JP6558902B2 - Compound eye imaging apparatus, compound eye imaging apparatus control method, compound eye imaging control program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a compound eye imaging apparatus having a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths (view angles).

  As a compound eye imaging apparatus as described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a compound eye imaging apparatus that includes a lens having a short focal length and a lens having a long focal length, and performs imaging so as to include the same portion of the subject through these lenses. Yes. In this compound-eye imaging device, a zoom-up image obtained by imaging a subject image formed by a long focus lens is fitted to a part of a wide image obtained by imaging a subject image formed by a short focus lens. Include. As a result, it is possible to obtain a composite image having a wide angle of view although the zoom-up image portion has a high resolution and the other image portions have a low resolution.

  In addition, in a compound eye imaging device, there is a problem of how to display a plurality of preview images (observation images displayed on a monitor before imaging) obtained through a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths (field angles). It becomes. Patent Document 2 discloses a compound eye imaging apparatus that includes two zoom optical systems and displays in parallel images obtained through the respective zoom optical systems and having different angles of view. In this compound-eye imaging apparatus, the focal lengths (zoom positions) of the respective zoom optical systems are displayed in an overlapping manner on a zoom bar that displays the focal length ranges obtained by the two zoom optical systems. Furthermore, Patent Document 3 includes a plurality of optical systems having different angles of view, displays an image obtained through an optical system having the narrowest angle of view on a monitor, and captures the optical system and other optical systems. A compound eye imaging device that also displays guidance indicating the relationship of ranges is disclosed.

JP 2005-303694 A JP 2008-35348 A JP 2011-45039 A

  When the number of optical systems having different focal lengths is increased in the compound-eye imaging apparatus as described above, if imaging is performed through all the optical systems in one imaging, the imaging is generated in one imaging. The amount of image data increases, and the recording capacity of image data required for the compound-eye imaging apparatus becomes extremely large. In addition, the user does not always desire imaging through all the optical systems. In the compound eye imaging device disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, no consideration is given to reducing the amount of image data generated by imaging.

  The present invention makes it possible to select a range to be used for imaging in a variable range of focal length (angle of view) obtained by a plurality of optical systems having different focal lengths, thereby reducing the image data capacity. A compound eye imaging apparatus is provided.

A compound eye imaging device according to one aspect of the present invention is obtained using an imaging unit that captures a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths, and a plurality of imaging optical systems. display means for displaying an indication that the variable range of the focal length or angle of view of the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user, the information Based on the above, an optical system selection unit that selects an imaging optical system used to capture an image stored in the storage medium from a plurality of imaging optical systems, and a plurality of imaging optical systems are selected by the optical system selection unit And control means for simultaneously performing imaging using the imaging optical system selected in this case.
A method for controlling a compound eye imaging device according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling a compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths, a first step of displaying an index indicating the variable range of the focal length or angle of view is obtained by using a plurality of imaging optical systems, among variable range, the range or angle of view of the focal distances more selective to the user A second step of acquiring information relating to the range; a third step of selecting, from the plurality of imaging optical systems, an imaging optical system used for imaging an image stored in the storage medium based on the information; and an optical system And a fourth step of simultaneously performing imaging using the selected imaging optical system when a plurality of imaging optical systems are selected by the selection means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compound-eye imaging program comprising: a compound-eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths; display means for displaying an indication that the variable range of the focal length or angle of view obtained using the system, among the variable range, to obtain information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user An acquisition unit, an optical system selection unit that selects an imaging optical system used to capture an image stored in the storage medium based on the information from a plurality of imaging optical systems, and an imaging optical system by the optical system selection unit When a plurality of systems are selected, the system functions as a control unit that simultaneously performs imaging using the selected imaging optical system.
In addition, a storage medium storing the above program also constitutes one aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to select a use range that a user uses for imaging in a variable range of a focal length or a field angle obtained by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths. For this reason, the amount of image data generated by imaging can be reduced as compared with the case where imaging is always performed using all imaging optical systems and all imaging elements.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a compound eye imaging apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a compound eye imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of a compound eye imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an image obtained by imaging with the compound-eye imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an imaging operation of the compound eye imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. The rear view of the compound eye imaging device which is Example 2 of this invention. The rear view of the compound eye imaging device which is Example 3 of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The compound-eye imaging apparatus (hereinafter referred to as compound-eye camera) of Embodiment 1 of the present invention realizes a continuous zoom effect using a plurality of single-focus imaging optical systems having discretely different focal lengths (field angles). Specifically, an image with an intermediate angle of view between a plurality of captured images obtained by imaging through each of a plurality of imaging optical systems is trimmed from a part of the captured image with an angle of view close to the intermediate angle of view. A pseudo continuous zoom effect is obtained by interpolating with a digital zoom process that expands. Since a continuous zoom effect can be obtained using only a single focus imaging optical system, a thin compound eye camera can be configured without requiring a zoom drive mechanism.

  Further, in the compound eye camera of the present embodiment, an image obtained through an imaging optical system having an angle of view (long focal length) narrower than the intermediate angle of view on a part of the image of the intermediate angle of view obtained by the digital zoom process. Different angle-of-view image composition processing for fitting an image is also performed. As a result, an intermediate angle of view image having a wide angle of view can be obtained although the resolution of the inserted image portion is high and the resolution of the other image portions is low.

  By acquiring multiple captured images with different angles of view in order to perform different angle-of-view image composition processing, it is possible to generate a desired intermediate angle-of-view image with higher image quality than when only digital zoom processing is performed after imaging. it can. However, if a plurality of captured images are always generated using all of the plurality of imaging optical systems provided in the compound eye camera, the amount of image data increases and the recording capacity of image data required for the compound eye camera increases. .

  Therefore, in the compound eye camera of the present embodiment, in order to reduce the amount of image data, an index indicating the variable range of the focal length or the angle of view obtained using a plurality of imaging optical systems is displayed on the display unit, and the variable range The user is allowed to select a focal length or a range of view angles used for imaging. Then, imaging is performed through at least one imaging optical system having a focal length or an angle of view corresponding to a selected use range among the plurality of imaging optical systems. Hereinafter, a specific configuration and processing of the compound eye camera of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows an internal configuration of the compound eye camera 1 of the present embodiment. 2 shows the back of the compound-eye camera 1, and FIG. 3 shows the front of the compound-eye camera.

  The compound-eye camera 1 includes an imaging unit 100, an A / D converter 103, an image processing unit 104, an intermediate angle-of-view image generation unit (image generation unit) 105, a system controller 106, and an information input unit 107. . The compound eye camera 1 includes a zoom range selection unit (selection unit) 108, an AF gate 109, an AF signal processing unit 110, an optical system selection unit 111, an imaging control unit 112, an image recording medium 113, and a display. A control unit 114 and a display unit 200 are included. The system controller 106 and the optical system selection unit 111 constitute control means. Further, the display control unit 114 and the display unit 200 constitute a display unit.

  The compound-eye camera 1 may be a lens-integrated image pickup apparatus that integrally includes a plurality of imaging optical systems (lenses), or a lens interchangeable type in which a lens unit having a plurality of imaging optical systems is detachably mounted. It may be an imaging device. In this embodiment, a lens-integrated image pickup apparatus will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the imaging unit 100 includes four imaging optical systems 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d having different focal lengths (field angles). The imaging optical system 101a is a wide-angle imaging optical system having the shortest focal length among the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d. The imaging optical system 101b is a wide middle imaging optical system having a longer focal length than the imaging optical system 101a, and the imaging optical system 101c is a telemiddle imaging having a longer focal length than the imaging optical system 101b. It is an optical system. The imaging optical system 101d is a tele imaging optical system having a longer focal length (the longest of the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d) than the imaging optical system 101c.

  In addition, the imaging unit 100 includes four imaging elements (imaging regions) 102a, 102b, and 102c that respectively capture four optical images (subject images) formed by the four imaging optical systems 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d. , 102d. The four imaging elements 102a to 102d constitute an imaging means. Each image sensor is composed of a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and photoelectrically converts the subject image and outputs an electrical signal (analog image signal). In this embodiment, a case where an image sensor is provided for each of a plurality of imaging optical systems will be described. However, a single image sensor having a plurality of imaging regions corresponding to the plurality of imaging optical systems is used. Also good.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of an image obtained by imaging through the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d. An image 1010a corresponding to the wide imaging optical system 101a is an image including the widest subject space (angle of view). The images 1010b, 1010c, and 1010d corresponding to the wide middle imaging optical system 101b, the telemiddle imaging optical system 101c, and the tele imaging optical system 101d are images including a subject space that is narrower than the image 1010a in this order.

  In FIG. 1, the A / D converter 103 converts the analog imaging signal output from the imaging elements 102 a to 102 d into a digital imaging signal, and supplies the digital imaging signal to the image processing unit 104 and the AF gate 109.

  The image processing unit 104 performs image processing such as pixel interpolation processing, color conversion processing, and digital zoom processing on the digital image pickup signal from the A / D converter 103 to obtain picked-up image data (hereinafter also simply referred to as a picked-up image). Generate. The captured image includes not only a recording image for recording on the image recording medium 113 but also a preview image generated prior to imaging for acquiring the recording image.

  The captured image generated by the image processing unit 104 is sent to the system controller 106, the image recording medium 113, and the display unit 200.

  The intermediate angle-of-view image generation unit 105 provided in the image processing unit 104 uses two captured images having different angles of view, and performs digital zoom processing on an intermediate angle-of-view image having an intermediate angle of view. Or generated by a different angle-of-view image synthesis process. Further, super-resolution processing for generating an intermediate angle-of-view image with a high resolution using a plurality of captured images may be performed.

  The AF gate 109 supplies only the signal within the area (AF frame) used for focus detection set by the system controller 106 among the digital imaging signals from the A / D converter 103 to the AF signal processing unit 110.

  The AF signal processing unit 110 extracts a high-frequency component from the imaging signal supplied from the AF gate 109 using a filter, and generates an AF evaluation value. The AF evaluation value is output to the system controller 106, and the system controller 106 performs focus adjustment control (AF) of each imaging optical system using the AF evaluation value. Further, the system controller 106 performs photometry and exposure control (AE) using luminance information in the captured image from the image processing unit 104.

  The information input unit 107 supplies information input by the user selecting and inputting desired imaging conditions (aperture value, exposure time, etc.) to the system controller 106. The information input unit 107 includes a zoom range selection unit 108. The zoom range selection unit 108 causes the user to select a desired focal length or angle of view usage range (hereinafter referred to as a zoom usage range), and supplies information on the zoom usage range to the system controller 106. The zoom use range is selected by the user from the variable range of the focal length or the angle of view obtained by the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d (the range from the wide end to the tele end, hereinafter referred to as the zoom variable range). Some or all of the range.

  The optical system selection unit 111 is based on the zoom use range information obtained from the zoom range selection unit 108, and at least one of the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d used for imaging (hereinafter referred to as selection optics). System)). The optical system selection unit 111 also selects an image sensor corresponding to the selected optical system from the four image sensors 102a to 102d.

  The system controller 106 controls the optical system selection unit 111 and the imaging control unit 112 using the supplied information and data.

  The imaging control unit 112 moves a focus lens (not shown) included in the selected optical system selected by the optical system selection unit 111 according to the AF control signal from the system controller 106. Furthermore, the imaging control unit 112 sets the aperture value of the selected optical system, and controls the exposure time of the imaging element corresponding to the selected optical system. Thereby, imaging using only the selected optical system and the imaging element corresponding thereto is performed.

  The image recording medium 113 stores captured images (still images and moving images) for recording. The display unit 200 is configured by a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel. Based on the zoom variable range information from the system controller 106, the display control unit 114 causes the display unit 200 to display a zoom indicator as an index indicating the zoom variable range together with the preview image. Further, the display control unit 114 causes the display unit 200 to display the zoom use range so as to be superimposed on the zoom variable range based on the zoom use range information from the system controller 106. In addition, the display control unit 114 causes the display unit 200 to display various types of information related to imaging supplied from the system controller 106.

  FIG. 2 shows the zoom indicator 10 that the display control unit 114 displays on the display unit 200. The zoom indicator 10 has a zoom variable range including focal lengths 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of all the imaging optical systems 101a, 101b, 101c, and 101d and a focal length equivalent value obtained by digital zoom processing therebetween. The entire range is shown. Here, the focal lengths 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are shown as examples of 24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, and 85 mm converted to 35 mm, respectively.

  The display control unit 114 superimposes on the zoom indicator 10 to display the zoom use range 12 selected by the user. In this way, by allowing the user to select the desired zoom use range 12 to be used for imaging and displaying this together with the zoom variable range (zoom indicator 10), it is easy for the user to change the angle of view after imaging. Can be confirmed. The selected optical system is selected by the optical system selection unit 111 so as to obtain an angle of view corresponding to the zoom use range 12, in other words, the zoom use range 12, and the image is picked up only by the image pickup element corresponding to the selection optical system. Is done. As a result, the amount of image data generated by one imaging compared to the case where imaging is always performed using all of the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d and the four imaging elements 102a to 102b in one imaging. (That is, the image data recording capacity) can be reduced.

  The display control unit 114 further causes the display unit 200 to display the image data recording capacity 13 required when a captured image is acquired in the zoom usage range 12. Thereby, it is possible to clearly recognize the amount of image data necessary for imaging in the zoom use range 12 selected by the user. The user can avoid a situation where the remaining recording capacity of the image recording medium 113 is insufficient for subsequent imaging by adjusting the zoom usage range in consideration of the remaining recording capacity of the image recording medium 113. .

  In FIG. 2, a menu button 31, a set button 32, and a move button 33 are provided as operation members constituting the zoom range selection unit 108 on the side of the display unit 200 on the back of the compound eye camera 1. The menu button 31 is operated by a user to start selection and setting of various menus such as selection of a recording image size, setting of date and time, and on / off of display of the zoom indicator 10. The set button 32 is operated by the user in order to confirm selection in each menu (for example, selection of a zoom use range). The movement button 33 is operated by the user when performing selection in each menu (for example, enlargement / reduction of the zoom use range).

  The release button 34 is operated by the user to perform AF and imaging.

  Next, imaging processing performed by the system controller 106 and the optical system selection unit 111 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The system controller 106 and the optical system selection unit 111 are configured as a computer including a CPU, an MPU, and the like, and execute this processing according to a compound eye imaging control program that is a computer program.

  When the user turns on the power of the compound eye camera 1, the system controller 106 displays the zoom indicator 10 on the display unit 200 through the display control unit 114 in step (abbreviated as S in the figure) 100.

  Next, the user operates the menu button 31, the set button 32, and the move button 33 of the zoom range selection unit 108 to select a desired zoom use range. In response to this, the system controller 106 displays the zoom use range 12 on the zoom indicator 10 of the display unit 200 through the display control unit 114 in step 101. Note that it is also possible to select a plurality of zoom use ranges simultaneously on the zoom indicator 10 (that is, a plurality of zoom use ranges for one imaging) as in Example 3 described later.

  Next, in step 102, the system controller 106 confirms the zoom use range selected in step 101 and causes the optical system selection unit 111 to select an imaging optical system corresponding to the zoom use range. The system controller 106 also starts imaging with an imaging element corresponding to the selected imaging optical system (selected optical system).

  For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the zoom use range 12 is selected as a focal length range of approximately 30 mm to 40 mm. The optical system selection unit 111 selects at least one imaging optical system corresponding to the zoom use range 12 out of the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d according to the following rule. The optical system selection unit 111 selects an imaging optical system (imaging optical system 101c having a focal length of 50 mm) having a focal length longer than the upper limit of the focal length of the zoom use range 12 (approximately 40 mm in the example of FIG. 2). . Further, the optical system selection unit 111 selects an imaging optical system (imaging optical system 101a having a focal length of 24 mm) having a focal length shorter than the lower limit of the focal length of the zoom use range 12 (approximately 30 mm in the example of FIG. 2). select. Further, the optical system selection unit 111 selects all the imaging optical systems having a focal length included in the zoom use range 12 (only the imaging optical system 101b having a focal length of 35 mm in the example of FIG. 2).

  That is, the imaging optical systems 101a, 101b, and 101c having focal lengths of 24 mm, 35 mm, and 50 mm are selected for the zoom use range 12 shown in FIG. In one imaging, only imaging by the imaging elements 102a, 102b, and 102c corresponding to these selection optical systems 101a, 101b, and 101c is performed in one imaging.

  An image having a field angle range corresponding to a focal length range between approximately 30 mm and 35 mm is an intermediate field angle image using two captured images generated by the imaging optical systems 101a and 101b and the imaging elements 102a and 102b. It is generated by the different angle-of-view image synthesis processing by the generation unit 105. An image having an angle of view corresponding to a focal length of 35 mm is obtained as a captured image generated by imaging with the imaging optical system 101b and the imaging element 102b. An image having a field angle range corresponding to a focal length range between 35 mm and approximately 40 mm is an intermediate field angle image using two captured images generated by imaging by the imaging optical systems 101b and 101c and the imaging elements 102b and 102c. It is generated by the different angle-of-view image synthesis processing by the generation unit 105.

  Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 2, it is not necessary to perform imaging with the imaging optical system 101d and the imaging element 102d. For this reason, the amount of image data can be reduced as compared with the case where imaging is performed by all the imaging optical systems 101a to 101d and all the imaging elements 102a to 102d in one imaging. As a result, the recording capacity of image data can be reduced.

  Next, in step 103, the system controller 106 displays an image generated by imaging with the selected optical system and the imaging device selected in step 102 as a preview image on the display unit 200. For example, a digital zoom image obtained by performing digital zoom processing on a part of the captured image obtained through the imaging optical system having the shortest focal length among the selected optical systems is displayed as a preview image on the entire screen of the display unit 200.

  Next, in step 104, the system controller 106 determines whether or not the release button 34 has been pressed halfway. When the half-press operation is performed, the system controller 106 proceeds to step 105 to perform imaging preparation operations such as AF, photometry, and AE, and then proceeds to step 106. If the release button 34 has not been half-pressed or if the half-press operation has been released, the system controller 106 returns to step 101.

  In step 106, the system controller 106 determines whether or not the release button 34 has been fully pressed. If the full-press operation has been performed, the system controller 106 proceeds to step 107, and performs imaging with the selected optical system and the image sensor corresponding thereto. Then, the process proceeds to Step 108. If the release button 34 has not been fully pressed, the system controller 106 returns to step 105.

  In step 108, the system controller 106 records the captured image generated by the imaging or the intermediate angle of view image generated by the above-described different angle of view image synthesis processing on the image recording medium 113.

  According to the present embodiment, imaging is performed using only the selected optical system and the imaging device corresponding to the zoom usage range selected by the user among the plurality of imaging optical systems. As a result, the recording capacity of image data can be reduced as compared with the case where imaging is always performed using all imaging optical systems and all imaging elements in one imaging.

  In this embodiment, the case where all the imaging optical systems have different focal lengths has been described, but two or more imaging optical systems having the same focal length may be included. By having two or more imaging optical systems having the same focal length, an effect such as noise reduction can be obtained by image synthesis processing. Further, in this embodiment, the focal length of each imaging optical system displayed on the zoom indicator is a 35 mm equivalent value, but the actual focal length of the imaging optical system may be displayed as it is.

  Next, a compound eye camera that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The internal configuration of the compound-eye camera of the present embodiment is the same as the configuration shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the components common to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 6 shows a variable range of field angles (zoom variable) obtained by using the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d as a zoom variable range that the display control unit 114 displays on the display unit 200 in the compound-eye camera of the present embodiment. An angle-of-view indicator 20 as an index indicating (range) is shown. FIG. 6 shows a field angle range 22 (zoom use range: hereinafter referred to as a field angle use range) 22 used for imaging selected by the user within the field angle variable range. In the field angle indicator 20, 21a is a field angle frame as an index indicating an imaging field angle corresponding to the imaging optical system 101a, and 21b is an field angle as an index indicating the imaging field angle corresponding to the imaging optical system 101b. It is a frame. Reference numeral 21c denotes an angle-of-view frame as an index indicating an imaging field angle corresponding to the imaging optical system 101c, and reference numeral 21d denotes an angle-of-view frame as an index indicating an imaging field angle corresponding to the imaging optical system 101d.

  When the user wants to obtain an image corresponding to an arbitrary angle of view within the angle of view use range 22, the user selects the angle of view use range 22 through the zoom range setting unit 108. In this way, the user can select a desired field angle use range 22 to be used for imaging and display this together with the field angle indicator 20 so that the user can easily confirm the range in which the field angle can be changed after imaging. be able to.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, the view angle use range 22 is selected as the view angle range equal to or smaller than the view angle between the view angle frame 21c and the view angle frame 21d. In this embodiment, the optical system selection unit 111 selects at least one imaging optical system corresponding to the field angle use range 22 among the four imaging optical systems 101a to 101d according to the following rules. The optical system selection unit 111 selects an imaging optical system having a field angle smaller than the lower limit of the field angle of the field angle usage range 22 (not applicable in the example of FIG. 6). Further, the optical system selection unit 111 has an imaging optical system having an angle of view larger than the upper limit of the angle of view of the angle of view use range 22 (the imaging optical system 101c corresponding to the angle of view frame 21c in the example of FIG. 6). Furthermore, the optical system selector 111 selects all the imaging optical systems having an angle of view included in the angle-of-view usage range 22 (only the imaging optical system 101d corresponding to the angle-of-view frame 21d in the example of FIG. 6). ) Is selected.

  That is, in the example of FIG. 6, the optical system selection unit 111 selects the imaging optical systems 101c and 101d. For this reason, only one image is picked up by the image pickup elements 102c and 102d corresponding to the selection optical systems 101c and 101d in one image pickup.

  An image of an angle of view range between the angle of view between the angle of view frames 21c and 21d and the angle of view of the angle of view frame 21d is generated by imaging with the imaging optical systems 101c and 101d and the imaging elements 102c and 102d. It is generated by a different angle-of-view image synthesis process in the intermediate angle-of-view image generation unit 105 using two captured images. In addition, the image of the angle of view of the angle of view frame 21d is obtained as a captured image generated by imaging with the imaging optical system 101d and the imaging element 102d. An image with a field angle range narrower than the field angle frame 21d is generated as a digital zoom image obtained as a result of performing digital zoom processing on part of a captured image generated by imaging with the imaging optical system 101d and the imaging element 102d. The

  As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 6, it is not necessary to perform imaging with the imaging optical systems 101a and 101b and the imaging elements 102a and 102b. For this reason, the amount of image data can be reduced as compared with the case where imaging is performed by all the imaging optical systems 101a to 101d and all the imaging elements 102a to 102d in one imaging. As a result, the recording capacity of image data can be reduced.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the display control unit 114 causes the display unit 200 to display the recording capacity 23 of the image data that is necessary when a captured image is acquired in the field angle use range 22. Thereby, it is possible to clearly recognize the amount of image data necessary for imaging in the angle-of-view usage range 22 selected by the user.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 200 is provided with a touch panel 201 that constitutes a part of the zoom range setting unit 108. The user can select a desired field angle use range 22 by touching the touch panel 201 with a finger and moving the finger. Also in this embodiment, it is also possible to select a plurality of viewing angle use ranges simultaneously (plural for one imaging).

  Since the imaging process in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 5), description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a compound eye camera that is Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. The internal configuration and the rear configuration of the compound-eye camera of the present embodiment are the same as the configurations shown in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2), and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Is attached.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an example in which a plurality (two in this case) of zoom use ranges 12a and 12b are selected on the zoom indicator 10 described in the first embodiment for one imaging. Is shown. The zoom usage range 12a is set to a focal length range of 24 mm to 35 mm, and the zoom usage range 12b is set to a focal length range of 85 mm or more.

  In this embodiment, the optical system selection unit 111 selects the image forming optical systems corresponding to the zoom use ranges 12a and 12b and all the image forming optical systems having the focal lengths included in the zoom use ranges 12a and 12b. Select by rule. That is, the optical system selection unit 111 selects the imaging optical systems 101a and 101b having the focal length included in the zoom usage range 12a, and selects the imaging optical system 101d included in the zoom usage range 12b. An image having an angle of view corresponding to a focal length range between 24 mm and 35 mm is generated by using the two imaged images generated by the imaging optical systems 101a and 101b and the imaging elements 102a and 102b. It is generated by the different angle of view image synthesis processing by the unit 105. In addition, an image with an angle of view corresponding to a focal length range of 85 mm or more is generated as a digital zoom image obtained by performing digital zoom processing on a part of a captured image generated by imaging with the imaging optical system 101d and the imaging element 102d. The

  Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it is not necessary to perform imaging with the imaging optical system 101c and the imaging element 102c. For this reason, the amount of image data can be reduced compared with the case where imaging is performed by all the imaging optical systems 101a to 101d and all the imaging elements 102a to 102d in one imaging. As a result, the recording capacity of image data can be reduced.

Since the imaging process in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (FIG. 5), description thereof is omitted.
(Other examples)
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound eye imaging device 10 Zoom indicator 12 Zoom use range 20 Field angle indicator 22 Field angle use range 101a, 101b, 101c, 101d Imaging optical system 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d Image sensor 106 System controller 108 Zoom range selection part 111 Optical System selection unit 114 Display control unit 200 Display unit

Claims (15)

Imaging means for imaging a plurality of optical images respectively formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths;
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for capturing an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Control means for simultaneously performing imaging using the selected imaging optical system when a plurality of imaging optical systems are selected by the optical system selection means;
A compound eye imaging device comprising:   The optical system selection means selects at least an imaging optical system having a focal length shorter than the lower limit of the focal length in the range or an imaging optical system having an angle of view larger than the upper limit of the angle of view in the range. The compound-eye imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compound-eye imaging apparatus is characterized. Imaging means for imaging a plurality of optical images respectively formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths;
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for capturing an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Have
The optical system selection means selects at least an imaging optical system having a focal length shorter than the lower limit of the focal length in the range or an imaging optical system having an angle of view larger than the upper limit of the angle of view in the range. A compound eye imaging device. Wherein said optical system selecting means, characterized in that to select the image forming optical system having a smaller angle than the lower limit of the angle of view at the focal length long focal length or pre Kihan circumference than the upper limit of the at least the range Item 4. The compound eye imaging device according to any one of Items 1 to 3. Imaging means for imaging a plurality of optical images respectively formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths;
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for capturing an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Have
Said optical system selecting means, compound eye and selects an imaging optical system having a smaller angle than the lower limit of the angle of view at least a long focal length or pre Kihan circumference than the upper limit of the focal length in the range Imaging device. It said information in response to one imaging claim 1, characterized in that it comprises information about a range of a plurality of focal distance or angle that is more selective to the user according to any one of the 5 Compound eye imaging device.   The compound-eye imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical system selection unit selects all the imaging optical systems having at least a focal length or an angle of view within the range.   An intermediate angle of view between two images obtained by imaging using two image forming optical systems among the image forming optical systems selected by the optical system selecting means. 8. The compound eye imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image generation unit configured to generate an image corresponding to. A control method for a compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
A first step of displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, and a second step of obtaining information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
A third step of selecting, from the plurality of imaging optical systems, an imaging optical system used for imaging an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
A fourth step for causing the imaging using an imaging optical system which is selected when the image-forming optical system has a plurality of simultaneously selected in the previous SL third step,
Having a control method. A control method for a compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
A first step of displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, and a second step of obtaining information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
A third step of selecting, from the plurality of imaging optical systems, an imaging optical system used for imaging an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Have
In the third step, an imaging optical system having a focal length shorter than at least the lower limit of the focal length in the range or an imaging optical system having an angle of view larger than the upper limit of the angle of view in the range is selected. Characteristic control method. A control method for a compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
A first step of displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, and a second step of obtaining information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
A third step of selecting, from the plurality of imaging optical systems, an imaging optical system used for imaging an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Have
In the third step, control, characterized in that the imaging optical system is selected to have a smaller angle than the lower limit of the angle of view at the focal length long focal length or pre Kihan circumference than the upper limit of the at least the range Method. A compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for capturing an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
Control means for simultaneously performing imaging using the selected imaging optical system when a plurality of imaging optical systems are selected by the optical system selection means;
A program characterized by functioning as A compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for imaging an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
A program that functions as
The optical system selection means selects at least an imaging optical system having a focal length shorter than the lower limit of the focal length in the range or an imaging optical system having an angle of view larger than the upper limit of the angle of view in the range. A featured program. A compound eye imaging device capable of imaging a plurality of optical images formed by a plurality of imaging optical systems having different focal lengths,
Display means for displaying an index indicating a variable range of a focal length or an angle of view obtained by using the plurality of imaging optical systems;
Among the variable range, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about the scope or the angle of view of the focal length more selective to the user,
An optical system selecting means for selecting, from the plurality of image forming optical systems, an image forming optical system used for imaging an image stored in a storage medium based on the information;
A program that functions as
Said optical system selecting means, a program and selects an imaging optical system having a smaller angle than the lower limit of the angle of view at least a long focal length or pre Kihan circumference than the upper limit of the focal length in the range .   A storage medium readable by a computer and storing the program according to any one of claims 12 to 14.