JPH10191180A - Image pickup device and image pickup equipment provided with it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the resolution and the color separation performance by engaging a 1st moving member to a drive shaft of a 1st drive means so as to drive the moving member in a prescribed direction and engaging a 2nd moving member to a drive shaft of a 2nd drive means in a prescribed direction so as to drive the 2nd moving member in a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction. SOLUTION: The device is provided with a support member (2nd moving member 2) that supports a solid-state image pickup element 1, a support member (1st moving member) 3 that supports the support member 2, a stepping motor 6Y configuring a drive means (1st drive means) in the X axis direction of the support member 3 and a stepping motor 6Y configuring a drive means (2nd drive means) in the Y axis direction of the support member 2. The support member 3 driven by the stepping motor 6Y in the X axis direction moves the support member 1 in the X axis direction ia balls 5a-5d. Since an engagement section 8c of a rack 8 screwed with an output shaft 6a of the stepping motor 6Y is moved only in the X axis direction, the support member 2 is moved only in the X axis direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus using an image pickup member, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus capable of achieving high resolution, simplification of the apparatus, and cost reduction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a solid-state imaging device is slightly vibrated,
There has been proposed a pixel compensation method which can provide an effect equivalent to increasing the number of pixels of an image sensor equivalently. However, in this pixel compensation method, since the structure of a device for acquiring supplementary pixels is complicated and expensive, an imaging device that increases the number of pixels with a simple and inexpensive structure and obtains high resolution is demanded. I have.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an imaging apparatus in which the horizontal resolution of a solid-state imaging device is improved. This is a solid-state imaging device called a so-called swing CCD system in which an interline transfer CCD is periodically vibrated by a bimorph piezoelectric element. In this figure, 141 is a CCD, 142 is a substrate made of ceramic, 143 is a piezoelectric element, 144 is a leaf spring, and 144 is a leaf spring.
3 to form a bimorph piezoelectric element.

Reference numeral 145 denotes a support for supporting the bimorph piezoelectric element, reference numeral 146 denotes a support base on which the support 145 is erected, and reference numeral 147 denotes an output line for outputting an image signal obtained by the CCD 141. The CCD 141 mounted on the substrate 142 is mounted on a pair of bimorph piezoelectric elements mounted on the support 146 in parallel with each other.

In this device, the bimorph piezoelectric element is vibrated in the horizontal direction (the direction indicated by the arrow) by simultaneously applying a voltage to each of the piezoelectric elements 143, and the CCD 141 on the bimorph piezoelectric element is vibrated in the horizontal direction. This makes it possible to increase the spatial sampling area by temporally changing the relative positional relationship between the optical image incident on the CCD 141 and the pixels, thereby improving the horizontal resolution of the CCD 141.

[0006]

However, in the above-described configuration, since the piezoelectric element is subjected to open-loop control, the temperature characteristic, the variation in the left and right piezoelectric elements, etc.
The relative positional relationship between the optical image incident on the CD 141 and the pixels may not be completely half of the pixel pitch.

For example, it is assumed that one pixel of a solid-state image sensor is arranged at a pixel pitch p as shown in FIG. Assuming that FIG. 15A is the first field, the second field has an arrangement shifted by r as shown in FIG. 15B. Combining the pixel arrangement of the first field and the pixel arrangement of the second field is as shown in FIG. 15 (c). However, since r ≠ p / 2, there is a problem that moire does not disappear and sufficient resolution cannot be improved. Was.

In the case where the resolution in the vertical direction is also to be improved by the configuration shown in FIG. 14, the support 146 shown in FIG. 14 is mounted on another pair of bimorph piezoelectric elements in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the direction indicated by the arrow). It is necessary to vibrate while synchronizing with the horizontal vibration (direction), which is an extremely difficult configuration in open loop control.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an image pickup apparatus capable of improving the horizontal or vertical resolution or color resolution with a low-cost and simple configuration and an image pickup apparatus using the same. The purpose is.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus for moving an imaging member in a predetermined direction parallel to an imaging surface and in a direction perpendicular to the imaging surface. A movable first movable member, and a second movable member that holds the imaging member, is movable in the orthogonal direction with respect to the first movable member, and moves in the predetermined direction integrally with the first movable member. A first driving means for driving the first movable member in the predetermined direction; and a second driving means for driving the second movable member in the orthogonal direction while allowing the second movable member to move in the predetermined direction. Are provided.

That is, according to the present invention, the first movable member can be driven in a predetermined direction, and the second movable member can be moved in the same direction accompanying the movement of the first movable member. By allowing the members to be driven in the orthogonal direction, each driving means is fixed to the apparatus casing or the like, so that stable movement control of the imaging member can be performed.

More specifically, each drive means is configured to rotate a drive shaft such as a lead screw by a stepping motor or the like, and the first movable member is engaged with the drive shaft of the first drive means so as to rotate in a predetermined direction. The second movable member may be movably engaged with the drive shaft of the second drive means in a predetermined direction so that the second movable member can be driven in the orthogonal direction.

In this case, the second movable member is provided with engaging teeth extending in the predetermined direction, or the second movable member is provided with engaging teeth extending in the lead angle direction of a lead screw serving as a drive shaft. The engagement of the engagement teeth with the drive shaft of the second drive means may allow the movement of the second movable member relative to the drive shaft in a predetermined direction.

However, when engaging the engaging teeth extending in the lead angle direction, the first movable member moves the first movable member in a predetermined direction to move the second movable member relative to the lead screw in the lead angle direction. To move in the orthogonal direction. Therefore, the amount of movement in the orthogonal direction is calculated, and the operation of the second drive means is controlled so as to move the second movable member in the opposite direction by an amount equal to the calculation result. It is necessary to ensure that the imaging member can move only in a predetermined direction.

Each drive means is configured to rotate a drive shaft such as a lead screw by a stepping motor or the like, so that the first movable member is engaged with the drive shaft of the first drive means and can be driven in the predetermined direction. And the second
The movable member may be movably engaged in the predetermined direction with respect to the rectilinear member that moves in the orthogonal direction by rotation of the drive shaft so that the movable member can be driven in the orthogonal direction.

The imaging member held by the second movable member includes a solid-state imaging device and a color separation filter.

Further, a vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration of the apparatus casing is provided, and the operation of the first and second driving means is controlled so as to cancel the vibration based on the detection result of the vibration detecting means. An imaging device having a camera shake correction function may be used. When the first imaging mode in which the imaging member is moved to increase the imaging resolution and the second imaging mode in which the imaging member is moved to prevent shake can be selectively set, the imaging member in setting the second imaging mode is set. It is preferable to make the maximum movement amount of the camera larger than that at the time of setting the first photographing mode so that large camera shake can be corrected.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a solid-state imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure,
1 is a single-plate solid-state imaging device, 2 is a holding member (second movable member in the claims) that holds the solid-state imaging device 1, and 3 is a support member that supports the holding member 2 (the first member in the claims) Movable member).

The holding member 2 has fitting pins 2a and 2b which are fitted in fitting holes 1a and long fitting holes 1b provided in the solid-state image pickup device 1, respectively. The solid-state imaging device 1 is fixed to the holding member 2 using screws 11c and 11d. The fixing may be performed by using an adhesive, solder, or the like.

Reference numerals 4a and 4b denote guide members for guiding the support member 3 in the X-axis direction (predetermined direction referred to in the claims) in the drawing, and are cylindrical members provided on the support member 3 as shown in FIG. By fitting into the sleeve 3a and the U groove 3b, respectively, the support member 3 can be moved only in the X-axis direction in FIG. Further, in order to remove looseness between the support member 3 and the guide member 4, the casing of the device (not shown) is urged by using an elastic member 3g such as a spring.

5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are balls provided between the holding member 2 and the supporting member 3, and the balls 5a to 5d are guide grooves 3a to 3 provided in the supporting member 3.
d.

On the other hand, in the holding member 2, as shown in FIG. 3, V-grooves 2f and 2g are provided on the opposite side of the mounting surface of the solid-state imaging device 1, and the balls 5a and 5b are connected to the V-groove 2f.
The balls 5c and 5d are guided by the V-grooves 2g, respectively. Thereby, the holding member 2 can move smoothly in the Y-axis direction (the orthogonal direction in the claims) in FIG.

The holding member 2 and the support member 3 apply a biasing force to each other by the spring member 7 to hold the holding member 2 on the support member 3. In addition,
By fixing one end of the spring member 7 to the holding member 2 and the other end to the fixing portion of the device, the support member 3 and the guide member 4 are fixed.
You can also play back with.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6x denotes a support member 3
This is a stepping motor that constitutes driving means (first driving means) for driving in the axial direction. Reference numeral 6y denotes a stepping motor constituting driving means (second driving means) for driving the holding member 2 in the Y-axis direction in the figure. In addition,
In this embodiment, a stepping motor is used for both 6x and 6y, but for 6x, a DC motor, a voice coil actuator, an electromagnetic actuator such as a moving magnet actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, an electrostatic actuator, or the like may be used. 6y may be an electromagnetic actuator such as a DC motor having an encoder such as a pulse plate or a brushless motor whose output shaft rotates, other than the stepping motor.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an output shaft 6a of a stepping motor 6y.
To convert the rotational movement of the output shaft 6a into a linear movement in the Y-axis direction in the figure. The rack 8 has a bifurcated screw threadedly engaged at one end with an engagement portion 8e engaged with the engagement portion 2e of the holding member 2 and at the other end with an output shaft (lead screw) 6a of a stepping motor 6y. The engaging portion 8e engages with the engaging portion 2e provided on the holding member 2 with a spring material 9y interposed therebetween. The screwing portion 8d is an elastically deformable portion so that a biasing force is always applied to the output shaft 6a of the stepping motor 6y so as to pinch it.
A part of y may be used as an elastically deformable portion to sandwich the output shaft 6a.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the relationship between the stepping motor 6y and the rack 8, the spring member 9y, and the holding member 2 holding the solid-state imaging device 1. In this figure, the rack 8 is rotatable around the axis of a pair of holes provided in the engaging portion 2e of the holding member 2.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of a main part of the output shaft 6a of the stepping motor 6y and the threaded portion 8d of the rack 8. As can be seen from FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b),
The plurality of meshing teeth provided on the threaded portion 8d of the rack 8 extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to the output shaft 6a.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a rack which is screwed with the output shaft (lead screw) 6b of the stepping motor 6x and converts the rotational movement of the stepping motor 6x into a linear movement in the X-axis direction in FIG. The rack 10 has an engaging portion 10e which engages with the engaging portion 3e of the support member 3 at an end thereof, and engages with the engaging portion 3e provided on the support member 3 via a spring material 9x.

According to the solid-state imaging device having the above configuration,
The support member 3 driven in the X-axis direction by the stepping motor 6x integrally moves the holding member 2 in the X-axis direction via the balls 5a to 5d. At this time, the rack 8 screwed with the output shaft 6a of the stepping motor 6y is connected to the rack 8 shown in FIG.
As described above, since the engaging portion 8e moves only in the X-axis direction, the holding member 2 can move only in the X-axis direction.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows that the meshing teeth provided on the threaded portion 8d of the rack 8 are substantially parallel to the lead angle of the threaded portion formed on the output shaft 6a of the stepping motor 6y. It was done. In this case, the support member 3 driven in the X-axis direction by the stepping motor 6x integrally moves the holding member 2 and the solid-state imaging device 1 in the X-axis direction via the balls 5a to 5d. The image sensor 1 moves in the Y-axis direction along the lead of the output shaft 6a.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The movement amount in the Y-axis direction is calculated by the calculation means 61, and a drive signal to be input to the stepping motor 6y is input from the drive means control section 62 based on the calculation result.
By compensating for the axial displacement,
The solid-state imaging device 1 can be driven only in the X-axis direction. (Third Embodiment) Next, the solid-state imaging device 1 using the solid-state imaging device described in the first and second embodiments.
Will be described. Note that the description of the correction of the drive signal of the stepping motor 6y in the apparatus of the second embodiment will be omitted.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a pixel array of the solid-state imaging device 1 having 3 (horizontal) × 3 (vertical) pixels.
Each pixel in the solid-state imaging device 1 is arranged in a lattice with a pixel width 1 and a pixel pitch p.

The initial position of the solid-state imaging device 1 is made to correspond to that shown in FIG.
Is driven, the field of view of the solid-state imaging device 1 moves to the next step, the field of view moves to the second step by driving the stepping motor 6y, and the field of view moves to the third step by returning the stepping motor 6x to the initial position. Return to the initial position in 4 steps.

FIG. 7B shows stepping motors 6x and 6x for driving the solid-state imaging device 1 as shown in FIG.
6 shows an excitation pattern of y and an operation pattern of the solid-state imaging device. In this figure, accumulation and readout of pixel signals in the solid-state imaging device 1 are performed immediately before the excitation switching to each motor, and readout is performed simultaneously with the excitation switching. Note that the stepping motor used in the present embodiment is a two-phase PM type stepping motor, and the movement amount per pulse is set to half the pixel pitch, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this.

By performing such scanning, the number of pixels becomes 36, and a resolution four times the conventional number of pixels can be obtained.

Then, the pixel signals obtained by the solid-state imaging device 1 are image-processed by the signal processing section 81 as shown in FIG. 8 and displayed on a display device 82 such as a display.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the solid-state imaging device according to the embodiment. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this figure, reference numeral 92 denotes a support member (second movable member) for supporting the solid-state image sensor, 9
Reference numeral 6y denotes a stepping motor which constitutes second driving means for driving the holding member 92 in the Y-axis direction (the orthogonal direction in the claims) in FIG. 98 is screwed with the output shaft 96a of the stepping motor 96y,
It is a nut member (a linear member referred to in the claims) that converts the rotational motion of 6y into a linear motion in the Y direction in FIG. The nut member 98 has a rotation restricting portion 98a for restricting rotation by the engaging portion 92e of the holding member 92.

The nut member 98 is connected to a stepping motor 96
When engaging with the y output shaft, the spring member 99y is inserted in advance. By disposing the locking portion 92e of the holding member 92 between the nut member 98 and the spring member 99y, the engaging portion 92e provided on the holding member 92 becomes a spring member 99y.
Accordingly, the nut member 98 is urged.

According to the solid-state imaging device having the above configuration,
The support member 3 driven in the X-axis direction by the stepping motor 6x moves the holding member 92 integrally in the X-axis direction via the balls 5a to 5d. At this time, the holding member 9
The second engaging portion 92e is a rotation regulating portion 98a of the nut member 98.
, The holding member 92 can move smoothly without being restricted in the movement in the X-axis direction.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the solid-state imaging device according to the embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a solid-state image sensor (FIG. 11)
(Not shown)) is the optical axis of the main optical system to form an image
Reference numeral 0 denotes a filter having a color separation function. Reference numeral 102 denotes a holding frame that holds the color separation filter 110 and is movable in a direction parallel to a plane (that is, an imaging surface) orthogonal to the optical axis 100 of the main optical system. (A second movable member referred to in the claims).

In the case of the present embodiment, since the color separation filter 110 is moved in the same direction as the solid-state image pickup device instead of moving the solid-state image pickup device in a direction parallel to the imaging surface, an image with excellent color resolution can be obtained.

Next, a scanning method of the color separation filter 110 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram in which a color separation filter 110 is arranged in front of a solid-state imaging device having 3 (horizontal) × 3 (vertical) pixels.

The initial position of the color separation filter 110 is shown in FIG. 12 (a).
When x is driven, the color separation filter is at the position shown in FIG. 12B, and when the stepping motor 6y is driven in the second step, the color separation filter 110 is at the position shown in FIG. Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS.
By moving 0 and repeating these series of operations while taking in the image by the solid-state imaging device for each step, an image with excellent color resolution can be displayed.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 13 shows first to third embodiments.
A device in which shake sensors 131 and 132 for detecting a so-called hand shake (that is, a shake of a device casing) is added to the solid-state imaging device described in the embodiment is illustrated. The yaw direction shake sensor 131 is constituted by an acceleration sensor, and detects a shake angular velocity ωx of the apparatus casing in the horizontal direction in the figure. The pitch direction shake sensor 132 is constituted by an acceleration sensor, and detects a vertical shake angular velocity ωy of the apparatus casing.

The processing circuit 133 includes these sensors 13
The shake angular velocities ωx and ωy detected by the control units 1 and 132 are converted into the speed at which the subject image moves on the image plane. And
The drive circuit 134 causes the motors 6x and 6y to rotate the solid-state imaging device 1 in a direction to cancel the speeds Vx and Vy of the respective images.
Is controlled to be driven.

The apparatus according to this embodiment has a switch 1 for switching between a high-resolution shooting mode and a shake preventing shooting mode.
35, the maximum displacement of the solid-state imaging device 1 is set to be larger than when the high-resolution shooting mode is set when the shake prevention shooting mode is set. Therefore, if you set the anti-shake shooting mode when shooting a movie,
Even if a certain amount of camera shake occurs, a stable image can be captured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a solid-state imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the solid-state imaging device.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the solid-state imaging device.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the solid-state imaging device.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a solid-state imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a scanning method of a solid-state imaging device in a solid-state imaging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a solid-state imaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a nut member according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a solid-state imaging device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a scanning method of a color separation filter according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a shake preventing solid-state imaging device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional solid-state imaging device.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional solid-state imaging device scanning method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solid-state image sensor 2 Holding member 2c, 2d V groove 3 Support member 4 Guide member 5a-5d Ball 6x, 6y Stepping motor 8,10 Rack 9x, 9y Spring member 61 Arithmetic processing unit 62 Drive control unit 81 Image signal processing unit 82 display unit 83 control unit 92 holding member 96y drive means 98 nut 99y spring member 100 main optical axis 102 color separation filter holding frame 110 color separation filter 131, 132 shake sensor 133 processing circuit 134 drive circuit 135 switch

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus for moving an imaging member in a predetermined direction parallel to an imaging surface and in a direction orthogonal to the imaging surface, comprising: a first movable member movable in the predetermined direction; A second movable member movable in the orthogonal direction with respect to the first movable member and integrally moving with the first movable member in the predetermined direction; and a second driving the first movable member in the predetermined direction. 1 driving means, and allowing movement of the second movable member in the predetermined direction,
An imaging apparatus comprising: a second driving unit that drives the second movable member in the orthogonal direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second driving means has a driving shaft which is driven to rotate, and wherein the first movable member is engaged with a driving shaft of the first driving means and is driven in the predetermined direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second movable member is movably engaged with a drive shaft of the second drive means in the predetermined direction and is driven in the orthogonal direction.
An imaging device according to claim 1. 3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the drive shaft is a lead screw. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second movable member has engagement teeth extending in the predetermined direction, and the engagement teeth are engaged with a drive shaft of the second drive means. Claim 2
Or the imaging device according to 3. 5. The second movable member has engaging teeth extending in a lead angle direction of the lead screw, and the engaging teeth are engaged with a drive shaft of the second driving means. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The second movable member when the second movable member is moved in the lead angle direction with respect to the lead screw by the movement of the first movable member in the predetermined direction by the first driving means. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a calculating means for calculating the amount of movement in the orthogonal direction, and a control means for controlling an operation of the second driving means based on a calculation result of the calculating means. apparatus. 7. The first and second drive means each have a drive shaft that is driven to rotate, and the first movable member is engaged with the drive shaft of the first drive means to move in the predetermined direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second movable member is driven in the orthogonal direction by being movably engaged with the linear member moving in the orthogonal direction by rotation of a drive shaft in the predetermined direction. An imaging device according to claim 1. 8. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the drive shaft is a lead screw. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second driving means include a stepping motor.
The imaging device according to any one of the above. 10. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second driving units are respectively fixed to an apparatus casing. 11. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging member is a solid-state imaging device. 12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging member is a color separation filter. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration detecting means for detecting a vibration of the device casing, and a control means for controlling the operation of the first and second driving means based on a detection result of the vibration detecting means. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein: 14. A second imaging mode in which a first imaging mode in which the imaging member is moved to increase imaging resolution and a second imaging mode in which the imaging member is moved to prevent shake are selectively set. 14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a maximum movement amount of the imaging member when a mode is set is larger than when the first imaging mode is set. 15. An imaging apparatus comprising the imaging device according to claim 1. Description: