JPH09186920A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply efficient input processing to still image information with high accuracy. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an image input means A extracting and inputting plural partial image information sets of entire image information split at least in any direction in one optional direction and other direction perpendicular thereto, a division control means C setting and controlling division number in the optional direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto independently, so that the image input with different resolution is conducted independently in the optional direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto thereby inputting image information with high resolution efficiently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for inputting image information, and more specifically,
The present invention relates to a device for inputting high resolution still image data by pixel shift control.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as personal computers have become more sophisticated and multimedia, and as printers and monitors have become more colorized and have higher resolutions, documents and color drawings,
The environment for easily handling high-definition color still images such as photographs is being established.

Conventionally, a scanner has been widely used as an image input device for inputting a high-resolution still image. In the case of the above-mentioned scanner, it has been pointed out that it takes a lot of time to take in data, and only a plane image can be inputted.

Therefore, in recent years, high-resolution cameras by various methods have been proposed as image input devices in place of scanners. Above all, an image input device capable of inputting a high-resolution still image using a standard-resolution camera has been attracting attention.

In general, the camera having the standard resolution is not high enough to handle a high-definition still image, and its effective pixel is about 380,000 pixels. As a method of capturing a still image of higher resolution using such a standard resolution camera, there is a method of shifting the optical axis in the horizontal / vertical direction in units of a small number of pixels and then capturing the image.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the combination of input images by shifting pixels (high resolution image format). As a method of shifting the optical axis, a method using a tiltable parallel plate or a variable prism is generally used.

An image input device that enables high resolution image input by pixel shift control will be described with reference to a simple example. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image input device capable of pixel shift control. Here, it is assumed that the optical axis movement control of 1/2 pixel pitch is performed.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 501 is a lens section having a variable optical axis function, and 502 is an image pickup section. An A / D conversion unit 503 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. An image processing unit 504 performs color processing and various filter processing. A memory unit 505 temporarily stores the input image information.

Reference numeral 506 is a memory input control unit for controlling input to the memory unit 505. A memory output control unit 507 controls the output from the memory unit 505. A lens control unit 508 controls the movement of the optical axis of the lens unit 501. Reference numeral 509 denotes an overall control unit that monitors the state of each unit and performs overall operation control and timing control. A division control unit 510 controls the amount of division in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Here, in the image pickup unit 502 composed of a solid-state image pickup device compatible with NTSC, the horizontal scanning frequency (fh)
Is read out from the solid-state image sensor at a frequency of 910 times. Then, with the same frequency, the A / D converter 50
Sampling processing is performed according to 3.

Prior to image input, the lens unit 501 controls the optical axis movement of the lens control unit 508, and the memory unit 505 controls the storage area of the memory input control unit 506. First, input control of a still image of an origin image (frame # 0) without pixel shifting is performed in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

Image information input via the lens unit 501, the image pickup unit 502, the A / D conversion unit 503, and the image processing unit 504 is stored in the memory unit 5 under the control of the memory input control unit 506.
05 is stored in a predetermined area.

Next, a position shifted by 1/2 pixel pitch only in the horizontal direction (frame # 1) and a position shifted by 1/2 image pitch in both the horizontal and vertical directions (frame # 1).
2), a position shifted by 1/2 pixel only in the vertical direction (frame
e # 3), and so on.

Here, at the time of inputting / storing an image, the memory input control unit 506 controls the storage position corresponding to the image pickup position, and the pixel shift image composed of four screens (frames # 0 to # 3) is synthesized. And a high resolution image is generated.

Then, the generated high resolution image is stored in the memory unit 505. The high resolution image stored in the memory unit 505 is output by the output control of the memory output control unit 507.

By the above-described operation, an image having a larger number of pixels than the effective number of pixels by a single solid-state image pickup device, that is, a still image with a higher resolution is captured. Further, according to the control information from the overall control unit 509, the division amount control unit 510 performs the division amount control, that is, the pixel shift single unit control, so that the resolution is selected.

Further, by changing the pixel shift unit, input processing of various resolution images becomes possible. For example, in the above-described 1/2 pixel pitch optical axis movement control, by inputting and synthesizing pixel-shifted images consisting of 4 frames, a double resolution is obtained in the horizontal and vertical directions, and 1/4 pixel is obtained. In the pitch optical axis movement control, the still image input with the resolution doubled can be realized by the input / synthesis processing of 16 frames in the same manner.

In this way, the still image information taken in by the personal computer or the like is displayed on a monitor, output from a printer or the like, or compression-coded to be recorded on an HD (hard disk) or the like. It is stored in various recording media.

[0019]

The image format used when the above-mentioned image input device is connected to a personal computer and an image is displayed and output on a monitor or the like is a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. So-called square pixels (SquarePix
el) (pixel density ratio in the horizontal / vertical direction = 1: 1).
This is the horizontal scanning frequency (fh) in the NTSC system.
Is equal to a sampling image with a frequency of 780 times.

On the other hand, as described above, since the image information input by the general image input device is 910 fh sampling (horizontal / vertical pixel density ratio = 7: 6), if it is displayed on the monitor as it is, horizontal This results in a horizontally long image that extends 7/6 times in the direction.

For this reason, there is a drawback that the sampling rate conversion process of 6: 7 must be performed in order to display it correctly on the monitor. Further, since the sampling rate conversion process is generally realized by weighted addition between two adjacent pixels, the original fineness of an image may be lost when the sampling rate conversion process is performed. It was

That is, there is a drawback in that the image quality may be deteriorated due to the sampling rate conversion processing even though the image input with high resolution is realized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is an image format (horizontal / vertical direction resolution ratio) used in a subsequent process in an image input device by pixel shift control or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device capable of efficiently inputting high-resolution still image information without performing conversion processing for.

[0024]

The image input device of the present invention is provided with a plurality of partial image information divided in at least one of an arbitrary direction in the entire image information and another direction perpendicular thereto. Image input means for extracting and inputting the whole image information, and division control means for independently setting and controlling the number of divisions in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto when dividing the whole image information. It is characterized by having.

Another feature of the present invention is that
When determining the division ratio in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto, the division ratio control means for determining the division ratio based on a predetermined image format is further provided, and the division control means is configured to perform the division. The whole image information is divided based on the division ratio determined by the ratio control means.

Another feature of the present invention is that it further comprises a shift amount control means for independently setting and controlling the shift amount in any one direction in the whole image information and in the other direction perpendicular thereto. The image input unit generates the plurality of partial image information by shifting the optical axis of the light beam from the subject by a small unit in at least one of arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto. It is characterized by inputting.

Another feature of the present invention is that the image input means includes an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting a light beam from the subject formed on the light receiving surface through the lens, and the light from the lens. It is characterized in that it has a flat plate made of a light-transmissive material that is provided with a variable tilt angle with respect to the axis, and position control means that changes the tilt angle of the flat plate to control the imaging position of the imaging target. .

[0028]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned technical means, it becomes possible to input and process a plurality of partial image information by independently setting and controlling the division amounts in an arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto. Image inputs with different resolutions can be independently performed in any one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto.

Further, according to another feature of the present invention, the division ratios in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto can be determined based on a desired image format, so that the processing in the latter stage is mainly performed. Recognizes the image format such as the ratio of the pixel density in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction required in, and based on this, sets and controls the amount of division in any one direction and in the other vertical direction independently. It becomes possible to input multiple pieces of partial image information, and based on the image format required as the input image, determine the amount of division in any one direction and the other direction perpendicular to this, and perform image input. It will be possible.

According to another feature of the present invention, the optical axis of the light beam from the subject is shifted by a minute unit in at least one of an arbitrary direction and another direction perpendicular thereto. With this, it is possible to generate and input multiple partial image information, and it is possible to independently set and control the shift amount in the above-mentioned arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto, and pixel shift can be performed. It can be applied well at input.

[0031]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration example of a main part of an image input device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, A is image input means, B is image generation means, C is division control means,
D is a division ratio control means, E is a shift amount control means, A1 is a lens, A2 is a flat plate, A3 is an image sensor, and A4 is position control means.

The image inputting means A is for extracting and inputting a plurality of partial image information which is divided in at least one of the arbitrary one direction in the whole image information and the other direction perpendicular thereto. In this embodiment, the lens A1, the flat plate A2, the image sensor A3, and the position control means A4 are used.

The image pickup device A3 is for photoelectrically converting the light beam from the subject formed on the light receiving surface through the lens A1 to generate an electric signal.

The flat plate A2 is provided with a variable tilt angle with respect to the optical axis of the lens A1, operates so as to move the image forming position of the image pickup device A3, and outputs a plurality of pieces of image information having different image forming positions. And is made of a light transmissive material.

The position control means A4 is for controlling the position at which the object to be imaged forms an image on the image plane of the image sensor A3 by changing the tilt angle of the flat plate A2.

The image generation means B is for subjecting the image information input by the image input means A to predetermined image processing to generate an image signal. The division control unit C is for independently setting and controlling the number of divisions in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto when dividing the whole image information.

The division ratio control means D is for determining the division ratio in the above-mentioned arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto, based on a predetermined image format. . The shift amount control means E is for independently setting and controlling the shift amount in any one direction in the whole image information and the other direction perpendicular thereto.

According to the image input apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the division amounts in an arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular to the one direction are independently set and controlled, and a plurality of pieces of partial image information are displayed. Input processing is possible. Therefore,
It is possible to input images with different resolutions in any one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto, and it is possible to realize efficient high resolution image information input.

Since the division ratios in the one direction and the other direction can be determined based on a predetermined image format,
The image format such as the ratio of the pixel density in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, which is mainly required in the image processing in the subsequent stage, is recognized, and based on this, the division amounts in the one direction and the other direction are independently set and controlled. A plurality of pieces of partial image information can be input and processed.

Therefore, it is possible to input high resolution image information according to a predetermined image format, and it is possible to eliminate the need for performing the pixel density conversion processing in the subsequent image processing, so that the image quality deterioration due to the pixel density conversion processing is performed. It is possible to eliminate the problem that causes, and it becomes possible to efficiently perform image input as the entire system.

Further, a plurality of partial image information is generated by shifting the optical axis of the light ray from the subject by a small unit in at least one of the arbitrary direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto. You can enter.
Further, it is possible to independently set and control the shift amount in any one direction in the whole image information and the other direction perpendicular thereto. This makes it possible to control the pixel shift unit amount when inputting a plurality of partial images by pixel shift control.

Next, a more specific structure and operation of the image input apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the image input apparatus of this embodiment.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 is a lens unit having a variable optical axis function. 102 is an imaging unit. These lens parts 10
1 and the detailed configuration around the imaging unit 102 will be described later. An A / D conversion unit 103 converts an analog signal into a digital signal.

An image processing unit 104 performs various filter processes. A memory unit 105 temporarily stores the input image information. A memory input control unit 106 controls input to the memory unit 105. 107 is the memory unit 1
This is a memory output control unit that controls output from the memory 05.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a lens control unit for controlling the movement of the optical axis of the lens unit 101. Reference numeral 109 denotes an overall control unit that monitors the state of each unit and performs overall operation control and timing control of the image input apparatus of this embodiment. Reference numeral 110 is a horizontal division amount control unit that controls the horizontal division amount, and 111 is a vertical division amount control unit that controls the vertical division amount.
An image format recognition unit 112 recognizes an image format such as a horizontal / vertical resolution ratio based on external input information.

Next, the lens unit 10 having the optical axis changing function
1, the optical axis movement control and operation by the image pickup unit 102 and the lens control unit 108 will be described. 4 (a) and (b)
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the periphery of a lens / imaging device capable of optical axis movement control according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 4, 401 is a lens, 402 is a flat plate that can be tilted with respect to the optical axis, and the lens unit 101 is composed of the lens 401 and the flat plate 402. Four
Reference numeral 03 is a solid-state image sensor.

The lens control unit 108 operates to move the image forming position of the image pickup device 403 by controlling the inclination of the flat plate 402 with respect to the optical axis, and obtains image information of a plurality of images having different image forming positions. it can.

In the present embodiment, the pixel shift unit can be independently selected and controlled in each of the horizontal and vertical directions. For example, the image information of 64 frames can be obtained by the pixel shift control of 1/8 pixel pitch in both the horizontal and vertical directions. By inputting and synthesizing, an image having a pixel density (resolution) of 8 times in each of the horizontal and vertical directions can be obtained.

Further, by independently controlling the pixel shift unit in the horizontal / vertical directions, that is, the screen division amount, it is possible to independently control the resolution in the horizontal / vertical directions. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state of pixel shift input and synthesis processing in units of horizontal and vertical 1/2 pixels.

Next, a basic high-resolution image input operation of the image input apparatus having the above configuration will be described. FIG.
It is a conceptual diagram explaining the mode of a pixel shift input process of a 1/2 pixel shift unit. Here, with reference to FIG.
Regarding the pixel shift input of the pixel pitch, the input operation of the sequentially input origin position image (frame # 0) to vertical one pixel shift image (frame # 3) will be briefly described.

Prior to image input, the lens unit 101 controls the optical axis movement of the lens control unit 108, and the memory unit 105 controls the storage area of the memory input control unit 106.

First, input control of a still image of an origin image (frame # 0) without pixel shifting in both horizontal and vertical directions is performed. Then, the lens unit 101 and the imaging unit 10
2. The image information input through the A / D conversion unit 103 and the image processing unit 104 is stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 105 under the control of the memory input control unit 106.

Subsequently, a position shifted by a 1/2 pixel pitch only in the horizontal direction (frame # 1) is 1 in both the horizontal and vertical directions.
/ 2 pixel pitch shifted position (frame # 2), 1/2 vertical pixel shifted position (frame # 2)
Image input is executed in the order of 3).

Here, at the time of inputting and storing these images, the storage position control corresponding to the image pickup position is performed by the control of the memory input control unit 106, and four screens (frame) are displayed.
The pixel shift image including # 0 to # 3) is combined.

Then, the high resolution image generated by this synthesizing process is stored in the memory unit 105. The high resolution image stored in the memory unit 105 is output under the output control of the memory output control unit 107.

In this way, an image having a larger number of pixels than that of the single solid-state image pickup element, that is,
It is designed to capture images with higher resolution. In the pixel shift input with the 1/2 pixel pitch described above, the input processing of the image information whose resolution is doubled in the horizontal and vertical directions is realized.

Next, the control operation of the horizontal / vertical division ratio by the independent control of the number of divisions in the horizontal / vertical direction, that is, the pixel shift unit, which is characteristic of the present invention, will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the horizontal / vertical division ratio.

Here, the lens unit 101, the image pickup unit 102, and the A / D conversion unit 103 of the image input apparatus according to this embodiment.
The pixel density ratio in the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, that is, the input pixel density ratio (Pin) is x, and the predetermined pixel density ratio in the horizontal direction to the vertical direction in the subsequent processing of the image input device, that is, the expected output pixel density. It is assumed that the ratio (Pout) is y.

When determining the division ratio, image format information is input from the outside (step S1). here,
The image format information input from the outside is the expected output pixel density ratio (Pou) which is the ratio of the pixel density in the horizontal direction to the vertical direction of the image information required in the latter stage of the input processing.
t = y) is included.

Next, the input image format information is analyzed by the image format identification unit 112 to recognize that the expected output pixel density ratio (Pout) is y, and
Pout = y is notified to the overall control unit 112, the horizontal division amount control unit 110, and the vertical division amount control unit 111 (step S2).

The overall control unit 109 recognizes in advance that the input pixel density ratio (Pin), which is the pixel density ratio in the horizontal direction to the vertical direction of the single input image in its own device, is x, and the image format According to the expected output pixel density ratio (Pout = y) notified from the identification unit 112, the horizontal and vertical division amounts are determined.

That is, the composite pixel density ratio (Pmem) which is the pixel density ratio in the horizontal direction to the vertical direction of the image stored in the memory after the pixel shift input / composite processing is equal to the expected output pixel density ratio (Pout = y). In addition, the ratio of the division amount in the horizontal direction and the division amount in the vertical direction is set and controlled as x: y.

That is, the instruction information is set and controlled for the horizontal division amount control unit 110 and the vertical division amount control unit 111, respectively, so that the ratio of the pixel shift units in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is y: x (step). S3).

On the other hand, the lens control unit 108 recognizes a horizontal pixel shift unit and a vertical pixel shift unit according to the horizontal and vertical division amounts set in the horizontal division amount control unit 110 and the vertical division amount control unit 111. Then, each optical axis movement control is performed.

Also, in conjunction with this, the memory input control unit 1
The storage area control according to 06 is executed. Then, the input image information is processed by the A / D conversion unit 103 and the image processing unit 10.
4 and stored in the memory input control unit 105. This makes it possible to realize high-resolution image input processing having a predetermined horizontal / vertical pixel density ratio (step S4).

Further, a specific example will be described. Here, the image pickup unit 102 is composed of an image pickup device compatible with NTSC, and its reading frequency and the sampling frequency of the A / D conversion unit 103 are set to 910 × fh (fh: horizontal scanning frequency).
And

This is the horizontal: vertical pixel density ratio = 7: 6.
This corresponds to (input pixel density ratio Pin = 7/6). on the other hand,
When the image format required in the subsequent processing of the image input device is a square pixel, that is, the horizontal / vertical pixel density ratio is 1: 1 (input pixel density ratio Pout = 1), the horizontal and vertical directions are The ratio of the divided amount is set to 6: 7 and controlled.

That is, the ratio of the pixel shift units in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is 7: 6 (for example, 1 in the horizontal direction).
/ 6 pixel pitch and 1/7 pixel pitch in the vertical direction), and a pixel shift unit may be set and controlled.

Therefore, as described above, in the image input device based on the pixel shift control, the horizontal pixel shift unit and the vertical pixel shift unit are based on the horizontal and vertical pixel density ratios required in the subsequent processing. By independently controlling and, it is possible to output high resolution image information in a predetermined image format without performing pixel density conversion processing such as horizontal sampling rate conversion on the input image.

In the image input device for inputting high-resolution still image information by extracting and inputting a plurality of pieces of partial image information divided in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction from the entire image by the above operation and combining them. The image format (horizontal / vertical pixel density ratio) required in the subsequent processing can be identified, and the number of divisions in the horizontal and vertical directions, that is, the pixel shift unit can be independently controlled based on this.

As a result, it is not necessary to perform conversion processing such as sampling rate conversion in the subsequent processing, so that a predetermined image format (horizontal / vertical pixel density ratio) can be increased without causing deterioration of image quality. The resolution image information can be input and the synthesizing process can be performed, and the high resolution image can be efficiently input.

In the above embodiment, the division input of the whole image by the pixel shift control in the decimal pixel unit is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be applied to other divided inputs.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pixel shifting method using the parallel plate has been described, but it is obvious that all other pixel shifting methods such as the method using the prism and the method of vibrating the image pickup device can be applied. Is.

[0074]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the division amounts in an arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto are independently set and controlled, and a plurality of division amounts are set. Since partial image information can be input and processed, it is possible to input images with different resolutions independently in one direction and in the other direction perpendicular to this direction, and efficiently input high-resolution image information. You can

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image input device according to the first aspect, the division ratios in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto are determined based on a predetermined image format. Since the division ratio control means is provided, the division control means can divide the whole image information with a division ratio of the arbitrary one direction determined by the division ratio control means and the other direction perpendicular thereto. Mainly recognizes the image format such as the ratio of the pixel density in the horizontal direction and the pixel density in the vertical direction required in the subsequent processing, and based on this, the division amount in any one direction and the other direction perpendicular to this is independently It is possible to input and process a plurality of pieces of partial image information by controlling the setting, and it becomes possible to input high resolution image information according to a predetermined image format. As a result, it is possible to efficiently perform image input as a whole system and perform high-resolution image input without performing pixel density conversion processing and without causing image quality deterioration accompanying this.
High quality images can be obtained.

Further, according to the third invention of the present invention, in the image input device according to the first invention or the second invention, the optical axis of the light beam from the subject is set in any one direction and in a direction perpendicular to this. A plurality of partial image information is generated and input by shifting each by a minute unit in at least one of the directions, and an arbitrary one direction in the whole image information and another direction perpendicular to this direction are generated. Since the shift amount is independently set and controlled, when inputting multiple partial images by pixel shift control, by controlling the pixel shift unit amount, image input can be performed efficiently and high A resolution image can be input and a high quality image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of an image input apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation of horizontal / vertical division ratios (pixel shift unit ratios) according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a lens unit and an imaging unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a pixel shift (1/2) according to the embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic diagram explaining a mode (procedure) of high-resolution image input processing by (pixel).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state of a combination process (formation of a high-resolution image) of each pixel-shifted image by pixel shift (1/2 pixel).

FIG. 7 is an overall schematic block diagram of an image input device in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A image input means A1 lens A2 flat plate A3 image sensor A4 position control means B image generation means C division control means D division ratio control means E shift amount control means

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An image input means for extracting and inputting a plurality of partial image information divided in at least one of an arbitrary direction in the entire image information and another direction perpendicular to the arbitrary direction, and An image input device, comprising: division control means for independently setting and controlling the number of divisions in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto when dividing the entire image information. 2. A division ratio control means for determining the division ratio based on a predetermined image format when determining the division ratio in the arbitrary one direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto is further provided, and the division control is provided. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the means divides the entire image information based on the division ratio determined by the division ratio control means. 3. A shift amount control means for independently setting and controlling a shift amount in an arbitrary one direction in the whole image information and in another direction perpendicular to the one direction, further comprising: 2. The plurality of partial image information is generated and input by shifting the optical axis by a small unit in at least one of the arbitrary direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto. The image input device described in. 4. A shift amount control means for independently setting and controlling a shift amount in an arbitrary one direction in the whole image information and in another direction perpendicular to the one direction is further provided, and the image input means includes a shift amount control means. 3. The plurality of pieces of partial image information are generated and input by shifting the optical axis by a minute unit in at least one of the arbitrary direction and the other direction perpendicular thereto. The image input device described in. 5. The image input means is provided with an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting a light beam from the subject formed on a light receiving surface through a lens, and a tilt angle variable with respect to an optical axis of the lens. The image input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a flat plate made of a light-transmissive material; and a position control unit that changes an inclination angle of the flat plate to control an image formation position of an imaging target. 6. The image input means is provided with an image sensor for photoelectrically converting a light beam from the subject formed on a light receiving surface through a lens, and an inclination angle variable with respect to an optical axis of the lens. The image input device according to claim 2, further comprising: a flat plate made of a light-transmissive material; and a position control unit that controls an image formation position of an imaging target by changing an inclination angle of the flat plate. 7. The image input means is provided with an image sensor for photoelectrically converting a light beam from the subject formed on a light receiving surface through a lens, and an inclination angle variable with respect to an optical axis of the lens. The image input device according to claim 3, further comprising: a flat plate made of a light-transmissive material; and a position control unit that changes an inclination angle of the flat plate to control an image formation position of an imaging target. 8. The image input means is provided with an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a light beam from the subject formed on a light receiving surface through a lens, and a tilt angle variable with respect to an optical axis of the lens. The image input device according to claim 4, further comprising: a flat plate made of a light transmissive material; and a position control unit that changes an inclination angle of the flat plate to control an image formation position of an imaging target. 9. The image forming apparatus further comprises an image generating unit that performs a predetermined image process on the image information input by the image input unit to generate an image signal.
An image input device according to claim 1. 10. The image input device according to claim 2, further comprising image generation means for subjecting the image information input by the image input means to predetermined image processing to generate an image signal. 11. The image input device according to claim 3, further comprising an image generation unit that performs a predetermined image processing on the image information input by the image input unit to generate an image signal. 12. The image input device according to claim 4, further comprising image generation means for subjecting image information input by said image input means to predetermined image processing to generate an image signal. 13. The image input device according to claim 5, further comprising an image generation unit that performs a predetermined image process on the image information input by the image input unit to generate an image signal. 14. The image input device according to claim 6, further comprising image generation means for subjecting image information input by said image input means to predetermined image processing to generate an image signal. 15. The image input device according to claim 7, further comprising an image generation unit that performs a predetermined image processing on the image information input by the image input unit to generate an image signal. 16. The image input device according to claim 8, further comprising image generation means for subjecting the image information input by said image input means to predetermined image processing to generate an image signal.