JP7116471B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Magazine published on September 30, 2017 Spaceship, Vol. 158, pp. 74-75 (Publications, etc.)

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Announced on the website Panora on October 12, 2017 (Publications, etc.)

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act Announced on website Nikkei Trendy Net on October 16, 2017

The present invention relates to an imaging device.

In recent years, there has been research into technologies called VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality), which change the image to follow the user's movements and make the image in front of the user feel as if it were real. progressing.

Images used in VR and the like are sometimes captured by a camera equipped with a fisheye lens or a wide-angle lens, or by a camera equipped with multiple cameras so that the images are not interrupted no matter what direction the user looks. .

For example, Patent Literature 1 below describes a camera system including a plurality of cameras mounted on the frame so that they face the outside of the frame and have different photographing ranges, and a support member connected to the frame. there is

U.S. Pat. No. 9,413,930

A plurality of cameras included in the camera system described in Patent Literature 1 capture moving images, and combine the captured moving images to generate one panoramic moving image. However, in the conventional photographing device, there are blind spots where the photographing ranges of the two adjacent cameras do not overlap, or the overlapping of the photographing ranges is slight. When moving from one shooting range to the other shooting range, noise such as skipping or distortion may occur in the generated panoramic video.

Such noise becomes conspicuous in moving images with a high frame rate of, for example, about 120 fps (frames per second). For this reason, it was difficult to shoot slow-motion panoramic videos with little noise using conventional shooting devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing apparatus capable of photographing a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

An imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a housing having a polygonal outer shape that is substantially rotationally symmetrical in a plan view of a reference plane, and a polygonal housing so that an optical axis forms a predetermined elevation angle with respect to the reference plane. A photographing device provided with a plurality of cameras facing outward on a plurality of sides, wherein the photographing ranges at a predetermined distance of two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras overlap without interruption. However, the photographing ranges at the predetermined distances of all the cameras are provided so as to overlap on the axis of symmetry of the polygon.

According to this aspect, the hemispherical area can be photographed redundantly by a plurality of cameras without blind spots, and even when the object to be photographed moves from one photographing range to the other photographing range of two adjacent cameras. Even if there is, a sufficiently long period in which the object to be photographed is photographed by both of the two adjacent cameras is ensured. Therefore, it is possible to shoot a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

Further, in the above aspect, the plurality of cameras may be provided such that the photographing range at the predetermined distance of all of the plurality of cameras includes the reference plane.

According to this aspect, an area of 2π steradian or more in terms of a solid angle can be photographed redundantly with a plurality of cameras without blind spots, and a panoramic video with reduced noise can be photographed at an angle looking up at the object to be photographed from the ground. can do.

In the above aspect, the plurality of cameras may be provided such that the angle between the optical axes of two adjacent cameras out of the plurality of cameras is 60° or less in a plan view of the reference plane.

According to this aspect, the photographing ranges of the two adjacent cameras overlap sufficiently, and a sufficiently long period in which the photographing target is photographed by both of the two adjacent cameras is ensured. Therefore, it is possible to shoot a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

Further, in the above aspect, the plurality of cameras may be provided so that the optical axes of the plurality of cameras intersect with the radial direction of a circle circumscribing the polygon in plan view of the reference plane.

According to this aspect, a plurality of cameras can be arranged more densely, and a panoramic video with reduced noise can be shot at a relatively high frame rate even when the shooting target is close to the shooting device. be able to.

Further, in the above aspect, the polygon may be a star-shaped polygon, and the plurality of cameras may be provided outward on a plurality of sides of the star-shaped polygon in a plan view of the reference plane.

According to this aspect, a plurality of cameras can be arranged more densely, and a panoramic video with reduced noise can be shot at a relatively high frame rate even when the shooting target is close to the shooting device. be able to.

Further, in the above aspect, the star-shaped polygon is a figure composed of a regular polygon and a plurality of scalene triangles connected to a plurality of sides of the regular polygon, and the plurality of cameras are positioned on the reference plane. In plan view, it may be provided outward on specific sides of the plurality of scalene triangles.

According to this aspect, it is possible to dispose a plurality of cameras more densely and prevent the housing from being captured, and even when the object to be photographed is close to the photographing device, the frame rate is relatively high. You can shoot panoramic movies with reduced noise.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the imaging device which can image|photograph the panoramic video which reduced noise by a comparatively high frame rate can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a top view of the imaging device concerning this embodiment. It is a side view which shows the imaging|photography range of the imaging device which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a perspective view showing an imaging range of an imaging device according to this embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an imaging range of a conventional imaging device; FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in each figure, the same reference numerals have the same or similar configurations.

First, the problem of the imaging device 40 according to the conventional technology will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the photographing range of the conventional photographing device 40. As shown in FIG. A photographing device 40 according to the conventional technology shown in this example is a photographing device in which a total of six cameras are provided on the sides of a regular pentagon and in the center of the regular pentagon. In the figure, the photographing ranges at the distance R of the three cameras are shown as a first photographing range 40a, a second photographing range 40b, and a third photographing range 40c.

Although the first imaging range 40a, the second imaging range 40b, and the third imaging range 40c overlap with the imaging ranges of the cameras adjacent at the four corners, there is a first blind spot between the first imaging range 40a and the second imaging range 40b. 42 exists, and a second blind spot 44 exists between the second imaging range 40b and the third imaging range 40c. Although not shown in FIG. 5, a camera provided in the center of the regular pentagon is used to photograph the upper area. There are also blind spots in between.

As described above, the photographing ranges of the two adjacent cameras at a predetermined distance do not necessarily overlap, and there is a blind spot. When moving from one shooting range to another shooting range, noise such as skipping and distortion may occur in the generated panorama moving image. Such noise becomes conspicuous when the object to be shot is close to the imaging device 40 or when the moving image has a high frame rate of about 120 fps.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. Also, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the imaging device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the photographing device 10 in plan view of the reference plane. Here, the reference plane may be a plane on which the housing 30 of the imaging device 10 is placed.

The photographing apparatus 10 includes a housing 30 having a substantially rotationally symmetrical polygonal outer shape in a plan view of a reference plane, and a plurality of sides of the polygon having an outer shape such that the optical axis forms a predetermined elevation angle with respect to the reference plane. It has 7 cameras facing each other. The housing 30 of the present embodiment has a polygonal shape with seven-fold symmetry about the axis of symmetry C. As shown in FIG. However, the housing 30 may have any rotationally symmetric profile, such as 8-fold symmetry.

The polygon forming the outer shape of the housing 30 is a star-shaped polygon, and the plurality of cameras may be provided outward on the plurality of sides of the star-shaped polygon in a plan view of the reference plane. With such an arrangement, a plurality of cameras can be arranged more densely, and even when the object to be photographed is close to the photographing device 10, it is possible to photograph a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate. can. For example, when a plurality of cameras are arranged outward along the circumference in a plan view of the reference plane, the distance between two adjacent cameras cannot be smaller than the width of the cameras. On the other hand, in the imaging device 10 according to the present embodiment, by arranging a plurality of cameras facing outward on a plurality of sides of the star-shaped polygon, the distance between two adjacent cameras can be further reduced. Multiple cameras can be packed closer together.

The star-shaped polygon forming the outer shape of the housing 30 may be a figure composed of a regular polygon 32 and a plurality of scalene triangles 34 connected to a plurality of sides of the regular polygon 32 . In this embodiment, the regular polygon 32 is a regular heptagon. The scalene triangle 34 has a first side 34a, a second side 34b and a third side 34c, and the first side 34a, the second side 34b and the third side 34c have different lengths. More specifically, the first side 34a is longer than the third side 34c, and the second side 34b is longer than the first side 34a. Also, the second side 34 b coincides with the side of the regular polygon 32 .

A plurality of cameras are provided facing outward on specific sides of the plurality of scalene triangles 34 in a plan view of the reference plane. Specifically, a plurality of cameras are provided on the first side 34a. In this embodiment, a total of seven trapezoidal triangles 34 exist on each side of the heptagon, and the seven first sides 34a are provided with the first camera 20a, the second camera 20b, the third camera 20c, the fourth camera 20d, A fifth camera 20e, a sixth camera 20f and a seventh camera 20g are provided. The first camera 20a, the second camera 20b, the third camera 20c, the fourth camera 20d, the fifth camera 20e, the sixth camera 20f, and the seventh camera 20g may be cameras with the same configuration, for example, at about 120 fps. It may be a camera that captures 16:9 aspect ratio video at a frame rate. By arranging the cameras on each of the seven first sides 34a, it is possible to dispose a plurality of cameras more densely and prevent the housing 30 from being captured. Even with this, it is possible to shoot a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

In this embodiment, the plurality of cameras are provided such that the angle between the optical axes of two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras is 60° or less in a plan view of the reference plane. For example, for the adjacent second camera 20b and third camera 20c, the angle α between the optical axis 22b of the second camera and the optical axis 22c of the third camera is approximately 51.4°. Here, the angle α is a value obtained by subtracting an internal angle of a regular heptagon from 180°. In this embodiment, the angle between the optical axes of any two adjacent cameras is also about 51.4°. As a result, the photographing ranges of the two adjacent cameras overlap sufficiently, and a sufficiently long period in which the photographing target is photographed by both of the two adjacent cameras is ensured. Therefore, a noise-reduced panoramic video can be shot at a relatively high frame rate, and a slow-motion panoramic video with little noise can be shot. When the angle between the optical axes of two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras is 60°, the polygon forming the outer shape of the housing 30 is a regular hexagon or a scalene triangle connected to each side of the regular hexagon. It may be a star-shaped polygon. Further, when the angle between the optical axes of two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras is 45°, the polygon forming the outer shape of the housing 30 is a regular octagon or a scalene triangle connected to each side of the regular octagon. It may be a star-shaped polygon.

Further, the plurality of cameras may be provided so that the optical axes of the plurality of cameras intersect with the radial direction 38 of the circle circumscribing the polygon forming the outer shape of the housing 30 in a plan view of the reference plane. In this embodiment, the outer shape of the housing 30 is a star-shaped polygon, and the circumscribed circle 36 is a circle that circumscribes the star-shaped polygon. Also, the center of the circumscribed circle 36 coincides with the axis of symmetry C of the star-shaped polygon. A radial direction 38 is a direction passing through the center of the circumscribed circle 36 and orthogonal to the circumscribed circle 36 . In this embodiment, for example, the second camera 20 b is provided such that the optical axis 22 b of the second camera forms an angle β with the radial direction 38 . The angle β can be, for example, between 10° and 30°, but its value is arbitrary. In this embodiment, the angle between the optical axis and the circumscribed circle 36 is β for all of the cameras. In this way, by arranging a plurality of cameras with the optical axes of the cameras tilted with respect to the circumscribed circle 36, the plurality of cameras can be arranged more densely. Even if there is, it is possible to shoot a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the imaging range of the imaging device 10 according to this embodiment. In the figure, the optical axis 22d of the fourth camera is shown, and the shooting range at the distance R from the lens of the fourth camera 20d is shown as the shooting range 24d of the fourth camera. Here, the distance R corresponds to the predetermined distance of the present invention, and may be 50 cm, for example. Note that the distance R shown in FIG. 3 is the same distance as the distance R shown in FIG.

The fourth camera 20d is provided with respect to the reference plane S so that the optical axis 22d of the fourth camera forms a predetermined elevation angle γ. Here, the elevation angle γ may be approximately 45° to 65°, and is approximately 50° in this embodiment. Also, the shooting range 24d of the fourth camera has an angle θ in the elevation direction. Here, the angle θ may be 120°, for example. The elevation angles γ of the cameras may be selected such that (γ−θ/2)≧0 with respect to the angle θ that can be captured in the elevation direction. In the present embodiment, the elevation angles of all the cameras are γ, and the imaging ranges of all the cameras extend by an angle θ in the elevation direction.

The imaging range 24 d of the fourth camera at the distance R includes a first overlapping area D 1 that intersects the axis of symmetry C of the housing 30 . In the first overlapping area D1, the photographing ranges at the predetermined distances of all the cameras overlap. In this embodiment, the photographing ranges at the predetermined distances of all the cameras include the first overlap region D1 where the axis of symmetry C intersects. That is, all of the cameras are provided so as to include the axis of symmetry C in the photographing range at a predetermined distance.

Also, the photographing range 24d of the fourth camera at the distance R is provided so as to include the reference plane S. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the photographing ranges at the predetermined distances of all the cameras are provided so as to include the reference plane S. FIG. As a result, multiple cameras can be used to capture an area with a solid angle of 2π steradian or more without blind spots, and a panoramic video with reduced noise can be captured at an angle looking up at the subject from the ground. can. Therefore, it is possible to shoot a particularly effective panorama moving image when shooting miniatures such as special effects images. When photographing a miniature, a slow-motion moving image may be used in order to realistically depict a scene such as a collapse of a miniature building. It is possible to shoot panoramic videos that are particularly effective in certain situations.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the imaging range of the imaging device 10 according to this embodiment. In the same drawing, a photographing range 24c of the third camera at the distance R and a photographing range 24d of the fourth camera at the distance R are shown. Also, an overlapping area between the shooting range 24c of the third camera and the shooting range 24d of the fourth camera is shown as a second overlapping area D2. Note that the shooting range 24c of the third camera and the shooting range 24d of the fourth camera shown in FIG. 4 are shooting ranges at the same distance as the distance R shown in FIG.

The photographing range 24c of the third camera and the photographing range 24d of the fourth camera overlap at a distance R without interruption. That is, the second overlapping area D2 indicating the overlap of the photographing ranges at the distance R is a continuous area without holes. In this embodiment, the photographing ranges at the distance R of any two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras overlap without interruption. As a result, the hemispherical area can be photographed redundantly by a plurality of cameras without blind spots, and even if the object to be photographed moves from the photographing range of one of the two adjacent cameras to the photographing range of the other. , a sufficiently long period in which the object to be photographed is photographed by both of the two adjacent cameras. Therefore, it is possible to shoot a panoramic video with reduced noise at a relatively high frame rate.

FIG. 4 shows that the shooting range 24c of the third camera at the distance R and the shooting range 24d of the fourth camera at the distance R intersect the axis of symmetry C in the first overlapping area D1. In this way, since the photographing range of all of the plurality of cameras at the distance R includes the vertices, noise is reduced at a relatively high frame rate even if the photographing target is at an angle that covers the photographing device 10. You can shoot panoramic videos.

The embodiments described above are for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit and interpret the present invention. Each element included in the embodiment and its arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc. are not limited to those illustrated and can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, it is possible to partially replace or combine the configurations shown in the embodiments.

10 Photographing device 20a First camera 20b Second camera 20c Third camera 20d Fourth camera 20e Fifth camera 20f Sixth camera 20g Seventh camera 22b Third Optical axis of 2 cameras, 22c... Optical axis of third camera, 22d... Optical axis of fourth camera, 24c... Shooting range of third camera, 24d... Shooting range of fourth camera, 30... Housing, 32... Positive Polygon 34 Scalene triangle 34a First side 34b Second side 34c Third side 36 Circumscribed circle 38 Radial direction 40 Conventional imaging device 40a First side Shooting range 40b...Second shooting range 40c...Third shooting range 42...First blind spot 44...Second blind spot C...Axis of symmetry D1...First overlapping area D2...Second overlapping area S... Reference plane

Claims (3)

a housing having a substantially rotationally symmetrical polygonal outline in a plan view of a reference plane;
A photographing device comprising a plurality of cameras facing outward on a plurality of sides of the polygon so that the optical axis forms a predetermined elevation angle with respect to the reference plane,
The plurality of cameras are
shooting ranges at a predetermined distance of two adjacent cameras among the plurality of cameras overlap without interruption;
shooting ranges of all of the plurality of cameras at the predetermined distance are provided so as to overlap on the axis of symmetry of the polygon ;
The plurality of cameras are provided so that the optical axes of the plurality of cameras intersect a radial direction of a circle circumscribing the polygon in a plan view of the reference plane.
photographic equipment. the polygon is a star polygon,
The plurality of cameras are provided facing outward on a plurality of sides of the star-shaped polygon in a plan view of the reference plane.
The photographing device according to claim 1 . The star-shaped polygon is a figure composed of a regular polygon and a plurality of scalene triangles connected to a plurality of sides of the regular polygon,
The plurality of cameras are provided facing outward on specific sides of the plurality of scalene triangles in a plan view of the reference plane.
The photographing device according to claim 2 .

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