difference calculation unit 44. A zoom control signal (slave zoom control signal) is generated and output. The zoom control calculation unit 46 generates a zoom control signal so that the difference between the zoom position on the master side and the zoom position on the slave side becomes zero. The zoom control signal generated by the zoom control calculation unit 46 is output to the switching unit 48.

  The switching unit 48 includes a changeover switch having one input terminal and two output terminals. The input terminal of this changeover switch is connected to the zoom control calculation unit 46, and the zoom control signal generated by the zoom control calculation unit 46 is input. On the other hand, of the two output terminals of the changeover switch, one output terminal is connected to the zoom drive unit 30 of the lens device 12A, and the other output terminal is connected to the zoom drive unit 30 of the lens device 12B.

  The switching unit 48 switches the output destination of the zoom control signal input to the input terminal to the slave side lens device based on the master / slave identification signal given from the master / slave determination unit 42. For example, when the master / slave determination unit 42 determines that the lens device 12A is the master side and the lens device 12B is the slave side, the output destination of the changeover switch is switched to the slave side lens device 12B. Accordingly, the zoom control signal output from the zoom control calculation unit 46 is given to the zoom drive unit 30 of the slave side lens device 12B, and the zoom drive unit 30 drives the zoom lens ZL according to the zoom control signal.

  The focus control calculation unit 52 controls the movement of the focus lens FL based on the position (focus position) of the focus lens FL detected by the focus position detection unit (not shown) of each lens device 12A, 12B. Control signal) is generated and output. The focus control signal generated by the focus control calculation unit 52 is given to the focus drive unit 32 of each of the lens devices 12A and 12B, and each focus drive unit 32 drives the focus lens FL according to the focus control signal. In FIG. 2, the configuration in which the focus control calculation unit 52 is provided for each lens device is shown, but it goes without saying that these may be configured as one functional block.

  The comparison calculation unit 50 generates a warning signal indicating whether or not the zoom position difference (zoom position difference signal) calculated by the zoom position difference calculation unit 44 is greater than a predetermined reference value (warning level). The warning signal generated by the comparison calculation unit 50 is output to each unit of the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 (for example, the focus control calculation unit 52 and the image stabilization control unit 34 of each of the lens devices 12A and 12B).

  Next, the operation of the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  Of the two lens devices 12A and 12B, for example, when the zoom ring 20 of one lens device 12A is rotated, the zoom lens ZL of the lens device 12A is manually driven according to the rotation operation of the zoom ring 20. At the same time, the zoom lens ZL of the other lens device 12B is electrically driven as follows.

  First, a rotation operation of the zoom ring 20 is detected by the zoom operation detection unit 38 of the lens device 12A, and a manual operation detection signal is output to the master / slave determination unit 42. When a manual operation detection signal is given from the zoom operation detection unit 38 of the lens device 12A, the master / slave determination unit 42 determines that the lens device 12A is the master side and the lens device 12B is the slave side. Then, the switching unit 48 switches the changeover switch so that the zoom control signal output from the zoom control calculation unit 46 is output to the lens device 12B on the slave side based on the determination result of the master / slave determination unit 42.

  The zoom positions of the zoom lenses ZL of the lens devices 12A and 12B are detected by the corresponding zoom position detectors 36, and the detection results are given to the zoom position difference calculator 44. The zoom position difference calculation unit 44 calculates a zoom position difference (zoom position difference signal) of each zoom lens ZL, and the result is given to the zoom control calculation unit 46. Based on the zoom position difference signal calculated by the zoom position difference calculation unit 44, the zoom control calculation unit 46 generates a zoom control signal that commands the movement of the slave-side zoom lens ZL, and the output destination is as described above. A zoom control signal is given to the zoom drive unit 30 of the lens device 12B via the switching unit 48 switched to the slave side. As a result, the zoom lens ZL of the slave-side lens device 12B is electrically driven by the zoom drive unit 30 in accordance with the zoom control signal.

  The operation when the zoom ring 20 of the lens device 12B is rotated is performed in the same manner as described above except that the operation is performed by reversing the master side and the slave side.

  Although a detailed description is omitted, in the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 of the present embodiment, a zoom switch (as an operation member for driving the zoom lenses ZL of the two lens devices 12A and 12B while being electrically synchronized with each other) For example, a seesaw switch or the like is provided, and the moving direction (wide side or tele side) and moving speed (or moving position) of the zoom lens ZL are determined according to the operation direction and operation amount of the zoom switch, A zoom command signal corresponding to the operation is notified to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 moves each zoom lens ZL to a desired position based on the zoom position detected by the zoom position detection unit 36 of each lens device 12A, 12B in response to a zoom command signal given from the zoom switch. Feedback control is performed. As a result, the zoom lenses ZL of the lens devices 12A and 12B are electrically driven in synchronization with the operation of the zoom switch and moved to a desired position.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how the zoom positions of the master-side and slave-side zoom lenses ZL change with time. In the drawing, when the zoom lens ZL on the master side is driven from the wide side to the tele side, the first half of the elapsed time is driven at a predetermined speed, and the second half is driven at a speed slower than the first half. . The zoom position of the zoom lens ZL on the master side (manually driven side) is indicated by a solid line, and the zoom position of the zoom lens ZL on the slave side (side driven electrically) is indicated by a broken line.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 of the present embodiment, when the zoom position of the master-side zoom lens ZL is changed by the rotation operation of the zoom ring 20, the difference between the master-side and slave-side zoom positions. Following the movement of the master-side zoom lens ZL so that becomes zero, the slave-side zoom lens ZL is electrically driven.

  At this time, when stopping the electrically driven slave zoom lens ZL, it is preferable to stop it in accordance with the moving direction of the manually driven master zoom lens ZL. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, since the zoom lens ZL on the master side is moved from the wide side toward the tele side, the drive of the zoom lens ZL on the slave side is also stopped in the same direction. When the master side zoom lens ZL is driven in the opposite direction, the opposite is true. Thus, by stopping the slave-side zoom lens ZL so as to coincide with the moving direction of the master-side zoom lens ZL, the mechanical rattling of the zoom lens moving mechanism can be performed.

  By the way, as in the first half of FIG. 3, when the master-side zoom lens ZL is driven quickly, the slave-side zoom lens ZL that is electrically driven cannot follow the movement of the master-side zoom lens ZL, Due to the movement delay of the zoom lens ZL on the side, the difference between the zoom position on the master side and the slave side becomes large, and the shooting magnification of both may temporarily differ greatly. At this time, if focus adjustment by the focus control calculation unit 52 or image blur correction by the image stabilization control unit 34 is performed, the image becomes more unnatural, and the viewer feels uncomfortable when the stereoscopic video is reproduced. Become.

  On the other hand, when the zoom lens ZL on the master side is driven slowly and the difference between the zoom position on the master side and the zoom position on the slave side is small as in the latter half of FIG. 3, it is recognized as an unnatural image as described above. The effect that can be done can be neglected.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown as an example in FIG. 4, the difference between the zoom position on the master side and the zoom position on the slave side (zoom position difference signal) is greater than a predetermined reference value (warning level). Is provided with a comparison operation unit 50 (see FIG. 2) for generating a warning signal with a high level (ON) warning signal and a low level (OFF) when the warning signal is below a reference value. The warning signal generated by the comparison calculation unit 50 is output to the focus control calculation unit 52 and the image stabilization control unit 34 of each of the lens devices 12A and 12B.

  When the warning signal given from the comparison calculation unit 50 is at a high level (that is, when the zoom position difference signal is larger than the reference value), the focus control calculation unit 52 is in a normal state (the zoom position difference signal is equal to or less than the reference value). In this case, the moving speed of the focus lens FL on the master side and the slave side is controlled to be slower than that in the case of

  The image stabilization control unit 34 interrupts the correction of the image stabilization lens CL when the warning signal given from the comparison calculation unit 50 is at a high level (that is, when the zoom position difference signal is larger than the reference value). Alternatively, control is performed so as to suppress (reduce) the correction amount of the image stabilizing lens CL. Whether or not the image stabilization correction is interrupted is determined by the zoom positions on the master side and the slave side, the difference between them, and the zoom speed. Further, when the image stabilization correction is interrupted, it is preferable to gradually move the image stabilization lens CL to the center (center of the optical axis). This makes it possible to place the image stabilization lens CL at a desired position when the image stabilization correction is interrupted.

  As described above, when the difference between the zoom position on the master side and the zoom position on the slave side is larger than the reference value, the focusing speed of each focus lens FL is intentionally delayed or the correction by the anti-vibration lens CL is interrupted. Alternatively, it is possible to make it difficult for an observer to recognize an unnatural image by intentionally weakening the correction amount.

  As described above, in the stereoscopic camera lens system 10 according to the present embodiment, of the two lens devices 12A and 12B, one lens device whose zoom ring 20 is rotated is the master side, and the other lens device. Is defined as the slave side, and the zoom lens ZL on the master side is manually driven in accordance with the rotation operation of the zoom ring 20, while the zoom lens ZL on the slave side has a zoom position on the master side and a zoom position on the slave side. Are driven electrically so that they match. Thereby, even when the zoom lens ZL of one of the lens devices 12A and 12B is manually driven, a zoom operation faithful to the photographer's intention can be realized.

  In addition, when there is a difference between the left and right zoom positions (shooting magnification) temporarily, the image stabilization may be stopped or the focusing speed of the focus lens FL may be delayed, resulting in an unnatural image for the observer. It becomes possible to make it difficult to recognize.

  The stereoscopic camera lens system of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Stereoscopic lens system, 12A, 12B ... Lens apparatus, 14 ... Camera body, 20 ... Zoom ring, 30 ... Zoom drive part, 32 ... Focus drive part, 34 ... Anti-vibration control part, 36 ... Zoom position detection part , 38 ... zoom operation detection unit, 40 ... control unit, 42 ... master / slave determination unit, 44 ... zoom position difference calculation unit, 46 ... zoom control calculation unit, 48 ... switching unit, 50 ... comparison calculation unit, 52 ... focus Control calculation unit

Claims (3)

In a stereoscopic camera lens system comprising a pair of left and right lens devices used for a stereoscopic camera that captures a stereoscopic image, and a control means for controlling each lens device,
Each lens device includes a zoom lens configured to be electrically and manually drivable in the optical axis direction, position detecting means for detecting a zoom position indicating a photographing magnification of the zoom lens, and the zoom lens being manually driven. And manual detection means for detecting that,
When the control unit detects that the first zoom lens of one lens device is manually driven by the manual detection unit among the lens units, the control unit sets the zoom position detected by the position detection unit. A stereoscopic camera lens system that electrically drives the second zoom lens so that the zoom position of the second zoom lens of the other lens device matches the zoom position of the first zoom lens ;
Warning signal generating means for generating a warning signal indicating whether or not a difference between zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is greater than a predetermined reference value;
Each lens device is configured to include an image blur correction unit that corrects an image blur caused by vibration applied to the stereoscopic camera by moving the image stabilization lens in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.
The image blur correcting unit is configured to detect the image blur when a difference between zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value based on a warning signal generated from the warning signal generating unit. A stereoscopic camera lens system characterized by interrupting the correction or reducing the correction amount . 2. The stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 1 , wherein the image blur correction unit gradually moves the image stabilizing lens to the optical center when the correction of the image blur is interrupted. Each lens device includes a focus lens that is movable in the optical axis direction,
The control means moves the focus lens when the difference between the zoom positions of the first and second zoom lenses is larger than a predetermined reference value based on a warning signal generated from the warning signal generation means. 3. The stereoscopic camera lens system according to claim 1, wherein the speed is made slower than when the difference is equal to or less than the reference value.

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