JPH0686151A - Image pickup system and image pickup apparatus used for the system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a user to operate a video camera without taking the video camera main body. CONSTITUTION:A video camera 1 and a view finder device 3 are separated from each other, and the view finder device 3 is constituted like glasses. The video signal from the video camera 1 is transmitted to the view finder device 3 and is displayed on a display part 32. Motions in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the view finder device 3 are detected by angular velocity sensors 34 and 35 provided in the view finder device 3 and are transmitted to the video camera 1. The video camera 1 detects its own motion by the device itself or angular speed sensors 25 and 26 provided in a universal-head 2 with actuator, and angles in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the universal head 2 with actuator are so changed that the motion of the view finder device 3 and that of the video camera 1 are 1:1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device such as a video camera, a camera-integrated video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as a camcorder), and an electronic still camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional video camera. First, a conventional video camera will be described with reference to this figure. The image from the subject is
An image is formed by the lens system 12 on an image pickup device 14 formed of a three-plate CCD or the like, and photoelectrically converted there. Image sensor 1
The output of 4 is gain adjustment in the imaging signal processing circuit 16,
After white balance adjustment, gamma correction, etc. are performed, it is converted into a composite video signal and the viewfinder 1
9 is supplied. The lens servo 13 outputs a drive signal for performing zoom control and focus control of the lens system 12. The image sensor drive circuit 15 also supplies a drive signal for driving the image sensor 14 at a predetermined timing. These are controlled by the controller 18. The controller 18 is composed of a microcomputer, and the lens servo 1
3 control signals, the image sensor drive circuit 15 control signals, the image signal processing circuit 16 control signals (white balance control signals, etc.), etc. are output.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional video camera, the viewfinder is provided integrally with the video camera body. Therefore, especially in the case of a professional video camera or a camcorder, the user does not have a viewfinder at the time of shooting. While observing the image of the object displayed in, he was chasing the object with a heavy video camera or camcorder, and was forced to do considerable physical labor. For example,
In some cases, two or three people were taking pictures while carrying the camera and power cord, which impeded mobility and required labor.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
An imaging system in which the main body of the image pickup device and the viewfinder are separated, the viewfinder is configured like glasses, and the movement of the user's field of view is transmitted to the main body of the image pickup device, thereby enabling operation without holding the main body of the image pickup device. An object is to provide an imaging device to be used.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to an image pickup device, and a viewfinder device of glasses type which is separated from the image pickup device and which sends and receives signals to and from the image pickup device. An image pickup device is mounted, and a movable member capable of displacing the horizontal and vertical angles is provided. The video signal from the image pickup device is transmitted to the viewfinder device, and the angular velocity sensor provided in the viewfinder device is used. The horizontal and vertical movements of the viewfinder device are detected, the movement of the image pickup device is detected by an angular velocity sensor provided on the image pickup device or the movable member, and the movement of the viewfinder device and the movement of the image pickup device are 1: 1. The movable member is configured to be displaced in the horizontal and vertical angles so that Here, "glasses type" of a viewfinder device of glasses type means not only normal glasses but also goggles for skis, helmets for racers, etc.
It also includes those similar to spectacles having an optical system at a portion facing the naked eye.

According to the present invention, the image pickup device used in this image pickup system transmits a video signal created based on the output of the image pickup device to the separated viewfinder device, and horizontal and vertical directions. Means for detecting the angular velocity, a means for receiving a signal for detecting the angular velocity in the horizontal and vertical directions of the viewfinder device transmitted from the separated viewfinder device, and the output of this means and the horizontal and vertical directions. And means for generating a control signal for displacing the horizontal and vertical angles of the movable member based on the output of the means for detecting the angular velocity.

Further, according to the present invention, the movable member used in this image pickup system is constructed so that the angle in the horizontal direction and the angle in the vertical direction are displaced by the control signal generated by the mounted image pickup device. Further, according to the present invention, the eyeglass-type viewfinder device used in this image pickup system detects the horizontal and vertical angular velocities, and means for transmitting the output signal of the means to the separated image pickup device. The image pickup device is configured to have a means for receiving the video signal transmitted by the imaging device and a means for displaying the output of this means.

[0008]

According to the present invention, since the image pickup system and the image pickup device used for the image pickup system are configured as described above, the video signal generated by the image pickup apparatus is transmitted to the eyeglass-type viewfinder apparatus and displayed. Also, the movement of the viewfinder device is detected by the angular velocity sensor and transmitted to the image pickup device. The imaging device compares the output of the angular velocity sensor provided on the device itself or the movable member with the output of the angular velocity sensor of the viewfinder device, so that the movement of the viewfinder device and the movement of the imaging device are 1: 1. A signal for displacing the horizontal and vertical angles of the.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are conceptual explanatory diagrams of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a video camera or a camcorder, FIG. 1B shows a platform with an actuator, and FIG. 1C shows a viewfinder device. First, Fig. 1
The concept of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 1
As shown in (a), a video camera or a camcorder (hereinafter, abbreviated as a video camera) 1 is mounted on a platform 2 with an actuator attached to a tripod 4. The viewfinder is removed from the housing of the video camera 1. Then, the signal to the display unit 32 of the viewfinder device 3 shown in FIG. 1C (for example, a composite video signal or a component video signal created based on the output of the CCD image pickup device of the video camera) is transmitted to the antenna 11 Wirelessly transmitted to the viewfinder device 3.

As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the platform with actuator 2 includes a fixed portion 21 fixed to a tripod 4, a first member 22 for rotating the video camera 1 in the horizontal direction, and the video camera 1. The second and third members 23 and 24 that rotate in the vertical direction are provided. The movement is detected by the horizontal angular velocity sensor 25 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 26, and collated with the output signals of the horizontal angular velocity sensor 34 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 35 provided in the viewfinder device 3 shown in (c). Then, the movements of the first to third members 22 to 24 are controlled so that the movement of the viewfinder device 3 and the movement of the video camera 1 become 1: 1.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the viewfinder device 3 has a structure similar to glasses in which the display section 32 is set in one eye. Antenna 1 of video camera 1
The signal transmitted from 1 is received by the antenna 31 of the viewfinder device 3. The received signal is converted into an optical signal on the display unit 32 and becomes an image. If the object to be photographed by the video camera 1 is followed while observing the image displayed on the display unit 32, the neck naturally rotates up and down, left and right. The movement is detected by a horizontal angular velocity sensor 34 and a vertical angular velocity sensor 35 attached to the tip of the helmet 33. The detection signal is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 31 to the video camera 1. This detection signal is received by the antenna 11 of the video camera 1, and is collated with the output signals of the horizontal angular velocity sensor 25 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 26 by the controller incorporated in the video camera 1, and the movement of the viewfinder device 3 and the video camera are checked. A signal for controlling the movement of the first to third members 22 to 24 is generated so that the movement of 1 is 1: 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main structure of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a video camera and a platform with an actuator, and FIG. 2B shows a viewfinder apparatus. Here, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 4 are assigned the same numbers. The configuration of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the video camera 1, an image from a subject is formed by a lens system 12 on an image pickup device 14 composed of a three-plate CCD, and photoelectrically converted there. Image sensor 1
The output of 4 is gain adjustment in the imaging signal processing circuit 16,
After white balance adjustment, gamma correction, and the like are performed, the composite video signal or the component video signal is supplied to the transmission circuit 17. The transmission circuit 17 modulates the input video signal and transmits it from the antenna 11 to the viewfinder device 3. The lens servo 13 outputs a drive signal for performing zoom control and focus control of the lens system 12.

Further, the image pickup device driving circuit 15 includes the image pickup device 1
A drive signal for driving 4 at a predetermined timing is supplied.
These are controlled by the controller 18. The controller 18 is composed of a microcomputer and outputs a control signal of the lens servo 13, a control signal of the image pickup element drive circuit 15, a control signal of the image pickup signal processing circuit 16 (white balance control signal, etc.) and the like. Further, various signals are received from the viewfinder device 3 via the transmission circuit 17 (details will be described later).

The platform with actuator 2 includes a horizontal angular velocity sensor 25, a vertical angular velocity sensor 26, a horizontal actuator 27 and a vertical actuator 28. The horizontal angular velocity sensor 25 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 26 are composed of piezoelectric vibrating gyros (for example, “gyrostar” manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.), and outputs of the respective are supplied to the controller 18. Controller 18
Calculates the movement of the platform with actuator 2 in the horizontal and vertical directions based on the outputs of the horizontal angular velocity sensor 25 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 26. The horizontal actuator 27 and the vertical actuator 28 are actuators for rotating the first member 22, the second member 23, and the third member 24 in FIG. 1, respectively. The controller 18 causes the movement of the viewfinder device 3 and the video camera 1 to move. The movement is controlled to be 1: 1.

The horizontal angular velocity sensor 34 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 35 of the viewfinder device 3 are the horizontal angular velocity sensor 25 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 2, respectively.
6 is configured in the same manner, and each output is supplied to the controller 38. The controller 38 is composed of a microcomputer, and based on the outputs of the horizontal angular velocity sensor 34 and the vertical angular velocity sensor 35, the viewfinder device 3
The horizontal and vertical movements of the signal are calculated, converted into a signal of a predetermined format, and supplied to the transmission circuit 37. The transmission circuit 37 modulates the output of the controller 38 and transmits it from the antenna 31 to the video camera 1. Remote control operation part 3
Reference numeral 6 denotes a button for setting the horizontal angle and the vertical angle of the video camera 1, a button for performing zoom control and focus control of the lens system 12, a button for performing electronic shutter control of the image sensor 14, and the like. It is provided. The commands input by these buttons are identified by the controller 38, converted into a control signal of a predetermined format, modulated by the transmission circuit 37, and transmitted from the antenna 31 to the video camera 1. The display unit 32 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and converts a video signal transmitted from the video camera 1, received by the antenna 31, and demodulated by the transmission circuit 37 into an optical signal.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a part for controlling the movement of the viewfinder device and the video camera in a ratio of 1: 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The horizontal movement of the viewfinder device 3 is determined by the horizontal angular velocity sensor 25.
Is detected as an angular velocity Δτc. The horizontal movement of the video camera 1 is detected by the horizontal angular velocity sensor 34 as the angular velocity Δτh. Δτc and Δτh are compared by the comparison circuit 41, and the control signal generation circuit 43 generates a control signal for moving the horizontal actuator 27 at the angular velocity Δτr so that the difference becomes zero. Here, the comparison circuit 41 and the control signal generation circuit 43 are configured by software of a microcomputer.

Similarly, the vertical movement of the viewfinder device 3 is detected by the vertical angular velocity sensor 26.
Detected as c. The vertical movement of the video camera 1 is detected by the vertical angular velocity sensor 35 as the angular velocity Δθh.
Detected as. Δθc and Δθh are compared by the comparison circuit 42, and the control signal generating circuit 44 controls the vertical direction actuator 28 to change the angular velocity Δθ so that the difference becomes zero.
A control signal is created to move with r.

At this time, depending on the accuracy of the angular velocity sensor,
Since a shift may occur between the change in the angle of the video camera 1 and the change in the angle of the viewfinder device 3 after several operations, the magnetic head and the tilt sensor are mounted on the platform with actuator 2 and the viewfinder device 3. (Not shown)
It is desirable to calibrate the absolute values of the horizontal and vertical angles of the platform with actuator 2 and the viewfinder device 3 before the start of photographing and every predetermined number of movements.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be modified as in the following (1) to (4). (1) The video camera is provided with a horizontal angular velocity sensor and a vertical angular velocity sensor, and the outputs thereof are compared with the outputs of the horizontal angular velocity sensor and the vertical angular velocity sensor provided in the viewfinder device to control the actuator of the platform. . (2) The output of the angular velocity sensor provided on the video camera or the platform with the actuator is integrated to calculate the change in the horizontal and vertical angles of the video camera. Similarly, the change in the horizontal and vertical angles of the viewfinder device is calculated. Then, the actuator is controlled so that they become equal. In this case, the magnetic sensor and the tilt sensor are used to calibrate the absolute values of the horizontal and vertical angles of the platform with actuator and the viewfinder device before the start of photographing and every predetermined number of movements. (3) Of the parts constituting the video camera, only the lens unit (lens system and lens servo) and the image pickup unit (image pickup element and image pickup element drive circuit) move. (4) Transmission and reception of signals between the video camera and the viewfinder device are performed by wire. (5) The viewfinder device is shaped like glasses without a helmet. The present invention also provides an electronic still camera, a helicopter camera,
It can also be applied to a remote sensing camera or the like.

[0021]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, shooting can be performed without carrying a heavy video camera or camcorder. In addition, it is possible to take pictures in places where it is difficult for people to enter, such as helicopters, balloons, hot places, and cold places.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a part for controlling the movement of the viewfinder device and the video camera at a ratio of 1: 1 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional video camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Video camera 2 Head with actuator 3 Viewfinder device 25, 34 Horizontal angular velocity sensor 26, 35 Vertical angular velocity sensor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An (a) image pickup device, (b) an eyeglass-type viewfinder device which is separated from the image pickup device and transmits and receives signals to and from the image pickup device, and (c) the image pickup device is mounted. And a movable member capable of displacing horizontal and vertical angles, transmitting a video signal from the imaging device to the viewfinder device, and the viewfinder by an angular velocity sensor provided in the viewfinder device. The movement of the device in the horizontal and vertical directions is detected, the movement of the image pickup device is detected by an angular velocity sensor provided in the image pickup device or a movable member, and the movement of the viewfinder device and the movement of the image pickup device are 1: An imaging system, wherein the horizontal and vertical angles of the movable member are displaced so as to be 1. 2. A means for transmitting a video signal created based on an output of an image pickup device to a separated viewfinder device, and a means for detecting angular velocities in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. (C) means for receiving a signal which is transmitted from the separated viewfinder device and which has detected horizontal and vertical angular velocities of the viewfinder device; and (d) output of the device and the horizontal and vertical directions. 2. An image pickup apparatus for use in an image pickup system according to claim 1, further comprising: means for generating a control signal for displacing the horizontal and vertical angles of the movable member based on the output of the means for detecting the angular velocity in the direction. . 3. The movable member used in the image pickup system according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal and vertical angles are displaced by a control signal generated by the mounted image pickup device. 4. (a) means for detecting angular velocities in the horizontal and vertical directions, (b) means for transmitting an output signal of the means to a separated image pickup device, and (c) transmission by the image pickup device. The eyeglass-type viewfinder device for use in an image pickup system according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for receiving a video signal; and (d) means for displaying an output of the means.