JPH1175107A - Optical device and image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pixel shift system with a simple arrangement which can shift the pixels in many directions and to many positions and also can be fast driven by controlling an optical element at plural tilt angles and setting the different numbers of position control surfaces between both ends of the optical element. SOLUTION: The incident position of the light which is made incident on the image pickup surface of an image pickup device through a parallel flat plate 3 is shifted in the vertical direction by changing the tilt angle of the element via the on/off control of the electromagnets 5Ua, 5Ub, 5Da and 5Db. Meanwhile, the incident position of the light which is made incident on the image pickup surface of the image pickup element through a parallel flat plate 6 is shifted in the horizontal direction by changing the tilt angle of the element into various value via the on/off control of the electromagnets 8La, 8Lb and 8Ra to 8Rc. Thus the optical element can be controlled at plural tilt angles and accordingly the pixels can be shifted at a high speed and with high accuracy in an extremely simple constitution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention enables substantially high-quality image input by subtly changing the optical angle of a parallel plate glass or a reflecting mirror provided in an optical path of an image pickup system. The present invention relates to an imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the progress of image input devices such as video cameras and scanners has been remarkable, and high image quality and high resolution have been strongly demanded. Many problems are involved, such as performance problems such as a decrease in S / N, cost increase due to a decrease in manufacturing yield, and a high-cost low-pass filter such as a crystal for preventing false signals. .

Therefore, as a technique for improving the image quality and resolution of the image pickup device without increasing the number of pixels of the image pickup device itself, a reflection mirror is provided in an optical path in an optical relay space between the lens group and the image pickup device. To change the reflection angle, and also to arrange a parallel plate-shaped light transmitting glass in the optical path and use the refraction of light to change the angle of incidence of light on the light transmitting glass and the thickness of the glass. Therefore, the optical image information originally reaching the dead zone between the photosensitive section of the image sensor and the photosensitive section is guided to the photosensitive section to sequentially obtain optical image information, or by slightly vibrating the image sensor itself, There is known a so-called "pixel shift" that can obtain a high-resolution image substantially equivalent to an increase in the number of pixels of an image sensor.

According to this method, high-quality image pickup can be performed without increasing the number of pixels of the image pickup element itself. Therefore, this method is extremely effective in increasing the resolution of an image input device. .

As a specific example of the pixel shift utilizing the above principle, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-15378, a parallel plate is rotated around an axis parallel to a pixel row, As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-121816, the plane parallel plate is tilted and rotated around the optical axis.
No. 8937, an X / Y axis is provided, and a cam is driven by a motor to change the inclination of the parallel plate surface.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional mechanism using the parallel plate light transmitting glass, a motor is used as a drive source for changing an optical position, and a complicated and expensive mechanism such as position control by a cam is used. It is difficult to secure the positioning accuracy of the parallel-plate light transmitting glass used, and it is also difficult to increase the driving speed.

If a motor, a cam, and a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the motor to the cam, and these are provided for two systems in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the size of the apparatus is inevitably increased, and the lens group and the image pickup device are inevitably increased. There are many problems, such as difficulties in arranging in the space between them.

[0008] Further, since the processing of synthesizing the image signal obtained by performing the pixel shifting operation is complicated and the processing time becomes long, a special large-scale vegetable circuit configuration is required.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide an optical device having a pixel shift system capable of shifting pixels in many directions and positions with a simple configuration and capable of high-speed driving. And an imaging device.

Another object of the present invention is to apply a normal television signal processing circuit by performing pixel shifting according to the color filter array of a normal image pickup device by the degree of freedom of the direction and position of pixel shifting and high speed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple optical device and an imaging device.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical element for shifting an incident position of incident light on an image pickup surface, and the optical element includes: By abutting the plurality of ends of the element and regulating their positions in the optical axis direction,
A plurality of regulating portions for controlling the tilt position of the optical element, and driving means for driving the optical element to contact the regulating portion, wherein the plurality of regulating portions are respectively in contact with the end portions. The optical device has a plurality of position regulating surfaces for regulating the position, and by changing the combination of the position regulating surfaces that come into contact with each end of the optical element, the optical element can be controlled to a plurality of inclination angles, and the optical The optical device is characterized in that the number of the position regulating surfaces is different between one end side and the other end side of the element.

According to the invention described in claim 2 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 1, the optical element is arranged so that one end and the other end of the optical element in the optical axis direction are controlled by the restricting portion. The moving range is configured to be different, and the number of the position regulating surfaces of the regulating portion having the larger moving range is set to be larger than the regulating portion having the smaller moving range.

According to the invention described in claim 3 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 2, the regulating portion having the larger moving range has at least three position regulating surfaces, and the optical element Is configured so that the inclination angle can be equally divided between the maximum inclination position and the minimum inclination position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the restricting portion having the smaller moving range includes a front-rear direction in the optical axis direction with one end of the optical element interposed therebetween. The two tilting positions of the optical element are controlled in two stages by the two position regulating surfaces formed in the optical axis direction, and the regulating section having the larger movement range sandwiches the other end of the optical element in the optical axis direction. The tilt position of the optical element is set in three stages by three position regulating surfaces including two position regulating surfaces formed before and after, and a position regulating surface formed between the two position regulating surfaces. And the tilt position of the optical element can be controlled in six stages in total.

According to the invention described in claim 5 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 4, the ratio of the movement range of the regulating portion having the smaller moving range to the regulating portion having the larger moving range is set. Has a relationship of 1: 4.

According to the invention described in claim 6 of the present application, in the invention described in claim 4, the optical element is a horizontal parallel plate that shifts pixels in the horizontal direction of the imaging surface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the optical element is a vertical parallel plate that shifts pixels in a vertical direction of the imaging surface.

According to the invention described in claim 8 of the present application, the optical element for shifting the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface, and the position of the optical element in contact with the end of the optical element in the optical axis direction is adjusted. By regulating, a regulating unit that controls the tilt position of the optical element, and a driving unit that drives the optical element to contact the regulating unit, the driving unit includes an end of the optical element. A first driving unit that drives the optical element back and forth in the optical axis direction; and a second driving unit that drives an end of the optical element in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction. A first position regulating surface that abuts when driven by the first driving means back and forth in the optical axis direction to position the moving position; and the end portion is moved in the optical axis direction by the second driving means. When moved in a direction perpendicular to Come into contact with the ends, and wherein the optical device and a second position regulating surface for regulating the position in the direction of the optical axis.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, the regulating portion is formed in a concave shape so that an end of the optical element can be loosely fitted. Forming a first position regulating surface on an inner side surface of the concave portion;
Is formed on the bottom surface of the recess.

According to the invention described in claim 10 of the present application,
In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the second position regulating surface is a concave groove that locks the end of the optical element and regulates movement in the optical axis direction.

According to the invention described in claim 11 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 8, the restricting portion is provided at both ends of the optical element, and the movement range of the optical element in the optical axis direction at one end and the other end thereof. The configuration was changed.

According to the invention described in claim 12 of the present application,
9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the first position regulating surface is formed at two front and rear positions in the optical axis direction with the end of the optical element interposed therebetween, and the second position regulating surface is formed at the two positions. First
The tilt position of the optical element can be controlled in three stages by selecting a restricting surface formed between the position restricting surfaces and contacting the end of the optical element.

According to the invention described in claim 13 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 12, the restricting portion is formed at one end of the optical element, and at least the first position restricting surface is formed at the other end of the optical element in front of and behind the other end in the optical axis direction. The optical element is formed so as to be capable of setting the tilt position of the optical element in two stages, and the tilt position of the optical element can be controlled in six stages by these restricting portions.

According to the invention described in claim 14 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 11 or 13, the range of movement of the optical element in the optical axis direction by the restricting portion has a relationship of 1: 4 between the one end side and the other end side.

According to the invention described in claim 15 of the present application,
The invention according to claim 1 or 8, wherein the optical element is a parallel flat plate provided in an optical path incident on the image pickup means, and an inclination angle of the parallel flat plate with respect to an optical axis is controlled by the regulating unit. Thereby, the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface is shifted.

According to the invention described in claim 16 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 1 or 8, the optical element in contact with the position regulating surface is provided with engaging portions that are in line contact or point contact with the position regulating surface, respectively.

According to the invention described in claim 17 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 18, the engaging portion is a cylindrical member that is in line contact with the position regulating surface.

[0028] In the invention according to claim 18 of the present application,
The invention according to claim 1 or 8, wherein the driving means is constituted by a plurality of electromagnets provided for each of the position regulating surfaces, and by controlling on / off of each of the electromagnets, the driving means is applied to the optical member. The tilt position of the optical member is changed by selecting the contact position regulating surface.

According to the invention described in claim 19 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 8, the optical element, a vertical optical element that shifts the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface in the vertical direction on the imaging surface, and the incident light on the imaging surface. A horizontal direction optical element that shifts the incident position in the horizontal direction on the imaging surface was configured.

According to the invention described in claim 20 of the present application,
A horizontal shift optical element that shifts the incident position of incident light on the imaging surface in the horizontal direction within the imaging surface, and a vertical shift optical element that shifts the incident position of incident light on the imaging surface in the vertical direction within the imaging surface A plurality of restricting portions for controlling the tilt position of the optical element by contacting a plurality of ends of the optical elements and restricting the positions in the optical axis direction, and restricting the optical element. Driving means for driving to contact the portion, the regulating portion,
It is characterized in that the horizontal shift optical element is positioned at six inclined positions in the horizontal direction, and the vertical shift optical element is positioned at three inclined positions in the vertical direction.

According to the invention described in claim 21 of the present application,
21. The imaging device according to claim 20, wherein the regulating unit changes the tilt position of the optical element to capture the incident light in units of 2/3 pixel pitch in terms of a pixel pitch of the imaging surface. The input position on the plane is shifted.

According to the invention described in claim 22 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 21, a color filter of a complementary color checkerboard format is provided on the imaging surface.

According to the invention described in claim 23 of the present application,
23. The imaging device according to claim 22, wherein the imaging device photoelectrically converts the image formed on the imaging surface into a video signal, and converts the video signal output from the imaging device into a horizontal direction of the optical element.
A memory for storing video signals imaged and output at 18 pixel shift positions determined by a combination of three stages of tilt positions in the vertical direction, and individual video signals stored in the memory are combined. An optical device comprising: a control unit that outputs a high-quality image signal.

According to the invention described in claim 24 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 23, each of the optical elements is:
A parallel plate provided in an optical path of light incident on the imaging unit, wherein an inclination angle of the parallel plate with respect to an optical axis is controlled by the regulating unit, so that an incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface is shifted. Configured.

According to the invention described in claim 25 of the present application,
The invention according to claim 1 or 8, wherein each of the optical elements in contact with the regulating portion is provided with an engaging portion which is in line contact or point contact with the regulating surface.

According to the invention described in claim 26 of the present application,
In the invention according to claim 25, the engaging portion is a cylindrical member that is in line contact with the regulating surface.

According to the invention described in claim 27 of the present application,
In claim 20, the regulating unit includes a plurality of position regulating surfaces, and the driving unit includes a plurality of electromagnets provided for each of the position regulating surfaces, and controls on / off of each of the electromagnets. The tilt position of the optical member is changed by selecting a regulating surface that comes into contact with the optical member.

According to the invention described in claim 28 of the present application,
An optical element that shifts the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface, and an inclined position of the optical element with respect to the optical axis direction is controlled by contacting the optical element and regulating the position in the optical axis direction. And a driving unit for driving the optical element to position the optical element in the restricting section. The restricting section engages with the optical element in the optical axis direction to position the optical element. A position regulating portion, and a third position regulating portion that engages with and positions the optical element in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction between the first and second position regulating portions, The optical element is at least 3 with respect to the optical axis direction.
The optical device is characterized in that it can be restricted to two inclined positions.

According to the invention described in claim 29 of the present application,
30. The third position restricting section according to claim 28, wherein the inclination angle of the optical element can be equally divided between the inclination position by the first position restriction section and the second inclination position. Configured.

According to the invention described in claim 30 of the present application,
29. The control device according to claim 28, wherein the restricting portion is a concave portion into which an end of the optical element is loosely fitted, and the first and second position restricting portions are formed on an inner surface of the concave portion by the third position restricting portion. Was formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion.

According to the invention described in claim 31 of the present application,
29. The invention according to claim 26 or 28, wherein the driving means is an electromagnet arranged for each of the position restricting portions, and the optical element side is provided as an engaging portion of a magnetic body that can be attracted by the electromagnet. Armature is arranged.

According to the invention described in claim 32 of the present application,
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 29, is characterized in that an image pickup apparatus is provided in which the optical device is unitized and incorporated.

[0043]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

First, a description will be given of the principle of operation of "pixel shifting" that enables a high-quality image to be picked up by shifting the incident position of the incident light on the image pickup surface of the image pickup element in pixel units.

The principle of shifting the optical path utilizing the refraction of light from the parallel plate light transmitting glass will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A shows a state before the optical path is shifted, and FIG. 7B shows a state after the optical path is shifted.

4A and 4B, reference numeral 100 denotes a subject to be imaged, such as a document, reference numeral 102 denotes an image pickup lens group, and reference numeral 103 denotes a lens which is arranged so as to be tiltable with respect to the optical axis of the optical system. An optical element 104 which is a light beam moving means made of a parallel plate-shaped light transmitting substance having a refractive index;
Reference numeral denotes a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD as imaging means for photoelectrically converting incident light from the subject 100 formed by the lens group 102 and outputting an imaging signal.

In FIG. 29A, light from a certain point 101a of a subject 100 passes through a lens group 102 and an optical element 103, enters a light receiving section 104a of a solid-state image sensor 104, and is photoelectrically converted as effective data.

On the other hand, light from a certain point 101b of the subject 100 passes through the lens group 102 and the optical element 103 and enters the dead zone 104b between the light receiving sections of the solid-state image pickup device 104. Become.

Here, the direction in which light is incident on the optical element 103, the shift amount in the refraction direction when the light exits from the optical element 103 is δ1, and the incident light and the normal to the incident surface of the optical element 103 are: Assuming that the angle formed by θ1 is θ1, the thickness of the optical element 103 is t, and the refractive index of the optical element 103 is N, δ1 = (1-1 / N) · t · θ1.

At this time, the angle between the solid-state imaging device and the imaging surface is ω1 for convenience.

FIG. 29B shows that the optical element 103 is ω
= (Ω2-ω1).

In FIG. 29 (b), the amount of shift in the refraction direction between the light that enters the optical element 103 and the light that exits the optical element 103 in the refraction direction is δ2, and the incident light and the optical element 1
The angle between the incident surface 03 and the normal to the incident surface is θ2, and the optical element 103
Is t, and the refractive index of the optical element 103 is N, so that δ2 = (1-1 / N) · t · θ2.

Here, the state shown in FIG.
The shift δ of the optical path emitted to the solid-state imaging device 104 when the state shown in FIG. 2B is obtained is as follows: δ = δ1 + δ2 = (1-1 / N) · t · (θ1 + θ2) = (1-1 / N) Since t · (ω2−ω1), δ = (1-1 / N) · t · ω.

Here, FIG. 29 (a) shows that the optical information from one point 1b of the object 1 to be imaged enters the dead zone 104b of the solid-state image sensor 104 and becomes invalid data. b), light information from one point 1b of the subject 100 is
The light enters the photosensitive section 104c of No. 4 and can be used as effective data.

If the imaging data captured in the state of FIG. 29A and the imaging data captured in the state of FIG. 29B are collected in a memory, and the data is corrected in phase and combined, the number of pixels is doubled. It is possible to obtain the same data amount as that of

Using the above principle, the optical element 1
03 is stopped at several inclined positions, and each time the optical information received by the image sensor 104 is taken in, image information several times as many as the number of photosensitive units can be obtained.

The basic principle of "pixel shifting" itself is as described above. Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(First Embodiment of the Invention) The present invention shifts a light beam incident through a photographing lens between a photographing lens and an image pickup device (CCD) in a horizontal direction on an image pickup surface of the image pickup device. And a vertical shift mechanism including a parallel plate glass for shifting in a vertical direction.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a pixel shifting system in an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup lens unit as an optical system, and 2 denotes an image pickup device such as a CCD as an image pickup means. It is. Reference numeral 3 denotes glass as an optical element that shifts a light beam incident through the photographing lens unit 1 on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 in the vertical direction (vertical direction), or transmission parallel flat glass formed of plastic. Armatures 4U, 4D of electromagnetic soft iron are provided at both ends thereof as engaging portions. Electromagnets 5Ua, 52U as driving means for driving an optical element are provided before and after the armatures 4U, 4D in the optical axis direction.
b, 5Da, and 5Db, respectively, and control the driving state of these electromagnets to control the tilting state of the parallel plate 3 and rotate in the direction of the arrow V to obtain the incident position of the light beam on the imaging surface. Can be shifted up and down in the vertical direction.

The electromagnet 5Ua includes a yoke 51U and a coil 53U, and the electromagnet 5Ub includes a yoke 52U and a coil 54U. By controlling the energization of the coils of these electromagnets, an (electromagnetic) driving means for moving the armature 4U at the upper end of the parallel plate 3 back and forth is configured.

The electromagnet 5Da comprises a yoke 51D and a coil 53D, and the electromagnet 5Db comprises a yoke 52D and a coil 54D. By controlling energization of the coils of these electromagnets, electromagnetic driving means for moving the armature 4D at the lower end of the parallel plate 3 back and forth is configured.

The electromagnets 5Ua, 5Ub, 5Da,
By the on / off control of 5Db, the upper and lower parts of the parallel plate 3 are moved back and forth in the optical axis direction to change the inclination angle, and the incident light passing through the parallel plate 3 and entering the imaging surface of the image sensor is changed. The incident position can be shifted vertically (up and down) with respect to the optical axis direction.

On the other hand, reference numeral 6 denotes a parallel plate glass which shifts a light beam incident through the photographing lens 1 in the horizontal direction on the image pickup surface, and armatures 7L and 7R of electromagnetic soft iron are arranged at both ends thereof. Electromagnets 8La, 8Lb, 8 are respectively provided before and after the armatures 7L, 7R in the optical axis direction.
Ra, 8Rb are arranged, the driving state of these electromagnets is controlled to control the inclined state of the parallel plate 6, and by rotating in the direction of arrow H, the incident position of the light beam on the imaging surface is adjusted in the horizontal direction. Can be shifted left and right.

The electromagnet 8La includes a yoke 81L and a coil 83L, and the electromagnet 8Lb includes a yoke 82L and a coil 84L. By controlling energization of the coils of these electromagnets, electromagnetic driving means for moving the armature 7L at the left end of the parallel plate 6 back and forth in the optical axis direction is configured.

The electromagnet 8Ra includes a yoke 81R and a coil 83R, the electromagnet 8Rb includes a yoke 82R and a coil 84R, and the electromagnet 8Rc includes a yoke 85R and a coil 86R. These electromagnets 8La, 8L
b, 8Ra, and 8Rb, by controlling the energization of the coil, the armature 7R at the right end of the parallel plate 6 is moved back and forth in the optical axis direction, and the longitudinal direction of the parallel plate 6 by the electromagnet 8Rc, that is, the front-back direction. The electromagnetic driving means is configured to move in a direction orthogonal to.

These electromagnets 8La, 8Lb, 8Ra,
By the on / off control of 8Rb and 8Rc, the left part of the parallel plate 6 is moved to two positions before and after the optical axis direction, and the right part is moved to two positions before and after the optical axis direction and a direction perpendicular to the front and rear direction. In this way, the angle of inclination can be changed in various ways, and the incident position of the incident light passing through the parallel plate 6 and entering the imaging surface of the imaging device can be changed It can be shifted horizontally (left and right) with respect to the axial direction.

As will be described in detail later, in the present embodiment, six inclination angles are obtained by positioning the right part of the parallel plate 6 at two positions in the optical axis direction and the left part at three positions in the optical axis direction. This makes it possible to perform six-stage pixel shifting in the horizontal direction of the imaging surface.

The two parallel flat plates 3 and 6 in the vertical and horizontal directions are inclined in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, in the space between the photographing lens 1 and the image pickup device 2 so that the light flux passing through the photographing lens is obtained. By shifting the incident position on the imaging surface in the vertical and horizontal directions at a pitch smaller than the pixel interval of the image sensor, an image incident between the pixels of the image sensor can be captured, It is possible to realize high image quality equivalent to that obtained by imaging with an image sensor having a larger number of pixels than the number of pixels.

The detailed configuration and operation of the pixel shifting system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the parallel plate 3 for shifting pixels in the vertical direction.

Since the pixel shifting system of the present invention is arranged between the photographing lens 1 and the image sensor 2, in the case of a camera, for example, it is arranged in a lens unit or a camera body.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) show the parallel plate 3 as viewed from the front, that is, from the incident direction of light, and from the right side. As shown in FIG. The parallel plate 3 is located in front of the imaging surface of the imaging device 2 and has a size that covers the entire imaging surface.

The upper and lower armatures 4U and 4D of the parallel flat plate 3 are formed on the lens unit or on the housing side of the camera body, respectively.

In FIG. 2 (b), the parallel flat plate 3 is in a state in which electromagnetic soft irons disposed at both ends thereof are loosely fitted into concave portions 91U and 91D formed in the housing, that is, in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. Is held in a state having a predetermined clearance.

The recesses 91U and 91D extend in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing to substantially the same length as the width of the parallel plate, and armatures 4U and 4D of the electromagnetic soft iron at both ends of the parallel plate 3.
Is formed in a cylindrical shape along the inner surfaces 92U, 93U, 92D, 93D of the concave portion so as to be in line contact with the regulating surface in the concave portion. Can be regulated. Further, as a method of obtaining the same effect as the line contact by the cylindrical shape, a plurality of point contact portions may be formed on the line contact line.

These concave portions function as restricting portions for positioning the optical element in the present invention, and the surface that comes into contact with the armature, which is the engaging portion of the parallel plate as the optical member, is a position restricting portion for positioning. It functions as a surface (position regulation unit).

Then, each of the inner wall surfaces 92U, 93U, 92D, 9 in the direction of the optical axis, ie, the left and right sides as viewed in the drawing, in each of the concave portions.
By bringing the armatures 4U and 4D into contact with the 3D, the respective inclined positions and the positions in the optical axis direction with respect to the optical axis of the parallel plate are positioned, and both ends of the parallel plate 3 are determined according to the width of each recess in the optical axis direction. Of the armatures 4U and 4D in the optical axis direction are determined, and as a result, the parallel plates are controlled so that the inclination amount or the position in the optical axis direction is different.

The present pixel shifting system also includes a parallel plate having such a configuration in the horizontal direction, and the positional relationship is shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

FIG. 3A is a front view as viewed from the front in the optical axis direction, and FIG. 3B is a view as viewed from above. As can be seen from FIG. 1, between the imaging lens unit 1 and the imaging element 2, a horizontal parallel flat plate 6 and a vertical parallel flat plate 3 are arranged in a mutually orthogonal relationship.

In the pixel shifting system of the present invention, what is important is that the tilt position of each parallel plate or the position in the optical axis direction is regulated by armatures and recesses at both ends thereof, so that many tilt positions are obtained and their driving is performed. An electromagnet is used as the source, and the parallel plate has a configuration in which the armatures at both ends thereof are only loosely fitted in the concave portions. During operation, the position is regulated by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnet, and the electromagnet is not energized. In this state, no special configuration is required as the support means for the parallel plate. According to this support configuration, a gimbal mechanism having a rotation axis in the vertical and horizontal directions, as in the conventional system, can be omitted.

Further, since the parallel plates 3 and 6 are only loosely fitted in the recesses, no support mechanism such as a gimbal is required.
In addition, since the electromagnetic force is directly applied to the driving force, a mechanism for transmitting the driving force is not required. Therefore, not only is the configuration simple, but also extremely high-speed driving is possible, and high-precision position regulation is possible. Become.

The details of the configuration of the pixel shifting system in this embodiment and the control of the parallel plate will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are views for explaining the tilt position control of the parallel plate 3 for performing pixel shifting in the vertical direction. The characteristic configuration lies in the relative positional relationship between the concave portions 91U and 91D and the setting of the width of the concave portions.

FIGS. 4 to 7 show the inclined position of the parallel plate for sequentially shifting the incident position of the incident light corresponding to one point on the subject on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 2 downward. I have.

In FIG. 4, the recess 91U in which the armature 4U at the upper end of the parallel plate 3 is loosely fitted and the recess 91D in which the armature 4D at the lower end is loosely fitted have the width, that is, the length in the optical axis direction, and The positions are set substantially the same.

In FIG. 4, the electromagnet 5Ua is on, the electromagnet 5Ub is off, and the armature 4U is
In U, it is attracted to the yoke 51U of the electromagnet 5Ua and is positioned in contact with the regulating surface 92U located forward in the optical axis direction, and below, the electromagnet 5Da is off, the electromagnet 5Db is on, and the armature 4D is A regulating surface 93 that is attracted to the 5Db yoke 52D and is located rearward in the optical axis direction.
D and is positioned.

In the present embodiment, in the state of FIG. 4, the parallel flat plate 3 is set so as to shift the pixel upward with respect to the optical axis, however, FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 respectively. The tilt state is not an absolute one, and an image that should not normally be incident can be made incident according to the inclination angle of the parallel plate. 6, in the state of FIG. 7, there is no need to be particularly perpendicular to the optical axis.

Here, the clearance between the armature 4U and the width of the concave portion 91U, that is, the armature 4U and the concave portion 9U.
The gap between the regulating surface 93U in 1U and the clearance between the armature 4D and the width of the concave portion 91D, that is, the gap between the armature 4D and the regulating surface 92D in the concave portion 91D is represented by d2. d2 = d1, that is, the gap d2 is set to be one time the gap d1.

Further, ω1 indicates the angle formed by the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 and the parallel flat plate 3 at this time. The gap d
The setting of 1, d2 is performed with high accuracy.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, when the electromagnet 5Ua is turned off and the electromagnet 5Ub is turned on to excite, the armature 4U at the upper end of the parallel plate 3 separates from the regulating surface 92U of the upper concave portion 91U and moves toward the regulating surface 93U. And is brought into contact with and positioned, and the state shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Thus, the inclined position of the upper and lower armatures 4U and 4D of the parallel plate 3 is regulated by the regulating surfaces 93U and 93D in the concave portions 91U and 91D, respectively. That is, from the state of FIG. 4, the position is inclined rightward by one step as viewed in FIG. 4, and the light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging device 2 is shifted downward on the imaging surface. In this state, the angle formed between the imaging surface and the parallel flat plate is ω2.

In the state shown in FIG. 5, by turning off the electromagnet 5Ub and turning on the electromagnet 5Ua of the upper concave portion 91U, the armature 4U leaves the regulating surface 93U in the concave portion 91U and is attracted to the regulating surface 92U. Touch and be positioned.

By turning off the electromagnet 5Db and turning on the electromagnet 5Da of the lower concave portion 91D, the lower armature 4D of the parallel plate 3 is moved by the regulating wall 9 in the lower concave portion 91D.
After leaving 3D, it is attracted to and abuts on the regulating surface 92D to be positioned, and the state shown in FIG. 6 is obtained.

Thus, the inclined position of the upper and lower armatures 4U, 4D of the parallel plate 3 is regulated by the regulating surface 92U in the concave portion 91U and the regulating surface 92D in the concave portion 91D. That is, from the state shown in FIG. 5, the position in the optical axis direction moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 5 with substantially the same inclination (strictly different because it is in contact with a different regulating surface).
The light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 is substantially the same on the imaging surface. In this state, the angle formed between the imaging surface and the parallel flat plate is ω3. However, ω2 ≒ ω3, and either one of the states shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be selected as the effect of the pixel shift.

Here, the state of FIG. 5 is selected and the description of the embodiment is continued.

In the state of FIG. 5, when the electromagnet 5Db is turned off and the electromagnet 5Da is turned on, the armature 4D at the lower end of the parallel plate 3 leaves the regulating surface 93D of the lower concave portion 91D,
The armature 4U at the upper end is positioned on the regulating surface 93U of the concave portion 91U, and is brought into the state shown in FIG.

As a result, the parallel plate 3 is further inclined rightward as viewed in the figure from the state shown in FIG. 5, and the inclination angle becomes the maximum. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel plate is ω4.

As described above, as shown in FIGS.
By sequentially changing the inclination of the parallel plate 3 from ω1 to ω4, it is possible to control the inclination angle in three steps, whereby the incident light from the subject is located at three places in the direction perpendicular to the imaging surface. Can be shifted.

It should be noted that between ω 1 and ω 4, (ω 2 −ω 1) = (ω 4 −ω 2) = (ω 4 −ω 3) = constant relationship is set, and the parallel relationship is established on the imaging surface. This shows that the incident position of the incident light that changes due to the inclination of the flat plate 3 is shifted at equal intervals on the imaging surface.

In the present embodiment, the clearance d1 between the armature in each of the concave portions 91U and 91D is set so that the shift amount in one step is two-thirds of the pixel interval of the image sensor. d2 is set. d1, d2
Is used to determine the inclination angle of the parallel plate, and is changed according to the pixel interval or the shift amount of the image sensor.

As is clear from the above description, the armatures at both ends of the parallel plate 3 have the recesses 91U,
The tilt angle is determined by loosely fitting the armature 91D in the 91D, and the armature is brought into contact with the regulating surface in the concave portion by excitation of the electromagnet. Since the portion in contact with the regulating surface has a cylindrical shape, even if the contact position of the cylindrical armature on the regulating surface is shifted in the longitudinal direction of the parallel plate, the inclination angle of the parallel plate does not change. The incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface does not change.

Further, if the positions of the recesses 91U and 91D in the optical axis direction are set to be the same, the center position of the parallel plate in the optical axis direction does not greatly change even if the inclination angle changes. Accurate pixel shifting can always be performed.

Since the armature has a cylindrical shape,
When attracted by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnet, the point closest to the regulation surface becomes a point (actually, a line)
It is centered at the position of the armature of the electromagnet, and there is virtually no displacement.

Therefore, the incident position of the incident light is set at a distance of two-thirds of the pixel interval on the imaging surface, that is, two-thirds, for each inclination angle.
By setting the inclination of the parallel plate so as to shift at the pixel pitch, it is possible to obtain substantially three times the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the actual image sensor.

Then, for each inclined position of the parallel plate 3,
The three images captured by the image sensor are sequentially stored in a memory, and when the three images are read out from the memory, the reading order of each pixel of the three images is controlled to synthesize one high-quality image. Can be done.

The above description is directed to pixel shifting in the vertical direction on the imaging surface. If such a pixel shifting mechanism is provided in the horizontal direction, pixel shifting is performed in the horizontal direction, and the image sensor is mounted. The number of pixels can be substantially tripled, and a total of nine times the number of pixels can be obtained.

In the embodiment of the present invention, another mechanism is set in the horizontal direction.

The detailed configuration and operation of the horizontal pixel shift system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 8 to 13 are top views for explaining the tilt position control of the parallel flat plate 6 for performing pixel shifting in the horizontal direction. A characteristic configuration lies in the shape of the concave portion 91R, the relative positional relationship with the concave portion 91L, and the setting of the width of the concave portion.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show the inclined positions of the parallel plates for sequentially shifting the incident position of the incident light corresponding to one point on the subject on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 2 to the right. ing.

In FIG. 8, the concave portion 91L in which the armature 7L on the left end of the parallel plate 6 is loosely fitted and the concave portion 91R in which the armature 7R on the right end is loosely fitted first have a width, that is, a length in the optical axis direction. And their positions are different.

In FIG. 8, on the left, the electromagnet 8La is on, the electromagnet 8Lb is off, and the armature 7L is
Within L, it is attracted to the yoke 81L of the electromagnet 8La and is positioned in contact with the regulating surface 92L located forward in the optical axis direction. On the right, the electromagnets 8Ra and 8Rc are off, the electromagnet 8Rb is on, and the armature is on. 7R is electromagnet 8
It is attracted to the yoke 82R of Rb, and is positioned in contact with the regulating surface 93R located rearward in the optical axis direction.

In the present embodiment, in the state of FIG. 8, the parallel plate 6 is set so as to shift the pixel to the left with respect to the optical axis. However, FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 show. , FIG.
Each of the inclined states in FIG. 13 and FIG. 13 is not absolute, and an image that should not be originally incident can be incident according to the inclination angle of the parallel plate. , FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, there is no need to be particularly perpendicular to the optical axis.

Here, the clearance between the armature 7L and the width of the concave portion 91L, that is, the armature 7L and the concave portion 9L
The gap between the regulation surface 93L in 1L and the clearance between the armature 7R and the width of the recess 91R, that is, the armature 7R, and the gap between the regulation surface 92R in the recess 91R are similarly defined as d4. d4 = 4 × d3, that is, the gap d4 is set to be four times the gap d3.

Further, ω5 indicates the angle between the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 and the parallel plate 6 at this time. The gap d
3 and d4 are set with high accuracy.

In the state shown in FIG. 8, when the electromagnet 8La is turned off and the electromagnet 8Lb is turned on to excite, the armature 7L at the left end of the parallel plate 6 leaves the regulating surface 92L of the left concave portion 91L, and the regulating surface 93L. It is attracted to and abuts on the side, positioning is performed, and the state shown in FIG. 9 is obtained.

Thus, the inclined position of the armatures 7L and 7R at the left and right ends of the parallel plate 6 is regulated by the regulating surface 93L in the concave portion 91L and the regulating surface 93R in the concave portion 91R. That is, from the state of FIG. 8, the light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 is shifted rightward on the imaging surface of the imaging device 2 by tilting one step to the right as viewed in FIG. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel flat plate is ω6.

By turning off the electromagnet 8Lb and turning on the electromagnet 8La of the left concave portion 91L in the state of FIG. 9, the armature 7L leaves the regulating surface 93L in the concave portion 91L and is attracted to the regulating surface 93L. Abuts and is positioned.

By turning off the electromagnet 8Rb and turning on the electromagnet 8Rc in the right recess 91R, the parallel plate 6
The right armature 7R has a regulating surface 93R in the recess 91R.
, And is attracted to and abuts on the regulating surface 94R to be positioned, and the state shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. The restricting surface 94R of the electromagnet 8Rc where the yoke 81Rc is located is connected to the armature 7R.
It is formed in a concave or V-groove shape so that R is accurately positioned.

As a result, the inclined position of the armatures 7L and 7R at the left and right ends of the parallel plate 6 is regulated by the regulating surface 92L in the recess 91L and the regulating surface 94R in the recess 91R. That is, from the state of FIG. 9, it is inclined rightward by one step as viewed in FIG. 9, and the light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 is shifted to the right on the imaging surface. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel flat plate is ω7.

Further, the regulating surfaces 94R are the regulating surfaces 92R and 93R.
Is formed with a slope having an imaginary bottom point (vertex / ridge line) at the same distance from, and since this slope is set to be line-symmetric or plane-symmetric with respect to a line or a plane passing through the vertex, the armature 7R is provided with a regulating surface. The vehicle is stopped at the same distance from 92R and 93R.

In the state of FIG. 10, when the electromagnet 8La is turned off and the electromagnet 8Lb is turned on, the armature 7L at the left end of the parallel plate 6 leaves the regulating surface 92L of the left recess 91L,
The armature 7R at the right end is attracted to the regulating surface 93L side and positioned, and the right end armature 7R is in the state of FIG. 11 with the positioning in the optical axis direction on the regulating surface 94R of the concave portion 91R.

Here, since the armature 7R is positioned by contacting two slopes constituting the regulating surface 94R, the contact point (actually, twice as large as when the contact portion is in contact with another regulating surface). If the increase in frictional force due to the contact line) hinders operation, the electromagnet 8R
By turning off c and turning on the electromagnet 8Rc again, the operation can be ensured.

Thus, the inclined position of the armatures 7L and 7R at the left and right ends of the parallel plate 6 is regulated by the regulating surface 93L in the concave portion 91L and the regulating surface 94R in the concave portion 91R. That is, from the state of FIG. 10, the light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 is shifted rightward on the imaging surface of the imaging device 2 by one step as viewed in FIG. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel plate is ω8.

When the electromagnet 8Lb is turned off and the electromagnet 8La is turned on in the state of FIG. 11, the armature 7L at the left end of the parallel plate 6 leaves the regulating surface 93L of the left recess 91L,
It is attracted to and abuts on the regulating surface 92L side to perform positioning. Further, by turning off the electromagnet 8Rc and turning on the electromagnet 8Ra of the right recess 91R, the right armature 7R of the parallel plate 6 leaves the regulating surface 94R in the recess 91R,
It is attracted to and abuts on the regulating surface 92R to be positioned, and the state shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. Thereby, the parallel plate 6
The armatures 7L and 7R at the left and right ends are respectively restricted to a regulating surface 92L in the concave portion 91L and a regulating surface 92R in the concave portion 91R.
The tilt position is regulated by the control. That is, FIG.
From the state shown in FIG.
The light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface is shifted rightward on the imaging surface. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel flat plate is ω9.

In the state of FIG. 12, when the electromagnet 8La is turned off and the electromagnet 8Lb is turned on, the armature 7L at the left end of the parallel plate 6 leaves the regulating surface 92L of the left recess 91L,
The armature 7R at the right end is attracted to the regulating surface 93L and is positioned by being brought into contact with the regulating surface 93R, and the state shown in FIG. 13 remains as it is positioned on the regulating surface 92R of the concave portion 91R.

Thus, the inclined position of the armatures 7L and 7R at the left and right ends of the parallel plate 6 is regulated by the regulating surface 93L in the concave portion 91L and the regulating surface 92R in the concave portion 91R. That is, from the state shown in FIG. 12, the light receiving position of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging element 2 is shifted rightward on the imaging surface of the imaging device 2 by one step as viewed in FIG. In this state, the angle between the imaging surface and the parallel plate is ω10.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, by changing the inclination of the parallel plate 6 from ω5 to ω10 sequentially, it is possible to control the inclination angle in six steps.
Thereby, the incident light from the subject can be shifted to six positions in the horizontal direction with respect to the imaging surface.

Note that between ω5 and ω10, (ω6-ω5) = (ω7−ω6) = (ω8−ω7) =
(Ω9−ω8) = (ω10−ω9) = The relationship is set so that the following relationship is maintained. On the imaging surface, the incident position of the incident light that changes due to the inclination of the parallel plate 6 changes on the imaging surface. This indicates that the images are shifted at equal intervals.

In the present embodiment, the clearance d3 between the image pickup device and the armature in each of the concave portions 91L and 91R is set such that the shift amount in one step is one third of the pixel interval of the image sensor. , D4 are set. d3, d
Reference numeral 4 determines the tilt angle of the parallel plate, and is changed according to the pixel interval of the image sensor or the shift amount.

As is clear from the above description, the armatures at both ends of the parallel plate 6 have the concave portions 91L and 91L.
The tilt angle is determined by loosely fitting in the 91R and by supporting the armature against the regulating surface in the recess by excitation of the electromagnet. Since the portion in contact with the regulating surface is cylindrical, even if the contacting position of the cylindrical armature is shifted in the longitudinal direction of the parallel plate on the regulating surface (the longitudinal position is fixed in the state of FIGS. 10 and 11). Position), the incident angle of the incident light on the imaging surface of the imaging device does not change because the inclination angle of the parallel plate does not change.

If the center positions of the concave portions 91L and 91R in the optical axis direction are set to be the same, the center position of the parallel plate in the optical axis direction does not greatly change even if the inclination angle changes. Thus, accurate pixel shift can always be performed.

Since the armature has a cylindrical shape,
When attracted by the electromagnetic force of the electromagnet, the point closest to the regulation surface becomes a point (actually, a line)
It is centered at the position of the armature of the electromagnet, and there is virtually no displacement.

Therefore, for each inclination angle, the incident position of the incident light is set to a distance of one third of the pixel interval on the imaging surface, that is, one third.
By setting the inclination of the parallel plate so as to shift at the pixel pitch, it is possible to obtain substantially six times the number of pixels of the actual image sensor in the horizontal direction at the maximum.

Then, for each inclined position of the parallel plate 6,
Up to six images captured by the image sensor are sequentially stored in the memory, and when reading out from the memory, the reading order of each pixel of the six images is controlled to synthesize one high-quality image. You can do it.

In each of FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 8 to 13, the inclination angle of the parallel plate is changed so as to increase gradually, but an image is taken for each inclination position and stored in the memory. Since they are stored and combined in a later process, the order of the inclination angles of the parallel plates may be determined in any manner.

That is, the order of FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 8 to 13 does not need to be as shown in the figures, but may be any order. If a total of 18 screens of 6 screens are imaged, the order may be arbitrary.

Since the vertical pixel shifting mechanism and the horizontal pixel shifting mechanism are independent, the direction and order of the pixel shifting for control between the two mechanisms may be arbitrary. However, it is needless to say that all the parallel plates must be kept stationary while the image is being taken at each pixel shift position (during charge accumulation).

FIG. 14 shows three states of the parallel plate 3 for shifting the vertical pixels shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and six states of the parallel plate 6 for shifting the horizontal pixels shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a spatial position in a case where pixel shifting is performed by combining the above.

Referring to FIG. 14, how to shift the luminous flux to take in data will be described.

In the same figure, hatching (four types of hatching such as cross hatching) is a diagram in which a part of the position of a pixel (light receiving portion) on an image sensor such as an interline transfer CCD is extracted. Between pixels (dead zone)
Is divided into two, and the pixel pitch is divided into three so as to divide the pixel pitch into three. The positions of the pixels are represented by L1 to L12, which represent the pixel positions in the vertical direction, and H1 to H12, which represent the pixel positions in the horizontal direction.

Field 1 and field 2 indicate the first field and the second field, respectively.

FIG. 14A shows three states of the parallel plate 3 for shifting the vertical pixels shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, and FIGS.
For example, according to three states using only two-third pixel pitch shift positions of the parallel plate 6 for horizontal pixel shift shown in FIG. 3, a light flux that can be captured by the light receiving unit indicated by the symbol A is represented by coordinates (H5, L5), (H5, L7), (H
5, L9), (H7, L5), (H7, L7), (H
7, L9), (H9, L5), (H9, L7), (H
9, L9), the light beams incident on each of the nine positions are guided to the light receiving portion A one by one (pixel shift), and the data (accumulated in the light receiving portion) is read out when the light receiving portion A reads the field. Read out). The same applies to the field reading of all the other light receiving units. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, it becomes possible to capture the data of the luminous flux that has entered the dead zone around each light receiving unit due to the pixel shift and could not be captured.

In other words, it is possible to receive the dead zone between the pixels on the imaging surface and the image information incident on the other pixels. As a result, the number of pixels of the imaging device is increased. The effect can be obtained.

Nine images picked up by the image sensor are sequentially stored in the memory at nine points of [three inclined positions of the parallel plate 3] × [three inclined positions of the parallel plate 6]. Then, when reading out from the memory, by controlling the reading order and phase of each pixel of the nine images, it is possible to synthesize one high quality image.

Further, one pixel (or 1 /
The parallel plate 6 having the function of shifting the entire horizontal direction by three pixels) pitch constitutes an effective means when, for example, using a color image pickup device in which a complementary color checkerboard type color filter is used for a single-plate type inter-transfer CCD. It becomes possible.

For example, when a color image pickup device such as a complementary color checker array having filters of Cy (cyan), Ye (yellow), G (green), and Mg (magenta) is used, when the pixels are shifted, the arrangement thereof is changed. Adjustments can be made to keep the order constant.

FIGS. 15 to 24 show three states of the parallel plate 3 for performing vertical pixel shift shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7, and horizontal pixel shifts shown in FIGS. 8 to 13. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a spatial position in a case where pixel shifting is performed by combining the six states of the parallel flat plate 6.

How to shift the luminous flux to take in data will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the same figure, hatching (four types of hatching such as cross hatching) is a diagram in which a part of the position of a pixel (light receiving portion) on an image sensor such as an interline transfer type CCD is extracted. Between pixels (dead zone)
Is divided into two, and the pixel pitch is divided into three so as to divide the pixel pitch into three.

For example, when using a color image pickup device such as a complementary color checker array having filters of Cy (cyan), Ye (yellow), G (green), and Mg (magenta), oblique hatching is Cy and cross hatching is effective. Ye,
The square hatching is G and the hexagon hatching is a light receiving unit provided with a filter of Mg.

It is assumed that an interline transfer type CCD is used, and the electric charge accumulation mode uses field reading which is advantageous for dynamic resolution. Field reading is
The field 1 and the field 2 are set every other horizontal pixel row, and the scanning of the field 1 is performed on the entire screen, the scanning of the field 2 is performed on the entire screen, and the scanning is performed alternately to make the adjacent field 1 and field 2 one frame. (1 screen) is read out.

FIGS. 15 to 23 show three states of the parallel plate 3 for shifting the vertical pixels shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, and the parallel plates 3 for shifting the horizontal pixels shown in FIGS. 6 of 6
This shows a state in which data is taken in while sequentially changing the combination of the two states (while driving the parallel plate).

FIG. 15 shows capture of data of frame (screen) 1 when field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 10 and 5 and field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 10 and 4. Of the image data.

When scanning field 1, the L1 column and L7
The data at the locations represented by the round and triangular columns are read through the filters of the light receiving units in the L1 and L7 columns. That is, the data at the circular position is extracted as Cy (diagonal hatching) color data, and the data at the triangular position is extracted as Ye (cross hatching) color data.

When scanning field 2, the L6 column and L1
The data at the locations represented by the two columns of squares and hexagons are shifted by pixels in the direction of the arrow, and reading is performed by the light receiving unit at the tip of the arrow. That is, the data at the position of the square is G
The (rectangular hatching) color data and the hexagonal position data are extracted as Mg (hexagonal hatching) color data.

FIG. 16 shows the capture of data of frame (screen) 2 when field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 10 and 7 and field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 13 and 5. Of the image data.

When scanning field 1, the L5 column and L1
The data at the locations represented by the one row of circles and triangles is shifted by a pixel in the direction of the arrow, and the light receiving section at the end of the arrow captures the data. That is, the data at the position of the circle is Cy color data, and the data at the position of the triangle is Y
It is extracted as data of e.

When scanning the field 2, the L4 column and L1
The data at the locations represented by the squares and hexagons in column 0 are shifted by pixels in the direction of the arrow, and the data is read by the light receiving unit at the end of the arrow. That is, the data of the position of the square is the data of the color of Mg (hexagonal hatching),
The hexagonal position data is extracted as G (rectangular hatching) color data.

FIG. 17 shows capture of data of frame (screen) 3 when field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 10 and 4 and field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. Of the image data.

When scanning field 1, the L3 column and L9
The data at the locations represented by the round and triangle columns are shifted by pixels in the direction of the arrow, and the data is taken in by the light receiving unit at the end of the arrow. That is, the data at the circular position is Cy color data, and the data at the triangular position is Ye.
Extracted as data.

When scanning field 2, the L2 column and L8
The data at the locations represented by the squares and hexagons in the column are shifted by pixels in the direction of the arrow, and the data is read by the light receiving unit at the tip of the arrow. That is, the data at the rectangular position is data of the color G, and the data at the hexagonal position is M
Extracted as g color data.

Similarly, FIG. 18 shows the capture of the data of frame (screen) 4 and scans field 1 in the state of FIGS. 8 and 5, and in the state of FIG. 8 and FIG.
This indicates that image data is captured when field 2 is scanned.

FIG. 19 shows the capture of the data of frame (screen) 5, and in the state of FIG. 8 and FIG.
, And captures image data when scanning field 2 in the state of FIGS. 11 and 5.

FIG. 20 shows the capture of the data of the frame (screen) 6, and in the state of FIG. 8 and FIG.
, And captures image data when field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 8 and 7.

FIG. 21 shows the capture of the data of the frame (screen) 7, in which the field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 12 and 5, and the field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. Of the image data.

FIG. 22 shows the capture of the data of the frame (screen) 8, in which the field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 12 and 7, and the field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 9 and 5. Of the image data.

FIG. 23 shows the capture of the data of the frame (screen) 9 when the field 1 is scanned in the states of FIGS. 12 and 4 and the field 2 is scanned in the states of FIGS. Of the image data.

The above 9 frames (18 fields)
FIG. 25 shows the flow of the 18 pixel shifting operations in order. In the figure, from the bottom, the fields for which the pixel information is scanned to take in the pixel information, the order of the fields, the frame numbers. And electromagnets 5Ua, 5Da, 5Ub, 5D for controlling the vertical parallel plate 3 thereon
The excitation state of b is shown. In the middle of the figure, the figure number of the drawing illustrating the state is shown.

Further above, a vertical parallel plate 3
The pixel shift amount and the pixel shift coordinate are represented by +/- with the state of FIG.

Above them, electromagnets 8Ra, 8La, 8Rb, 8Lb, 8R for controlling the horizontal parallel plate 6 are provided.
Similarly, the excitation state of c, the pixel shift direction and the pixel shift amount by the driving thereof are also shown.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, it becomes possible to take in the data of the luminous flux that could not be taken in by entering the dead zone between the pixels by the pixel shift.

In other words, it is possible to receive a dead zone between pixels on the imaging surface and image information incident on other pixels. As a result, the number of pixels of the imaging device is increased. The effect can be obtained.

Further, the cycle of the color filter array is C
The same effect as the increase in the number of pixels can be obtained while maintaining the same color cycle as that of the filter arrangement of the CD, and the effect of three times the resolution can be obtained even in a color image.

Further, in the order described above (frames 1 to
Since the data can be stored in the memory (in the order of 9) and reproduced in the same order without changing the order, the arithmetic processing of the image data is simplified and the processing speed is dramatically improved.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, it becomes possible to capture the data of the luminous flux that has entered the dead zone around each light receiving section due to the pixel shift and could not be captured.

In other words, it is possible to receive a dead zone between each pixel on the image pickup surface and image information incident on another pixel. As a result, the same as the case where the number of pixels of the image pickup device is increased is obtained. The effect can be obtained.

Further, the period of the color filter array is C
The same effect as the increase in the number of pixels can be obtained while maintaining the same color cycle as that of the filter arrangement of the CD, and the effect of three times the resolution can be obtained even in a color image.

Furthermore, in the order described above (frames 1 to
Since the data can be stored in the memory (in the order of 9) and reproduced in the same order without changing the order, the arithmetic processing of the image data is simplified and the processing speed is dramatically improved.

It should be further noted that, according to the above-described pixel shifting process, as shown in FIG. 24, the pixel data array is a so-called complementary color checker array of a normally used color filter. .

This is because the image data having undergone the above-described pixel shift can be converted into a normal image data without using a special process.
This means that it can be shared with the TSC camera process, and it can be shared with a normal television imaging system. For example, a system that combines both moving image shooting and high-quality still image shooting by shifting pixels is realized. it can.

Therefore, there are significant advantages in terms of system efficiency, speeding up data processing, compatibility with other systems, and the like.

Further, it is of course possible to provide a pixel shifting mechanism such as the parallel plate 6 on the parallel plate 3 in the vertical direction. [Each inclined position of the parallel plate 3 at six positions] × [parallel plate 6
The six images captured by the image sensor are sequentially stored in the memory for each of the 36 points of each of the six inclined positions], and when reading out from the memory, the reading order and phase of each pixel of the 36 images are determined. By controlling, it is also possible to synthesize a single high-quality image.

That is, it is possible to receive a dead zone between pixels on the image pickup surface and image information incident on other pixels. As a result, the same effect as increasing the number of pixels of the image pickup device can be obtained. Can be obtained.

The configuration and operation of the pixel shifting system according to the present invention are as described above. Here, the configuration when such a pixel shifting system is actually incorporated in a lens mirror or the like or a camera body will be described. .

FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of a pixel shift unit in which a pixel shift mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated into a unit.

In the figure, reference numerals 9 and 9 'denote housings for supporting the electromagnets and the parallel flat plates, which are respectively divided into front and rear directions in the optical axis direction. Is formed.

Around the opening 9a of the rear housing 9,
The electromagnets 5Ub, 5Db, 8Lb, 8Rb are arranged at predetermined positions on the joint surface facing the front housing 9 ', and the concave portions 91U on which the parallel flat plates 3, 6 in the vertical and horizontal directions are arranged. , 91D, 91L, and 91R, respectively, are formed on half of the regulating surfaces 93U, 93D, 93L, 93R, and 94R.

The armature 4 of each of the parallel plates 3 and 6
Armatures 52 of electromagnets 5Ub, 5Db, 8Lb, 8Rb are provided at positions facing U, 4D, 7L, 7R, respectively.
U, 52D, 82L, and 82R are provided so as to be exposed.

On the other hand, the front housing 9 facing the rear housing 9
On the 'side, electromagnets 5Ua, 5Da, 8La, and 8Ra are arranged to face electromagnets 5Ub, 5Db, 8Lb, and 8Rb, and regulating surfaces 92U, 92D, and 92L of recesses 91U, 91D, 91L, and 91R, respectively. , 92R, 94
The other half of R is formed.

Therefore, by connecting the front case 9 'and the rear case 9, the vertical and horizontal parallel plates 3, 6 and the electromagnet 8Rc and the electromagnet for controlling the positions of these parallel plates are controlled. Can be supported as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 27 is a side sectional view showing a case where the pixel shift unit is further incorporated in a camera.

In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes a lens barrel, in which a photographic lens optical system 1 is disposed. The pixel shift unit shown in FIG. 26 is provided on the mount portion of the lens barrel 200. The pixel shift unit includes a front housing 9 ′ and a rear housing 9, and as is apparent from the figure, an LP that limits the spatial frequency of incident light.
An F (optical low-pass filter) 202, a horizontal parallel flat plate 6, a vertical parallel flat plate 3, and an LPF (optical low-pass filter) 203 are sequentially arranged, and an image sensor 2 is arranged at the rear thereof. Reference numeral 2a denotes an effective imaging surface (imaging range) of the imaging device 2, and 2b denotes an imaging surface of the sealing glass.

The infrared cut filter can be provided, for example, on the surface of the parallel plate 3 or 6 by coating.

The LPFs 202 and 203 limit the spatial frequency band of the incident light by a combination of the two, thereby removing moiré and the like due to folding. The LPF 202 is made rotatable. By rotating the wavelength of the incident light, LPF
The effect of can be canceled.

Therefore, in particular, when it is necessary to remove the band limitation by the LPF in order to perform high-quality imaging, L
This can be realized only by rotating the PF without detaching it from the camera. The contents are described in
Since it is described in detail in US Pat. No. 245,762, its description is omitted here.

Next, a circuit for driving the above-described pixel shifting mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an imaging lens optical system;
Denotes an image sensor, and a pixel shift unit is arranged in a space between them.

The image pickup signal output from the image pickup device 2 is stored in the memory 301, and the image data read out from the memory is supplied to the camera process circuit 302 to generate a luminance signal and a color signal. The data is supplied to the system 306 and recorded on a recording medium (not shown).

Further, it is supplied to the display control circuit 304, converted into a signal format that can be displayed on a monitor, and then displayed on a monitor display 305.

The digital image output DO may be output to an external device so that the digital image signal is supplied to a personal computer or the like as it is.

The image processing circuit thus configured is controlled by a system control circuit 307 composed of a microcomputer.

That is, by controlling the pixel shift unit,
Pixel shift is performed by sequentially controlling the parallel plates in the vertical and horizontal directions.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the system control circuit 307 controls, for example, the parallel flat plate 3 to shift the pixels in four steps in the vertical direction, and controls the parallel flat plate 6 in each of the stages to control the horizontal shift. Pixel shift in four directions, four steps in the vertical direction and four steps in the horizontal direction.
A total of 16 images of the stage can be captured.

These images are stored in the memory controller 3
03, the memory 301 is sequentially stored by controlling the memory 301. When all the images are loaded into the memory 301, the reading is controlled sequentially in units of pixels, and each image is read out while being combined into one image. 302,
By performing luminance signal processing and color signal processing, a high-quality image signal can be obtained.

Note that, without performing the camera process, the image data may be output to an external device such as a personal computer, and various image processing may be performed on the external device side.

With the above processing, it is possible to perform high-quality imaging equivalent to imaging with an image sensor having a much larger number of pixels than the actual number of pixels of the image sensor.

As described above, according to the pixel shifting system in each embodiment of the present invention, the driving source in the pixel shifting system is changed from a motor to electromagnetic driving means such as an electromagnet, and the position control means is changed to a complicated cam or the like. From the mechanism, it is necessary to secure the dimensional accuracy by controlling the tilt position of the optical element for pixel shift such as a parallel plate by making the abutment space and varying the size of the abutment space for position control. A mechanism that can simplify and speed up the control method by minimizing the number of members that need to be reduced and eliminating a specific support shaft for controlling the tilt position of the optical element.
In addition, it is possible to realize a pixel shifting system capable of obtaining several stable optical positions with a simple mechanism.

[0209]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By forming a plurality of regulating portions for regulating the movement position in the optical axis direction at both ends of the optical element for shifting the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface, and contacting the optical element with each regulating portion, the optical device Since the tilt position of the element can be controlled in a plurality of directions, basically, a simple mechanism that only abuts the optical element on the regulating portion enables a pixel shifting operation with extremely high positioning accuracy. .

Further, the optical element can be controlled to have a plurality of inclination angles by changing the combination of the regulating surfaces that come into contact with the ends of the optical element. It becomes possible.

Further, a large number of inclined positions can be obtained only by a simple positioning mechanism that is in contact with a regulating surface for regulating the inclined position of the optical element with respect to the optical axis direction, and high image quality can be achieved. Various changes can be made to the direction and distance of the pixel shift.

Further, since the engaging portions which are in line contact or point contact with the regulating surface are provided at both ends of the optical element which comes into contact with the regulating surface, the engaging positions of the engaging portions of the optical element within the regulating surface can be adjusted. Even if it changes and a position shift occurs in a plane parallel to the imaging surface, the inclination angle becomes constant and does not affect the pixel shift amount.

The driving means is constituted by a plurality of electromagnets for driving the parallel flat plate back and forth in the direction of the optical axis, and by controlling on / off of the electromagnets, it is possible to change the regulating surface of the optical element in contact. With this configuration, high-speed and high-accuracy pixel shifting can be performed with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration and an operation principle of a pixel shifting system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration and an operation principle of a pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a configuration and an operation principle of a pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the vertical direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a pixel shifting operation in the vertical direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the vertical direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pixel shifting operation in the vertical direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation in the horizontal direction of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for describing, on an imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing a pixel information capturing operation in a pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention on an imaging surface.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for describing the pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention on the imaging surface.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for describing, on the imaging surface, a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing the pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention on the imaging surface.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a pixel information capturing operation in the pixel shifting operation of the pixel shifting system according to the first embodiment of the present invention over time.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in a case where the pixel shifting system according to the embodiment of the present invention is unitized.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when a unit of the pixel shifting system according to the embodiment of the present invention is actually incorporated in a camera.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration for capturing an image using the pixel shift system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining the principle of pixel shifting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 imaging lens 2 imaging element 3 parallel plate (vertical direction) 4 armature 5Ua electromagnet 5Ub electromagnet 5Da electromagnet 5Db electromagnet 6 parallel plate (horizontal direction) 7 armature 8La electromagnet 8Lb electromagnet 8Ra electromagnet 8Rb electromagnet 8Rc electromagnet 9Rc electromagnet 9Rc Pixel shift system housing 10L spring 10R spring 91U recess 91D recess 91L recess 91R recess 92U regulating surface 92D regulating surface 92L regulating surface 92R regulating surface 93U regulating surface 93D regulating surface 93L regulating surface 93R regulating surface 94R regulating surface 100 subject 200 mirror

Claims (32)

[Claims] An optical element that shifts an incident position of incident light on an imaging surface; and an optical element that comes into contact with a plurality of ends of the optical element and regulates their positions in the optical axis direction. A plurality of restricting portions for controlling the tilt position of the optical element, and a driving unit for driving the optical element to contact the restricting portions, wherein the plurality of restricting portions contact the end portions to regulate the position. By having a plurality of position regulating surfaces, by changing the combination of the position regulating surfaces that come into contact with each end of the optical element, the optical element can be controlled to a plurality of inclination angles, and one end of the optical element An optical device, wherein the number of the position regulating surfaces is different between the side and the other end. 2. The restricting section according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is configured such that a moving range in the optical axis direction is different between the one end side and the other end side by the restricting section, and the moving range is small. An optical device, wherein the number of position regulating surfaces of a regulating portion having a larger moving range is set larger. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the regulating portion having the larger moving range has at least three regulating surfaces, and the inclination angle of the optical element is set between a maximum inclination position and a minimum inclination position. An imaging device characterized by being configured to be able to separate. 4. The optical element according to claim 3, wherein, in the restricting portion having the smaller moving range, two position restricting surfaces formed in front and rear in the optical axis direction with one end of the optical element interposed therebetween. Is controlled in two stages, and the regulating portion having the larger moving range includes two position regulating surfaces formed in front and rear in the optical axis direction with the other end of the optical element interposed therebetween. The three position regulating surfaces including the position regulating surface formed between the position regulating surfaces
An optical device, wherein the tilt position of the optical element is controlled in three steps, and the tilt position of the optical element can be controlled comprehensively in six steps. 5. The optical system according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the movement range of the restriction portion having the smaller movement range to the movement range of the restriction portion having the larger movement range is 1: 4. apparatus. 6. The optical device according to claim 4, wherein the optical element is a horizontal parallel plate that shifts pixels in a horizontal direction of the imaging surface. 7. The optical device according to claim 4, wherein the optical element is a vertical parallel plate that shifts pixels in a vertical direction of the imaging surface. 8. An optical element for shifting an incident position of incident light on an image pickup surface, and an inclined position of the optical element by contacting an end of the optical element to regulate a position in an optical axis direction. And a driving unit that drives the optical element to contact the restriction unit, wherein the driving unit drives an end of the optical element back and forth in the optical axis direction. A driving unit; and a second driving unit that drives an end of the optical element in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction, wherein the regulating unit is configured such that the end is moved by the first driving unit to the optical axis. A first position regulating surface that abuts when moved back and forth in the direction to position the moving position, and that when the end is moved in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction by the second driving means, Abutting against the end, in the direction of the optical axis And a second position regulating surface for regulating the position of the optical device. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the restricting portion is formed in a concave shape so that an end of the optical element can be loosely fitted, and the first position restricting surface is formed on an inner surface of the concave portion. The optical device, wherein the second position regulating surface is formed on a bottom surface of the concave portion. 10. The optical device according to claim 9, wherein the second position regulating surface is a concave groove that locks the end of the optical element and regulates movement in the optical axis direction. Optical device. 11. The optical device according to claim 8, wherein the restricting portions are provided at both ends of the optical element, and at one end and the other end in the optical axis direction of the optical element. An optical device having a different moving range. 12. The optical disc drive according to claim 8, wherein the first position regulating surface is formed at two front and rear positions in the optical axis direction with the end of the optical element interposed therebetween. The tilt position of the optical element can be controlled in three stages by selecting a restricting surface formed between the first position restricting surfaces of the location and contacting the end of the optical element. Characteristic optical device. 13. The optical axis according to claim 12, wherein the restricting portion is formed on one end of the optical element, and the other end has at least the first position restricting surface on the optical axis of the other end. There are regulating portions formed before and after the direction and capable of setting the tilt position of the optical element in two stages, and by these regulating portions, the tilt position of the optical element can be controlled in six stages. An optical device, characterized in that: 14. The moving range of the optical element in the optical axis direction by the restricting portion in the optical axis direction, wherein the moving range of the one end portion and the other end portion is 1: 4.
An optical device characterized by the following relationship: 15. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is a parallel flat plate provided in an optical path incident on the imaging unit, and the restricting unit controls an inclination angle of the parallel flat plate with respect to an optical axis. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein an incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface is shifted. 16. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the optical element abutting on the position regulating surface are:
An optical device, wherein an engagement portion is provided for making a line contact or a point contact with the position regulating surface. 17. The optical device according to claim 18, wherein the engaging portion is a cylindrical member that comes into line contact with the position regulating surface. 18. The optical member according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit includes a plurality of electromagnets provided for each of the position regulating surfaces, and controls on / off of each of the electromagnets to contact the optical member. An optical device characterized in that an inclined position of the optical member is changed by selecting a position regulating surface to be in contact with. 19. The optical device according to claim 8, wherein the optical element adjusts an incident position of incident light on the imaging surface,
A vertical optical element that shifts vertically on the imaging surface; and a horizontal optical element that shifts the incident position of incident light on the imaging surface in the horizontal direction on the imaging surface. Optical device. 20. A horizontal shift optical element for shifting an incident position of incident light on an imaging surface in a horizontal direction in the imaging surface, and shifting an incident position of incident light on the imaging surface in a vertical direction in the imaging surface. A vertical shift optical element, and a plurality of restricting sections that control the tilt position of the optical element by abutting on a plurality of ends of each of the optical elements and restricting their positions in the optical axis direction, respectively. Driving means for driving the optical element to abut on the restricting section, wherein the restricting section moves the horizontal shift optical element in a horizontal direction by 6 degrees.
An optical device characterized in that the optical device is configured to be positioned at a stepwise inclined position, and to position the vertical shift optical element vertically at three stepped inclined positions. 21. The imaging device according to claim 20, wherein the restricting unit changes the tilt position of the optical element so as to convert the incident light into a 2/3 pixel pitch unit converted into a pixel pitch of the imaging surface. An optical device configured to shift an input position on an imaging surface. 22. The optical device according to claim 21, wherein a color filter of a complementary color checkerboard format is provided on the imaging surface. 23. The imaging device according to claim 22, wherein the imaging device photoelectrically converts the image formed on the imaging surface into a video signal, and converts the video signal output from the imaging device into a horizontal direction of the optical element. A memory for storing video signals respectively imaged and output at 18 pixel shift positions determined by a combination of three stages of tilt positions in the vertical direction,
Control means for combining individual video signals stored in the memory and outputting a high-quality image signal. 24. The optical device according to claim 23, wherein each of the optical elements is a parallel plate provided in an optical path incident on the image pickup means, and an inclination angle of the parallel plate with respect to an optical axis is controlled by the restricting portion. The optical device is configured to shift the incident position of the incident light on the imaging surface by the following. 25. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein both ends of each of the optical elements that come into contact with the restricting portion are provided with engaging portions that make line contact or point contact with the restricting portion, respectively. Optical device. 26. The optical device according to claim 25, wherein the engaging portion is a cylindrical member that comes into line contact with the regulating surface. 27. The control device according to claim 20, wherein the control unit includes a plurality of position control surfaces, and the driving unit includes a plurality of electromagnets provided for each of the control units, and controls on / off of each of the electromagnets. The optical device is characterized in that the tilt position of the optical member is changed by selecting the position regulating surface that comes into contact with the optical member. 28. An optical element for shifting an incident position of incident light on an imaging surface; and an optical element in contact with the optical element to regulate a position in the optical axis direction. A restricting portion that controls an inclined position with respect to the optical device, and a driving unit that drives the optical element to position the restricting portion. The restricting portion is configured to engage with the optical element in the optical axis direction and position the optical element. A first and a second position restricting portion, and a third position restricting portion for engaging and positioning the optical element between the first and the second position restricting portions in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction. The optical element is at least 3 with respect to the optical axis direction.
An optical device characterized in that it is configured to be able to regulate the position to two inclined positions. 29. The optical disc drive according to claim 28, wherein the third position restricting unit sets the inclination angle of the optical element between the position of the first position restricting unit and the position of the second inclined position. An imaging device characterized in that it is configured to be equally divided. 30. The optical device according to claim 28, wherein the restricting portion is a concave portion into which an end of the optical element is loosely fitted, and the first and second position restricting portions are provided on an inner surface of the concave portion. The optical device according to claim 3, wherein the position restricting portion is formed on a bottom surface of the concave portion. 31. The driving unit according to claim 28, wherein the driving unit is an electromagnet provided for each of the position restricting units, and an engaging portion of a magnetic body that can be attracted by the electromagnet on the optical element side. An optical device, wherein an armature is arranged. 32. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device is unitized and incorporated.