JPH11205638A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange a drive mechanism of a mirror shaft that makes a visual line stable on the rear of a mirror and to miniaturize a device by supporting an objective lens in a rotatable way, reflecting light that converged by the objective lens, acquiring an image from reflected light of the mirror and permitting the rotation of the mirror at a parallel link mechanism. SOLUTION: Parallel links consist of two links A18 which are a 1st link, a link B19 which is a 3rd link, a link C20 which is a 2nd link and a driving part 21 which is a 2nd motor. The links A18 are connected to a mirror 8 by two rotational joints 22 and are connected to the links B19 and C20 by rotational joints 22. The link B19 is supported by a housing 6 through a rotational joint F28, a rotational shaft of the part 21 is connected to the link C20 and a fixed part of the part 21 is fixed to the housing 6. It is possible to arrange the drive mechanism of the mirror on the rear of the mirror and to make this image pickup device small by using a parallel link mechanism for rotation of the mirror 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to image shaking correction in the field of imaging devices and video cameras mounted on moving bodies such as vehicles, ships, and aircraft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional imaging apparatus. In the figure, 1 is an infrared ray incident from the outside, 2
Is an infrared detecting element which is an image pickup means for acquiring an image, 3 is a dewar for placing the infrared detecting element 2 in a vacuum, 4 is an optical system for forming an image of the infrared ray 1 on the infrared detecting element 2, and 5 is A cooler for cooling, 6 is a housing which is a base for housing the infrared detecting element 2, the dewar 3, the optical system 4, the cooler 5, etc., 7 is a support for fixing the dewar 3 to the housing 6,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a mirror for rotating the visual axis, 9 denotes an infrared window through which the infrared light 1 passes, and 10 denotes an objective lens that narrows the light flux of the infrared light 1 and is held by a lens holder 10b. The infrared detecting element 2 is adhered inside the dewar 3, and the infrared light 1 enters through the infrared window 9, passes through the objective lens 10, the mirror 8, and the optical system 4, forms an image on the infrared detecting element 2, and is converted into an electric signal. Then, an infrared image is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, a lens shaft 12 which is a rotation axis of a lens 10 fixed to a lens holder 10b and a lens holder 10 fixed to a mirror 8 are provided inside the housing 6.
It has a mirror shaft 15 which is a rotating shaft of b, and has a structure which can be rotated by a bearing L13 and a bearing M14, respectively. FIG.
The cross section is shown in FIG. The driving unit L16, which is a first motor, is used for rotating the lens shaft 12, and the driving unit M17 is used for the mirror shaft 15.
And the fixed sides of the drive unit are attached to the housing 6 respectively. The lens axis 12 and the mirror axis 15 are coaxial, and the rotation angle of the visual axis with respect to the rotation angle θ of the mirror axis 15 is shown in FIG.
8A, the lens axis 12 is rotated twice as much as the mirror axis 15 to have a rotation angle of 2θ as shown in FIG. 8B. 12 and the mirror shaft 15 need to be separated. When an oscillating disturbance is applied to the imaging apparatus, the mirror 8 and the objective lens 10 are rotated coaxially to stabilize the visual axis, thereby suppressing blurring of the infrared image due to the oscillating disturbance and obtaining a stationary infrared image. be able to.

[0004]

Since the conventional image pickup apparatus is configured as described above, it is necessary to install driving units for rotating the mirror and the lens on both right and left sides of the mirror. The width became large and the image pickup device could not be miniaturized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a driving mechanism for a mirror axis for stabilizing a visual axis is arranged not on the side surface of the mirror but on the back surface of the mirror. The purpose is to.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus comprising: an objective lens rotatably supported by a base; and a reflecting surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens. A mirror having a mirror, imaging means for holding an image from the reflected light of the mirror, the image capturing means being provided on the opposite side of the reflection surface of the mirror, and enabling the mirror to rotate with respect to the base. And a supporting parallel link mechanism.

An imaging apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
An objective lens, a lens holder that holds the objective lens and is rotatably supported with respect to a base, a first motor that drives the lens holder to rotate, and light that is collected by the objective lens. A mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting the reflected light, an image pickup unit held on the base, and acquiring an image from the reflected light from the mirror, and a mirror parallel to each other supporting the opposite side of the reflecting surface of the mirror at different positions. Two first links, a second link parallel to the mirror and intersecting the first link and rotatably supported with respect to the lens holder; the mirror and the second link;
And a parallel link mechanism having a third link provided in parallel between the links and rotatably supported by the lens holder, and driving the second link of the parallel link mechanism to rotate. A second motor, wherein the rotation center axis of the objective lens held by the base and the rotation center axis of the mirror are substantially coincident with each other.

[0008] An image pickup apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
An objective lens, a lens holder rotatably supporting the objective lens with respect to the base, a mirror having a reflection surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens, and a mirror held by the base and the mirror Imaging means for acquiring an image from reflected light, a flexible pivot rotatably supporting the opposite side of the mirror on the mirror with respect to the base, and supporting near the end of the mirror and rotating with the mirror And a linear drive means for generating

An imaging apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
In the third invention, the linear drive means includes a ball screw that expands and contracts by rotation, and a motor that drives the ball screw to rotate.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus comprising:
In a third aspect, the linear drive means comprises a piezoelectric element which expands and contracts in response to application of a voltage.

An imaging apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises:
An objective lens, a lens holder rotatably supporting the objective lens with respect to the base, a mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens, and reflection of the mirror held by the base. Imaging means for acquiring an image from light; a first ball screw supporting an opposite side of the reflection surface in the mirror; and a first ball screw having a predetermined distance from the first ball screw. A second ball screw provided on the opposite side and rotatably supporting the mirror together with the first ball screw; a first motor for driving the first ball screw to rotate; And a second motor that drives the second ball screw to rotate.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 In the present invention, until the infrared ray 1 enters through the infrared window 9, passes through the objective lens 10 held by the lens holder 10 b, the mirror 8, and forms an image on the infrared detecting element 2 through the optical system 4, the same as the above-described conventional imaging apparatus. belongs to. However, in the imaging device of the present invention, a parallel link is used for rotation of the mirror 8. FIG. 1 (a)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mirror driving mechanism of the imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The parallel links are two links A18 as the first link and link B as the third link
19, a link C20 as a second link, and a drive unit 21 as a second motor. The link A18 is connected to the mirror 8 by two rotating joints 22,
The rotation joint 22 is connected to the link B19 and the link C20.
Connected through. The link B19 is supported by the housing 6 via a rotary joint F28, and the link C20 is coupled to the rotation shaft of the drive unit 21, and the fixed portion of the drive unit 21 is fixed to the housing 6.

Since the infrared ray 1 entering through the infrared window 9 passes through the mirror 8 on the objective lens side, even if there is enough space, if components are arranged there, the infrared ray 1 will be blocked. However, the other side of the mirror 8 opposite to the side facing the objective lens does not hinder the passage of the infrared rays 1 and the mirror 8 is inclined 45 degrees when the visual axis is horizontal, so that the rear upper side of the mirror 8 No components are mounted spatially, and a parallel link mechanism, which is a mirror driving mechanism, is arranged in that part.

As shown in FIG. 1B, by rotating the drive unit 21 by the angle θ, the link C20, the link B19, and the link A
18, the mirror 8 can be rotated by the rotation angle θ of the drive unit 21. By controlling the rotation angle of the drive unit 21 to rotate forward or reverse in the direction to cancel the fluctuation disturbance, a stable infrared light can be obtained. Images can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, by using the parallel link mechanism for rotating the mirror 8, the drive mechanism of the mirror can be arranged at the rear of the mirror, and the size of the imaging apparatus can be reduced.

Embodiment 2 In the present invention, the process until the infrared ray 1 enters through the infrared window 9, passes through the objective lens 10, the mirror 8, and the optical system 4, and forms an image on the infrared detecting element 2 is the same as the above-described conventional imaging apparatus. However, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a ball screw which is a direct drive means is used as a drive means for applying a torque to the mirror 8 to rotate it. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a mirror driving mechanism of an imaging device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The mirror 8 has a central portion fixed to the housing 6 by a flexible pivot 23 having low rigidity.
3, and is connected to one end of the ball screw portion 25.
The other end of the ball screw portion 25 is coupled to a rotating portion of a driving portion 26 such as a motor, for example, and the fixed side of the driving portion 26 is fixed to the housing 6.

In the present embodiment, the flexible pivot 2
Since there is no gap between the movable parts as in the case of using the joint 3, the backlash of the mirror 8 due to this gap can be eliminated, and the image blur caused by the gap can be prevented.

By rotating the drive unit 26, the length of the ball screw unit 25 is changed, and the mirror 8 can be rotated. The rotation angle of the drive unit is controlled so as to rotate forward or reverse in the direction to cancel the fluctuation disturbance. By doing so, a stable infrared image can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the mirror 8 supported by the flexible pivot 23 having low rigidity is rotated by expansion and contraction of a ball screw, so that the mirror driving mechanism can be arranged at the rear of the mirror, and the image pickup apparatus can be downsized. Becomes Further, since the rigidity of the flexible pivot 23 supporting the mirror 8 is low, the mirror can be rotated without distorting the mirror surface.

Embodiment 3 In the present invention, the process until the infrared ray 1 enters through the infrared window 9, passes through the objective lens 10, the mirror 8, and the optical system 4, and forms an image on the infrared detecting element 2 is the same as the above-described conventional imaging apparatus. However, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a piezoelectric element which is a direct drive means is used as a drive means for applying a torque to the mirror 8 to rotate it.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a mirror driving mechanism of the image pickup apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The center of the mirror 8 is fixed to the housing 6 by a flexible pivot 23 having low rigidity, and the end of the mirror 8 is connected to one end of the piezoelectric element 27 via the rotary joint 23.
The other end of the piezoelectric element 27 is fixed to the housing 6.

By applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element 27, the length of the piezoelectric element 27 is changed and the mirror 8 can be rotated, and the amount of expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 27 is rotated forward or reverse in the direction to cancel the fluctuation disturbance. , A stable infrared image can be obtained.

In this embodiment, by rotating the reflecting mirror supported by the flexible pivot 23 having low rigidity by expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element, the driving mechanism of the mirror 8 can be arranged at the rear of the mirror. Becomes possible.
Also, the flexible pivot 2 supporting the mirror 8
Since the rigidity of the mirror 3 is low, the mirror 8 can be rotated without distorting the mirror surface.

Although the amount of expansion and contraction of a single piezoelectric element is very small, it is possible to increase the amount of expansion and contraction as a whole by stacking a plurality of piezoelectric elements and secure the amount of expansion and contraction necessary for the rotation of the mirror 8. it can.

Embodiment 4 In the present invention, the process until the infrared ray 1 enters through the infrared window 9, passes through the objective lens 10, the mirror 8, and the optical system 4, and forms an image on the infrared detecting element 2 is the same as the above-described conventional imaging apparatus. However, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a ball screw is used as a direct drive unit that applies a torque to the mirror 8 to rotate the mirror. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mirror driving mechanism of an imaging device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Both ends of the mirror 8 are rotating joints 23
Are connected to one ends of a plurality of ball screw portions 25, and the other end of each of the ball screw portions 25 is connected to a rotating portion of a driving portion 26 such as a motor, for example. The side is fixed to the housing 6.

The length of the ball screw portion 25 is changed by rotating the driving portion 26. For example, when there are two ball screw portions, the rotation of the mirror 8 can be performed without moving the rotation center of the mirror 8 by rotating the respective rotation angles of the driving unit 26 in different directions by the same angle. A stable infrared image can be obtained by controlling the rotation angle of the driving unit so as to rotate forward or reverse in a direction to cancel the fluctuation disturbance.

In the present embodiment, by rotating the mirror 8 with a ball screw, the mirror driving mechanism can be arranged behind the mirror, and the image pickup apparatus can be reduced in size.
Further, since the mirror 8 has no fixed support, the mirror 8 can be rotated without distorting the mirror surface.

The means for rotating each mirror in the first to sixth embodiments may be held by the lens holder 10b in addition to being held by the housing 6.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the size of the image pickup device can be reduced by installing the mirror driving mechanism behind the mirror.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a mirror driving mechanism of an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a mirror driving mechanism of an imaging device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a mirror driving mechanism of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a mirror driving mechanism of an imaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional imaging device.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a mirror and an objective lens of a conventional imaging device.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a mirror and an objective lens of a conventional imaging device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating movement of an optical path of a conventional imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 infrared ray, 2 infrared ray detecting element, 3 dewar, 4 optical system, 5 cooler, 6 housing, 7 support, 8 mirror,
9 infrared window, 10 objective lens, 10b lens holder, 12 lens axis, 13 bearing L, 14 bearing M, 1
5 mirror axis, 16 drive unit L, 17 drive unit M, 18
Link A, 19 Link B, 20 Link C, 21
Drive unit, 22 rotation joint, 23 flexible pivot, 24 rotation joint, 25 ball screw part,
26 drive unit, 27 piezoelectric element unit, 28 rotary joint F.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An objective lens rotatably supported with respect to a base, a mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens, and reflected light of the mirror held by the base. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit that obtains an image from a camera; and a parallel link mechanism that is provided on a side of the mirror opposite to the reflection surface and rotatably supports the mirror with respect to the base. . 2. An objective lens, a lens holder that holds the objective lens and is rotatably supported with respect to a base, and a first driving unit that rotates the lens holder.
A motor, a mirror having a reflection surface that reflects light collected by the objective lens, an imaging unit that is held by the base, and acquires an image from light reflected by the mirror, and an imaging unit that reflects the reflection surface of the mirror. Two first links parallel to each other supporting opposite sides at different positions, a second link parallel to the mirror and intersecting with the first link and rotatably supported with respect to the lens holder; A parallel link mechanism having a third link provided in parallel between the mirror and the second link and rotatably supported by the lens holder; and a second link of the parallel link mechanism. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a second motor that drives the link to rotate, wherein a rotation center axis of the objective lens held by the base and a rotation center axis of the mirror are substantially coincident with each other. 3. An objective lens, a lens holder rotatably supporting the objective lens with respect to a base, a mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens, and held by the base. Imaging means for acquiring an image from the reflected light of the mirror, a flexible pivot rotatably supporting the opposite side of the mirror with respect to the base with respect to the base, and supporting near the end of the mirror. An imaging device, comprising: a linear drive means for causing the mirror to rotate. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said linear drive means comprises a ball screw which expands and contracts by rotation, and a motor which drives the ball screw to rotate. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said linear drive means comprises a piezoelectric element which expands and contracts in response to application of a voltage. 6. An objective lens, a lens holder rotatably supporting the objective lens with respect to a base, a mirror having a reflection surface for reflecting light condensed by the objective lens, and held by the base. Imaging means for acquiring an image from reflected light of the mirror, a first ball screw supporting an opposite side of the reflection surface of the mirror, and a mirror provided at a predetermined distance from the first ball screw. A second ball screw that is provided on the opposite side of the reflection surface and rotatably supports the mirror together with the first ball screw;
A first driving mechanism for rotating the first ball screw;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a motor; and a second motor that drives the second ball screw to rotate.