JPH08242468A - Stereoscopic image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain excellent focusing of an object by both right/left eye image pickup optical systems R/L by adjusting the focus of the system R with focus information (r) obtained from image pickup information R and adjusting the focus of the system L with focus information (l) obtained through the corrected information (r). CONSTITUTION: When an afocal state is detected from contrast of an object based on an image pickup signal obtained from a CCD 16R of a 1st lens barrel 1R, a CPU 66 starts an automatic focus (AF) operation. That is, the CPU 66 calculates a drive direction and amount of a focus motor of the lens barrel 1R and drives simultaneously a 2nd lens barrel 1L together with the lens barrel 1R. When the CPU 66 detects the focused lens barrel 1R and a best focus, the AF operation is finished and the CPU 66 calls left right deviation correction amount from a ROM 67 to apply required correction to the lens barrel 1L. Thus, even when the distance from both the lens barrels to the object differs, excellent focusing is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic photographing apparatus, and more particularly to a stereoscopic photographing apparatus for obtaining photographing information for the right eye and photographing information for the left eye by a pair of photographing optical systems.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various stereoscopic image pickup apparatuses have been known which obtain a stereoscopic image by utilizing a parallax between a right eye and a left eye.

A specific example of such a stereoscopic photographing device is a pair of photographing optical systems, as shown in FIG.
The first lens barrel 91R for capturing the image for the right eye and the second lens barrel 91L for capturing the image for the left eye are arranged on the mechanical chassis 93 with a certain distance therebetween, and each optical It is widely known to obtain image information for the right eye and image information for the left eye by directing the optical axes OR and OL of the system to the subject 92 side.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 25842/1990, a driving device for adjusting the distance between the pair of photographing lenses and the optical axis directions thereof, and the distance from the image signal obtained by the photographing lenses to the subject are obtained. And a signal processing device for controlling the driving device.

According to this, based on the distance information to the object obtained from the focus, the angle formed by the optical axes of the left and right lenses (hereinafter abbreviated as the convergence angle) is changed so as to gaze at the distance position. Therefore, there is an advantage that the gazing distance and the focusing distance are the same and the operator's fatigue level is small.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-153987, one of the two lenses for the right eye and the left eye is fixed inward with respect to the subject at a predetermined angle, and the other lens is fixed. It is described that the angle of convergence and the baseline length are changed by rotating according to the perspective of the subject, and at the time of this change, by fixing the lens on the dominant eye side, operation It is designed to reduce the fatigue of workers.

In the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as described above, when focusing on a certain subject, if the left and right sides are independently focused (hereinafter abbreviated as AF), the convergence angle and the position of the subject may cause an error. , The right-eye shooting optical system and the left-eye shooting optical system may focus on different subjects.

That is, for example, in the case of photographing the subject A and the subject B in the state as shown in FIG.
When left and right independent AF is performed, the right first lens barrel 91R
Then, the subject A may be focused, and the left second lens barrel 91L may be focused on the subject B. Looking at an image in which another subject is focused on the left and right sides is very tired for the operator, and depending on the state of the image, the image may not be fused.

In consideration of such a point, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 7-15749 discloses a focus adjustment for a subject at the same time for the left and right lenses based on the photographing information of one of the pair of left and right lenses. There is disclosed a technical means for preventing the observer from feeling tired by preventing the left and right lenses from focusing on different subjects.

[0010]

However, in the one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-15749, the same subject, the distance from the photographing optical system for the right eye and the photographing optical system for the left eye are used. Even if an attempt is made to perform AF on an object having a different distance from, the focus lens is driven by the same amount, and therefore AF cannot be performed well. Regarding the subject brightness, when the left and right subject images have different brightness, the operator feels tired, but the technical means described in this publication is particularly intended to solve this point. There wasn't.

By the way, when shooting images for the right eye and the left eye using the two lens barrels, as shown in FIG. 18, the optical axis OR of the first lens barrel 91R and the second lens mirror 91R are used. The base length when the optical axis OL of the cylinder 91L is parallel is a
Becomes

However, the baseline length when the lens barrel is provided with a vergence angle is determined by the distance between the entrance pupil positions of the lens, and therefore it depends on the position of the rotation axis when the vergence angle of the lens is set. , The baseline length will change.

Further, in the zoom lens, the entrance pupil position changes due to zooming. For example, the wide-angle side entrance pupil position W is slightly rearward of the lens, and the telephoto side entrance pupil position T is closer to the subject in front of the lens. It is in.

As shown in FIG. 19, the distance between the entrance pupil position W on the wide-angle side and the entrance pupil position T on the telephoto side is X, and the vergence angle is 2θ.

As shown in FIG. 19A, when the wide-angle side entrance pupil position W is set as the rotation axis for changing the convergence angle, if the zoom angle is set to the telephoto side while maintaining the convergence angle, then The base length of is a ′ = a−2 × sin θ, which is narrow.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the entrance pupil position T on the telephoto side is set as the rotation axis for changing the convergence angle, if the convergence angle is set to the wide angle side,
The base line length at that time becomes a '= a + 2Xsinθ and becomes wide.

In this way, if the amount of change in the baseline length is as large as 2Xsinθ, the operator will be tired, so it is desirable to keep the baseline length constant in order to match the stereoscopic effect to the human eye. In this case, the rotation axis of the lens needs to be changed according to the focal length of the zoom lens, but the position of the entrance pupil in the zoom lens changes greatly depending on the type of optical system, focal length, etc. Also, it becomes complicated in terms of control.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. The first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system do not focus on different subjects, and the first photographing optical system to the subject are not focused. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic imaging apparatus that can perform good focusing even when the distance of 1 is different from the distance from the second imaging optical system to the subject and that reduces operator fatigue.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above object, a stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the first invention comprises a first photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the right eye and a stereoscopic photographing apparatus for the left eye. The second photographing optical system for obtaining the photographing information, and the focusing information obtained from a predetermined one of the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system are corrected and the other is corrected based on the correction information. And a correction control means for adjusting the focus of the photographing optical system.

The stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the second invention is
The correction control means is provided with a subject recognition means for substantially recognizing which one of the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system is a subject for which focus detection is made. Is to adjust the focus of the other photographing optical system so that the subject recognized by the subject recognition means is in focus.

[0021]

In the stereoscopic photographing device according to the first aspect of the invention, the correction control means obtains the photographing information for the right eye from the first photographing optical system and the photographing information for the left eye from the second photographing optical system. Corrects focus information obtained from a predetermined one of the first and second photographing optical systems, and adjusts the focus of the other photographing optical system based on the correction information.

The stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the second invention is
The subject recognition means substantially recognizes which one of the first and second photographing optical systems is the subject for which focus detection has been made, and the correction control means The focus of the other photographing optical system is adjusted so as to focus on the subject recognized by the subject recognition means.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing an optical system of a stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

This optical system includes a first lens barrel 1R, which is a first photographing optical system for capturing a right-eye image, and a second photographing optical system, which is a second photographing optical system for capturing a left-eye image. And a lens barrel 1L.

The first lens barrel 1R is formed by connecting a first lens frame 18R and a second lens frame 19R from the front side along the optical axis OR, and on the rear side of the second lens frame 19R. A CCD 16R, which is a focus detection unit and also serves as a brightness detection unit, is provided via the optical filter 15R.

The first lens frame 18R fixes and holds the first group lens 11R on the front side, and holds the diaphragm 17R and the third group lens 13R which are exposure control means on the rear side.
It has a second group lens 12R which is a zoom lens inside.

The second lens group 12R is held by the second lens group holding frame 21R and is held in the optical axis direction by a plurality of guide shafts 23R supported by the first lens frame 18R. Has been done.

The second lens frame 19R has a fourth lens group 14R, which is a focus lens, inside the second lens frame 19R. The fourth lens group 14R is held by the fourth lens group holding frame 22R. A plurality of guide shafts 2 supported by the lens frame 19R
It is held by 4R so that it can move back and forth in the optical axis direction.

One end of a nut member 25R is inserted through one of the guide shafts 24R, and is pressed in the optical axis direction by a leaf spring or the like, whereby the fourth group lens holding frame 22R is pressed.
It is designed to move integrally with the optical axis.

The nut member 25R is screwed to the feed screw 26R at the other end side, and the feed screw 26R is connected to the motor shaft of the focus motor 27R, which is the focus adjusting means, so as to rotate integrally.

Thus, when the focusing operation or the zooming focus correction is performed, the feed screw 26R is rotationally driven by the focus motor 27R to move the nut member 25R forward and backward, thereby moving the fourth lens group holding frame 22R in the optical axis direction. It is designed to be positioned.

Further, the second group lens holding frame 21R is
As shown in FIG. 2, a nut member 28R is screwed onto the feed screw 29R, and positioning is performed in the optical axis direction via the nut member 28R.

The feed screw 29R meshes with the zoom motor 31R via a gear train 30R.

As a result, during the zooming operation, the zoom motor 31R rotationally drives the feed screw 29R through the gear train 30R to move the second lens holding frame 21R forward and backward in the optical axis direction.

Returning to FIG. 1, the left second lens barrel 1L.
Is also configured in substantially the same manner as the first lens barrel 1R on the right side, and includes a first lens frame 18L and a second lens frame 19L that are connected from the front side along the optical axis OL. Mirror frame 19L
A CCD 16L is provided on the rear side of the CCD via an optical filter 15L.

The first lens frame 18L fixes and holds the first group lens 11L on the front side, and the diaphragm 17L and the third group lens 13L which are exposure control means on the rear side.
It has a second lens group 12L, which is a zoom lens, inside.

The second group lens 12L is held by the second group lens holding frame 21L and is held by the plurality of guide shafts 23L supported by the first lens frame 18L so as to be movable back and forth in the optical axis direction. ing.

The second lens frame 19L has a fourth group lens 14L, which is a focus lens, inside, and the fourth group lens 14L is held by the fourth group lens holding frame 22L and the second group lens 14L is held in the second group lens holding frame 22L. A plurality of guide shafts 2 supported by the lens frame 19L
It is held by 4L so as to be movable back and forth in the optical axis direction.

One end side of a nut member 25L is inserted through one of the guide shafts 24L, and is pressed in the optical axis direction by a leaf spring or the like, whereby the fourth group lens holding frame 22L.
It is designed to move integrally with the optical axis.

The nut member 25L is screwed onto the feed screw 26L on the other end side, and the feed screw 26L is connected to the motor shaft of the focus motor 27L, which is the focus adjusting means, so as to rotate integrally.

Thus, during focusing operation or zooming focus correction, the feed screw 26L is rotationally driven by the focus motor 27L to move the nut member 25L forward and backward, thereby holding the fourth lens group 14L. The holding frame 22L is positioned in the optical axis direction.

The second group lens holding frame 21L is also
Although not shown, the mechanism similar to that shown in FIG. 2 is used to advance and retract in the optical axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of optical systems composed of the first lens barrel 1R on the right side and the second lens barrel 1L on the left side as described above are rotatable about points 2L and 2R, respectively. The mechanical chassis 3 is assembled so that

At this time, the first lens barrel 1R uses the motor 4 as a driving source via the gear 6 and the gear unit 5R, and the second lens barrel 1L uses the motor 4 as a driving source in the gear unit 5L. Through point 2 above
It is configured so that the directions of the optical axes OR and OL can be changed by interlocking and rotating around L and 2R.

Here, the points 2R, 2 at which the first lens barrel 1R and the second lens barrel 1L are attached to the mechanical chassis 3.
As shown in FIG. 4A, L is each lens barrel 1R, 1
It is an intermediate point between the entrance pupil position T on the telephoto side of the zoom lens and the entrance pupil position W on the wide angle side at L.

That is, when the distance between the entrance pupil position T on the telephoto side and the entrance pupil position W on the wide angle side is X, the points 2R and 2L are given.
Is approximately X / 2 from the entrance pupil position W on the wide angle side toward the telephoto side.
It is provided at a distance of. And these points 2R, 2L
The interval (baseline length) is a.

The above-mentioned points 2R and 2L are connected to the lens barrels 1R and 1L, respectively.
When the rotation center is L, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the angle of convergence, which is the angle formed by the optical axis OR and the optical axis OL, is 2θ, the base length on the wide angle side is aT = a−Xsinθ. , The base line length on the telephoto side is aW = a + Xsinθ, and the change amount of the base line length is Xsinθ, and the change amount of the base line length on the wide-angle side and the telephoto side can be made smaller than that described in the conventional example. It will be possible.

Note that the parallax amount is large on the telephoto side because the parallax amount is proportional to the zoom magnification in the same base line length (the same lens set state). Therefore, in order to approximate the appearance to the human eye, it is more effective in the zoom lens of the present embodiment if the points 2R and 2L that are the rotation centers are set near the wide angle side.

In this way, substantially the centers of the entrance pupil position on the wide-angle side and the entrance pupil position on the telephoto side are used as rotation axes when changing the vergence angle, and one rotation axis is provided without structural complexity. By uniformly covering the change in the base line length with, it is possible to reduce the difference between the base line lengths on the wide-angle side and the telephoto side.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus.

This stereoscopic photographing device is configured as described above, and the camera block 6 for photographing a right-eye image and a left-eye image for obtaining a stereoscopic image by utilizing binocular parallax.
1 and the image information for the right and left eyes captured by the camera block 61 is used to reproduce a stereoscopic image using binocular parallax, and can be used as a finder at the time of capturing. And a reproduction block 71.

The camera block 61 fetches the image pickup output signals of the CCDs 16R and 16L of the first and second lens barrels 1R and 1L, and the left and right image information is processed by a CPU which will be described later.
An image pattern recognition circuit 65 which is a subject recognition means for recognizing a pattern of a subject image based on the image pickup circuit 64 of the left and right lenses output to 66 and the image information of the image pickup circuit 64 of the left and right lenses and outputting the output to the CPU 66. And the CPU 66, which is a correction control unit that controls the entire stereoscopic imaging apparatus and also controls image processing,
A camera drive circuit 62 for driving and controlling the focus, zoom, diaphragm, lens convergence angle, etc. of the second lens barrels 1R, 1L.
And a camera detection circuit as a detection means for detecting the focus state, focal length, aperture opening diameter, vergence angle, baseline length, etc. of the first and second lens barrels 1R, 1L driven by the camera drive circuit 62. 63, an image recording circuit 69 for recording photographed image information processed by the CPU 66 on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape 70, and instructions for setting photographing conditions and for starting and stopping photographing, reproduction, and the like. CP
It comprises an external input detection circuit 68 to be supplied to U66, and a ROM 67 which is a storage means for storing variation data of the first lens barrel 1R and the second lens barrel 1L regarding focusing.

Further, the reproduction block 71 is the CP
An image processing circuit 72 which is controlled by U66 and takes in the output of the image pickup circuit 64 of the left and right lenses and processes the output, and an image reproducing circuit which takes in the output of the image processing circuit 72 and outputs it as a video reproduction signal. 73 and a video playback signal of the image playback circuit 73 to display a stereoscopic image by using the parallax of the left and right eyes, and a lenticular lens-type or polarization-type stereoscopic monitor 75, or for left and right images Head-mounted display (hereinafter, abbreviated as HMD) consisting of two sets of liquid crystal displays and a reproduction optical system for observing this display image as a virtual image.
And a line-of-sight detection circuit 74 for detecting the line-of-sight direction of the operator in the stereoscopic monitor 75 or HMD 76.

Next, the operation when the subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing device will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the CCD 16R of the first lens barrel 1R
The focus state of the first lens barrel 1R is detected on the basis of the image pickup signal obtained from, and when it is determined that the contrast to the subject is low and the subject is out of focus, the so-called hill-climbing AF causes the focus lens to A certain fourth lens group 14
The R is oscillated in the optical axis direction to detect the direction in which the contrast is increased (step S1).

Based on the focus information (contrast information) obtained from only one CCD 16R, the CPU 66
The focus motor 27R of the first lens barrel 1R and the focus motor 27L of the second lens barrel 1L are operated in the directions and amounts to be driven.

Then, the signals of the driving direction and the driving amount are transmitted to the focus motors 27R and 27L for driving, and the fourth group lenses 14R and 14L are simultaneously moved in the optical axis direction (step S2).

When it is detected that focusing is achieved by the fourth lens group 14R, 14L and the best focus is obtained (step S
3) Stop the focus motors 27R and 27L
The F operation ends (step S4).

It should be noted that here, the variation in the positions of the fourth group lenses 14R and 14L, which are the focus lenses of the left and right first and second lens barrels 1R and 1L (the positions when focusing on an object at an equal distance). Variation) is acceptable.

In this way, the left and right focus lenses are driven to the same position at the same time based on the same AF information, so that subjects at the same distance are always focused, so that the first and second lens barrels 1R. , 1L does not focus on different subjects, and the degree of blurring until the subject is completely in focus is substantially the same.

On the other hand, depending on the processing accuracy and the assembly accuracy, the stop positions of the focus lens holding frames 22R and 22L may vary when focusing on an equidistant subject.
In such a case, the left and right focus lens holding frames 22
If R and 22L are driven by exactly the same amount, the second lens barrel 1L will be out of focus.

Therefore, the stop positions of the focus lens holding frames 22R and 22L so that the left and right focus are equal to each other are previously written in the ROM 67, and the first lens barrel 1
Based on the focusing information of R, the first and second lens barrels 1R, 1
After driving L by the same amount at the same time, as shown in FIG.
A lateral deviation correction amount is called from the ROM 67 (step S5), necessary correction is applied based on the correction amount, and then the fourth lens group 14L, which is a focus lens, is driven (step S6), and necessary correction is made. After driving by the amount, the operation of the focus motor 27L is stopped (step S
7).

Thus, the first and the first stored in the ROM 67
By correcting and driving the other lens barrel based on the variation information of the second lens barrels 1R and 1L, it is possible to focus on the same subject without performing adjustment during assembly.

Next, the operation when the exposure is adjusted in the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

First, the CCD 16R of the first lens barrel 1R
It is detected whether the exposure state of the subject by the first lens barrel 1R is over, under, or proper based on the image pickup signal from.

As a result, if the current state of the diaphragms 17R and 17L is overexposed, the CPU 66 drives the right diaphragm motor (not shown) to reduce the aperture area of the diaphragm 17R or to perform exposure control. The gain of the image pickup unit is lowered by a gain adjusting unit (not shown).

On the other hand, if underexposure occurs, CP
U66 drives the right diaphragm motor, and the diaphragm 17R
Or increase the gain in the image pickup section by the gain adjusting means.

Further, the CCD 16R of the first lens barrel 1R
The exposure information including the driving direction and the driving amount based on the image pickup signal from is transmitted to the aperture motor for the right and at the same time,
The CPU 6 is also transmitted to the left diaphragm motor (not shown) provided in the second lens barrel 1L based on the same information.
6 drives the diaphragm 17L.

In this way, the left and right diaphragms are simultaneously driven or the gains of the image pickup units are adjusted simultaneously based on the same exposure information, so that the subject is always photographed with the same brightness in the left and right optical systems.

According to the first embodiment, the focus state and the brightness state of the left and right optical systems are always the same, so that the operator's fatigue is reduced.

Further, since focus detection and exposure amount detection are performed only on one side, a control circuit for focus detection, a control circuit for exposure amount detection, etc. need only be provided in the optical system on one side. It is possible to reduce the size and cost.

Furthermore, the center of the entrance pupil position on the wide-angle side and the entrance pupil position on the telephoto side are set as rotation axes when changing the vergence angle, and the base line length is set with one rotation axis without structural complexity. By uniformly covering the change of (1), it is possible to reduce the difference between the base line lengths on the wide-angle side and the telephoto side, and to reduce operator fatigue.

8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, description of the same parts as those of the first embodiment described above will be omitted, and mainly different points will be described.

In this embodiment, the focus motor and the feed screw for driving the focus lens and the diaphragm motor for driving the diaphragm are commonly used for the left and right lens barrels.

As shown in FIG. 8, the nut members 25R and 25L that move forward and backward in the optical axis direction integrally with the fourth lens group holding frames 22R and 22L, which are focus lens holding frames, are the first and second lens barrels. A common feed screw 26 arranged at an equal distance from 1R and 1L is screwed at a predetermined interval in the optical axis direction.

The feed screw 26 is coaxially attached to the motor shaft of a single focus motor 27 as a focus adjusting means so as to be integrally rotated.

Next, the diaphragm mechanism of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the second embodiment is as shown in FIG.

Two arms 45, 46 extending in the radial direction are attached to the motor shaft of the diaphragm motor 44 so as to rotate together.

The pin projecting from one of the arms 45 is bored in the right second diaphragm blade 42R and the left first diaphragm blade 41L among the four diaphragm blades forming the left and right diaphragms. It is commonly fitted to the long hole.

The pin projecting from the other arm 46 is a long hole formed in the right first diaphragm blade 41R and the left second diaphragm blade 42L among the four diaphragm blades forming the left and right diaphragms. Commonly fitted in the holes.

Further, the ND filter 43 is provided on the small aperture diameter side of the right second diaphragm blade 42R and the left first diaphragm blade 41L.
R and 43L are provided respectively.

As a result, when the aperture motor 44 is driven, the right first aperture blade 41R and the right second aperture blade 42R cooperate to change the right aperture opening diameter, and in conjunction with this, the left aperture The first diaphragm blade 41L and the left second diaphragm blade 42L
Cooperate with each other to change the left aperture size.

Next, the operation of focusing the subject and the operation of adjusting the aperture with this stereoscopic photographing apparatus will be described.

Similar to the first embodiment, the first lens barrel 1R
When the CPU 66 drives the focus motor 27 by detecting the focus shift based on the image pickup signal obtained from the CCD 16R, the fourth group lens holding frames 22R, 22
L is simultaneously driven by the same amount in the same direction.

Further, when the CPU 66 drives the diaphragm motor 44 by detecting the exposure state based on the image pickup signal, the four diaphragm blades 41R, 41L, 42R, 42L are simultaneously driven, and the left and right lens barrels are driven. The apertures of 1R and 1L are adjusted by the same amount.

Although not shown, the second group lens holding frames 21R and 21L, which are zoom lens holding frames, may be driven by a single zoom motor.

According to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment is obtained, and the left and right lens barrels are always focused at the same distance and the same. Since the aperture value is adjusted, the operator does not feel tired.

Further, the focus detection control circuit and the exposure amount detection control circuit, the focus motor, the feed screw, the diaphragm motor, and in some cases, the zoom motor may be provided only on one side of the optical system. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the size of the device and reduce the cost.

10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments described above will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

When the subject C in the position as shown in FIG. 10 is photographed, the distance from the first lens barrel 1R to the subject C is 1, and the second lens barrel 1L to the subject C.
The distance to is 1 + Δl, which is different by Δl.

Therefore, based on the image pickup information obtained from the first lens barrel 1R side, the fourth group lens 14L, which is the left focus lens, has the same amount as the fourth group lens 14R, which is the right focus lens. The second lens barrel 1L is not in the best focus just by moving it.

In particular, when the subject is at a close range, that is, when the convergence angle is set to a large value, the distance from the left and right lens barrels to the subject is different, and thus the amount of focus shift is generally large. easy.

In such a case, the operation as shown in FIG. 11 may be performed.

That is, first, C of the first lens barrel 1R
The focus state of the first lens barrel 1R is detected based on the image pickup signal obtained from the CD 16R, and when it is determined that the contrast to the subject is low and the subject is out of focus, the so-called hill-climbing AF is used to focus the lens. By vibrating the fourth lens group 14R in the optical axis direction, the direction in which the contrast becomes high is detected (step S11).

Thus, based on the focus information (contrast information) obtained from only one CCD 16R, the CPU 6
6 designates the focus motor 27R of the first lens barrel 1R and the focus motor 27L of the second lens barrel 1L,
The direction to drive and the amount to drive are calculated.

Then, the signals of the driving direction and the driving amount are transmitted to the focus motors 27R and 27L to be driven, and the fourth group lenses 14R and 14L are simultaneously moved in the optical axis direction (step S12).

The operation of step S12 is performed until the fourth lens group 14R focuses the image, and when it is detected that the first lens barrel 1R is in the best focus (step S13), the photographing information is obtained. First lens barrel 1R
Stop the focus motor 27R (step S1
4). Before this stop, the fourth lens group 1 on the right side
The movements of 4R and the left fourth lens group 14L are the same.

At this point, the fourth lens of the second lens barrel 1L
Since the group lens 14L should also be in a position quite close to the best focus, the first lens barrel 1R can make a quick focus simply by making a minute adjustment to the focused subject.

Based on the image pickup information obtained from the CCD 16L of the second lens barrel 1L, the CPU 66 calculates the direction and the amount to drive the focus motor 27L of the second lens barrel 1L to calculate the auxiliary AF operation. (Step S15), and the fourth lens group 14L, which is a focus lens
When the lens is driven to focus (step S16), the focus motor 27L is stopped (step S17).

Since the AF area is not limited to the auxiliary AF, the first AF for focusing the first lens barrel 1R, especially when the F value is small and the depth of field is shallow, There is a possibility of focusing on a different subject with the auxiliary AF for focusing the second lens barrel 1L, but if the subject with a relatively high contrast is subjected to AF, this possibility becomes smaller. Further, in the case where a different subject is focused by the re-AF, the configuration of the above-described first embodiment is effective.

According to the third embodiment as described above, substantially the same effect as that of the above-mentioned first embodiment is obtained, and when the distance to the subject is different between the left and right lens barrels,
You can always get the best focus image on both left and right.

Further, since the second lens barrel is used to perform the corrective AF, it is not necessary to adjust the position variation of the left and right fourth group lenses 14R and 14L, which are focus lenses, at the time of assembling. The work process can be simplified.

12 to 14 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, description of the same parts as those of the first to third embodiments will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the third embodiment described above, as explained in FIG. 10, the shooting distance from the first lens barrel 1R on the right and the shooting distance from the second lens barrel 1L on the left depends on the position of the subject. It corresponds to the case where is different from
As shown in FIG. 2, another subject D exists before and after a position relatively close to the subject C, and the subject C appears on both the liquid crystal 51R corresponding to the right eye and the liquid crystal 51L corresponding to the left eye of the HMD 76. If D is observed, then still
There is a possibility of focusing on different subjects on the left and right.

In view of the above points, the present embodiment is an example in which the same subject can be focused in any scene.

The construction of this embodiment is basically the same as that of the third embodiment, but a line-of-sight detecting device as shown in FIG. 13 is further provided.

In this line-of-sight detecting device, first, the image displayed on the liquid crystal 51R corresponding to the right eye of the HMD 76 is guided to the operator's eye via the eyepiece lens 53 and observed. .

An infrared light emitting diode 54 is provided in the vicinity of the operator's eye so as to emit infrared light toward the operator's eye.

This infrared light is reflected by the operator's eye and then passes through the eyepiece lens 53, whereupon the eyepiece lens 53
And is reflected by the dichroic mirror 52 disposed between the liquid crystal 51R and the liquid crystal 51R.

This reflected infrared light is imaged on the line-of-sight detection CCD 56 via the condenser lens 55, and the line-of-sight detection CCD 56 is formed.
By processing the signal from 56 by the line-of-sight detection circuit 74 (see FIG. 5), it is possible to detect which part of the liquid crystal 51R the photographer is looking at.

The line-of-sight detection may be performed not on the liquid crystal of the HMD 76 but on the screen of the stereoscopic monitor 75.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the line-of-sight detection device detects the line-of-sight of the operator's right eye (step S21).

Then, the CCD 16 of the first lens barrel 1R
From the image pickup signal obtained from R and the point (direction) on the liquid crystal 51R of the HMD 76, the CPU 66 determines that the CCD 16
A gaze area, which is an area for AF on R, is calculated (step S22).

Then, it is judged whether or not the subject in the gaze area is in focus (step S23), and if it is in focus, the process proceeds to step S27 described later.

On the other hand, when the focus is not obtained in step S23, the CPU 66 controls the focus motor 27R of the first lens barrel 1R and the focus motor 27R of the first lens barrel 1R based on the focus information (contrast information) obtained from the gazing area of the CCD 16R. Second
The direction and the amount to drive the focus motor 27L of the lens barrel 1L are calculated.

Then, the signals of the driving direction and the driving amount are transmitted to the focus motors 27R and 27L for driving, and the fourth group lenses 14R and 14L are simultaneously moved in the optical axis direction (step S24).

The operation of step S24 is performed until the fourth lens group 14R focuses on the gaze area, and when it is detected that the first lens barrel 1R is in the best focus (step S25), the focus is detected. Motor 27R,
27L is once stopped and the operation of the primary AF is completed (step S26). Up to this point, the movement of the right side fourth lens group 14R and the left side fourth lens group 14L is the same.

At this point, the fourth lens of the second lens barrel 1L
Since the group lens 14L should also be in a position quite close to the best focus, the first lens barrel 1R can quickly focus on the subject within the gazing area in which the first lens barrel 1R is focused simply by making a minute adjustment. It is possible.

By performing the above-mentioned primary AF, the fourth group lens 14
After stopping R and 14L, the base line length, vergence angle, and focal length of the zoom lens formed by the first lens barrel 1R and the second lens barrel 1L in that state are detected, and the stop in step S26 is performed. From the position of the fourth lens group 14R, the CPU 66 calculates the distance from the second lens barrel 1L to the subject (for example, the subject C in FIG. 12), and further, the first lens barrel 1R obtained in step S22. Information of the AF area in step S2
7).

Then, from the information on the AF area in the first lens barrel 1R, the CCD 1 of the second lens barrel 1L is detected.
The AF area in 6L is calculated (step S2
8).

In the AF area thus calculated, the unique auxiliary AF is started only by the second lens barrel 1L (step S29), and the operation of step S29 is performed until focusing is performed, and when it is detected that focusing is achieved. (Step S3
0), the focus motor 27L is stopped (step S31).

In the above description, the line-of-sight detection means is provided on only one side for cost reduction, but if provided on both left and right sides,
AF can be performed directly on both lens barrels.

According to the fourth embodiment as described above, substantially the same effects as those of the above-mentioned first to third embodiments are obtained, and
By performing line-of-sight detection, the subject to be AF-targeted is determined from the subjects photographed by the first lens barrel, and AF is also performed on the subject in the second lens barrel. You can always focus on the same subject that you want to see.

FIG. 15 shows the fifth embodiment of the present invention and is a flow chart showing the operation of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus. In the fifth embodiment, description of the same parts as those of the first to fourth embodiments will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the above-described fourth embodiment, the line-of-sight detection device is used to detect the subject to be the subject of AF, but instead, the image pattern recognition circuit 65 which is the subject recognition means shown in FIG. 5 is used. It is a thing.

Next, the operation of focusing the subject with this stereoscopic photographing apparatus will be described.

First, the CCD 16R of the first lens barrel 1R
The focus shift of the first lens barrel 1R is detected based on the image pickup signal obtained from step S41, and the CPU 66 determines the focus motor 27R and the second lens barrel 1R based on the detection result. The direction and the amount to drive the focus motor 27L of the lens barrel 1L are calculated.

Then, the signals of the driving direction and the driving amount are transmitted to the focus motors 27R and 27L for driving, and the fourth group lenses 14R and 14L are simultaneously moved in the optical axis direction (step S42).

When it is detected that the first lens barrel 1R is in the best focus by focusing by the fourth lens group 14R (step S43), the focus motors 27R, 27L.
Is temporarily stopped to complete the primary AF operation (step S44).

Thus, the focus motors 27R, 27
When L is temporarily stopped and the primary AF is finished, the image pattern recognition circuit 65 recognizes the color, shape, etc. of the subject to be focused among the subjects photographed by the first lens barrel 1R ( Step S45).

Next, based on the recognition result, from the objects photographed by the second lens barrel 1L, the object having the recognized color and shape, that is, the second lens barrel 1L should be focused. A subject is selected (step S46).

Then, based on the image pickup information from the CCD 16L, a driving amount and a driving direction that bring the object into focus are calculated, and based on the calculation result, the focus motor 27L is driven to drive the fourth lens group 14L. The auxiliary AF operation is performed by moving in the optical axis direction (step S47).

The operation of step S47 is repeated until the focus is achieved, and when the second lens barrel 1L is in focus and is in the best focus (step S48), the focus motor 2
7L is stopped (step S49).

According to the fifth embodiment as described above, substantially the same effects as those of the above-mentioned first to fourth embodiments are obtained, and
By performing the pattern recognition, the subject to be the target of AF is determined from the subjects photographed by the first lens barrel, and the AF is also performed on the subject in the second lens barrel. You can focus on the same subject that you want to see.

In each of the above embodiments, the first right side
Although the lens barrel is mainly used for AF, AE, etc., and the second lens barrel on the left side is controlled accordingly, since the human eye generally uses the effective eye side as the main image, A
A means for selecting the lens barrel for generating the F and AE drive information may be provided, and switching may be performed by this selection means in accordance with the effective eye of the operator.

[Additional Notes] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention as described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) A first photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the right eye, and a second photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the left eye.
Of the first taking optical system and the focusing information obtained from a predetermined one of the first taking optical system and the second taking optical system, and the focus adjustment of the other taking optical system is performed based on the correction information. A stereoscopic imaging apparatus comprising: a correction control unit that performs

(2) A subject recognition means is provided for substantially recognizing which one of the first and second photographing optical systems is the subject for which focus detection has been made. The correction control means adjusts the focus of the other photographing optical system so as to focus on the subject recognized by the subject recognition means.

(3) A first photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the right eye, and a second photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the left eye.
Of the first taking optical system and the focusing detecting means for obtaining focusing information about the subject from one of the first taking optical system and the second taking optical system. Subject recognition means for substantially recognizing which subject is the subject of focus detection, and focus adjustment of one of the predetermined one of the photographing optical systems based on focus information obtained from the focus detection means. Correcting the focus information obtained by the focus detecting means on the basis of the information about the subject obtained by the subject recognizing means and the information unique to the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system, A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus comprising: a focus adjustment unit that adjusts the focus of the other image pickup optical system based on correction information.

(4) The peculiar information is the focal lengths of the first and second photographing optical systems, the optical axis of the first photographing optical system and the optical axis of the second photographing optical system. And a baseline angle that is a distance between the entrance pupil position of the first photographing optical system and the entrance pupil position of the second photographing optical system. The stereoscopic imaging device according to attachment 3.

(5) A first photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the right eye, and a second photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the left eye.
Based on the brightness information obtained by this brightness detecting means, the brightness detecting means for acquiring brightness information about the subject from a predetermined one of the first and second shooting optical systems. A stereoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: an exposure control unit that controls exposure of the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system.

(6) In a stereoscopic photographing apparatus that includes a pair of left and right optical systems for respectively photographing a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and obtains a stereoscopic effect by utilizing parallax, one of the pair of optical systems is used. Focus adjustment is performed by one of the first optical systems, and focus adjustment of the other second optical system is performed in conjunction with the focus information of the first optical system. A stereoscopic photographing apparatus comprising a focus adjusting means for independently and correctingly adjusting the focus of the second optical system after the adjustment.

(7) Recognition means for substantially recognizing the subject focused by the first optical system, and focal length detection means for detecting the focal lengths of the first optical system and the second optical system. A convergence angle detecting means for detecting an angle formed by the optical axis of the first optical system and the optical axis of the second optical system;
The baseline length detecting means for detecting the distance between the entrance pupil position of the optical system and the entrance pupil position of the second optical system;
7. The stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to appendix 6, further comprising: a computing unit that performs a computation based on each data from the focal length detecting unit, the convergence angle detecting unit, and the baseline length detecting unit.

(8) In a stereoscopic photographing apparatus which includes a pair of left and right optical systems for respectively photographing a right-eye image and a left-eye image and obtains a stereoscopic effect by utilizing parallax, One of the first optical systems is used to adjust the brightness, and the second optical system is adjusted to adjust the brightness in association with the brightness information of the first optical system. 3D shooting device.

(9) In a stereoscopic photographing apparatus that includes a pair of left and right zoom lenses for respectively photographing a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and obtains a stereoscopic effect by utilizing parallax, a zoom lens on the telephoto side of the zoom lens is used. A stereoscopic imaging apparatus, wherein a rotation axis for changing an optical axis direction of the zoom lens is set at a position substantially intermediate between an entrance pupil position and a wide-angle side entrance pupil position.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 1, the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system do not focus on different subjects, and the distance from the first photographing optical system to the subject is small. Even if the distance from the second photographing optical system to the subject is different, good focusing can be achieved and the operator's fatigue is reduced.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in appendix 1 can be obtained, and even when there are a plurality of subjects, the subject which is the focus detection target is substantially recognized. , Can be focused well.

According to the three-dimensional image taking apparatus described in appendix 3, even when the distance from the first taking optical system to the subject is different from the distance from the second taking optical system to the subject, a plurality of subjects are Even in some cases, the first subject optical system and the second subject optical system can focus on the subject substantially by recognizing the subject that is the subject of focus detection, and the operator fatigue. Less is.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of Supplementary Note 4, based on at least the information of the focal length, the angle of convergence, and the base line length,
The same effect as that of the invention described in appendix 3 can be obtained.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 5, the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system do not perform different exposure controls, and the same subject is the same for the right eye and the left eye. Since it can be viewed with brightness, operator fatigue is reduced.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 6, the first optical system and the second optical system do not perform focus adjustment on different subjects, and the distance from the first optical system to the subject and Even if the distance from the second optical system to the subject is different, the focus can be adjusted well, and the operator is less tired.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 7, the same effect as that of the invention described in appendix 6 can be obtained, and even when there are a plurality of subjects, the subject focused by the first optical system Almost by recognizing, the second optical system can well focus the subject.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 8, the first optical system and the second optical system do not perform different exposure controls, and the same subject with the same brightness can be obtained with the right eye and the left eye. Since it can be seen, the operator is less tired.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus described in appendix 9, since the change in the distance between the entrance pupil positions of the pair of left and right zoom lenses due to the zoom operation is small, the stereoscopic effect when looking at the subject does not change so much. Little operator fatigue.

[0155]

As described above, according to the stereoscopic photographing device of the present invention as defined in claim 1, the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system are used.
Does not focus on a subject having a different shooting optical system, and it can focus well even if the distance from the first shooting optical system to the subject is different from the distance from the second shooting optical system to the subject. And the operator is less tired.

According to the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and even if there are a plurality of subjects, the object of focus detection can be obtained. It is possible to recognize a subject and focus properly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view showing an optical system of a stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a zoom mechanism of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a first lens barrel of the first embodiment and a second left lens barrel;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the lens barrel and the mechanical chassis are assembled so as to be rotatable.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the base line length when the angle of convergence is changed in the stereoscopic imaging apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation when the subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation when the subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view showing an optical system of a stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a diaphragm mechanism of the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a difference in distance when photographing an object from the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel in the stereoscopic photographing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation when the subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing apparatus of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state when another subject is present near the subject to be photographed in the stereoscopic photographing device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a line-of-sight detection device used in the stereoscopic imaging device of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an operation when a subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation when a subject is focused by the stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a state in which a conventional first lens barrel and a second lens barrel are assembled to a mechanical chassis.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which it is easy to focus on different subjects with the left and right lens barrels in the conventional stereoscopic imaging device.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the base lengths of the left and right lens barrels and the entrance pupil positions on the telephoto side and the wide-angle side in the conventional stereoscopic imaging apparatus.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing changes in the baseline length when the lens barrel is rotated about the wide-angle side entrance pupil position and the telephoto side entrance pupil position in the conventional stereoscopic imaging apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1R ... 1st lens-barrel (1st imaging optical system) 1L ... 2nd lens-barrel (2nd imaging optical system) 12R, 12L ... 2nd group lens 14R, 14L ... 4th group lens 16R, 16L ... CCD (focus detection means, brightness detection means) 17R, 17L ... Aperture (exposure control means) 27, 27R, 27L ... Focus motor (focus adjustment means) 31R ... Zoom motor 44 ... Aperture motor 56 ... Line-of-sight detection CCD 61 ... Camera Block 63 ... Camera detection circuit 65 ... Image pattern recognition circuit (subject recognition means) 66 ... CPU (correction control means) 67 ... ROM (storage means) 71 ... Reproduction block 74 ... Line-of-sight detection circuit 75 ... Stereoscopic monitor 76 ... Head Mounted display (HMD)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the right eye, a second photographing optical system for obtaining photographing information for the left eye, and the first photographing optical system and the first photographing optical system. Correction control means for correcting focus information obtained from a predetermined one of the two photographing optical systems and adjusting the focus of the other photographing optical system based on the correction information. Stereoscopic imaging device. 2. A subject recognition means for substantially recognizing which one of the first photographing optical system and the second photographing optical system is a subject for focus detection. The stereoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction control unit adjusts the focus of the other photographing optical system so as to focus on the subject recognized by the subject recognition unit.