JPH01170279A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correct the tilt of a picture in the turning direction caused with respect to an optical axis of a camera main body by varying the direction of the scanning line of an image pickup element in response to the tilt of the optical axis of a camera main body in the turning direction. CONSTITUTION:In the reception of a data of a turning angle 9 of the camera main body from an A/D conversion 31, a microcomputer 41 constituting a scanning circuit 32 discriminates the angle theta by the internal processing of the microcomputer 41. Then, the microcomputer 41 in response to the angle theta reads the address of the picture element to scan the picture element P of a solid-state image pickup element 33 from the memory 42 and outputs it as a control signal D of a switch VS from the scanning circuit 32. Even when the camera main body is turned at an optional angle with respect to the optical axis, the turning angle is detected automatically and the scanning line of the solid-state image pickup element is varied in response to the turning angle, then the tilt of the video image at the receiver is corrected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an imaging device such as a video camera, and particularly to an image pickup device that eliminates image shaking in the rotational direction of the optical axis of an imaging section.

The present invention relates to a correction circuit suitable for stable camera operation.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional devices, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-192178, are designed to reduce the shaking of a video camera in the vertical plane and in the horizontal plane. In other words, the 9th
As shown in the figure, the upper position of the camera body 101 or
A yawing rotation means 102 that detects shaking in a horizontal mountain as an angular velocity at a lower position and controls an actuator so as to reduce the detected amount to zero, and detects shaking in a vertical plane as an angular velocity at a horizontal position of the camera body 101, Each vibration was reduced by a pitching rotation means 103 that controlled the actuator so that the detected amount became zero. However, there is no correction effect on the inclination of the camera body 101 in the rotational direction with respect to the optical axis, and correction of shaking in the rotational direction has not been taken into consideration.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

The above conventional technology does not take into account compensation when the camera body is tilted in the rotational direction with respect to the optical axis. There was a problem that the camera would be tilted by the angle it was rotated against.

An object of the present invention is to correct the tilt of an image in the rotational direction that occurs with respect to the optical axis of the camera body.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is achieved by changing the direction of the scanning line of the image sensor according to the rotational inclination of the camera body with respect to the optical axis.

[For production]

The tilt detector detects the rotation angle of the camera body in the rotation direction with respect to the optical axis. The scanning circuit of the image sensor scans pixels according to the rotation angle detected by the tilt detector. As a result, the video signal read from the imaging device is corrected with respect to the optical axis, so that the image drawn by the image receiving device has no inclination.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
This will be explained using FIG. 5, FIG. 5, and FIG. 1O.

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the scanning circuit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer) in FIG. 2. 4 shows an example of detecting the rotational tilt of the camera body 101 with respect to the optical axis, and FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the shape of the solid-state image sensor and the scanning area used in this example. .

In FIG. 1, 33 is a solid-state image sensor, 34 is a control terminal of a switch vS for supplying the charge generated in each pixel P to the output terminal 24, 30 is a semi-fixed resistor, and 31 is a semi-fixed resistor 30. An A/D converter that converts the voltage at the midpoint terminal into a digital signal.

32 corresponds to the output signal C of the A/D converter 31.

This is a scanning circuit that sequentially drives the switches vS. Also, C
D indicates a plurality of digital signal lines output from the A/D converter 31, and D indicates a control line of a plurality of switches vS output from the scanning circuit 32.

In FIG. 2, 41 represents a microcomputer, and 42 represents a memory.

In FIG. 3, 51.56 is a video/servo processing routine, 52 is a data input routine for rotation angle O, and 53 is a data input routine for rotation angle O.
54 is a routine for determining the angle θ, 54 is a routine for transferring scan data from the memory according to the angle θ, and 55 is a routine for outputting a scan control signal.

In FIG. 4, 35 is a conductive sphere, 36 is a cylinder made of a resistive material, 37 is a conductive cylinder, and 38 is a power source.

In FIG. 5, E indicates the pixel area scanned when the camera body 101 is not tilted with respect to the rotation direction of the optical axis.
F is θ. It shows the pixel area that is scanned when tilted clockwise.

In FIG. 10, 43 indicates a scanning line.

In this embodiment, in order to always draw an image in the correct position for any rotation angle, the solid-state image sensor 33 has to have a circular outline as shown in FIG. Therefore, the arrangement of each pixel P is not necessarily in a grid pattern,
The scanning of each switch vS is not performed in a matrix manner.

Here, in order to provide membrane properties, a direct switch vs.
shall be controlled.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

First, the operation of the scanning circuit 32 shown in FIG. 1 will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3.

The microcomputer 41 configuring the scanning circuit 32 is an A/D converter 31
When data on the rotation angle θ of the camera body 101 is received from the camera body 101 (FIG. 3, 52), the angle θ is determined by internal processing of the microcomputer 41 (FIG. 3, 53).

Next, the microcomputer 41 selects the solid-state image sensor 33 according to the angle θ.
The address of the pixel for scanning the pixel P is read from the memory 42 (FIG. 3, 54), and outputted from the scanning circuit 32 as a control signal for the switch VS. The pixel to be scanned is the 10th pixel
As shown in the figure, since it is not necessarily on the scanning line, it is necessary to interpolate using surrounding pixels P (black circles in the figure). However, since the pixels are not on a straight line but are dispersed, the image quality may deteriorate. In contrast, by reducing the size of the pixel P, it is possible to bring the pixel P sufficiently close to the scanning plane, so that it is possible to configure a scanning line in which image quality deterioration is sufficiently suppressed. Thereby, the pixel P of the solid-state image sensor 33 can be scanned in all directions according to the angle 0.

Next, the operation of the solid-state image sensor 33 will be explained.

When an optical image is formed on the light-receiving surface by an optical system not shown in the figure, a charge corresponding to the amount of light of the optical image is generated in each pixel P arranged on the light-receiving surface.

Therefore, if, for example, the first pixel P is selected by the scan control signal line in FIG. The signal is output to the output terminal 24 via the switch ■S.

Thereafter, each pixel P is similarly scanned, and a video signal is taken out from the output terminal 24.

In FIG. 4, the centers of the cylinders 36, 37 coincide with the optical axis of an optical system (not shown). Also.

The sphere 35 can move smoothly in the middle chamber formed by the cylindrical bodies 36 and 37. Furthermore, the cylinder 36, which is a resistor, is cut off at one point as shown in the figure, and both terminals thereof are connected to a power source 38 and GND. Therefore, when the camera body 101 rotates with respect to the optical axis, the 1 sphere 35 moves in the middle chamber, so the voltage of the 1 cylindrical body 37 increases
It changes according to the rotation of 01. This is equivalent to the semi-fixed resistor 30 in FIG. As described above, the scanning circuit 32 can change the direction of the scanning line of the solid-state image sensor 3; 3 according to the angle O. In other words, as shown in Figure 5,
When the camera body 101 rotates by O8 clockwise with respect to the optical axis, the scanning area of the solid-state image sensor 33 moves from area E to area F, but according to the scanning circuit described above, the scanning area of area F is can be easily realized.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if the camera body rotates at an arbitrary angle with respect to the optical axis, the rotation angle is automatically detected and the scanning line of the solid-state image sensor is Since it can be changed depending on the angle, it is possible to correct the tilt of the image on the image receiving device.

Next, an embodiment in which the rotation angle is set every 906 times will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the order of pixel signals appearing at the video signal output terminal in FIG.
FIG. 8 shows an image formed on the image sensor when the camera body is rotated every 90''.

In FIG. 6, 1 is a solid-state image sensor in a lattice arrangement of n pieces vertically and n pieces horizontally, 2 and 3 are scanning circuits for reading out image signals stored in the pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and 4 (1) ~4
(n) is a control signal line 5(1) for reading out the video signal of the pixel P in the X direction. 5(n) is the control signal line 7(1) to 7( n) is Y
vS is a control signal line for reading out the video signal of pixel P in the Y direction, 10 is a switch for reading out the video signal of pixel P in the Y direction, and 10 is 4, which is obtained by connecting five resistors in series.
A switch for switching between two different voltages is 10a.

10b, lOc, 10d are the input terminals of the switch 10,
11 sets the voltage input from the switch 10 to HIGH
level (hereinafter referred to as "H"), LOW level (hereinafter referred to as 11)
A to be output as a digital signal (denoted as L I7)
/D converter, 12.13 is a switch that is switched by "L" and "I" digital control signals, 20.23 is an input terminal for a readout clock that is manually input to the solid-state image sensor 1, and 21.22 is a switch that is switched by a digital control signal of "L" and "I]". An input terminal for commanding the direction of image signal readout of the solid-state image sensor 1, 24 an output terminal for the image signal of the solid-state image sensor 1, and 25.26 a switch 12.13.
Clock φ input to. , φ, is shown.

In FIG. 7, Lz), (b), (c), and (d) correspond to the four images shown in FIG. 8, and are image signal data appearing at the image signal output terminal 24 in FIG. It shows the order of.

In FIG. 8, (a) shows an image formed on the solid-state image sensor 1 when the camera body 101 in FIG. (c) shows the image formed on the solid-state image sensor 1 when the camera body 101 is placed at a 90° counterclockwise position; (c) shows the image formed on the solid-state image sensor 1 when the camera body 101 is placed at a 270' position counterclockwise. (d) shows an image formed on the solid-state image sensor 1 when the camera body 101 is rotated by 180'.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

In Fig. 6, n photodiodes, that is, pixels, are arranged two-dimensionally in the X and Y directions. n,
In addition, n pixel columns arranged in the X direction are called X pixel columns, and n pixel columns arranged in the Y direction are called Y pixel columns.

In the drawing, each pixel P of the i-th Y pixel column from the left is commonly connected to the X signal line 7(i) via a switch 2S. That is, each pixel JP in the first Y pixel column from the left is commonly connected to the X signal line 7(1) via the switch vS, and each pixel P in the second Y pixel column from the left is connected via the switch vS. are commonly connected to the X signal line 7 (2),
Similarly, each pixel P of the n-th Y pixel column from the left is commonly connected to the X signal line 7(n) via the switch vS. Each Y signal line 7(1), 7(2)=・7(n-1
).

7(n) is the switch 5(1), 5(2)...5(n-
1).

5(n) to the output terminal 24.

Switches 5(1), 5(2)...5(n-1), 5(
n) is ON/OFF controlled by an X-direction scanning pulse supplied from the scanning circuit 3. Also, switch ■S is Y
ON by the scanning pulse supplied from the direction scanning circuit 2
・The 5th Xn from the top on one drawing is controlled to be OFF.
The switches S connected to each pixel P in the Tji column are controlled to be turned on and off at the same time. In other words, 1 from the top
Each switch v connected to each pixel I of the X-th pixel column
A scanning pulse is simultaneously supplied to S from the Y-direction scanning circuit 2 via the X signal line 4 (1), and the switch vS is simultaneously controlled to turn on and off. Scanning pulses are simultaneously supplied from the Y-direction scanning circuit 2 to each switch S connected to the pixel P via the X signal line 4(n), and the switches vS are simultaneously controlled ON-OFF.

Next, the operation of this solid-state image sensor l will be explained. When an optical image is formed on the light-receiving surface by an optical system not shown in the figure, a charge is generated in each pixel P arranged on the light-receiving surface in accordance with the amount of light of the optical image. Therefore, first, the Y direction scanning circuit 2 outputs a scanning pulse to the X scanning line 4 (1), and in response to this, the switch vS connected to each pixel P of the first X pixel column from the top is turned on. , the charges of these pixels P are respectively Y signal lines 7(1), 7(2)...7(n-1), 7(
n). Upon completion of such transfer, first
The direction scanning circuit 3 supplies a scanning pulse to the switch 5(1) to turn it on, and the charge on the X signal line 7(1) (that is, the charge generated in the pixel P at position 1 (1, 1)) is It is output to the output terminal 24 via the switch 5(1). Next, the X-direction scanning circuit 3 supplies a scanning pulse to the switch 5 (2) to turn it on, and the charge (
In other words, li! ! (charge generated in the pixel P at 1°2) is outputted to the output terminal 24 via the switch 5(2). In this way, from the scanning circuit 3 to the switch 5(1)
, 5(2)...5(n-1), 5(n) are sequentially supplied with scanning pulses, and each Y signal line 7(1), 7(2)-7(
The charges of n-1) and 7(n) are sequentially supplied to the output terminal 24, and the video signal of one XIi element array is read out.

Next, the scanning circuit 2 outputs a scanning pulse to the X signal line 4 (2), and similarly, each pixel I of the second X pixel column from the top
) are transferred to the X signal line 7(1). and,
The X-direction scanning circuit 3 includes switches 5 (L), 5 (2)...5
(n-1), 5(n) sequentially supply scanning pulses, X signal lines 7(1), 7(2)...7(n-1), 7(n)
The charges are sequentially supplied to the output terminal 24, and a video signal for the next scan is obtained.

In this way, the X signal lines 7(1), 7(2)...7(n-
1), 7(n) and the Y(d amount line 7(1)) by the X-direction scanning pulse from the scanning circuit 3.

Sequential charge transfer from 7(2)...7(r+-1), 7(n) to the output terminal 24 is performed for each X pixel column, and a video signal is obtained at the output terminal 24.

Next, we will discuss the scanning of the solid-state image sensor in this example in the sixth section.
This will be explained using FIG.

The switch 10 has its position 1072, 10b.

10c and lod, a voltage corresponding to the resistance ratio is input to the A/D converter 11. A/D converter 11
outputs 2-bit digital signals Δ and B, and the signals A and B are input to the input terminal 21 of the solid-state image sensor 1.
．． 22.

The scanning circuits 2 and 3 constituting the solid-state image sensor 1 are both shift registers whose output signals shift upward and downward in response to control signals input from input terminals 21 and 22, and the output signals thereof are shifted upward and downward according to control signals input from input terminals 21 and 22. The output signal changes accordingly.

On the other hand, the clock φ. , φ□ are inputted from terminals 25.26 and supplied to the scanning circuit 2.3 via the switch 12.13 controlled by the signal B, and the scanning circuits 2 and 3 receive the tarlock φ. , and outputs a scanning pulse synchronized with φ1. The relationship between the frequencies is the clock φ. .

Letting the frequency of φ1 be f,, f, then f = nf. Here, when the signal B is "L", the switch 12 receives the clock φ. Assume that the switch 13 selects the clock φ1.

When both signals A and B are 11 L It, the scanning circuit 3,
Assuming that the scanning circuit 2 supplies scanning pulses along the X direction or the Y direction, the order of reading out the charges generated in each pixel P is as shown in FIG. 7(a).
1,l), (1,2)...(lln)1(2,1),
(2,2)...(2,n)...(n+tL
(Dt2)...(n, n) pixel order. Signal A
, B are both "H"', the readout order of the charges generated in each pixel P is as shown in (d).
n).

(n, n-1)...(n, 1)...(2, n), (
2, n-1)...(2f tL He nL (11
n1)...(1°1) pixels in order. Signal A
, B are each 11 L II.

In the case of 1111+1, the readout order of charges generated in each pixel P is as shown in (b) at position (n, 1), (n
-1,l)...(1,1), (n,2), (n-1,
2)...(1,2)...(nt nL (n-tt
n)...(1, n) pixel order.

When the signals A and B are respectively 11H41, "L", the readout order of the charges generated in each pixel P is as shown in (c) at positions (1, n), (2, n)... nt nL Dt
n-1), (2, row 1)...(n, ll-1),
(1,1).

The order is (2, 1)...(n, 1) pixels.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below.

When the camera body 101 is not tilted in the direction of rotation of the optical axis,
If the method of reading out the video signal of the solid-state image sensor 1 matches the scanning method of the image receiving device, an image is drawn as shown in FIG. 8(a). However, if the method of reading out the video signal of the solid-state image sensor 1 and the scanning method of the image receiving device are fixed, the rotation direction of the camera body 101 and the optical axis is 90° counterclockwise.
270°.

When rotated by 180°, the image is shown in Figure 8(b).

The images are rotated by 90 degrees as shown in (C) and (d).

Therefore, the state of the switch 10 in FIG.
By selecting the position corresponding to the posture of A/D converter 1,
The signals A and B output from the pixel 1 change the way in which the video signal generated in the pixel is read out, as described above. That is, when an image is displayed as shown in FIG. 8(b), signals A and B are set to "L".

If the image is displayed as shown in (C) so that "I("), the signals A and B are #HIt, 11 L 1
If the image is displayed as in (d) so that
Signal A.

The switch 10 is selected so that B becomes "HII", "It HII". At this time, in accordance with the signal B, the scanning circuit 2,
3 is a scanning clock φ. , φ1 are input. As a result, the scanning direction of the video signal of the solid-state image sensor 1 is changed as shown in FIG. 8(b).
, (C), and (d), even if the camera body 101 rotates with respect to the optical axis, the image drawn by the image receiving device will always be as shown in (a).

Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is also effective for existing TV systems such as the NTSC system. However, in the case of the NTSC system, the aspect ratio of the image is 3:4, so when reading out the video signal from the solid-state image sensor 1, the pixel P must be selected, but the scanning circuit 2,
3, the selection of pixel P can be easily realized.

In this way, when the camera body 101 is rotated every 90'' with respect to the optical axis, it goes without saying that the tilt of the image must be corrected, and without using a microcomputer or memory.
A scanning circuit can be easily configured using a shift register.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the tilt of the image can be corrected even if the video camera body is shaken with respect to the rotational direction of the optical axis, so the posture during shooting can be changed in various ways, and the operability is improved. In addition, by actively operating the camera, you can perform special shooting by rotating the image.

Figure 2 is a block configuration diagram of the scanning circuit in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a flowchart, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the tilt detector,
FIG. 5 is an outline diagram of the solid-state image sensor, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the video signal sequence cursed in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the image formed on the image sensor in FIG. Figure 9 is an external view of the conventional example.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between scanning lines and pixels.

1.33...Solid-state image sensor, 2,3.32...Scanning circuit, 11.31...A/D converter, 12.13...
・Switch, 30...Semi-fixed resistance.

Kuzu 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 10 Figure 5 Go to Figure 8 (C) (CL) Figure 9○ /θ3 29 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama City Akechi Hitachi Video Engine Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state image sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally; an image is optically formed on the solid-state image sensor, and a charge generated according to the amount of light of the optical image is extracted from the pixel to form a video signal. an imaging device comprising a scanning circuit for detecting an optical structure, a means for detecting an angular positional relationship between an optical axis of an optical structure and the solid-state image sensor, and a scanning direction of the pixel that can be varied in accordance with the angular positional relationship; An imaging device characterized by comprising a scanning circuit.