JPS60248079A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain high resolution of a picture by synthesizing outputs of n-set of image pickup elements receiving different parts of an optical image distributed by an optical decomposing system so as to form a video signal. CONSTITUTION:The optical decomposing system 10 uses a prism system so as to distribute an input optical image 100 into four directions and produce optical images 101-104. The image pickup elements of the cameras 21-24 receive different parts of the input optical image 100. The output signal of the image pickup element is amplified in the cameras and fed to a scanning converting section 30 as video signals 121-124, synthesized so as to form a video signal 131 representing the same image as the input optical image 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a high-resolution imaging device that is used in television broadcasting stations and can also be used for high-definition television broadcasting.

[Prior art]

As is well known, in the conventional television system, the number of horizontal scanning lines is 525 (235 in the interlaced system) and the number of images transmitted per second is set at 30. Therefore, the limit resolution is about 350 lines in the vertical direction and about 550 lines in the horizontal direction. However, as a recent technological trend, high-definition television has become a hot topic. Since the number of scanning lines in this method is 1050, it is expected that the limit resolution will be significantly improved, which was not possible with conventional Restem. It becomes possible to fully decipher characters on A4 size documents. The problem with this new system is the performance of the imaging device, particularly the performance of the imaging element, which is the main part of the imaging device.

An increase in the number of scanning lines causes an increase in the number of scanning waves, so if the image sensor is an image pickup tube, when the spatial frequency of the subject has high-frequency components, the amplitude modulation depth becomes shallow, resulting in a decrease in resolution. . Also.

If the image sensor is a solid-state image sensor, it is necessary to greatly increase the number of image sensors in order to obtain high resolution, but it is currently difficult to greatly increase the number of image sensors due to manufacturing technology. As described above, in conventional imaging devices, there is a limit to the improvement of image resolution due to the resolution limit of the imaging element.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can obtain high-resolution images exceeding the resolution limit of an imaging device.

[Structure of the invention]

An imaging device according to the present invention includes an optical decomposition system that distributes one optical image in n directions (n is a positive integer of 2 or more), and that separates mutually different parts of the optical image distributed by the optical decomposition system. The configuration includes n image pickup devices that each receive an image, and a scan conversion section that combines the outputs of these image pickup devices and forms a video signal representing the optical image.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Examples.

Fig. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an optical path diagram of the optical decomposition system 1 of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the assigned imaging areas of each image sensor in this embodiment. . This embodiment includes an optical decomposition system 10, cameras 21 to 24, a scan converter 30, a display device 40, and a synchronization signal generator 50.

The optical decomposition system 10 is a prism system consisting of prisms 11 to 16, and receives an input optical image 100.

The optical decomposition system 10 has a small input optical image 1 in its prism system.
00 is distributed in four directions to produce optical images 101 to 104e having the same optical information as the input optical image 100.

Imaging devices 211° 221.23 of the cameras 21 to 24 are located near the prisms from which these optical images 101 to 104 are emitted.
1 and 241 are respectively arranged.

The shaded areas in FIG. 3 indicate the assigned imaging areas of each imaging element. As is clear from this figure, the image sensors 211 and 221
．． 231 and 241 receive mutually different portions of the input optical image 100. Optical image 101 distributed in this way
Although the optical images 101 to 104 contain exactly the same optical information as the input optical image 100, the portions of the optical images 101 to 104 captured by the image sensor are different from each other. The optical images captured by these image sensors 211, 221, 231, and 241 are each one-fourth of the input optical image 100.

The image sensors 211, 221, 231, and 241 are driven by the image sensor drive circuit of each camera.

The image sensor drive circuit of each camera includes a synchronization signal generation circuit 50
The image pickup devices 211, 221, 231, and 241 are driven in synchronization with the synchronization signals 151 to 154 received from the image sensors 211, 221, 231, and 241, respectively. Electrical signals output from these image sensors are amplified within each camera and sent to the scan converter 30 as video signals 121 to 124.

The scan converter 30 synthesizes the video signals 121 to 124.

Then, a video signal 131 representing the same image as the input optical image 100 is formed. Scan conversion unit 300 Å power video signal 121~1
24 has 525 scanning lines and 30 frames per second, and is a standard television signal. Scan converter 30
The output video signal 131 has 1050 scanning lines and 1
The number of screens is 30 frames per second, which is a high-speed, high-resolution, high-definition television signal. The video signal 131 is sent to a display device 40, which is a high-resolution television monitor, and is displayed as a video.

As described above, in this embodiment, a high-resolution image applicable to a high-definition television system can be obtained by using an image sensor for a standard television system. The resolution in the conventional standard television system is 1. If the vertical resolution is 1, then in this embodiment the resolution is horizontal 2. It has been improved vertically to 2.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the invention, as described in more detail above.

It is possible to provide an imaging device that can obtain high-resolution images exceeding the resolution limit of an imaging device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram of an optical decomposition system of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the assigned imaging areas of the image sensor in the embodiment. Agent: Patent Attorney Susumu Uchihara

Claims (1)

[Claims] An optical resolution system that distributes one optical image in n directions (n is a positive integer of 2 or more), and n imaging units that each receive different parts of the optical image distributed by this optical resolution system. 1. An imaging device comprising: an image sensor, and a scan converter that combines the outputs of these image sensors to form a video signal representing the optical image.