JPH08265627A - Image pickup device and camera unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the camera unit in which an image pickup object is quickly switched by arranging a reflecting member to switch an object area. CONSTITUTION: This camera unit 11 is made up of a lens unit 11a, an image pickup means such as a CCD arranged to an image forming position of the lens unit 11a, and a mirror 12. The mirror 12 is rocked from its escaping position till its inserted position by a rotary shaft 12a provided to a front side upper part of the camera unit 11. The mirror 12 is driven around the rotary shaft 12a by a driver 15 and its angle is adjusted. When the mirror 12 is located at its inserting position, a light of a sample located on a sample placing board is led to the camera unit 11 via the mirror 12 and its image is formed on a light receiving face of the image pickup means. When the mirror 12 is in the escaping position, the object in front of the lens unit 11a is picked up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visual field switching image capturing device used in, for example, a video conference and a camera unit used in the image capturing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a video conference system in which a plurality of people are present apart from each other and discuss on a monitor screen, a video conference as an image capturing device is provided for each conference participant. Camera is equipped. Then, the video conference camera captures an image of the participant and displays the image on the monitor screen arranged in front of the other participants. As a result, each conference participant can hold one conference while viewing the images of other conference participants displayed on the monitor screen.

In such a video conference system, for example, when a conference participant wants to present his / her own material to another conference participant, a video conference camera for photographing himself / herself. It is necessary to change the direction and angle of the so that the above material can be imaged by this camera.

In addition, in front of one video conference camera,
When there are a plurality of conference participants, the direction and angle of the video conference camera can be changed every time the speaker changes, and the speaker can be imaged by this camera. Need to do so.

[0005]

However, in such a video conference system, it is necessary to change the direction and angle of the video conference camera in order to capture images of conference participants and materials to be imaged. In addition to requiring labor, it is necessary to finely adjust the direction and angle of the image pickup object so that the image pickup object is within the field of view of the video conference camera, and to focus. Therefore, in order to perform these operations, it is necessary for the operator to stand by the side of the video conference camera or for the conference participants to perform the above-mentioned operations themselves. Therefore, the above work takes time, and the conference is interrupted during that time.

If the direction and angle of the video conference camera are changed by an automatic direction setting system using a motor, the camera itself becomes heavy and the entire apparatus becomes large. However, there is a problem that the installation space increases.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an image capturing device and a camera unit used for the image capturing device, which are capable of quickly switching the image capturing target with a simple structure.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by an image capturing device comprising means for capturing an image of a subject area and a reflecting member arranged to switch the subject area. Is achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, the above object is to provide a fixedly arranged frame, a camera unit having an image pickup means fixed on the frame, a material installation base mounted on the frame, and This is achieved by an image capturing device that includes a reflecting member that is swingably disposed on the frame so as to switch the field to be photographed of the camera unit between the material installation base and the front of the camera unit.

Preferably, a processing circuit for inverting the image signal from the camera unit in the left-right direction or in the vertical direction corresponding to the image inversion by the reflecting member is provided.

[0011]

According to the above construction, the camera member takes an image of the subject area in front of it by retracting the reflecting member from the subject area of the camera unit. As a result, the camera unit captures an image of a person in front of the camera unit, for example. Further, by inserting the reflecting member into the shooting area of the camera unit, the camera unit images the shooting area reflected by the reflecting member. As a result, the camera unit captures an image of a person or a material or the like placed on the material installation base in the imaged area reflected by the reflecting member.

When a processing circuit for inverting the image signal from the camera unit in the left-right or up-down direction is provided, when the reflecting member is inserted into the image-pickup area of the camera unit, the image is picked up through the reflecting member. Image is
By being inverted by this processing circuit, the image that has been inverted in the left-right direction or the up-down direction by the reflecting member is restored.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. In addition, since the Examples described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention, various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention particularly limits the present invention in the following description. The embodiment is not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise stated.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an image capturing device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image capturing device 10 includes a camera unit 11, a mirror 12 as a reflecting member that is swingably supported on the front surface of the camera unit 11, a holding frame 13 that supports the camera unit 11, and a holding frame 13. It includes a material installation base 14 attached to the lower part of the frame 13.

The camera unit 11 includes a lens unit 11a, an image pickup means 11b (see FIG. 3) such as a solid-state image pickup device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) arranged at an image forming position of the lens unit 11a, and a mirror 12. It consists of and. Here, the lens unit 11a is controlled to move in the optical axis direction for automatic focus adjustment based on the image signal from the image pickup means 11b, for example, by a known configuration. Then, the image signal captured by the image pickup means 11b is output to the image signal processing circuit 20 (see FIG. 3) via the cable 11b.
The image pickup means 11b has a well-known configuration and captures an image signal by repeatedly scanning an image in the horizontal direction.

The mirror 12 is configured as, for example, a plane mirror, and swings with respect to the rotary shaft 12a provided on the upper front surface of the camera unit 11 from a retracted position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 to an insertion position shown by a dotted line. I'm supposed to get it. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the mirror 12 is rotated around the rotation shaft 12a by the drive device 15 attached to the upper surface of the camera unit 11 and the angle thereof is adjusted. In the illustrated case, the drive device 15 includes a motor 15a.
And a speed reduction mechanism 15b. In the illustrated case, the reduction mechanism 15b is composed of a pinion 15c attached to the drive shaft of the motor 15a and a gear 15d attached to the rotary shaft 12a so as to mesh with the pinion 15c, but other configurations are possible. It may be a speed reduction mechanism. Alternatively, the rotation shaft 12a may be directly driven by the motor 15a.

The motor 15a is controlled based on a detection signal from an angle sensor for detecting the angle of the mirror 12, for example. When a stepping motor is used as the motor, the angle sensor is not used. The angle of the mirror 12 can be adjusted. Then, when the mirror 12 is at the insertion position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 1, the material 14a placed on the material installation base 14 is guided to the camera unit 11 via the mirror 12, and the light receiving surface of the image pickup means thereof. Is imaged on. Incidentally, the mirror 12
Is an example of a reflecting member, and other reflecting members such as a prism mirror may be used. Further, in the illustrated case, the mirror 12 is swingably supported on the front surface of the camera unit 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the mirror 12 can swing about a fixedly arranged axis, for example, the upper portion of the holding frame 13. It may be swingably supported with respect to.

The holding frame 13 is the camera unit 11
Is held at a predetermined position, and its shape, configuration, etc. are arbitrarily changed.

The material setting table 14 is constructed as a flat plate, and the material or the like 14a to be imaged by the camera unit 11 is placed via the mirror 12. still,
The material setting table 14 may be a so-called white board in which arbitrary characters and the like are written by a felt-tip pen or the like, and may be erased by wiping as necessary.

The image capturing device 10 according to this embodiment is
With the above configuration, when the mirror 12 is first in the retracted position, a light beam from a subject located in front of the lens unit 11a, for example, a light ray from a human such as a video conference participant is incident on the camera unit 11. Therefore, the image of the person is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means 11b. As a result, the image pickup means 11b converts the optical image of the person into an electric image signal, and transmits the electric image signal via the cable 11c.
Output to an image signal processing circuit or the like.

When the mirror 12 is brought from the retracted position to the insertion position by operating the driving device 15 from this state, the camera unit 11 causes the material on the material setting table 14 which is reflected by the mirror 12 to be reflected. Since the light beam from the light source 14a, etc. is incident, the image of the material 14a is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means. As a result, the imaging means converts the optical image of the material 14a into an electrical image signal and outputs the electrical image signal to the image signal processing circuit or the like via the cable 11c. Thus, the camera unit 11 includes the mirror 12
When is in the retracted position, the subject in front of the lens unit 11a is imaged, and when the mirror 12 is in the inserted position, the document 14a on the document setting table 14 is imaged.

Here, when the mirror 12 is at the insertion position,
When the image of the material 14a on the material installation table 14 is captured by the camera unit 11, the mirror 12 is preferably slightly angled by the driving device 15 around the insertion position. As a result, the materials 14a
Is divided into a plurality of parts such as the upper half and the lower half, and the image is captured. By doing so, the resolution of the image capturing of the material 14a is increased, and the entire image is captured even when the material is large.

FIG. 3 shows a first structural example of an image signal processing circuit for processing the image signal taken in by the camera unit 11. In FIG. 3, the image signal processing circuit 20 has a left / right inversion processing circuit 21 and a camera signal processing circuit 22, and is connected to a monitor 23.

The horizontal inversion processing circuit 21 is a circuit for returning the inverted image reflected by the mirror 12 and incident on the camera unit 11, to the original state.
The image signal output from the cable via the cable 11c is inverted by hardware.

The camera signal processing circuit 22 generates a video signal based on the image signal from the left / right inversion processing circuit 21 and outputs it to the monitor 23. The monitor 23 displays an image on its screen based on the video signal from the camera signal processing circuit 22.

Here, the left-right reversal processing circuit 21 is configured in more detail, for example, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the horizontal inversion processing circuit 21 includes a sample hold circuit 24 to which an image signal from the image pickup unit 11b is input, an A / D conversion circuit 25 to which a signal from the sample hold circuit 24 is input, and an A / D. Two memories to which digital signals from the conversion circuit 25 are input, that is, a first memory 26 and a second memory 27, a D / A conversion circuit 28 to which signals from the memories 26 and 27 are input, and a clock signal The timing generator 29 that is generated and the frequency of the clock signal from the timing generator 29 are divided by 1 /
1st up / down counter to which the clock signal from the 1/2 frequency dividing circuit 30 and the inverting circuit 31 that inverts the signal from the 1/2 frequency dividing circuit 30 and the 1/2 frequency dividing circuit 30 are input 32 and a second up / down counter 33 to which the clock signal from the inverting circuit 31 is input as an up / down signal. Further, on the input side and the output side, change-over switches 34 and 35 which are interlocked with each other according to the position of the mirror 12 are provided.

The sample and hold circuit 24 holds the image signal from the image pickup means 11b at the timing of the clock signal CLK from the tamming generator 29 and outputs the image signal for one line to the A / D conversion circuit 25. To do.

The A / D conversion circuit 25 converts an analog signal into a digital signal, and based on the clock signal CLK from the timing generator 29, the image signal as the analog signal from the sample hold circuit 24 is digitally converted. Convert.

The first memory 26 is a RAM (random access memory), and based on the clock signal from the 1/2 frequency dividing circuit 30, that is, the write / read signal RD / WR.
Writing and reading of an input digitized image signal are performed.

The second memory 27 is a RAM, and writes the digitized image signal that is input based on the clock signal from the inverting circuit 31, that is, the inverted write / read signal RD / WR. And read.

The first up / down counter 32 is 1 /
An address ADR is generated by performing up-counting at the time of writing at an access address of the memory 26 and down-counting at the time of reading based on the clock signal from the frequency-dividing circuit 30 or the up / down signal UP / DOWN. , To the memory 26. The second up-down counter 33 performs up-counting at the time of writing at the access address of the memory 27 and down-counting at the time of reading based on the clock signal from the inverting circuit 31, that is, the up-down signal UP / DOWN. By doing so, the address ADR is generated and the memory 2
Output to 7. As a result, with respect to the memories 26 and 27, when writing in one of the memories 26 and 27, reading is performed in the other memory 27 or 26, and 1/2 is read.
Writing and reading are alternately performed for each clock signal from the frequency dividing circuit 30.

The change-over switches 34 and 35 are bipolar switches which are interlocked with each other, and when the mirror 12 is in the retracted position, they are directly connected via the line 36 and when the mirror 12 is in the inserted position. Only the connection is made as shown.

The horizontal inversion processing circuit 21 having such a configuration
Works as follows. When the mirror 12 is at the insertion position, the input image signal (see FIG. 5A) is held by the sample hold circuit 24, and the clock signal from the timing generator 29, that is, FIG. 5B.
Write / read signal RD / WR or up / down signal U
A / D image signal of one line based on P / DOWN
It is output to the conversion circuit 25.

As a result, the image signal of one line digitized by the A / D conversion circuit 25 is divided by the 1/2 frequency dividing circuit 30.
Are alternately written as image data in the first memory 26 or the second memory 27. At this time, every time writing is performed to one address, the up / down counter 32 or 33 is changed to C in FIG.
Count up as shown in.

On the other hand, one of the memories 26 or 2
When writing 7, the written image data is read in the other memory 27 or 26. At this time, every time writing is performed to one address, the up / down counter 33 or 32 counts down as shown in D of FIG.

Thus, the image signal of one line is sequentially written as stack data in the memories 26 and 27 at the time of writing, and is read in the reverse order from the memories 26 and 27 at the time of reading, as shown in E of FIG. Be done. As a result, the image signals of one line are arranged in the reverse order of the data, that is, left and right are inverted.

By repeating the above operation alternately with respect to the memories 26 and 27, the input image signal is horizontally inverted and sent to the camera signal processing circuit 22.

When the mirror 12 is in the retracted position, the changeover switches 34 and 35 are directly connected to each other via the line 36, so that the input image signal is output as it is and sent to the camera signal processing circuit 22. .

FIG. 6 shows a second configuration example of the image signal processing circuit for processing the image signal taken in by the camera unit 11. In FIG. 6, the image signal processing circuit 40 includes a computer 41 that performs image processing.

The computer 41 has an image capturing circuit 42 to which an image signal from the camera unit 11 is input.
And two RAMs 43 and 44 and a video RAM 45,
And a monitor output circuit 46.

The image capturing circuit 42 digitizes the analog image signal from the camera unit 11 and converts it into image data. The first RAM 43 is a random access memory in which the image data from the image capturing circuit 42 is recorded. In this case, the RAM 43 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the upper address (vertical axis) from 00 to BF (hexadecimal number) and the lower address (horizontal axis) from 00 to FF (hexadecimal number) form a matrix 43a such as 256 × 192. It has a map like this. Then, at each address designated by the upper address and the lower address on this map, pixel data 43b composed of luminance and color information is recorded. As a result, one image data is recorded in the entire matrix of the RAM 43.

The second RAM 44 is a random access memory and is provided with a map forming a matrix like the first RAM, and the image data subjected to the left-right inversion processing 47 is recorded as described later. To be done.

The video RAM 45 is a random access memory, and the image data read from the second RAM 44 is transferred and recorded. Monitor output circuit 46
Generates a video signal based on the image data from the video RAM 45 and outputs it to the monitor 23. As a result, the image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 23.

The left / right reversing process 47 is performed as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The first lower address 00 of each line extending in the lateral direction of the matrix of the first RAM 43 is schematically indicated by an arrow in FIG.
Pixel data of is transferred to the final lower address FF of each line extending in the lateral direction of the matrix of the second RAM,
In addition, the pixel data of the second lower address 01 is transferred to the second lower address FE from the end,
The pixel data of each line of the first RAM 43 is the second R
Each line of AM44 is transferred in reverse order.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 9, the above-mentioned operation is carried out by the RAM 4 in step ST1.
The lower read address LRA of 3 is set to 00, the following write address LWA of the RAM 44 is set to FF, and the upper read / write address HRWA is set to 00. And step ST
2, the upper read / write address HR of the first RAM 43
The pixel data of WA and the lower read address LRA are transferred to the upper read / write address HRWA and the lower write address LWA of the second RAM 44. As a result, the pixel data for one line is transferred. Then, in step ST3, the lower read address LRA is incremented by 1 and the lower write address LWA is decremented by 1.

If the lower write address LWA is not 0 in step ST4, the process returns to step ST3 and the upper read / write address H of the first RAM 43 is read again.
The pixel data of the RWA and the lower read address LRA are transferred to the upper read / write address HRWA and the lower write address LWA of the second RAM 44. Step S
If the lower write address LWA is 0 at T4, the higher read / write address HRW is set at step ST5.
A is increased by one.

If the read / write address HRWA is not C0 in step ST6, step ST2
Return to If the read / write address HRWA is C0 in step ST6, the transfer of the pixel data of the matrix on the RAM 43 is completed.

Thus, in the image signal processing circuit 40, the horizontal inversion of the image data is performed by so-called software. Therefore, as compared with the left / right inversion processing circuit 21 shown in FIG. 4, the hardware for left / right inversion is not required, so that left / right inversion can be performed at low cost. Further, when the vertical inversion of the image data is required, the lines of the image data need to be interchanged. Therefore, the horizontal inversion processing circuit 21 shown in FIG. Although the circuit configuration becomes complicated when trying to perform the vertical inversion in terms of wear, in the case of the image signal processing circuit 40 in FIG. 6, the vertical inversion can be easily performed only by rewriting the software for transferring the pixel data. Is also available.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the image capturing device according to the present invention. In FIG. 10, the image capturing device 50 includes a camera unit 51, a mirror 52 that is a part of the camera unit 51, and is a swingable member supported on the front surface of the camera unit as a reflecting member.
It includes a holding frame 53 that supports the camera unit 51, and a material installation table 54 attached to an end of the holding frame 53.

The camera unit 51 has the same structure as the camera unit 11 in the image capturing device 10 shown in FIG. The mirror 52 is configured as, for example, a plane mirror, and with respect to the vertical rotation shaft 52a provided on the front side portion (right side portion in the figure) of the camera unit 51, a solid line from the retracted position shown by the dotted line in FIG. The drive device (not shown) swings to the insertion position indicated by. The mirror 52 is an example of a reflecting member, and another reflecting member such as a prism mirror may be used. Further, in the illustrated case, the mirror 52 is swingably supported on the front surface of the camera unit 51, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the mirror 52 can swing about a fixedly arranged axis, for example, with respect to the holding frame 53. It may be swingably supported.

The holding frame 53 is used for the camera unit 51.
Is held at a predetermined position, and its shape, configuration, etc. are arbitrarily changed. The material setting table 54 is configured as a flat plate, is attached almost vertically to the holding frame 53, and is provided with the material 54a to be imaged by the camera unit 51 via the mirror 52 at the insertion position. It has become so.

According to the image capturing device 50 having such a configuration, when the mirror 52 is first in the retracted position, the camera unit 51 has a light beam from a subject located in front, for example, a human being such as a video conference participant. Is incident,
The image of the person is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means. As a result, the image pickup unit converts the optical image of the person into an electric image signal and outputs the electric image signal to the image signal processing circuit or the like via the cable.

From this state, when the mirror 52 is brought to the insertion position by a driving device (not shown), the camera unit 51 causes the document installation table 5 to be reflected by the mirror 52.
Since the light rays from the material 54a on the surface 4 are incident, the image of the material 54a is formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup means. As a result, the imaging means converts the optical image of the material 54a into an electrical image signal and, via the cable,
Output to an image signal processing circuit or the like. Also in this case, similarly, when the image of the material 54a is divided and imaged by adjusting the angle of the mirror 52, the resolution is enhanced, or even the large material is completely imaged.

Thus, the camera unit 51 directly images the subject in front when the mirror 52 is in the retracted position, and when the mirror 52 is in the insertion position, the material 54a on the material installation table 54 is mirrored by the mirror 52. Will be imaged through. Also in this embodiment, the mirror 52
Since the image of the material or the like 54a at the insertion position is inverted by the reflection by the mirror 52, it is returned to the original image by the horizontal inversion processing by the horizontal inversion processing circuit 21 and the computer 41 described above.

FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of the image capturing device according to the present invention. In FIG. 11, the image capturing device 60 includes a camera unit 61, a mirror 62 as a reflecting member swingably supported on the front surface of the camera unit 61, a holding frame 63 that supports the camera unit 61, and a holding frame 63. It includes a material installation base 64 attached to the bottom of the frame 63.

The camera unit 61, the mirror 62, the holding frame 63, and the material installation base 64 are the camera unit 11, the mirror 12, and the mirror 12 in the image capturing device 10 of FIG.
It has the same structure as the holding frame 13 and the material installation base 14.

Further, in the image capturing device 60, the mirror 62 is fixed and held at the insertion position (the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 11). On the other hand, the lens unit 61a of the camera unit 61 is held by the gimbal mechanism 70 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction as indicated by the arrow.

More specifically, the gimbal mechanism 70 is
It is configured as shown in FIG. In FIG.
The gimbal mechanism 70 includes a movable plate 72 that rotatably supports a lens barrel 71 that supports the lens unit 61a around a horizontal axis H, and a fixed plate that rotatably supports the movable plate 72 around a vertical axis V. A plate 73 and actuators 74 and 75 for pitching and yawing are provided.

As shown, the movable plate 72 has an inverted L-shaped cross section, and a vertical portion 72a on its side.
At the upper and horizontal portions 72b, stators having coils of actuators 74 and 75 are fixed, respectively.

The rotor of the actuator 74 is provided with a rotor magnet (not shown) formed in a ring shape and magnetized in multiple poles in the circumferential direction.
Is fixed against. As a result, when the rotor of the actuator 74 is rotationally driven, the lens barrel 71 is rotated around the rotation axis of the rotor, that is, the horizontal axis H.

The fixed plate 73 is, as shown in the figure,
The camera unit 61 has a cross section formed in an inverted L shape.
The rotor of the actuator 75 is attached to the lower surface of the horizontal portion 73a above the fixed portion. In addition, the actuator 74,
The 75 is provided with position sensors 76 and 77 for detecting the rotation angle, respectively. The position sensor 76 detects the rotation angle of the actuator 74 to detect the rotation angle of the lens barrel 71.
The position sensor 77 detects the position of the square light to the water of the lens barrel 71 by detecting the vertical position of the actuator and the rotation angle of the actuator 75. Then, the detection signals of the position sensors 76 and 77 are fed back to the drive control circuits of the actuators 74 and 75 (illustrated), so that the actuators 74 and 75 are brought to desired angular positions. ing.

According to the gimbal mechanism 70 having such a configuration, the actuator 7 is driven by energizing the coils of the respective stators of the actuators 74 and 75.
4, 75 are drive-controlled. As a result, the lens barrel 71 is
The movable plate 72 is rotationally driven around the H axis in the pitching direction, and the movable plate 72 is rotationally driven around the V axis in the yawing direction with respect to the fixed plate 73. Therefore, the lens barrel 71 is configured to swing vertically and horizontally in the camera unit 61. Thus, for example, the actuator 74 is appropriately driven and controlled, and the lens barrel 71
By adjusting the angle in the vertical direction, the materials 6 and the like on the material installation table 64 are adjusted in the same manner as in the case of adjusting the angle of the mirror 12 in the image capturing device 10 shown in FIG.
The divided image of 4a is taken in.

According to such a gimbal mechanism 70, since the divided images are taken in not by swinging the mirror but by swinging the lens unit 61a of the camera unit 61, when the mirror 62 is in the retracted position. Also, it is possible to capture divided images. Therefore, for example, when a plurality of people are lined up in front of the image capturing device 60, the actuator 75 of the gimbal mechanism 70 is drive-controlled to rotate the lens barrel 71 around the V-axis, so that It is also possible to capture individual images of human beings, and the actuator 74 of the gimbal mechanism 70 is drive-controlled to rotate the lens barrel 71 around the H axis to sit with a standing human. It is also possible to capture individual human images.

According to the above-described embodiment, since the reflecting area of the camera unit can be switched by inserting / removing the reflecting member into / from the photographing area of the camera unit, the camera unit is located in front of the camera unit, for example. An image of a person and a person or the like placed on a material installation table in the imaged area reflected by the reflecting member is imaged. Therefore,
The switching of the subject area of the camera unit can be quickly performed by a simple operation. Thus, for example, in an image capturing device as a video conference camera, it is not necessary to change the direction and angle of the camera itself in order to switch the captured area. Therefore, the conference is not interrupted due to the switching of the photographed area. Further, since the switching of the subject area is performed by inserting and removing the reflecting member, it is relatively small in size. When a processing circuit for inverting the image signal from the camera unit in the horizontal or vertical direction is provided, the inverted image by the reflecting member is
It will be easily corrected.

In the above embodiment, the image signals from the camera units 11, 51, 61 are horizontally inverted by the left / right inversion processing circuit 21 or the computer 41. However, depending on the type of material to be imaged, The horizontal inversion process may be omitted.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image capturing device and a camera unit in which an image pickup target can be quickly switched with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a first embodiment of an image capturing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a mirror driving device in the image capturing device of FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an image signal processing circuit in the image capturing device of FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a horizontal inversion processing circuit in the image signal processing circuit of FIG.

5 is a time chart of an input signal, a clock signal, a read / write address value, and an output signal in the horizontal inversion processing circuit of FIG.

6 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of an image signal processing circuit in the image capturing device of FIG.

7 is a first RAM in the image signal processing circuit of FIG.
3 is a schematic diagram showing a map configuration of FIG.

8 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of horizontal inversion processing in the image signal processing circuit of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a horizontal inversion process in the image signal processing circuit of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a second embodiment of the image capturing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view showing a third embodiment of the image capturing device according to the present invention.

12 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of a gimbal mechanism of the camera unit in FIG.

[Brief description of reference numerals]

 10, 50, 60 Image capturing device 11, 51, 61 Camera unit 11a, 61a Lens unit 11b Imaging means 11c Cable 12, 52, 62 Mirror 12a Rotating shaft 13, 53, 63 Holding frame 14, 54, 64 Data installation base 14a Materials 15 Drive device 15a Motor 15b Speed reducer 20 Image signal processing circuit 21 Horizontal inversion processing circuit 22 Camera signal processing circuit 23 Monitor 24 Sample hold circuit 25 A / D conversion circuit 26, 27 Memory 28 D / A conversion circuit 29 Timing generator 30 1/2 frequency divider circuit 31 Inversion circuit 32, 33 Up-down counter 34, 35 Changeover switch 40 Image signal processing circuit 41 Computer 42 Image capturing circuit 43, 44 RAM 43a Matrix 43b Pixel data 45 Video RAM 46 Monitor output circuit 47 Horizontal inversion processing 70 Gimbal mechanism 71 Lens barrel 72 Movable plate 73 Fixed plate 74,75 Actuator 76,77 Position sensor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Hamada 6-735 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera unit comprising: a means for capturing an image of a subject area; and a reflecting member arranged so as to switch the subject area. 2. A fixedly arranged frame, a camera unit having an image pickup means fixed on the frame, a material installation base mounted on the frame, and an object area of the camera unit for installing the material. An image capturing device, comprising: a reflection member provided on the frame so as to be swingable so as to switch between a base and the front of the camera unit. 3. The image capturing device according to claim 2, further comprising a processing circuit which inverts an image signal from the camera unit in a horizontal direction or an up-down direction in response to inversion of an image by the reflecting member. apparatus.