JPH0946729A - Stereoscopic image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize the entire device and to secure improved operability by specifying the arrangement of respective constituting members so as to make a dimension in a horizontal direction small. SOLUTION: A lens barrel formed by a lens 1R for a right eye or the like which is a first image pickup optical system and the lens barrel formed by the lens 1L for a left eye or the like which is a second image pickup optical system are integrally held in a camera unit part 22. Then, the first and second image pickup optical systems, that are the lens 1R for the right eye and the lens 1L for the left eye, are arranged so as to be shifted for a distance (shift amount) H in a vertical direction so as not to make the respective left and right lenses 1L and 1R cross each other near the respective object side tip parts. Also, in the horizontal direction, the arrangement is performed so as to make the distance L between the optical axes of the left and right lenses 1L and 1R be within the range of the sum of the maximum radii of the respective left and right lenses 1L and 1R.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image pickup device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus that has a pair of image pickup optical systems and obtains a stereoscopic image by utilizing binocular parallax.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to obtain a stereoscopic image, two optical systems of an image pickup device are horizontally arranged side by side, and the images obtained by the respective image pickup devices are independently reproduced for the left and right eyes. Various proposals have been made on the above-mentioned thing, that is, a so-called stereoscopic image pickup device and a stereoscopic image reproducing device which obtain a stereoscopic image by utilizing binocular parallax.

For example, a stereoscopic image pickup device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-94877 mentioned above is tilted with respect to a zoom optical system having a zooming function and an optical axis of the zoom optical system. A pair of optical systems consisting of a single-focus optical system having an optical axis is provided, the zoom optical system is moved to the wide-angle side, and the angle of view of the zoom optical system is set to be the same as the angle of view of the single-focus optical system. When this is done, stereoscopic photography can be performed.

[0004]

However, according to the means disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-94877, the pair of imaging optical systems, that is, the zoom optical system and the single-focus optical system are provided. Since the devices are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the device body and the device body is arranged behind the pair of imaging optical systems, there is a problem that the device itself becomes large in the depth direction.

Therefore, in order to reduce the depth dimension of the stereoscopic image pickup device, the following can be considered as the layout of the device main body of the stereoscopic image pickup device and the pair of image pickup optical systems.

That is, FIGS. 11 to 13 are examples of the layout of each component when the depth dimension of the stereoscopic image pickup device is shortened, and each show a front view of the stereoscopic image pickup device.

First, in the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 11, a camera unit section 122 integrally holding a lens barrel composed of a pair of horizontally arranged image pickup optical systems 101L, 101R and the like on a side surface section of the apparatus body 121. Is provided. In this case, the device body 12
A recording medium 124 such as a tape cassette, which is housed in the recording medium 1, is ejected in the direction of arrow E1 shown in FIG.

Another stereoscopic image pickup device shown in FIG.
On the upper surface side of the apparatus main body 121A, a camera unit section 122A that integrally holds a lens barrel composed of a pair of horizontally arranged optical systems 101L and 101R is arranged. In this case, the recording medium 124, such as a tape cassette, housed in the apparatus main body 121A is ejected in the direction of arrow E2 shown in FIG.

Further, another stereoscopic image pickup device shown in FIG. 13 is such that, on the upper surface side of the device main body 121B placed horizontally,
A camera unit unit 12 that integrally holds a lens barrel including a pair of horizontally aligned optical systems 101L and 101R.
2B is arranged. In this case, the recording medium 124, such as a tape cassette, housed in the apparatus main body 121B is ejected in the direction of arrow E3 shown in FIG.

However, according to the example of FIG. 11 described above, the size in the horizontal direction becomes large, so that there is a tendency that the apparatus itself becomes large. According to the example of FIG. It is conceivable that the discharge direction will be downward and the operability will deteriorate.

Further, according to the example of FIG. 13 described above, as in the case of FIG. 12, the ejecting direction of the tape cassette is the downward direction, and it becomes difficult to hold the tape cassette with one hand during the photographing operation. It is possible that the operability will deteriorate.

Therefore, regarding the layouts illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13, the holding property (holding property) when holding the main body of the stereoscopic image pickup device, the operability, and the like are taken into consideration in FIG. The one illustrated is considered to be the most desirable layout.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus having a pair of image pickup optical systems.
An object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus which can realize a small size of the entire apparatus and can secure good operability by arranging the respective constituent members so that the dimension in the horizontal direction becomes small.

[0014]

A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus having a first image pickup optical system and a second image pickup optical system, wherein the pair of image pickup optical systems are connected to each other. Alternatively, the second imaging optical systems are vertically shifted so as not to intersect with each other in the vicinity of the subject-side tip portion thereof, and in the horizontal direction, the distance between the optical axes of the first and second imaging optical systems is equal to that of each imaging optical system. The feature is that it is set within the range of the sum of the maximum radii.

Further, the first image pickup optical system and the first image pickup optical system are arranged so as to be offset from each other so as not to intersect the first image pickup optical system in the vertical direction, and a part of the first image pickup optical system is arranged in the horizontal direction. A second image pickup optical system disposed at a position optically intersecting with the optical system and the first or second image pickup optical system are provided so as to correspond to each other, and the light flux input to each image pickup optical system is imaged. A pair of image pickup means for changing to a signal, a distance measuring means for measuring the subject distance, a calculating means for calculating the convergence angle of the reflected light of the subject based on the distance measuring means, and based on the calculated convergence angle Drive means for driving at least one of the pair of image pickup means so that the centers of the images formed by the pair of image pickup means substantially coincide with each other. The driving means is driven in a plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the pair of image pickup means.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the outline of a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment has a right-eye lens 1R, which is a first image-pickup optical system, and an object formed by the right-eye lens 1R. An image, that is, a right-eye image pickup element (C) that is an image pickup unit that converts the light flux input to the right-eye lens 1R into an image pickup signal.
CD) 2R and the left-eye lens 1 that is the second imaging optical system
L and a subject image formed by the left-eye lens 1L, that is, a left-eye image pickup element (CC) that is an image pickup unit that converts the light flux input to the left-eye lens 1L into an image pickup signal.
D) 2L, a distance measuring circuit 3 which is a distance measuring means for measuring the object distance, and a detection circuit 4 for detecting the positions of the zoom frame, the focus frame and the like which compose the first and second imaging optical systems.
An image pickup circuit 5 for converting the signals from the left and right image pickup elements 2L and 2R into video signals, a CPU 10 as a control means for controlling the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as a whole, and the CP.
A zoom frame drive circuit 7 for driving the zoom frames of the first and second imaging optical systems according to a command of U10 to perform a zooming operation, and a focus of the first and second imaging optical systems according to a command of the CPU 10. Focus frame drive circuit 8 for driving the frame to perform focusing operation
A diaphragm drive circuit 9 for driving the diaphragm blades in accordance with a command from the CPU 10, and a zoom switch (S
W), an operation switch (SW) 13 formed by a main switch (SW) and the like, and an image recording / reproducing circuit 11 for performing a process suitable for recording and reproducing the video signal converted by the image pickup circuit 5. The video signal converted by the image pickup circuit 5 and processed by the image recording / reproducing circuit 11 is recorded on a recording medium or the like, for example, by a recording device 12 that magnetically records the signal. It is constituted by each component such as the reproducing device 14 for reproducing the video signal.

The right eye lens 1R and the left eye lens 1L, which are the first and second image pickup optical systems, are the same as those generally used in ordinary video cameras and the like. For example, an image pickup optical system such as a zoom lens is applied.

As the reproducing device 14, a general stereoscopic image reproducing device such as a dedicated time-division monitor for performing stereoscopic viewing or a head mounted display (HMD) is applied. is there.

In the stereoscopic image pickup device, the distance measuring circuit 3 measures the distance to the object, and the object distance data (distance measurement result) is output to the CPU 10. It has become.

The CPU 10 has a zoom frame drive circuit 7, a focus frame drive circuit 8, and the like in accordance with subject distance data and the like.
The diaphragm drive circuit 9 and the like are controlled. In this way, the stereoscopic image is obtained, and the recording device 12 performs the recording operation on the recording medium and the reproducing device 14 through the image recording / reproducing circuit 11.

2 and 3 are views showing the appearance of the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view thereof. The figure is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stereoscopic image pickup device has a device body 21 in which, for example, a deck portion, a recording / playback circuit, a control circuit, etc. are arranged, and the device body 21.
Camera unit 2 arranged on the side of the front of the camera
2 and the finder section 23 and the like.

The camera unit section 22 includes the first,
It has a second imaging optical system (left and right lenses 1L, 1R, etc.), and the finder section 23 is arranged behind the camera unit section 22.

A tape cassette (not shown) or the like in which a recording medium or the like is housed is designed to be removably housed in the cassette housing section 24 in the apparatus main body 21 and inserted therein. The removal opening is provided on the side surface of the apparatus main body 21 opposite to the side where the camera unit 22 is arranged. The recording medium such as the tape cassette is inserted and removed in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 2, that is, in the upward direction.

Further, in the camera unit section 22, a lens barrel formed by the right-eye lens 1R, which is the first imaging optical system, and the left-eye lens, which is the second imaging optical system, are provided. The lens barrel formed of 1L and the like is integrally held, and the first and second imaging optical systems, that is, the right-eye lens 1R and the left-eye lens 1L.
Is shifted by a distance (shift amount) H in the vertical direction so that the left and right lenses 1L and 1R do not intersect with each other in the vicinity of the subject-side tip portions,
In the horizontal direction, the distance L between the optical axes of the left and right lenses 1L and 1R is arranged within the range of the sum of the maximum radii of the left and right lenses 1L and 1R.

That is, the lens 1L for the left eye, which is the second image pickup optical system, is arranged so as to be displaced in the vertical direction so as not to optically intersect the lens 1R for the right eye.
In the horizontal direction, a part thereof is arranged at a position that optically intersects with the right-eye lens 1R.

Next, an image obtained when stereoscopic photography is performed by the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described below.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the case where the first and second image pickup optical systems (the right-eye lens 1R and the left-eye lens 1L) are arranged so as to be shifted so as not to intersect optically in the vertical direction. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right images obtained by the above, respectively, and FIG.
5 shows an image obtained when the image pickup optical system is a telephoto system, and FIG. 5 shows an image obtained when the first and second image pickup optical systems are a wide angle system. It is a thing.

FIG. 6 shows a pair of left and right images obtained by the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In the stereoscopic image pickup device in which the right-eye lens 1R and the left-eye lens 1L are displaced from each other in positions that do not optically intersect each other in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. C is taken by photographer B
When the subject C located in the direction of arrow D in the figure is photographed, the screen centers of the pair of left and right images obtained by this are shifted in the vertical direction by the shift amount h. Therefore, if the shift amount H (see FIG. 3) in the vertical direction of each of the left and right lenses 1L and 1R and the ratio of the angle of view of each lens exceed a predetermined value, a stereoscopic image cannot be obtained. It is not possible to image).

In this case, the left and right lenses 1
When L and 1R are wide-angle (Wide) type lenses having a wide angle of view, the left and right images obtained by this have a small vertical shift amount h as shown in FIG. ≈0), a stereoscopic image can be obtained (fusion is possible), but as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right lenses 1L and 1R become telescopic (Tele) lenses. However, the vertical shift amount h of the center of the left and right images thus obtained becomes large, and it tends to be difficult to obtain a stereoscopic image (incapable of fusion).

Therefore, in order to obtain a good stereoscopic image even when the left and right lenses 1L and 1R are arranged so as to be vertically displaced, in the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, As shown in FIG. 3, the optical axes of the right-eye lens 1R and the left-eye lens 1L are on a line extending from an intermediate point on the front plane of the camera unit portion 22 of a line connecting the respective optical axes. Are arranged so as to intersect at a point P on a perpendicular line with respect to the front plane of the camera unit 22. In this case, the point P is determined according to the subject distance Q.

As described above, the left and right lenses 1L, 1
By arranging R, the pair of left and right images obtained by this is, as shown in FIG. 6, the left and right lenses 1L and 1L.
Even when R is a telephoto lens having a narrow angle of view, the vertical shift amount h of the image center
Since = 0, it is possible to obtain a stereoscopic image (it becomes possible to fuse).

It should be noted that reducing the distance L between the optical axes in the horizontal direction reduces the baseline length, which reduces the stereoscopic effect of the stereoscopic image obtained and tends to reduce the stereoscopic effect. However, it is possible to obtain a sufficient stereoscopic effect unless the baseline length is extremely reduced.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the arrangement of the pair of left and right first and second image pickup optical systems (the right-eye lens 1R, the left-eye lens 1L, etc.) is The first and second imaging optical systems are vertically shifted so as not to intersect with each other in the vicinity of the subject-side tip end portion thereof, and in the horizontal direction, the distance between the optical axes of the first and second imaging optical systems. Since it is within the range of the sum of the maximum radii of the respective photographing optical systems, it is possible to reduce the outer dimension of the stereoscopic imaging device in the horizontal direction without impairing the operability of the stereoscopic imaging device. It is possible to contribute to miniaturization of the device itself, and to secure good operability and holding property.

Further, the second image pickup optical system is arranged so as to be displaced in a position that does not optically intersect with the first image pickup optical system in the vertical direction, and a part of the second image pickup optical system in the horizontal direction is the first image pickup system. The optical axes of the first and second optical systems are arranged at positions where they intersect optically with the optical system, and the optical axes of the first and second optical systems are predetermined points on the perpendicular line with respect to the front surface of the camera from the midpoint on the line connecting the optical axes. By intersecting with each other, it is possible to correct the vertical shift generated between the pair of left and right images obtained by the first and second imaging optical systems, and obtain a better stereoscopic image.

In the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, the right-eye lens 1R, which is the first image pickup optical system, is placed on the upper side of the camera unit section 22 and the second image pickup optical system. Although the left eye lens 1L of the system is arranged so as to be located on the lower side of the camera unit section 22 as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and another arrangement (for example, reverse to the above example) Arrangement, that is, the lens 1 for the right eye
Arrangement such that the R is on the lower side and the left-eye lens 1L is on the upper side. ), The same effect can be obtained.

Next, a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment is basically the same as that of the above-described first embodiment in terms of configuration, member arrangement, and the like. Therefore, detailed description of the configuration will be omitted, and reference will be made to FIGS. 1 to 3 described in the above-described first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an essential part of the device. In the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Compared to the above-mentioned first embodiment (see FIG. 1),
CCD moving means 6 which is a driving means and a convergence direction changing means for changing the cutout area of the video signal output from the image pickup circuit 5 for converting the signals from the left-eye image pickup element 2L and the right-eye image pickup element 2R. In addition to the above, the CPU 10 as the control means is different in that the convergence angle calculation means is included.

That is, as shown in the block diagram of the main part of FIG. 8, in the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment, the distance to the object is detected by the object distance detecting means 31 which is distance measuring means. Then, the subject distance information detected here is sent to the convergence angle control means 32, which is a convergence angle calculation means in the calculation means (CPU 10), and the convergence angle control means 32 is based on the subject distance information. Thus, the convergence angle of the reflected light of the subject is calculated.

Then, based on the convergence angle information calculated here, the convergence direction changing means 33 which is the driving means and the CCD moving means 6 is controlled, and is formed by the pair of left and right image pickup elements 2L and 2R. At least one of the pair of image pickup means is driven and moved so that the centers of the images substantially coincide with each other.

At this time, the convergence direction changing means 33 which is the driving means and the CCD moving means 6 is driven in a plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the left and right image pickup devices 2L and 2R. .

It is assumed that the object distance detecting means 31 employs a distance measuring method similar to the focusing means (autofocus; AF) applied to a general camera. The description is omitted.

In the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of the second embodiment, the right-eye and left-eye image pickup elements 2R,
2L is a standard NTSC (National Television System)
It is possible to secure a wider imaging range (area) in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction than the imaging range (area) of the m Committee system.

Next, the operation sequence of the convergence angle control means 32 will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.
This will be described below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to the second embodiment.

First, after the distance Q to the object is detected by the object distance detecting means 31 which is the distance measuring means, as shown in FIG. 9, in step S1, the left and right lenses 1L and 1R are respectively detected. Initialization of the distance to the convergence point P (see FIG. 3) is performed. Here, for example, assuming that the distance to the convergence point P is set to 5 m, the process proceeds to the next step S2. In this case, the convergence point is set so that the vertical shift becomes 0 when the subject is at 5 m.

In step S2, the distance Q to the subject detected by the subject distance detecting means 31, and
The calculation of the difference A from the distance to the point of convergence P (P = 5) is
The convergence angle calculation means in the CPU 10 performs the calculation (A = Q-P), and the convergence angle control means 32 performs the control based on the calculation result.

That is, the calculation result in the convergence angle calculation means is A = 0, that is, the object distance information = Q by the object distance detection means 31 and the distance to the convergence point P set in the above step S5 = 5. If and substantially match, the process proceeds to step S3 while the calculation result is A ≠
0, that is, when the subject distance information = Q does not match the set distance to the convergence point P = 5, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S3, since the above calculation result is A = 0, the vertical shift amount in the pair of left and right images obtained here is h = 0. Therefore, the setting of the set congestion point P is not changed, and an instruction to that effect is sent to the congestion direction changing means 33. Then, the process returns to the above step S2, and the same process is repeated thereafter.

On the other hand, in step S4, since the above calculation result is A ≠ 0, the pair of left and right images obtained here has a vertical shift of the shift amount h. In this case, the larger the Q-P, the more the vertical deviation amount h
Becomes larger. Therefore, the command for changing the position of the convergence point P is sent to the convergence direction changing means 33. Then, the difference A is added (Pn + 1 = Pn + A), whereby the vertical shift amount h of the pair of left and right images is obtained.
After the correction is performed, the process returns to the above step S2, and the same process is repeated thereafter.

Regarding the operation of changing the congestion in the convergence direction changing means 33, the left and right image pickup devices 2
This is performed by driving L and 2R to change the cutout area of the obtained image. For example, the applicant of the present application first filed Japanese Patent Application No. 7-11973.
This is the same means as that proposed in No.

That is, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a subject imaged on each of the pair of left and right image pickup devices 2L and 2R when an image is taken by the stereoscopic image pickup device of the second embodiment. is there.

As shown in FIG. 10, a subject image imaged by the left-eye lens 1L and the right-eye lens 1R of the stereoscopic image pickup device is a pair of left and right image pickup elements 2L, 2 described above.
In the case of being imaged on R, the subject image is incident on each of the pair of left and right lenses 1L and 1R, and then, the center position L of each of the pair of left and right image pickup devices 2L and 2R.
An image is formed at a position deviated from c and Rc by a fixed amount δx.

Therefore, in order to obtain a good stereoscopic image close to the naked eye, the pair of left and right image pickup elements 2L and 2R are provided.
From the respective screen center positions Lc and Rc of the image pickup devices 2L and 2R, the shift amount δx of the center position of the subject image formed on the image pickup devices 2L and 2R is corrected, and the effective image pickup range (area ) It is necessary to form a subject image at a substantially central position of BL and BR.

The deviation correction amount δx at this time, that is, the CCD
The movement amount δx is the focal length f of the first and second imaging optical systems (the left and right lenses 1L and 1R) of the stereoscopic imaging device.
(Mm) and the baseline length a (mm) of the stereoscopic imaging device,
From the relationship with the distance Q to the subject P, it can be obtained by the following equation.

Δ = (a / 2)  (f / Q) (1) Therefore, the convergence direction changing means 33 moves the pair of left and right image pickup devices 2L and 2R by a predetermined amount, respectively. The effective imaging range (area) BL in the left-eye imaging device 2L and the effective imaging range (area) BR in the right-eye imaging device 2R are cut out.

In FIG. 10, the deviation correction amount (CC
The D movement amount) δx is shown only in the horizontal direction, and the shift correction amount in the vertical direction is δy corresponding to the vertical shift amount h (see FIG. 4). In the vertical direction, the displacement correction is similarly performed.

At this time, the left-eye image pickup device 2
L is moved in the directions of arrows XL and YL in FIG. 10, and the right-eye imaging element 2R is moved in the directions of arrows XR and YR in FIG. Become.

Here, in the processing of step S2 of the flow chart described in FIG. 9 described above, when the calculation result by the convergence angle calculation means is A ≠ 0, A
In the case of> 0, the convergence angle is changed so that the convergence point P becomes distant, so that the effective imaging range is cut out in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction with the image center facing inward. Will be done.

On the other hand, in the processing of step S2,
In the case where the calculation result by the convergence angle calculation means is A ≠ 0, when A <0, the convergence angle is changed so as to bring the convergence point P closer to the stereoscopic imaging device side.
In each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the effective imaging range is cut out with the image center facing outward.

When the movement is performed by the convergence direction changing means 33 which is the driving means and the CCD moving means 6, the movement amounts δx and y are stored in the convergence angle control means 32 (see FIG. (Not shown) and the like, it is necessary to store the correlation with the difference A in advance.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the subject distance detecting means 31 and
The convergence angle control means 32 and the convergence direction changing means 33
By further arranging, the object distance and the distance to the point of convergence can always be made equal based on the distance information by the object distance detecting means 31, and the vertical deviation can be canceled, Even when the image moves, it is possible to obtain a good stereoscopic image in which the pair of left and right images are not vertically displaced.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a stereoscopic image pickup device having a pair of image pickup optical systems, each component is arranged so as to reduce the size in the horizontal direction, thereby reducing the size of the entire device. It is possible to provide a stereoscopic imaging device that realizes the above and can ensure good operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an outline of a stereoscopic imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the external appearance of the stereoscopic imaging device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the external appearance of the stereoscopic imaging device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right images obtained by a stereoscopic image pickup device in which the first and second image pickup optical systems shown in FIG. 1 are arranged so as to be shifted so as not to optically intersect in the vertical direction. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image obtained when the first and second imaging optical systems are telephoto systems.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right images obtained by a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus in which the first and second image pickup optical systems shown in FIG. 1 are arranged so as not to intersect each other in the vertical direction. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image obtained when the first and second imaging optical systems are wide-angle (Wide) systems.

6 is a diagram showing a pair of left and right images obtained by the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of FIG. 1 and is an image obtained when the first and second image pickup optical systems are telescopic systems. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block configuration diagram showing an outline of a stereoscopic imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a block diagram of a main part showing a main part of the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 7;

9 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence of an optical axis control unit in the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a subject imaged on each of a pair of left and right image pickup devices, when an image is taken by the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the stereoscopic imaging device, which is an example of the layout of each component when the depth dimension of the stereoscopic imaging device is shortened.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus, which is an example of the layout of each component when the depth dimension is shortened in another stereoscopic image pickup apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the stereoscopic image pickup apparatus, which is an example of the layout of each component when the depth dimension is shortened in another stereoscopic image pickup apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1R: right-eye lens (first imaging optical system) 1L: left-eye lens (second imaging optical system) 2R: right-eye imaging element (imaging means) 2L: left-eye imaging element (Imaging means) 3 ... Distance measuring circuit (distance measuring means) 4 ... Detection circuit 5 ... Imaging circuit 6 ... CCD moving means (driving means, optical axis changing means) 10 ... CPU (control means) 21 ... ... device body 22 ... camera unit section 31 ... subject distance detecting means (distance measuring means) 32 ... optical axis control means (control means, convergence angle calculating means) 33 ... optical axis changing means (driving means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus having a first image pickup optical system and a second image pickup optical system, wherein the pair of image pickup optical systems are the subject-side tip portions of the first or second image pickup optical system. It is vertically shifted so as not to intersect with each other in the vicinity, and in the horizontal direction, the distance between the optical axes of the first and second imaging optical systems is within the range of the sum of the maximum radii of the respective imaging optical systems. A stereoscopic imaging device characterized by the above. 2. The first image pickup optical system and the first image pickup optical system are arranged so as to be offset from each other in a position not optically intersecting with the first image pickup optical system in the vertical direction, and a part of the first image pickup optical system is arranged in the horizontal direction. A second image pickup optical system arranged at a position optically intersecting with the optical system and the first or second image pickup optical system are provided in correspondence with each other, and images the light flux input to each image pickup optical system. A pair of image pickup means for changing to a signal, a distance measuring means for measuring the subject distance, a calculating means for calculating the convergence angle of the reflected light of the subject based on the distance measuring means, and based on the calculated convergence angle A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus comprising: a driving unit that drives at least one of the pair of image pickup units so that the centers of images formed by the pair of image pickup units substantially coincide with each other. 3. The stereoscopic image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive unit is driven in a plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the pair of image pickup units.