JPH0777659A - Multiple-lens optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold the shape of a visual field frame circular for a subject at any distance and view an excellent image by providing a visual field deviation detecting means which detects visual field deviation and a driving means which drives a variable optical axis optical device and reducing the mismatch between images due to parallax. CONSTITUTION:The infrared light emitted by an LED 11 irradiates a light beam FF parallel to the optical axes LL and BB of binoculars through a projection lens 12. This infrared light is reflected by the subject and its light beam BB is imaged on a split photodetector 14 through a photodetection lens 13. This photoetector 14 is moved by a mechanical coupling mechanism M in the direction of a base line associatively with the focus adjustment part of the binoculars and the binoculars are put in focus on the position where the infrared reflected light is imaged in the center of the photodetector 14 at the time of E. Further, the signal from the photodetectors 14 drives a focus adjustment part motor 16. As the motor is driven, the focus of the binoculars is automatically adjusted. Then an encoder 17 is put in operation at the same time, so a visual field deviation detection signal is obtained from it and applied to a hand shake correcting circuit 60.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-eye optical device such as a binocular or a monitoring device, and more particularly to a device for alleviating image disagreement due to parallax.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventionally known optical system for binoculars.

The left and right light beams LL and RR pass through the respective objective lenses 21L and 21R to form images on the way, but are also converted into erect light beams by the respective erecting prisms 22L and 21R and then the respective eyepieces 23L. , 23
It penetrates R and reaches the eyeball of the observer. By the manual operation of the user of the binoculars, the objective lens is interlocked and retracted via the mechanism MM indicated by a broken line, so that the desired subject is in good focus and can be seen easily. .

FIGS. 7A and 7B are examples of images when a subject is viewed with binoculars according to the prior art. Since the optical axes of the left and right optical systems of the binoculars are parallel to each other, when looking at a distant object, the left and right images appear as one and appear as a circular frame as shown in FIG. When a short-distance subject is viewed, a parallax causes a shift, and the object appears as a gourd-shaped frame as shown in FIG.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As described above, the present invention corrects parallax that occurs when a subject at a short distance is viewed,
For example, instead of the gourd shape as shown in FIG. 3 (B), FIG. 3 (C)
It looks like a circular frame like.

[0006]

An optical device according to the present invention corresponds to a plurality of objective optical systems for forming an image of a subject into a virtual image or a real image, and an optical axis of an incident light beam corresponding to the objective optical system. The optical axis variable optical element that can be changed (variable apex angle prism, etc.) and the visual field deviation detection means for detecting the visual field deviation are provided, and the optical axis variable optical element is driven based on this visual field deviation detection signal, The optical axis is set according to the subject.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which an automatic focus adjusting device using infrared light is used as a visual field deviation detecting means. 21L and 21R are objective lenses, 22L and 22
R is an erecting prism, and 23L and 23R are eyepieces, which form an objective optical system. The configuration of the objective optical system is not limited to this example. Further, the present invention is applied to the binoculars provided with the camera shake compensation optical means.

68L and 68R are variable apex angle prisms for camera shake compensation, and the details are omitted because they are well known in construction, but two transparent flat plates are connected by a bellows and an optical medium such as silicon oil is provided inside. , And one of the transparent plates is tilted horizontally and the other is tilted vertically to refract the optical axis in a desired direction. In this example, the variable apex angle prism is arranged in front of the objective optical system, but an afocal optical path may be formed in the objective optical system and arranged there.

The apparatus of the embodiment has an optical system for projecting and receiving light which is fixed to the body of the binoculars and is different from the optical system of the binoculars.

Infrared light emitted from the 11 LEDs is projected onto a light beam FF parallel to the optical axes LL and BB of the binoculars by the 12 projection lens. This infrared light is reflected by the subject, and its light beam BB is imaged on the 14 divided light receiving elements by the 13 light receiving lens. This light receiving element is moved in the base line length direction by a mechanical coupling mechanism M indicated by a broken line in conjunction with the focus adjustment unit (a part that determines the amount of extension of the objective lens) of the binoculars, and the infrared reflected light of 14 There is a relationship that the focus of the binoculars is aligned when the image is formed at the center of the light receiving element.

The signal from the 14 light receiving elements is subjected to a predetermined process by a signal processing circuit of 15 to generate a focus adjustment drive signal, which drives a 16 focus adjustment motor. With this drive, the above-mentioned interlocking mechanism M automatically adjusts the focus of the binoculars. Furthermore, since the 17 encoders are moved simultaneously, a visual field deviation detection signal can be obtained from this and
0 is added to the image stabilization circuit. As described above, this embodiment has the camera shake correction means, and has the variable apex angle prism as a structure for its function. First, the configuration and operation of the camera shake correction means will be described.

Reference numeral 60 is a circuit block of the camera shake correction device. A configuration combined with a variable apex angle prism is shown in FIG. 2 and will be described accordingly.

The Y system corresponding to the vibration in the horizontal direction will be described. However, the X system in the vertical direction is almost the same except that a part of the configuration is omitted, and the description thereof will be omitted.
However, the left-eye system has the right-eye system L with the suffix R.

A vibrating gyro 60Y detects the angular velocity in the rotating operation of the entire binoculars. The detection signal is 62
The DC component is removed by passing through the Y high-pass filter.
Then, it is added to the 63Y integrating circuit and converted into an angle signal. This output signal becomes the target value of the variable apex angle prism.
This target signal is applied to the positive (+) inputs of the 64LY and 64RY adder circuits. Adder circuits 64LY and 64RY
Is applied to an image width circuit of 65LY and 65RY, image width is set to a predetermined amplitude, power image width is applied by the drive circuit of 66LY and 66RY, and current is supplied to the drive actuators of 67LY and 67RY. Then, the variable apex angle prism moves accordingly, the optical axis is changed, and camera shake is compensated. The movement of the prism is detected by the apex angle sensors of 69LY and 69RY, and the output thereof is added to the negative (-) input of 64 adder circuits to form a closed loop control system.

The difference between the horizontal Y system and the vertical X system is that the correction signals sent from the visual field deviation detecting means 12 to 17 are added to the 64LY addition circuit. In this circuit example, 64LY of the left eye system is added, and 64RY of the right eye system is subtracted. By this addition and subtraction, the left and right optical axes are corrected so as to face inward, respectively, so that the mismatch of images due to parallax is eliminated.

In this embodiment, the variable apex angle prism is used for parallax correction. However, even if a part of the erecting prism reflecting surface of 22 is made a movable mirror and this and the above-mentioned focus adjustment are interlocked, it is equivalent. The effect of is obtained. The automatic focus adjusting device may use ultrasonic waves instead of infrared light.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the field shift detecting means and the blur detecting means are realized by using a common image sensor. The visual field shift is detected by evaluating the correlation between the left and right images, and the camera shake is detected by evaluating the correlation between a plurality of images separated by a predetermined time. In this embodiment, a part of the reflecting surfaces of the erecting prisms 22L and 22R is a half mirror, and a part of the incident light rays is guided to an optical system for automatic adjustment. 41L and 41R are the image forming optical systems,
A subject image is formed on an image sensor surface such as an image sensor of L or 42R. Left and right images are respectively formed on the image sensors 42L and 42R, and if the left and right optical axes intersect on the target subject, both images will coincide. The image signals of both images are input to the processing circuit of 70, and on the basis of this signal, the image stabilization is performed by driving the variable apex angle prism of 68 on the one hand, and the objective lens of 21 is driven on the other hand. To adjust the focus.

The details of the processing of the processing circuit 70 will be described with reference to FIG. Image sensors 42L and 42R correspond to the left and right imaging optical systems. The output signal of the one 421 is 71
Of the output circuit (pre-sampling data) and the 42L direct output signal (current sampling data) are added to the 72 correlation circuit. The correlation circuit 72 calculates the image shift over time, and outputs this output as 7
The camera shake information can be obtained by integrating with the integrating circuit of 3. The output of the integrating circuit 73 is added to the 77L and 77R driving circuits via the 76L and 76R adding circuits,
Drives 8L and 78R stepping motors. The driving force moves the 68L and 68R variable apex angle prisms to perform camera shake correction.

On the other hand, both output signals of the image sensors 42L and 42R are applied to a correlating circuit 74, where the amount of image shift in space is calculated. A visual field deviation detection signal can be obtained by integrating this output signal with an integrating circuit 75.

This output signal is first added to or subtracted from the adder circuit of 76L and 76R to correct the camera shake information and correct the visual field deviation. Further, the output signal of the integrating circuit 75 is also applied to the drive circuit 79 to drive the stepping motor 80. The driving force moves the 21L and 21R objective lenses to adjust the focus.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

A manual focus adjusting mechanism is used as the visual field deviation detecting means, and a mechanism M for interlocking this with the change in the apex angle of the variable apex angle prism is interposed. That is, the transparent flat plate whose vertical angle is changed in the horizontal direction of the variable vertical angle prism is mechanically rotated. If the subject is infinite,
The 21L and 21R objective lenses are in focus at the most retracted position. At that time, the apex angle of the variable apex prism is zero, and the left and right images match each other. On the other hand, when the subject is at a close range, the 21L and 21R objective lenses are in focus in the most extended state. At that time, the apex angle of the variable apex angle prism is controlled so that the left and right optical axes face inward. In this embodiment, since the focus adjustment and the apex angle of the variable apex angle prism are mechanically linked in this way, it is possible to prevent the appearance of an image from being deteriorated due to parallax. In the above-described embodiment, the optical axes are changed for both the left and right optical systems, but the same effect can be obtained even if only one is changed. Further, the present invention can be applied to binoculars having no camera shake compensating means, and instead of the variable apex angle prism, one of the reflecting surfaces of the erecting prism is separated to form a rotating mirror, and even if this is rotated horizontally. good.

[0023]

As described above, in the prior art, the parallax of the left and right optical systems inevitably causes a sense of discomfort due to a gourd-shaped frame when a subject at a short distance is seen.
According to the present invention, the visual field frame shape is kept circular for an object at any distance, and a good image can be viewed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an optical layout diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric system.

FIG. 3 is an optical layout diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric system.

FIG. 5 is an optical layout diagram of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an optical layout diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a field of view of binoculars.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 LED 12 Light-projecting lens 13 Light-receiving lens 14 Light-receiving element 15 Automatic focus adjustment processing circuit 16 Focus adjustment motor 17 Encoder 21 Objective lens 22 Upright prism 23 Eyepiece 41 Image sensor imaging lens 42 Sensor 60 Image stabilization processing circuit 68 Variable apex angle prism 70 Image stabilization and focus adjustment circuit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of objective optical systems are arranged side by side, an optical axis variable optical element capable of changing an optical axis of the objective optical system is provided for each objective optical system, and a field deviation of the objective optical system is provided. A multi-eye optical device characterized in that a visual field deviation detecting means for detecting and a driving means for driving the optical axis variable optical element based on a visual field deviation detecting signal of the visual field deviation detecting means are provided to alleviate a mismatch of images due to parallax. . 2. The multi-eye optical device according to claim 1, wherein the visual field deviation detection means irradiates an object with invisible light or ultrasonic waves and receives the reflection from the object to detect the visual field deviation. 3. The field-of-view deviation detecting means receives an image formed through each of the objective optical systems by a sensor, and evaluates a correlation between the two images obtained by an image signal from the sensor to detect a field-of-view deviation. The multi-lens optical device according to claim 1, wherein 4. The multi-eye optical device according to claim 1, wherein the focus of the objective optical system is adjusted based on the field shift detection signal. 5. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising angular displacement detection means, which detects camera shake based on an angular displacement signal obtained by the means, and thereby drives the optical axis variable optical element to compensate for camera shake. Alternatively, the multi-lens optical device of item 2. 6. The multi-eye optical device according to claim 3, wherein a camera shake is detected based on the output of the sensor, and thereby the optical axis variable optical means is driven to compensate the camera shake. 7. The multi-eye optical device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-eye optical device is binoculars. 8. A plurality of objective optical systems are arranged side by side, an optical axis variable optical element capable of changing the optical axis of the objective optical system is provided for each objective optical system, and focus adjustment of the objective optical system is performed. A multi-lens optical device comprising means for driving the optical axis variable optical element in conjunction with each other.