JPH07250351A - Image pickup device for stereoscopic television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an image pickup device for stereoscopic television receiver in which an optical system is simplified and miniaturized. CONSTITUTION:Odd and even numbered fields fetch alternately luminous flux 25, 26 through a video camera 20, an image pickup lens 21, a CCD 22, a full reflecting mirror 23, a half mirror 24 and liquid crystal shutters 27, 28 to feed them to a field memory circuit 29. A video image of one field is magnified by a magnification processing circuit 30 so as to make the size of the video images in both fields the same as each other nearly. A position processing circuit 31 sets a parallax to obtain a stereoscopic vision effect in the state of the same size in both the fields. Furthermore, a feature extraction circuit 33 sets the magnification and an amt. of position revision.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic television image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject to obtain a stereoscopic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a system for obtaining a stereoscopic image on a television using a video disc or the like has been developed.
This type of stereoscopic image is called a twin-lens type stereoscopic image, and a stereoscopic effect is obtained by the parallax between the right eye and the left eye.

That is, the images for the right eye and the image for the left eye are alternately reproduced on the television for each field, and the images are viewed through the liquid crystal shutter glasses which are alternately opened and closed in synchronization with the image signal. In such a system, a stereoscopic television image pickup device for producing right-eye and left-eye image signals is required.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional stereoscopic television image pickup device, in which an image of a subject 3 is picked up by the video cameras 1 and 2, and video signals are alternately switched and synthesized by a signal switcher 4 to produce a stereoscopic television video signal. Was output to the output terminal 5.

Since this method uses two video cameras, color tone adjustment, sensitivity adjustment, focus adjustment, and zooming interlocking between cameras are required.

For this reason, a simpler configuration is described on pages 5-80 of the Proceedings of the IEICE General National Conference 1984. The structure is shown in FIG. 3, 6 is a video camera, 7 is a half mirror, and 8 is a prism, and liquid crystal shutters 9 and 10 are alternately opened and closed for each field to generate a video signal for the right eye and a left eye. I will get it.

[0007]

FIG. 3 shows that only one video camera is required, but the optical path lengths for the right eye and the left eye are different, which causes a difference in the image size of the subject image, and thus the binocular The amount of deviation of the image position corresponding to the parallax of the image also has a problem.

Therefore, it is conceivable to extend the shorter optical path length so that both optical path lengths are the same, but this is not suitable for portable use because the optical system becomes complicated and large.

In view of such a point, the present invention corrects the image size and image position of a subject image by an electric circuit means,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup device for stereoscopic television, which enables simplification and miniaturization of an optical system including a video camera.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an image pickup lens for taking in a subject light flux from a lens optical axis direction to obtain a first subject image, and a subject light flux from a direction different from the optical axis direction are provided for the imaging. Light guiding means for guiding to a lens to obtain a second subject image, and a video signal circuit system for converting the first subject image into one field of the video signal and the second subject image into the other field. And a one-side field image enlargement processing circuit for making the image size of the second object image substantially the same as the image size of the first object image. Also, the second
The one-side field image position change processing circuit for setting the image position of the subject image in a constant relationship with the image position of the first subject image.

[0011]

With the above-described one-side field image enlargement processing circuit and one-side field image position processing circuit, the image size and image position of the subject image when the optical path lengths for the right eye and the left eye differ Correct the error. That is, since the binocular parallax can be set in a state where the stereoscopic effect is most naturally obtained by the electric circuit means, the optical system for stereoscopic imaging using one video camera can be simplified and downsized.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image pickup apparatus for a stereoscopic television of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an image pickup apparatus for a stereoscopic television according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure,
Reference numeral 20 is a video camera, 21 is an image pickup lens that captures the light flux of a subject, 22 is a CCD that is an image sensor, and 23 is a total reflection mirror that captures the light flux of the subject from a direction different from that of the image pickup lens 21.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a prism type half mirror which reflects the light beam 25 from the total reflection mirror 23 and makes it enter the image pickup lens 21, and a light beam 26 from the optical axis direction of the image pickup lens 21.
Is transparent. Reference numerals 27 and 28 denote liquid crystal shutters that alternately open and close for each field in synchronization with the operation of the CCD 22, and allow the light fluxes 25 and 26 to be alternately taken into the odd field and the even field.

Reference numeral 29 is a field memory circuit, which is a CCD 2
The video signal from 2 is stored in field units and output in field units. Reference numeral 30 denotes a one-side field image enlargement processing circuit which performs signal processing for enlarging only one-side field image corresponding to the light flux 25, for example, an odd field image.
The enlargement processing circuit 30 sets the image size of the subject to be substantially the same in the odd field and the even field.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a one-side field image position processing circuit, which performs signal processing for correcting only the position of the odd field image corresponding to the light beam 25. The position processing circuit 31 sets the parallax with which the stereoscopic effect can be obtained when the odd field image and the even field image have the same size.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a field video signal mixing circuit,
A video signal obtained by alternately connecting an odd field whose size and position have been corrected and an even field whose processing has not been performed is obtained.

As a method of setting the enlargement magnification of the enlargement processing circuit 30 and the position change amount of the position processing circuit 31, for example, 33.
Is provided to detect the size information and the position information of the odd field image with respect to the even field image.

Therefore, the size of both field images is made the same, and the enlargement magnification and the position change amount are set so as to obtain a desired parallax.

In the series of operations described above, the CCD 22, the liquid crystal shutters 27 and 28, the field memory circuit 29, the enlargement processing circuit 30, the position processing circuit 31, the mixing circuit 32, etc.
Timing is set based on the signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit 34.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the one-side field image enlargement processing circuit 30 and the position processing circuit 31 correct the image size and the image position of the subject image between both fields. The binocular parallax can be set in a state where the stereoscopic effect is most naturally obtained.

This is effective in simplifying and miniaturizing the optical system for stereoscopic image pickup using one video camera.

Further, by setting the enlargement magnification and the position change amount by the feature extraction circuit 33, stereoscopic image pickup can be performed without being aware of the image pickup conditions such as the distance to the subject and the zoom state of the image pickup lens 21, and the camera operation is easy. To

Although the enlargement processing circuit 30 and the position processing circuit 31 are shown together in FIG. 1, it is not always necessary to provide both at the same time. Even if only the enlargement processing circuit 30 is provided, a certain effect can be obtained and the present invention can be realized. Enter the category.

Although the feature extraction circuit 33 is provided for setting the enlargement ratio and the position change amount, the feature extraction circuit 33 is not provided if the imaging conditions such as the size and distance of the subject are relatively limited. The enlargement ratio and the position change amount may be set to the determined predetermined amount, and this case is also included in the present invention. These amounts may be set arbitrarily by manual operation means.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main part of an image pickup apparatus for a stereoscopic television according to another embodiment of the present invention. This corresponds to the enlargement magnification of the enlargement processing circuit 30 in FIG.
The present invention relates to another setting method of the position change amount of 1.

In FIG. 2, 40 is a video camera, and 41 is a video camera.
Is an imaging lens, 42 is a CCD, 43 is a total reflection mirror, 4
4 is a half mirror, 45 and 46 are light fluxes from the subject, 4
Reference numerals 7 and 48 are liquid crystal shutters, 49 is a field memory circuit, 50 is a one-side field image enlargement processing circuit, 51 is a position processing circuit, and 52 is a mixing circuit. These functions are the same as in FIG.

Reference numeral 53 is a distance information detection circuit used for focusing control of the image pickup lens 41, and 54 is a zoom state detection circuit of the image pickup lens 41. The difference in the image size of the subject image between the two fields tends to decrease as the distance to the subject increases and increase as the zoom magnification increases.

By utilizing this fact, the size of the image and the position of the image between the two fields are corrected, and the binocular parallax is set in a state where the stereoscopic effect is most naturally obtained. Detection circuit 5
According to the outputs of 3 and 54, the enlargement magnification of the enlargement processing circuit 50 and the position change amount of the position processing circuit 51 are set according to a predetermined relationship. Illustration of the synchronization signal system shown in FIG. 1 is omitted.

According to such another embodiment, the magnification information and the position change amount can be automatically set by the distance information and zoom state detection circuits 53 and 54, and the camera at the time of stereoscopic image pickup. Easy to operate.

If the image pickup conditions such as the size and distance of the subject are relatively limited, both of the detection circuits 53 and 54 are not always necessary, and either one of them can automatically determine the enlargement magnification and the position change amount. It may be set, and this case is also included in the present invention.

[0032]

According to the present invention, by providing the electric circuit means such as the enlargement processing circuit and the position processing circuit for the one-sided field image, the image size and the image position of the object image for the right eye and the left eye are rounded. The binocular parallax can be set so that the stereoscopic effect is most naturally obtained.

Therefore, by using one video camera to provide an optical system having different optical path lengths for the right eye and the left eye, it is possible to realize a simple and compact image pickup apparatus for stereoscopic television. High value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image pickup apparatus for stereoscopic television according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an image pickup apparatus for stereoscopic television according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional stereoscopic television imaging device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of another conventional stereoscopic television imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Video Camera 21 Imaging Lens 23 Total Reflection Mirror 24 Half Mirror 27, 28 Liquid Crystal Shutter 29 Field Memory Circuit 30 Enlargement Processing Circuit 31 Position Processing Circuit 32 Mixing Circuit 33 Feature Extraction Circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup lens that takes in a subject light flux from the lens optical axis direction to obtain a first subject image, and a subject light flux from a direction different from the optical axis direction and guides it to the image pickup lens to obtain a second subject. Light guide means for obtaining an image,
The first subject image in one field of the video signal,
A video signal circuit system for converting the second object image into the other field, and one side field image for making the image size of the second object image substantially the same as the image size of the first object image. Image pickup device for stereoscopic television, which is provided with the enlargement processing circuit. 2. An image pickup lens for taking in a subject light flux from the lens optical axis direction to obtain a first subject image, and a subject light flux from a direction different from the optical axis direction and guiding it to the image pickup lens to obtain a second subject. Light guide means for obtaining an image,
The first subject image in one field of the video signal,
A video signal circuit system for converting the second subject image into the other field, and a one-sided field for setting the video position of the second subject image in a fixed relationship with the video position of the first subject image. An image pickup device for a stereoscopic television provided with a video position change processing circuit. 3. A field image feature extraction processing circuit for specifying the image size and / or image position of the second subject image in the other field with respect to the image of the first subject image in one field. The stereoscopic television image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, which is provided. 4. A means for detecting distance information to a subject is provided,
According to the information, the second image for the first subject image is displayed.
3. The stereoscopic television image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement ratio of the image size of the subject image and / or the position change amount of the image position is set to a predetermined value.