JPH04291580A - Image pick-up device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a mechanism switching a filter mechanically, to miniaturize a device and to reduce weight by controlling the transmissivity of a dimming glass by a CPU and controlling electrically the brightness of a planet image forming an image on a CCD surface. CONSTITUTION:The light from the external part forms an image through a lens 2 and the dimming glass 3 to a CCD 4. The CCD 4 is driven by a driving circuit 5, a video signal 6 is inputted to a converter 8 and a sample-hold timing signal and a trigger timing signal 9 are inputted from the circuit 5. The signals are converted to parallel digital image data 10 by the converter 8, sent to an external transmitter and simultaneously, outputted to a CPU 11. The CPU 11 calculates the optimum light from the level of the data, outputs a control signal 13 to a dimming glass transmissivity control part 12, and the control part 12 outputs a control voltage 14 to the glass 3. Thus, the mechanism to switch the filter mechanically is eliminated and the device is miniaturized and reduced in weight.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device used for capturing planetary images by a deep space exploration satellite, and more particularly to an imaging device suitable for imaging a plurality of planets having different brightnesses.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of imaging device has a plurality of filters with different transmittances attached along the circumference of a disk.
By driving the disk with a motor, CCD
The filter placed in front of the camera was changed to make the transmittance variable.

0003

In the above-described conventional image pickup device using the mechanical switching method, the number of filters that can be attached, that is, the type of transmittance, is limited due to weight, size, and structure. Furthermore, since the transmittance of the filter cannot be changed continuously, it is not possible to adjust the intermediate brightness, and therefore it is difficult to improve the resolution by imaging with subtle contrast differences of the imaging target. Furthermore, since it has a mechanical structure, it is susceptible to mechanical environmental conditions such as vibration and shock required during satellite launch, and is less reliable than electrical control systems. Furthermore, since a motor, a disk for attaching a filter, etc. are used, it is difficult to reduce the size and weight.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The imaging device of the present invention uses CC
D and its front part includes a light control glass for electrically controlling light transmittance, an optical section having an optical lens, a CCD driving section for driving the CCD, and an amplifying section for amplifying the image video signal from the CCD. , a sample-and-hold type A/D converter section that samples and holds the output of this amplifier section and performs A/D conversion; A CPU that calculates the brightness of the image,
A parameter input section that allows partial changes in transmittance calculation parameters to be input into this CPU from the outside, and a transmittance control section that generates a voltage to control the transmittance of the light control glass based on the output of this CPU and outputs it to the light control glass. and has.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a lens 2, a light control glass 3, and a CCD 4 are each mounted in an optical section 1, and light input from the outside passes through the lens 2 and light control glass 3, and is equipped with a CCD.
Focus on the surface of CD4. This CCD 4 is driven by a CCD drive circuit 5, and an image video signal 6 is inputted to a video amplifier 7 and amplified, and then inputted to a sample-and-hold type A/D converter 8. Further, the sample-and-hold type A/D converter 8 receives a sample-and-hold timing signal and an A/D conversion trigger timing signal 9 from the CCD drive circuit 5. The image data converted into parallel digital image data 10 is sent to an external transmitter and simultaneously output to the CPU 11. This C
The PU 11 calculates the optimum brightness from the level of the acquired image data, and when it is necessary to change the brightness, sends a transmittance control signal 13 to the light control glass transmittance control section 12.
Output. A control voltage 14 for controlling the transmittance of the light control glass 3 is output to the light control glass 3 according to these signals.

On the other hand, the image data 10 sent to the transmitter is
Sent to ground station. When an operator wants to control the brightness of an image at the ground station, a command signal to change the brightness is sent to the satellite, and the parameter setting signal received and demodulated by the satellite's command receiver is used as the parameter input. Part 1
5 and is output to the CPU 11. Note that connector 1
7 connects the optical section to the outside.

[0008]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, in the present invention, an image is formed on the surface of a CCD by controlling the transmittance of a light control glass automatically using a CPU or by a command from the ground. This has the effect of electrically controlling the brightness of the planetary image. Therefore, unlike the conventional example, a mechanism for mechanically switching filters with different transmittances using a motor is not required, and the satellite can be made smaller, lighter, lower in power consumption, and more reliable. It also has the effect of improving seismic conditions such as vibration during satellite launch.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical section 2 Lens 3 Light control glass 4 CCD 5 CCD drive section 6 Image video signal 7 Video amplifier 8 Sample-hold type A/D converter 9
Sample hold timing signal and A/D conversion trigger timing signal 10 Parallel digital image data 11
CPU 12 Light control glass transmittance control section 13 Transmittance control signal 14 Transmittance control voltage 15 Parameter input section 16 Parameter setting signal 17 Connector

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A CCD, a light control glass for electrically controlling light transmittance in front of the CCD, an optical section having an optical lens, a CCD drive section for driving the CCD, and a CCD drive section for transmitting image video signals from the CCD. An amplification section that amplifies, a sample-and-hold type A/D converter section that samples and holds the output of this amplification section and performs A/D conversion, and an output of this sample-and-hold type A/D converter section that outputs digital image data. , a CPU that takes in this output and calculates the brightness of the image, a parameter input section that can input a partial change in the transmittance calculation parameters to this CPU from the outside, and a CPU that calculates the transmittance of the light control glass using the output of this CPU. An imaging device comprising: a transmittance control unit that generates a control voltage and outputs it to a light control glass.