JPH01202985A - Stereo camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a diversified video effect by adopting the constitution such that electric signals outputted from two image pickup means converting an optical signal of an image formed by two optical means forming an image from an object into electric signals are mixed by an optional ratio. CONSTITUTION:R, G, B video signals outputted from two solid-state image pickup elements 3, 4 are fed to signal processing circuits 7, 8, where the signals are converted into a video signal comprising a luminance signal (Y signal) and color difference signals (R-Y, B-Y signals). Output signals VA, VB of the circuits 7, 8 are fed to a mixing circuit 9, where two signals are mixed by a prescribed rate. The mixing ratio of the mixing circuit 9 is controlled by a mixing ratio control signal of a mixing ratio control circuit 10, and the mixing ratio control circuit 10 takes the generating timing of a mixing ratio control signal based on a synchronizing signal from a synchronizing signal generating circuit 6. The output signal of the circuit 9 is led to a signal processing circuit 11, which applies signal processing such as orthogonal biaxis modulation to the R-Y, B-Y signals to generate the NTSC system video signal and the video signal is led to the output terminal (t).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a stereo camera that images a subject using two optical systems to obtain, for example, a three-dimensional image.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention provides a stereo camera having two optical means for forming an image of a subject and an imaging means for converting each image formed by the optical means from an optical signal to an electrical signal. By mixing the electrical signals output by the means in an arbitrary ratio, it is possible to obtain a variety of visual effects.

[Prior Art] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a conventional stereo camera. In FIG. 4, two optical means 1.2 for forming an image of a subject a are arranged with a parallax, and an image pickup element 3,
4 is provided.

These two image sensors 3.4 are driven by a drive circuit 5 and convert optical signals into video signals which are electrical signals.

The video signals of these two image pickup devices 3.4 are led to respective selected terminals (s) and (c) of the switch SW via respective signal processing circuits 7.8. This switch SW is switched by the output signal of the synchronization generation circuit 6, and the selected terminal
Only one video signal guided to c is supplied to the output terminal t via the signal processing circuit 11.

A video signal for the right eye from one image sensor 3 is guided to the selected terminal of the switch SW, and a video signal for the left eye from the other image sensor 4 is guided to the selected terminal C of the switch SW. The switch SW switches the terminal connected to the selected terminal and the selected terminal C for each field, and the video signal for the right eye and the video signal for the left eye are output alternately for each field, and a three-dimensional video signal is output. It is led to terminal t.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When taking normal images with a stereo camera such as the one described above, for example, the switch SW is connected to the selected terminal and only one (for the right eye) video signal is sent. Just use it.

However, in this case, the optical means 2 for taking the image of the other eye (for the left eye), the image pickup device 4, and the signal processing circuit 8 are not used at all and are wasted, and a technique for effectively utilizing them is desired.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stereo camera that can effectively utilize the above-mentioned optical means and the like.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The stereo camera of the present invention for achieving the above object has the following features:
Two optical means for forming an image of a subject, an imaging means for converting the images formed by the optical means from optical signals to electrical signals, and two electrical signals outputted by these two imaging means at a predetermined ratio. This device includes a mixing circuit for mixing and a mixing ratio control circuit for controlling the mixing ratio of this mixing circuit.

[Operation] One of the optical means and the imaging means obtains one video signal, the other optical means and the imaging means obtains the other video signal, and these two video signals are mixed at a predetermined ratio in a mixing circuit. be done. This mixing ratio is freely adjusted by a mixing ratio control circuit. When taking a three-dimensional image, it is sufficient to change the mixing ratio so that one video signal and the other video signal are switched every field, and when taking a normal image, both optical means and the imaging By taking different images using different means and appropriately switching or mixing these two video signals, a variety of video effects can be obtained.

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

FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram of this embodiment.

Two sets of optical means l with objective lenses etc.

2 are arranged with a parallax, and these two sets of optical means 1.2 respectively form an image of the subject a on the imaging plane. The solid-state image sensing devices 3 and 4, which are image sensing means, are composed of two sets of optical means 1 and 2.
The images formed on the respective imaging planes are converted from optical signals to video signals, which are electrical signals. These two solid-state image sensors 3 and 4 are driven by a drive circuit 5, and this drive circuit 5 is controlled by a synchronization signal from a synchronization generation circuit 6. This synchronization generation circuit 6 has an oscillator and the like to generate horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, and these synchronization signals are sent to the drive circuit 5 as described above.
It is also output to the mixing pressure control circuit 10 described below.

RlG and H output by the two solid-state image sensors 3.4
The video signals are supplied to signal processing circuits 7 and 8, respectively. Each of these signal processing circuits 7.8 converts R, G, and B video signals into a Y matrix.

The luminance signal (Y signal) and color difference signal (RY signal, B-
Y signal). The output signals VA, VB) of the respective signal processing circuits 7.8 are supplied to a mixing circuit 9, which mixes the two video signals at a predetermined ratio. The mixing ratio of this mixing circuit 9 is controlled by a mixing ratio control signal from a mixing ratio control circuit IO, and the mixing ratio control circuit IO determines the generation timing of the mixing ratio control signal based on the synchronization signal from the synchronization generation circuit 6. The output signal of the mixing circuit 9 is guided to the signal processing circuit 2, and this signal processing circuit 11
performs signal processing such as orthogonal biaxial modulation of the RY signal and the BY signal to create an NTSC video signal, and this video signal is led to the output terminal.

In FIG. 2, a specific example of the mixing circuit 9 is shown. The mixing circuit 9 includes an amplifier 12.1 that amplifies the input video signals VA and VB from each signal processing circuit 7.8.
3 and an amplification control circuit 14 that controls the amplification degree of each of the amplifiers 12 and 13, and adds and outputs signals amplified by each amplification factor. The amplification control circuit 14 gives an amplification factor k (0≦≦1) to one amplifier I2 and an amplification factor 1−k to the other amplifier 13 according to the output of the mixing ratio control signal Vc from the mixing ratio control circuit IO. , the output signal of the mixing circuit 9 becomes k-VA+ (1k) ·Va.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below.

When taking a three-dimensional image, the mixing ratio control circuit 10 changes the value of k to 0 for each field (approximately 1/6 (lffi)).
A mixing ratio control signal is output to the mixing circuit 9 so as to repeat 1 and 1. Then, the image signal for the right eye taken by one optical means 1, etc. and the image signal for the left eye taken by the other optical means 2, etc. are guided field by field to the output terminal t, and a three-dimensional image is viewed on the monitor. be able to.

Next, special effects that are possible when taking normal images will be explained.

A telephoto lens 15 is attached to the other optical means 2 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, and one optical means 1 etc. takes a main image, and the other optical means 2 etc. takes a telephoto image. and,
As shown in FIG. 3(a), when a mixing ratio control signal that abruptly switches the value of k from 0 to 1 is output to the mixing circuit 9, a video effect is created in which the telephoto image suddenly switches to the main image. can have. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when a mixing ratio control signal that gradually switches the value of k from 1 to 0 is output to the mixing circuit 9, the telephoto image gradually overlaps the main image. It is possible to create an image effect that changes to a telephoto image.

Further, a close-up lens is attached to the other optical means 2, and the subject is photographed using one optical means 1, etc., and the title is photographed using the other optical means 2, etc. Then, as shown in Fig. 3(c), k
When a mixing ratio control signal that switches the value of is output to the mixing circuit 9, the title fades in and out of the video.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes two optical means for forming an image of a subject, and an imaging means for converting the images formed by the optical means from optical signals to electrical signals. The stereo camera is configured so that the electrical signals output by the two imaging means can be mixed at any ratio, so it is possible to take three-dimensional images, and it is also possible to create special video effects when taking ordinary images. It has the effect of being able to. Further, only a small amount of additional parts are required for the conventional circuit, and special video effects can be provided without increasing costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3(c) show embodiments of the present invention, and the first
The figure is a circuit block diagram, Figure 2 is a mixed circuit diagram, Figure 3 (a
) to FIG. 3(c) are diagrams showing the relationship between the mixing ratio and the image, respectively, and FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a conventional example. 1.2... Optical means, 3.4... Solid-state imaging device (imaging means), 9... Mixing circuit, IO... Mixing ratio control circuit, λ... Subject.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Two optical means for forming an image of a subject, an imaging means for converting the image formed by the optical means from an optical signal to an electrical signal, and two electrical signals outputted by these two imaging means to be predetermined. A stereo camera comprising: a mixing circuit that mixes the mixture at a ratio of 1, and a mixing ratio control circuit that controls the mixing ratio of the mixing circuit.