JPH0918750A - Electronic camera, electronic camera system using it image pickup device and signal processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain image data easily composed in the image composition at split image pickup with a compact configuration by revising sequentially an image pickup range for plural number of times and conducting split pickup of an object image. CONSTITUTION: The camera is provided with a mirror barrel 1 including an image pickup optical system and an image pickup element 2 and a split image pickup means that uses a mirror barrel drive mechanism 3 using a principal point of an image pickup optical system toward an object nearly as a center and driving the mirror barrel 1 in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the image pickup optical axis to drive the mirror barrel 1, revises sequentially an image pickup range to pick up the image for plural number of times thereby picking up the object image with a split. Then the image pickup range is revised by turning the image pickup optical system itself attended with the turning of the mirror barrel 1 including the image pickup optical system. Thus, the image pickup range is freely revised without provision of a large scale mechanism to move the image pickup element 2 and since the principal point of each image toward the object with image pickup at a varied image pickup range is not moved, production of parallax caused in each image to be picked up is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera and an electronic camera system capable of reconstructing one image from a plurality of images divided by the electronic camera.
In addition, the present invention relates to an imaging device and a signal processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic still camera, a plurality of images are taken while changing the taking area in time series,
There has been a technique in which, by reconstructing these images into one image by image processing or the like, a higher-definition image can be obtained even if the number of pixels of the image pickup element is small.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the first conventional example. In the figure, 100 is an image pickup optical system, 101 is an image circle thereof, and 102 is an image pickup area of an image pickup device (not shown). The image pickup device is held by moving means (not shown) that can move from position A in FIG. 13 to positions B, C, and D sequentially. Then, at the time of shooting, the image pickup device first exposes at position A, and the image pickup device is sequentially moved to positions B, C, and D to perform exposure, thereby capturing four images.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second conventional example. In the figure, 109 is an electronic camera body, 110
Is an image pickup optical system, and 111 is an image pickup element. Also, 112
Is a mirror for changing the photographing area, and is held so as to be rotatable around the shaft 113. Then, at the time of photographing, the mirror 112 is rotated to change the photographing region to perform exposure, thereby obtaining a plurality of images.

[0005]

However, in the first conventional example, since the image pickup device is moved with respect to the image pickup optical system, the following problems occur. 1. Since the image circle 101 of the image pickup optical system needs to be larger than the image pickup area 102 of the image pickup device, the image pickup optical system 100 becomes large. 2. The moving means for moving the image pickup device is the image pickup optical system 10.
Since the precision needs to be strict so that the image sensor does not move with respect to the optical axis direction of 0, the mechanism becomes complicated.

Further, the second conventional example has the following problems. 1. The wider the angle of the imaging optical system 110, the larger the mirror 112 for switching the shooting range. 2. Since the mirror 112 for switching the shooting range is arranged in front of the image pickup optical system 110, it is reflected by the mirror 112 as shown in FIG.
The light flux incident on is equivalent to the light flux when the imaging optical system 110 is arranged at the position A. The light flux that enters the imaging optical system 110 after rotating the mirror 112 is equivalent to the light flux when the imaging optical system 110 is arranged at the position B. As described above, when the photographing range is switched by the mirror 112 arranged on the front surface of the image pickup optical system 110, the apparent position of the image pickup optical system 110 changes, resulting in parallax.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an image with parallax. It can be seen that the shapes of the two buildings existing in common in the two images (a) and (b) shown in the figure are different due to the parallax. Therefore, even if an image having such parallax is to be combined, the images in the common part do not match, and there is a problem that the combination cannot be performed successfully.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem and has an electronic camera having a compact structure and capable of obtaining image data which can be easily combined at the time of image combination at the time of divided photographing. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera system using the same.

[0009]

The electronic camera of the present invention comprises:
A lens barrel including an image pickup optical system and an image pickup element, and a lens barrel rotation means for rotating the lens barrel in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the image pickup optical system with an object-side principal point of the image pickup optical system as a center. ,
There is provided a dividing photographing means for photographing the subject image by dividing the subject image by rotating the lens barrel by using the lens barrel rotating means, sequentially changing the photographing range and photographing a plurality of times.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a recording means for recording a plurality of image data obtained by the image pickup device for each photographing by the divided photographing means together with the rotation angle information of the lens barrel. .

Another feature of the present invention is that a plurality of image data obtained by the image pickup device for each image pickup by the divided image pickup means are converted into one image data based on rotation angle information of the lens barrel. And an image synthesizing means for synthesizing.

Another feature of the present invention is that a camera shake detecting means for detecting camera shake during divided photographing by the divided photographing means, shutter speed information during the divided photographing and camera shake information obtained by the camera shake detecting means. From the above, there is provided a judging means for judging whether or not the overlap amount of each of the divided images is proper, and a warning means for giving a warning when the judging means judges that the overlap amount is not proper. .

Another feature of the present invention is to include an overlap changing means for changing the overlap amount.

Another feature of the present invention is that a viewfinder that is not interlocked with the image pickup optical system and the entire subject to be divided and displayed are displayed in the viewfinder, and the subject is photographed within the entire area. And a control means for displaying information indicating where the area for performing is.

Another feature of the present invention is to include a photographing area changing means for changing an area to be photographed first in the divided photographing.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera system.
The electronic camera according to claim 1, and a fixed base for fixing the electronic camera to a predetermined position, and placing a subject at the shooting position of the electronic camera, and a plurality of image data obtained by the split shooting by the electronic camera. And image synthesizing means for synthesizing into one image data based on the rotation angle information of the lens barrel corresponding to each image data.

Another feature of the present invention is that the subject detection means for detecting whether or not the subject placed on the fixed base has been changed, and each time the change of the subject is detected by the subject detection means, The electronic camera is provided with a control unit for controlling the divided photographing and the image synthesizing unit to perform image synthesis.

In the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, an image pickup means, a switching means for switching the direction of the image pickup optical axis of the image pickup means, and an image pickup means for obtaining information about the direction of the image pickup optical axis switched by the switch means. And an output means for adding and outputting the signal.

Another feature of the present invention is that the output means includes recording means for recording information.

The signal processing apparatus according to the present invention includes input means for inputting an image pickup signal and information about the direction of the image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal, the image pickup signal obtained by the input means, and the image pickup signal. Separation means for separating the image pickup signal and information concerning the direction of the image pickup optical axis from the added information concerning the direction of the image pickup optical axis, and the image pickup signal separated by the separating means and the direction of the image pickup optical axis And a synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of image pickup signals based on the information.

Another feature of the present invention is that the input means outputs the image pickup signal from a recording medium in which an image pickup signal and information relating to the direction of the image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal are recorded in advance. It is characterized by including a reproducing means for reproducing the information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal.

[0022]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, the photographing range is changed by rotating the image pickup optical system itself in accordance with the rotation of the lens barrel including the image pickup optical system.
It is possible to freely change the shooting range without providing a large-scale mechanism for moving the image sensor or a large mirror for switching the shooting range, and the object of each image taken while changing the shooting range. Since the side principal point does not move, parallax is prevented from occurring in each of the captured images.

According to another feature of the present invention, the amount of camera shake that occurs at the time of shooting is large relative to the amount of overlap of each image that is split and taken, and if shooting is performed as it is, each image is taken at the time of subsequent image combination. If there is a risk that the will not be successfully combined, a warning will be issued in advance. In this case, if the overlap amount of each image is appropriately changed by using, for example, the overlap changing means, it is possible to prevent the failure of the divided photographing due to the camera shake.

According to another feature of the present invention, not the actual photographing range of the image pickup optical system but the whole of the divided subject is displayed on the viewfinder, and the actual photographing range is the entire region of the subject. Since it is displayed as information indicating where the region to be photographed from now on, it is possible to simultaneously confirm the entire photographing range and the actual photographing range of the subject to be divided and photographed.

According to another feature of the present invention, after one subject is divided and photographed by using the electronic camera as described above, a plurality of image data obtained thereby are combined into one image data. It is possible to construct an electronic camera system (for example, an electronic OHP (Overhead Projector) system).

According to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, information relating to the direction of the image pickup optical axis is added to the image pickup signal obtained by switching the image pickup optical axis, and the image pickup signal is output. When the image pickup signals of 1 are subsequently combined using a signal processing device or the like, the information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis can be used for distortion correction of each image.

According to the signal processing apparatus of the present invention, when a plurality of image pickup signals taken by switching the image pickup optical axes are combined, information such as the direction of the image pickup optical axis is used to correct distortion of each image. It becomes possible to do it appropriately.

[0028]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic still camera embodying the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens barrel which holds an image pickup optical system (not shown) therein. It is assumed that the lens barrel 1 is provided with a diaphragm (not shown) that controls the light amount of the image pickup optical system.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an image pickup device for converting an optical image formed by the image pickup optical system into an electric signal, which is fixed to the lens barrel 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lens barrel driving mechanism, which includes driving means for changing the photographing range by rotating the lens barrel 1 in the horizontal and vertical directions about the object-side principal point of the image pickup optical system as a center. .

FIG. 12 is a view showing a photographing range when the lens barrel 1 is rotated around the object side principal point of the image pickup optical system. In the figure, 40 is an image pickup optical system, 41 is an image pickup element, and 42 to 45 are light fluxes of the image pickup optical system 40.

As is apparent from FIG. 12, the image pickup optical system 4
Before the rotation of 0, the area A sandwiched by the solid lines 42 and 43 is the photographing range, and after the rotation of the imaging optical system 40, the dotted line 44,
Area B sandwiched by 45 is the shooting range.

At this time, since the object-side principal point of the image pickup optical system 40 does not move, parallax does not occur between the images of the area A and the area B photographed twice. Therefore,
It is possible to obtain an almost equivalent image by trapping distortion or the like with respect to the image obtained when the image is obtained by the image pickup optical system that covers the area sandwiched by the solid line 42 and the dotted line 45, by taking the image twice. it can.

Returning to FIG. 1, the description will be continued. Reference numeral 4 is a viewfinder having a zoom mechanism, and 5 is a zoom drive motor for zooming the viewfinder 4. Reference numeral 6 denotes a light-shielding plate provided on the finder 4 so that the field of view of the finder 4 can be freely shielded in accordance with a photographing mode described later.

Reference numeral 7 is a photometry unit for calculating the optimum aperture value and shutter speed for photographing from the image signal obtained by the image pickup device 2, 8 is distance measuring means for measuring the distance from the camera to the object, and 9 is the camera. Camera shake detection means for detecting camera shake, 1
Reference numeral 0 is a buffer memory that temporarily stores the image signal obtained by the image pickup device 2, and 11 is a signal processing unit that processes the image signal stored in the buffer memory 10 and converts it into a predetermined image signal.

Reference numeral 12 is a recording medium for recording the image signal converted by the signal processing unit 11, reference numeral 13 is an operation button for selecting a photographing mode, an overlap amount, etc., which will be described later, and 1
Reference numeral 4 is a control unit for controlling the entire camera, 15 is an overlap changing means for changing an overlap amount of each image to be dividedly shot, 16 is a shooting area changing means for changing an area to be shot first in split shooting, Reference numeral 17 is a warning means for issuing a warning when the overlap amount is not appropriate.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. Unless otherwise specified, the control unit 14 performs all the following operations.

First, when the power of the electronic still camera (not shown) is turned on in step S101, a shooting standby state in which the change of the shooting mode is detected in step S102 and the operation of the release button (not shown) in step S103 is detected. Becomes The shooting mode referred to here is a normal shooting mode in which image data for one subject is obtained in one shot, and a plurality of image data obtained by splitting one subject in a plurality of shots. There is a combination mode in which one image data is obtained by combining.

As shown in FIG. 9, the synthesizing mode of this embodiment has two modes, a panoramic mode and a wide-angle mode. By operating the operation button 13, one of the modes can be selected. Note that FIG.
The area indicated by the solid line in FIG. 6 indicates the range of the image obtained by one shot, and the overlapping portion of each area is the overlap portion. The area indicated by the dotted line indicates the range of the composite image obtained by combining a plurality of image data.

In such a photographing standby state, when the photographing mode is changed by the operation button 13 in step S102, the process proceeds to step S121, in which the finder 4 of the finder 4 is set in accordance with the set photographing mode and the overlap amount described later. Zoom magnification is changed, step S1
At 22, the light shielding area by the light shielding plate 6 is changed.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a display state of the finder 4 in each photographing mode. In the same figure, the black-painted portions indicate the portions shielded from light by the light-shielding plate 6. Further, in the panorama mode and the wide-angle mode, the frames A and B shown by solid lines are shooting frames showing the areas to be shot, and the frames a and b shown by dotted lines are shown.
1, b2 and b3 indicate that the shooting frame is displayed at the position shown by the dotted line when the area is shot later.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the panorama mode and the wide-angle mode, the image pickup optical system and the finder 4 are made non-interlocked with each other, and the entire area of the subject to be divided is displayed on the finder 4. Of the entire area, the area to be photographed, that is, the actual photographing area by the image pickup optical system is displayed with a photographing frame. Therefore, the photographer can confirm the actual photographing range while grasping the overall image of the subject, and can easily grasp the photographing situation at the time of divided photographing.

In the following description, it is assumed that the shooting mode is changed from the normal shooting mode to the panorama mode, for example. In the panorama mode of FIG. 10, when the photographer does not want to photograph the position of the photographing frame A first, the operation button 13 is operated to change the photographing area changing unit 16.
By giving an instruction to, the area to be photographed first can be changed from the position of the frame A to the position of the frame a (step S123). Then, in step S124, the lens barrel 1 is rotated to the set position.

Next, when the release button is pressed and the first release signal is issued in step S103, the brightness of the subject is measured by the photometric section 7 in step S104, and the image pickup optical system is operated in accordance with the photometric information in step S105. The optimum aperture value and shutter speed of the system are determined. Further, in step S106, the distance measuring unit 8 measures the distance to the subject, and the focus lens of the imaging optical system is driven according to the subject distance information.

In the next step S107, the amount of camera shake of the camera is detected by the camera shake detection means 9, and the camera shake information, the shutter speed information determined in step S105, and the image pickup optical system measured in step S106. The minimum overlap amount is calculated from the focal length information. Then, in step S108, it is determined whether or not the currently set overlap amount is appropriate based on the minimum overlap amount.

That is, when the currently set overlap amount is smaller than the minimum overlap amount,
Due to camera shake, it may not be possible to successfully combine a plurality of divided images. Therefore, by checking whether the set overlap amount is smaller than the minimum overlap amount calculated in step S107, it is possible to determine whether the overlap amount is appropriate.

If the overlap amount is proper, the process proceeds to step S109. Then, in step S109, when the release button is further pressed and the second release signal is issued, in step S110, the area shown by the shooting frame A in FIG. 10 is shot. At this time, the image data accumulated in the image sensor 2 is obtained in step S111.
Is stored in the buffer memory 10.

Next, in step S112, the lens barrel 1 having the image pickup optical system is horizontally rotated by a predetermined angle by the driving means of the lens barrel drive mechanism 3, and the photographing position is shown in the panorama mode of FIG. The position of the frame a is changed. Then, in step S113, the photographing frame is displayed at the position of the frame a, and the area is photographed. At this time, the image data accumulated in the image pickup device 2 is obtained in step S1.
It is stored in the buffer memory 10 at 14.

Then, in step S115, the signal processing unit 11 confirms that the two image data stored in the buffer memory 10 (the image data for the area A and the image data for the area a) are in the combining mode. The information shown, the information about the focal length and the rotation angle of the image pickup optical system, and the identification information indicating that the two image data are combined into one image data are added, and predetermined signal processing is performed. Done. The image data thus signal-processed is recorded in the recording medium 12 in step S116.

If it is determined in step S108 that the overlap amount is not appropriate, the process proceeds to step S131, where the warning means 17 gives a warning. For the warning, for example, a predetermined warning sound may be emitted, or a warning display may be displayed on the finder 4. When such a warning is issued, the overlap amount change mode is entered from step S132.

At this time, the photographer can get out of the warning state by operating the operation button 13 in step S133 to set the overlap amount to be larger than the minimum overlap amount. Also, efforts may be made to reduce camera shake without changing the overlap amount. In any case, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that a plurality of images shot in a plurality of times cannot be combined properly due to camera shake.

Next, a case where the image data recorded on the recording medium 12 as described above is reproduced will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of the reproducing device (signal processing device). In the figure, 18 is a reproducing apparatus main body, 19 is an insertion port for inserting the recording medium 12 provided in the reproducing apparatus main body 18, 20 is a monitor, 21 is an image signal sent from the reproducing apparatus main body 18 to the monitor 20. Cable 22 is a switching button for switching the reproduced image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the reproducing apparatus main body 18. In the figure, a connector 23 exchanges image data with the recording medium 12. 24
Is a memory, and the recording medium 1 is provided by the connector 23.
The image data read from 2 (to which the above-mentioned various information is added) is temporarily stored.

Reference numeral 25 is a discriminating means, which separates the additional information from the image data stored in the memory 24 and discriminates in which photographing mode the photographing was performed. Reference numeral 26 is a corresponding point detection unit that detects which position of one image data corresponds to the other image data in the overlapping area of the plurality of image data obtained by the divided photographing.

Reference numeral 27 is a distortion correction means, which corrects the trapezoidal distortion from the rotation angle information of the lens barrel 1 included in the image data. 28 is an image synthesizing unit, which corresponds to the corresponding point detecting unit 26.
According to the overlap information obtained by the above, a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by divided photographing are combined. The combined image data is temporarily stored in the memory 24.

A signal processing unit 29 processes the image data synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 28 and temporarily stored in the memory 24, and converts it into a predetermined image signal. 30
Is a signal output unit, which outputs the image signal generated by the signal processing unit 29 to the monitor 20 of FIG.

Next, the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body 18 configured as above will be described. FIG. 5 shows the reproduction apparatus body 1
8 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG. In the figure,
First, in step S201, the power source (not shown) of the reproducing apparatus body 18 is turned on, and then in step S202, the insertion opening 19 is inserted.
Predetermined image data is read from the recording medium 12 inserted in the memory 24 and stored in the memory 24.

Then, in step S203, it is determined whether the read image data was shot in the normal shooting mode or in the composite mode. If the image data is taken in the normal shooting mode, step S20.
Jump to 8 and the signal processing unit 29 performs predetermined signal processing. If the image data is captured in the composite mode, the process advances to step S204 to read the related image data (each image data captured in multiple times).

Next, in step S205, the rotation angle information of the image pickup optical system is read from each image data read in step S204, and the trapezoidal distortion of each image data is corrected in accordance therewith, and at the same time, roughly. The amount of overlap is calculated. Then, step S206
, 1 near the overlap area of each image data
A so-called corresponding point, which corresponds to which position in one image data the other image data corresponds to, is detected.

Then, in step S207, the respective image data are combined on the basis of the accurate overlap amount obtained by the corresponding point detection in step S206. That is, trimming is performed on each square or rectangular image data to form one image data. The image data thus combined is converted into a predetermined image signal by the signal processing unit 29 in step S208, and is output to the monitor 20 for display in step S209.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of image data obtained by the divided photographing into one image data is the reproducing apparatus main body separate from the electronic still camera shown in FIG. Since it is provided inside 18, there is an advantage that the electronic still camera itself can be made compact.

In the first embodiment described above, the number of divisions is 2 in the panorama mode and 4 in the wide-angle mode, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is not limited to this. It may be the number of divisions.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing an electronic OHP (Overhead Projector) system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an external view of this system, and FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an electronic camera used. 6 and 7, the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 have the same functions, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 31 denotes a camera head portion, inside which the horizontal and vertical directions are centered around the lens barrel 1 described in FIG. 1 and the object side principal point of the image pickup optical system in the lens barrel 1. And a lens barrel drive mechanism 3 for rotating the lens barrel 1. Reference numeral 32 is an arm that supports and fixes the camera head portion 31, and 33 is a document table on which a subject such as a document is placed. Further, in FIG. 7, reference numeral 35 is a subject detecting means for detecting that the subject has changed.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when a power source (not shown) is turned on in step S301, the display mode is detected in step S302. In the display mode, a normal display mode in which a subject image captured by the camera head unit 31 is displayed on the monitor 20 with a normal image quality, and one subject is divided into a plurality of
There are two modes, a high image quality mode in which a plurality of images obtained by photographing a plurality of times are combined into one subject image and displayed.

Here, when the normal display mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S320, image data of the subject is obtained by one shot, and the signal processing unit 29 converts it into a predetermined image signal. Output to the monitor 20. At this time, the subject image is displayed on the monitor 20 at the movie rate.
If the high image quality mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S303, and the variable power lens of the image pickup optical system in the lens barrel 1 is moved to a predetermined position with a higher shooting magnification than in the normal display mode.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the document table 33 is viewed from the camera head section 31, and the areas a, b, c and d surrounded by a dotted line or a dot-dash line in the figure have high image quality. The shooting range in each mode is shown once. In the process of step S304 following step S303, the lens barrel drive mechanism 3 moves the lens barrel 1 to a position (initial position) for photographing the area a in FIG.

Then, in step S305, the brightness of the subject is measured by the photometric unit 7, and in step S306 the optimum aperture value and shutter speed of the image pickup optical system in the lens barrel 1 are determined according to the photometric information. . Next step S3
In 07, the area a is photographed with the aperture value and shutter speed determined in step S306. The image data thus obtained is stored in the buffer memory 10 together with the rotation angle information of the lens barrel 1.

Hereinafter, in steps S308 to S313, the lens barrel 1 having the image pickup optical system is sequentially rotated by a predetermined angle by the driving means of the lens barrel driving mechanism 3, and the lens components b, c and d shown in FIG. Imaging of each area is performed in order. Each image data obtained by this is stored in the buffer memory 10 together with the rotation angle information of the lens barrel 1.

In the next step S314, the distortion correction means 27 performs distortion correction such as trapezoidal distortion on the image data of each area stored in the buffer memory 10 according to the rotation angle information of the lens barrel 1. . And step S
In 315, the image data that has been subjected to the distortion correction as described above is combined by the image combining unit 28 into one image data according to the rotation angle information, thereby generating one combined image data. . Note that when performing such image combination, an accurate overlap amount may be obtained by performing corresponding point detection, as in the case of FIG.

Next, in step S316, the composite image data is converted into a predetermined signal form by the signal processing unit 29, and the corresponding image is displayed on the monitor 20 in step S317. Thereafter, this image display is performed by the subject detection means 35.
This is performed until it is detected that the subject has been changed by. When the change of the subject is detected in step S318, the process returns to step S302 and the above-described operation is repeated.

As described above, in this embodiment, the electronic camera as shown in FIG. 7 is used for the camera section of the electronic OHP system.
One subject is divided into four, each region is photographed at high magnification, and the four images obtained by this are combined into one image for display. As is apparent from FIG. 7, in the electronic camera of the present embodiment, as in the case of FIG. 1, since the image pickup optical system that does not cause parallax even when the images are combined is used, the stereoscopic image in the electronic OHP is used. It is possible to easily obtain a high-definition image even for a typical subject. Further, in the present embodiment, since the means for correcting the trapezoidal distortion due to the driving of the lens barrel is provided, there is an advantage that a synthetic image without distortion can be obtained.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image pickup optical system which is rotatable about the object side principal point as the lens barrel is rotated, and the lens barrel is rotated to sequentially pick up the photographing range. Since a split image capturing unit that captures the subject image by splitting the image by changing and capturing multiple times is provided, there is no need to provide a large mechanism for moving the image sensor or a large mirror for switching the image capturing range. Even though the shooting range can be freely changed, parallax does not occur in each image shot by changing the shooting range, the image has a compact structure and is easy to combine at the time of image combination. An electronic camera that can obtain data can be provided.

According to another feature of the present invention, a camera shake detecting means for detecting camera shake during divided photographing, a judging means for judging whether or not the overlapping amount of each divided photographed image is proper, Since the warning means for giving a warning is provided when it is determined that the overlap amount is not appropriate, there is a possibility that the divided images may not be combined well at the time of image combination due to the effect of camera shake during divided shooting. In this case, it is possible to give a warning in advance, and the photographer takes the appropriate action in response to the warning, so that the inconvenience that the divided images cannot be combined well after that is caused. Can be prevented.

According to another feature of the present invention, a viewfinder which is not interlocked with the image pickup optical system is provided, and the entire divided subject is displayed in the viewfinder, and the subject is photographed within the entire area. Since the information indicating where the area for performing the shooting is displayed, it is possible to simultaneously check the overall shooting range and the actual shooting range of the subject to be split, and to check the shooting situation during split shooting. It can be easy to grasp. Further, the photographer can freely change the area in which the image is first photographed according to the subject.

According to another feature of the present invention, the electronic camera according to claim 1 is used in the camera section, and a plurality of image data obtained by divided photographing by the electronic camera is combined into one image data. Since the electronic camera system is configured by providing the image synthesizing means, for example, the electronic OHP
Even in this case, it is possible to perform the divided photographing, and thus a high-definition image can be obtained.

Further, according to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, since the information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis is added to the image pickup signal obtained by switching the image pickup optical axis, the signal is outputted.
When a plurality of image pickup signals picked up by switching the image pickup optical axes are subsequently combined using a signal processing device or the like, the information about the direction of the image pickup optical axis can be used to correct distortion of each image. it can.

Further, according to the signal processing apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of image pickup signals are combined based on the image pickup signal and the information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal. When synthesizing a plurality of image signals picked up by switching between, the distortion correction of each image can be appropriately performed using the information about the direction of the image pickup optical axis, and a synthesized image without distortion can be obtained. Obtainable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an appearance of a reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproducing apparatus main body according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an appearance of an electronic camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of the electronic camera system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a shooting range in a combination mode of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display state of a finder in each shooting mode of the electronic still camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a shooting range in a high image quality mode of the electronic camera system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a shooting range when the lens barrel is rotated around an object-side principal point of the imaging optical system.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second conventional example.

[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a difference in image due to parallax.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 lens barrel 2 image sensor 3 lens barrel drive mechanism 4 viewfinder 6 light-shielding plate 9 camera shake detection means 12 recording medium 13 operation button 15 overlap changing means 16 shooting area changing means 20 monitor 28 image combining section 31 camera head section 32 arm 33 original Table 35 Subject detection means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Kotaro Yano, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor, Yukazu Sanatsu, 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Motohiro Ishikawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A lens barrel including an image pickup optical system and an image pickup device, and a mirror for rotating the lens barrel in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the image pickup optical system with an object-side principal point of the image pickup optical system as a substantial center. A barrel rotating means, and a dividing photographing means for rotating the lens barrel using the lens barrel rotating means, sequentially changing a photographing range, and photographing a plurality of times to divide a subject image and photograph it. An electronic camera comprising: 2. The recording means for recording a plurality of image data obtained by the image pickup device together with rotation angle information of the lens barrel for each photographing by the divided photographing means. Electronic camera described. 3. An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing a plurality of image data obtained by the image pickup device for each photographing by the divided photographing unit into one image data based on rotation angle information of the lens barrel. Claim 1 characterized by the above.
An electronic camera according to claim 1. 4. An image that is dividedly shot based on a shake detection unit that detects a shake during split shooting by the split shooting unit, and shutter speed information at the time of split shooting and shake information obtained by the shake detection unit. The determining means for determining whether or not the overlap amount is proper, and the warning means for issuing a warning when the determining means determines that the overlap amount is not proper. The electronic camera according to any one of 3 above. 5. An overlap changing means for changing the overlap amount is provided.
An electronic camera according to claim 1. 6. A viewfinder that is not interlocked with the image pickup optical system, and displays the entire subject to be divided and photographed in the viewfinder, and indicates which region in the entire region is to be photographed. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to display information. 7. The electronic camera according to claim 6, further comprising a photographing area changing unit that changes a region to be photographed first during the divided photographing. 8. The electronic camera according to claim 1, a fixing base for fixing the electronic camera at a predetermined position and placing a subject at a photographing position of the electronic camera, and divided photographing by the electronic camera. An electronic camera system comprising: an image synthesizing unit that synthesizes the obtained plurality of image data into one image data based on the rotation angle information of the lens barrel corresponding to each image data. 9. A subject detection means for detecting whether or not a subject placed on the fixed base has been changed, and divided photographing by the electronic camera and the image each time the change of the subject is detected by the subject detection means. 9. The electronic camera system according to claim 8, further comprising a control unit that controls to perform image composition by the composition unit. 10. Image pickup means, switching means for switching the direction of the image pickup optical axis of the image pickup means, and information concerning the direction of the image pickup optical axis switched by the switch means is added to the image pickup signal obtained by the image pickup means. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an output unit for outputting. 11. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output unit includes a recording unit that records information. 12. An input unit for inputting an image pickup signal and information about the direction of an image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal, an image pickup signal obtained by the input unit, and an image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal. Based on information regarding the direction of the image pickup signal and information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis, and a plurality of information based on the image pickup signal and the information regarding the direction of the image pickup optical axis separated by the separating means. A signal processing apparatus comprising: a synthesizing unit that synthesizes image pickup signals. 13. The input means outputs the image pickup signal and the image pickup light added to the image pickup signal from a recording medium in which an image pickup signal and information about the direction of the image pickup optical axis added to the image pickup signal are recorded in advance. 13. The signal processing device according to claim 12, further comprising reproducing means for reproducing information about the axis direction.