JPH03163993A - Stereoscopic camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a feeling of three dimensions without generating the deviation between two right and left images at all by synthesizing two images onto one optical axis and performing the zoom operation with one lens system. CONSTITUTION:An optical axis 2 related to the image for left eye is turned by longitudinal polarization dependent upon a first optical system 31 consisting of a longitudinally polarizing reflection mirror 4 and a reflection mirror 5 and reaches a beam splitter 7 as an optical path synthesizing means 32. An optical axis 3 related to the image for right eye is reflected by a transverse polarizing reflection mirror 6 as a second optical system 33 and reaches the beam splitter 7. The beam splitter 7 functions as the optical path synthesizing means which synthesizes the optical axis 2 for left eye and the optical axis 3 for right eye onto one optical axis 8. This optical axis 8 is made incident on a lens system 9, and the image is expanded/reduced and focused by this lens system 9 and is made incident on a polarizing beam splitter 10 as an optical path separating means 34.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a stereoscopic camera device that utilizes binocular parallax, and is capable of capturing images from two photographing directions by operating a zoom lens. The present invention relates to a three-dimensional camera device that is devised to prevent positional deviation and to obtain fine images with less flickering.

(Prior Art) A so-called stereoscopic camera device has become a very useful means for providing visual information when operating a working machine installed in a remote location.

This stereoscopic camera device provides a stereoscopic image to the observer by photographing one observation target with slightly different parallax and presenting these images to the left and right eyes of the observer individually using appropriate means. There is something.

In order to observe a proper stereoscopic image, it is desirable that the images of the left and right eyes have no vertical deviation and are separated only in the horizontal direction by an amount corresponding to the above-mentioned parallax.

However, conventional stereoscopic camera devices use two imaging systems and two lens systems attached to them, that is, one set, and use images shot with this one set of "imaging element + lens" system. The optical axes of the two images fluctuate independently as the lens moves to operate the zoom lens, etc., resulting in the above-mentioned vertical deviation of the images, resulting in a severe loss of stereoscopic effect.

As a method to prevent this, there are methods to provide an adjustment mechanism to the above-mentioned set of "image sensor and ten lenses" system and use this to constantly correct optical axis fluctuations, or to select a pair of lenses from among many lenses that will not cause optical axis misalignment. Although various attempts have been made to select methods, none of these methods can be said to be practical due to the complexity of the mechanism and cost.

Therefore, using only one lens for adjusting the focus and zoom value has the advantage of eliminating optical axis misalignment, but has the disadvantage that the period in which the image is visible becomes longer and flickering occurs.

That is, in a stereoscopic television having such a structure, for example, two fields constitute one screen, and the first field is output as right eye information, and the second field is output as left eye information on the display. When you use polarized glasses and open and close the shirt in synchronization with the screen from right to left to right, the image of the first field enters the right eye and the image of the second field enters the left eye, creating a three-dimensional effect. comes out.

However, since only one field of image enters the right eye and the left eye, flickering occurs and the image flickers, so there is a risk that the image will not be sharp.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, when attempting to zoom in an existing stereoscopic camera, that is, an "imaging element + lens" system, it is necessary to frequently adjust the optical axis for images for the left and right eyes depending on the zoom value. In order to avoid this complexity, it was necessary to select compatible pairs that would not cause optical axis misalignment from among a large number of combinations of image pickup elements and lenses.

These structures and operations are not only mechanically complex, but also require a great deal of effort and expense.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to prevent positional deviation of images from two photographing directions and to obtain fine images with less flickering.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the structure of the present invention includes an optical system that polarizes and captures at least one of a set of optical paths that look into an observation object, and this optical system. an optical path combining means for combining optical paths related to a set of optical signals, at least one of which is polarized, onto the same optical axis; and a lens system for adjusting the focus and zoom value of the output light from the optical path combining means. , an optical path separating means for separating the optical path of the optical signal from this lens system 5 into two optical paths according to the two types of polarization, and a set of optical path separating means for photographing images according to each of these separated optical signals. The apparatus includes a photographing means and a video signal processing means provided on the output side of the photographing means.

(Operation) At least one of a pair of optical paths looking into the observation target is polarized by an optical system, and then combined into one optical axis by an optical path combining means, and the optical path related to this combined optical signal is The images are enlarged, reduced, and focused by one lens system, and then separated again into images for the left and right eyes by an optical path separation means.
Each shot is taken using two video means.

A zoom operation using one lens system can provide a three-dimensional effect without causing a shift in the two optical axes.

Moreover, after focusing and zoom value adjustment are performed, the images are separated again for the left and right eyes, and each image is shot using two imaging means, so that for each field, images are sent to each of the left and right eyes. They can be observed simultaneously, and detailed, flicker-free 3D images can be obtained.

(Example), Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the stereoscopic camera device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

An observation object 1 is observed with two optical axes 2 and 3 having a certain parallax.

The optical axis 2 related to the left eye image is vertically polarized by a first optical system 31 consisting of, for example, a vertical polarizing reflector 4 and a reflector 5 to change the optical path, and a beam splitter as an optical path combining means 32 It reaches 7.

The optical axis 3 related to the right eye image is reflected by, for example, a horizontal polarizing reflector 6 as the second optical system 33, and then reaches the beam splitter 7.

The beam splitter 7 separates the optical axes 2 and 3 of the left and right eye images.
It acts as an optical path combining means that brings together the same optical axis 8.

This combined optical axis 8 enters a lens system 9, and after being subjected to enlargement, reduction, and focusing processing by this lens system 9,
The light enters the polarization beam splitter 10 as the optical path separation means 34.

Among the incident images, the left-eye image modulated by vertically polarized light travels straight through the polarizing beam splitter 10 and then is photographed by the left-eye imaging means 11 .

Further, the right-eye image modulated by horizontal polarization is reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 10, further reflected by the reflecting mirror 12, and photographed by the right-eye imaging means 13.

In this way, due to the polarization function of the polarizing beam splitter 10, different polarized light beams do not pass through or are reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 10, and the images of the left and right eyes are completely separated, and the images of the left and right eyes are completely separated. reach.

In the illustrated example, between the polarizing beam splitter 10 and the left eye imaging means 11, and between the reflecting mirror 12 and the right eye imaging means 1,
Optical axis adjustment means 14 and 15 are respectively installed between 3,
Initial adjustment of the optical axis between the lens system 9 and each imaging means 11 and 13 is performed.

The video signals of the imaging means 11 and 13 are transmitted through a video switch 16 that alternately outputs video signals for left and right eyes, a video display device 17 that displays the output of the video switch 16, and a video display device 17 mounted near the display surface of the video display device 17. The polarization switching device 18 switches the polarization state in synchronization with the output signal of the video switching device 16, and the polarization switching control device 19 controls the polarization switching device 18.

In the polarization switch 18, when linearly polarized light is used, vertical and horizontal states are alternately switched, and when circularly polarized light is used, right-handed rotation and left-handed rotation are alternately switched.

By wearing polarized glasses 20 (linearly polarized light or circularly polarized light) depending on the type of polarized light used, the observer 21 observes the left and right eye images with each eye to obtain a stereoscopic image.

In the first embodiment, the optical axis 2 may be horizontally polarized and the optical axis 3 may be vertically polarized, or circularly polarized light may be used instead of linearly polarized light.

Generally, if the optical axis adjustment is performed only once at the beginning, there is no need to perform it thereafter, and only one of the imaging means 9 may be provided.

Further, means for changing the magnification of the image, etc. may be added to the optical axis adjustment means 14, 15, and these means may be added to the lens system 9.

The video signal processing means 35 can utilize various known configurations, and is not limited to the illustrated example.

Next, the second stereoscopic camera device of the present invention shown in FIG.
An example will be explained.

In this embodiment, the optical path of the left-eye image among the optical axes 2 and 3 looking into the observation object passes straight through a polarizing beam splitter 71 as an optical path combining means 62, and is modulated into vertically polarized light.

Further, when the optical path of the right eye image is reflected by the reflecting mirror 61 and further reflected by the polarizing beam splitter 71, it is modulated into horizontally polarized light.

The polarizing beam splitter 71 has the function of applying each polarization modulation and converging the two optical paths onto the same optical axis 8.

10 In the first embodiment, the optical path lengths of the images for the left and right eyes are the same, and even if the observation object 1 approaches the focal length of the lens system 31, 33 or less, the stereoscopic vision is not affected in any way.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the optical means has a simpler structure than the first embodiment, but since the optical path length of the right eye image is longer than the optical path length of the left eye image, the right eye image is smaller than the left-eye image, and the ratio of the two increases as the magnification of the lens system 9 increases, and as the object 1 is viewed from a closer distance, the area where stereoscopic vision is possible increases. There may be restrictions.

Polarizing beam splitter 7 used in the above two embodiments,
- For 10.71, image quality deterioration can be reduced by appropriately adjusting the transmittance or reflectance.

Regarding the polarized light related to the optical axis for left and right eye images in front of the lens system 9, that is, between the lens system 1 and the observation object 1, a decrease in the amount of light can be prevented by increasing the transmittance or reflectance of only the polarized light component, if necessary.

Furthermore, the polarizing beam splitter 10 immediately in front of the imaging means 11, 13 is generally set to have equal transmittance and reflectance.

Next, the action will be explained.

In the embodiment described above, there are only l sets of lens systems 9 involved in the zoom operation, and here the two optical paths of the images for the left and right eyes are simultaneously enlarged, reduced, and focused, and then separated again into images for the left and right eyes. Two imaging means 11 are fixed to this lens system.
13 to shoot each video.

Since the optical axes of the lens system 9 and the two imaging means 11 and 13 are initially adjusted by the optical axis adjustment means 14 and 15, and there is only one lens system 9, no matter what zoom operation is performed, the optical axes of the two imaging means 11 and 13 are No deviation occurs between the two optical axes 3 and 4.

Furthermore, the left and right eye images of the observation object 1 are modulated with different polarizations by a pair of optical systems with parallax.

When linearly polarized light is used, the image for the right eye is modulated into vertically polarized light, and the image for the left eye is modulated into horizontally polarized light, for example.

After being changed, the images are combined again into an image on the same optical axis by the optical path combining means 7 or 71, and then enter the lens system 9.

Since the images for the left and right eyes have been polarized in advance, after exiting from this lens system 9, the images for the left and right eyes on the same optical axis can be easily converted back to their original state by an optical path separation means 34 using a polarizing beam splitter 10, 12 or the like. can be separated into two optical axes 2 and 3.

These two separated images are captured by each imaging means 11.1.
3, the video display device 17
When the image appearing on the screen is observed through the polarized glasses 20, the image is viewed as a complete screen by both the left and right eyes, so a fine, flicker-free stereoscopic image can be seen.

In the above configuration, up to the imaging means 11 and 13, the movable part is only one lens system 9, and the other means have no mechanically or electrically movable parts, so even the initial settings are If this is done securely, there will be no optical axis misalignment due to lens operation, and there is no need for electrical synchronization to achieve polarization modulation. The camera can be zoomed 1 3 12.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the configuration of this invention,
Since the two left and right images are combined onto one optical axis and the zoom operation is performed using one lens system, there is no misalignment between the two images and a three-dimensional effect can be obtained.

Then, the focus and zoom values are adjusted and the images are separated again for the left and right eyes, and each image is shot using two video means, so each eye sees a complete image of one screen. It is possible to obtain detailed and flicker-free stereoscopic images, and compared to the conventional case where two sets of TV cameras are provided, this invention has realized a simpler and lower-cost stereoscopic camera device. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are configuration diagrams showing each embodiment of a stereoscopic camera device according to the present invention. 1... Observation object 9... Lens system 11.13... Imaging means 31.33... Optical system 1
4 32.62... Optical path combining means 34... Optical path separating means 35... Video signal processing means

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An optical system that polarizes and takes in at least one of a set of optical paths looking into the observation target, and a set of optical paths associated with a set of optical signals, at least one of which is polarized by this optical system, on the same optical axis. a lens system for adjusting the focus and zoom value of the output light from this optical path combining means; and an optical path for the optical signal from this lens system.
an optical path separating means for separating into two optical paths according to the type of polarization, a set of photographing means for photographing images according to each of these separated optical signals, and a video signal provided on the output side of this photographing means. A stereoscopic camera device comprising: processing means. (2) Capturing the observation target with different polarizations 1
a set of optical systems, an optical path combining means that combines optical paths related to optical signals from this set of optical systems onto the same optical axis, and a lens system that adjusts the focus and zoom value of the output light from this optical path combining means. And, the optical path related to the optical signal from this lens system is
an optical path separating means for separating into two optical paths according to the type of polarization, a set of photographing means for photographing images according to each of these separated optical signals, and a video signal provided on the output side of this photographing means. A stereoscopic camera device comprising: processing means.