JPS61240781A - Solid-state image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow scanning directions of a receiver to be constant and camera positions to be set freely by changing over transfer directions of the first and second horizontal transfer registers mounted at a vertical transfer registers group and both ends of each register of an image pickup part being formed by a photodetecter arrayed two dimensionwise. CONSTITUTION:An image pickup block 24 of a solid-state image pickup device is composed of a charge coupled image pickup element 22, a lens 21 as well as a light source 23 and connects a camera control part 26 with the block 24 by a cable 25. The element 22 is composed of the first and second horizontal transfer registers 35 A and B as well as a vertical transfer CCD23 arrayed matrix-directionwise respectively. An electric charge accumulated at a picture element for a vertical blanking period by the elemental 22 is moved into a register 32 string-directionwise and its electrical charge is transferred to the register 35 A or B for a horizontal blanking period. And its transfer direction is changed over freely by clocks added to the register 32 as well as the registers 35 A and B to allow the scanning directions of the receiver to be always constant and camera positions to be set freely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device using two-dimensionally arranged solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Solid-state cameras using solid-state image sensors have been developed. This type of camera has features such as low afterimage, no burn-in or image distortion, low power consumption, small weight, and easy handling. For this reason, they are now being used as surveillance cameras in places where it was previously considered extremely difficult to install them.

Some of these cameras are equipped with a pan head for controlling the imaging position of the camera.

An example thereof is shown in FIG. In Figure 6, lens system 1
1 and the camera body 12 are installed on the pan head 15IC.

The camera body 12 rotates around a fulcrum 13 in a direction perpendicular to the installation base 16, and independently rotates around a fulcrum 14 in a direction parallel to the installation base 16. It looks like this. Although the camera 12 can image any part by such independent rotational movement in two directions, the following problem occurs in this case. In other words, since the scanning direction of the image sensor and the scanning direction of the receiver that receives the video signal are constant, the positional relationship of the reproduced image is at the fulcrums 13 and 1.
For example, when an object moves from bottom to top on a reproduced image, it becomes difficult to correspond to the actual movement direction of the object. In addition, there are constraints on the physical space where the camera is installed (in addition, there are cases where the subject image is reflected a certain number of times by a mirror or prism before being captured. In this case, if the number of reflections is an odd number, the actual This results in an inverted image of the scene being captured.These problems are major deficiencies that need to be improved for cameras intended for surveillance, etc.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is a solid body that allows a normal image to be easily obtained even when the subject or camera is upside down (top and bottom), or when an inverted image that is upside down from the actual subject is captured. The purpose is to provide an imaging device.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
IIJ (4), as shown in Fig. 2, the transfer direction of the vertical transfer register group of the imaging section formed of two-dimensionally arranged light receiving elements can be freely switched, and both ends of the vertical transfer register group No. 1 installed in The second horizontal transfer register is also set so that its transfer direction can be freely switched. With this, the first. Output signals having a top-to-bottom relationship and a mirror image relationship are obtained from each end of the second horizontal transfer register.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 3 (, ) is an overview of the device of this invention), Figure 3 (
b) is a side perspective view of the same figure (,). Imaging f lock 2
4 is a solid-state image sensor, such as a charge-coupled image sensor (hereinafter referred to as C
(referred to as CD image sensor)22. It mainly consists of a lens 21 and a light source 23.

This imaging block 24 is connected to a camera control section 26 via a cable 25. The camera control unit 26
It has a built-in drive circuit for the CD image sensor and other signal processing circuits.

The optical image incident through the imaging lens 21 is formed on the photosensitive surface of the CCD image sensor 22 .

The CCD image sensor 22 receives control signals for switching the voltage and output necessary for driving via a cable 27 in which a plurality of signal lines are bundled, outputs a video signal in accordance with these, and outputs a video signal to the cable 27. 2'i, 25 to the camera control section 26.

Further, the light source 23 emits light sent from the camera control unit 26 side via the optical 7-eyeper cable 28. In this case, the camera control unit 26 adjusts the strength of the light according to the level of the video signal sent from the CCD image sensor 22,
It is set to provide the optimal amount of light to the subject.

Since the CCD image sensor 22 itself is very small and lightweight,
The cylindrical imaging block 24 can have a small cylindrical shape, for example, with a diameter of 10+a and a length of about 30 m.

In addition, the cable 25 and the cable 2 of the imaging block 24
The portion near 5 is made of a material with sufficient flexibility.

Next, the configuration of the CCD image sensor 22, which is the main component of the present invention, will be explained.

Figure 1 shows the basic concept of this invention.
) is a CCD image sensor 22 in which 500 pixels in the vertical direction and 400 pixels in the pixel direction are two-dimensionally arranged. This CCD image sensor 22 includes a first horizontal transfer register J5A, a second horizontal transfer register J5A,
35B (consisting of CCDK).

Above 1st. 35 second horizontal transfer registers.

35B has output terminals AL, AR and BL on both ends, respectively.
, has BR. This CCD image sensor 22 has a vertical transfer register (CCD K) that transfers charges accumulated in pixels in the column (vertical in the drawing) direction during vertical blanking periods.
(which is well-structured). A vertical transfer register is provided in each column. The charge transferred to the vertical transfer register is transferred to the first or second horizontal transfer register 35 or 35B during the horizontal blanking period. The charge transferred to the horizontal transfer register J5A or 35B is read out in one water period and converted into a voltage (signal). The above operation is
By being switched back, the imaging signal is transferred to the output terminal AL~
Obtained from BR.

Now, assuming that there are m rows and n columns of pixels arranged two-dimensionally, the addresses are 1.1 to m as shown in the figure.

Suppose that n is set. Assuming that the image signal read from the output terminal AL is a normal signal from a normal camera, the reproduction me reproduced by the receiver using this IIi image signal becomes K as shown in FIG. 181. tb, the upper left of the reproduced image corresponds to address 1°11C, and the lower right corresponds to addresses m and n.
IC compatible.

The reproduced image reproduced using the image signal read from the output terminal AR is as shown in FIG. 282. Figure 1 82
The reproduced image is a mirror image of FIG. 181. Also,
The reproduced image reproduced using the image signal read from the output terminal BL is a vertically reversed image (83 in Fig. 1),
The image signal read from R is a mirror image and an inverted image (84 in FIG. 1).

Next, the structure of the CCD@image element 22 will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the vertical transfer register group of the image sensor 22, two light receiving elements 311 and 312 correspond to one vertical transfer CCD 32 for interlacing. Further, one vertical transfer COD J 2 has four divided electrodes 321 to 324, and four-phase vertical clock pulses are applied to these electrodes 321 to 324 from drive terminals 331 to 334, respectively. Accumulated charges due to exposure of the light receiving elements 311 and 312 are alternately transferred to the vertical transfer CCD 3 j using the vertical blanking period. The charges transferred to the vertical transfer CCD 32 are sequentially transferred in the vertical direction using the horizontal blanking period. In this case, the signal charge of the light receiving element 311 is read out to the electrode 321 side, and the signal charge of the light receiving element 312 is read out to the electrode 323 side. Therefore, by exchanging the clock pulses applied to the terminals 331 and 333, the signal can be transferred. The direction can be reversed.

The signal charge transferred to the final stage of the vertical transfer register is
Four-phase horizontal clock pulses are applied to drive terminals 341 to 3.
44, the horizontal transfer register 35
k or 35B, horizontally transferred at high speed, and derived from the output section. In this case, horizontal transfer register 35A,
The read direction of 35B can be reversed by exchanging the clock pulses applied to terminals 341 and 343 among the four-phase horizontal clock pulses.

Each signal charge transferred to the final stage of the horizontal transfer register is detected via each output r-to-351 to 354. Charge detection uses a floating diffusion layer method in which the floating diffusion layer is reset every horizontal transfer period using a reset transistor. Reset pulses are applied from terminals 361-364. Terminals 371 to 374 are each connected to the drain of a reset transistor) and a predetermined voltage is applied thereto. The potential change in each floating diffusion layer is MOSF
Two-stage source 7 oror amplifier 395 consisting of ET
398 is detected as a potential change, and an output signal is obtained at each terminal 391 to 394. Terminal 385~
388, source 7 oror amplifiers 395 to 388, respectively.
The drain potential of 398 is given, and the terminals 381 to 384
A reference potential is given to each. The output signal obtained in this way is selected by the switch 399,
The final output signal is obtained at terminal 400. The switch 399 selects any one output signal based on the control signal from the camera control section 26 shown in FIG.

Therefore, depending on the selected state of the switch 399, the normal image, upside-down image, mirror image, etc. explained in FIG. 1 can be freely obtained.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

In the above explanation, the Interline Exhibition CCD image sensor was used as an example of a solid-state image sensor, but this is an MDB
Other image sensors such as a base image sensor may also be used. Furthermore, the number of images is not limited to 500×400. Vertical and horizontal transfer COD
We explained that the clock/4 pulse is 4-phase, but 3
If the number is higher than the phase, bidirectional transfer is possible as described above.

Further, the light source need not be limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and it goes without saying that other shapes, such as a ring shape surrounding the CCD image sensor, may be used. In addition, the light source is transmitted from the camera control unit side via an optical fiber cable), but the position within the imaging block is not only a side view type as shown in Figure 3, but also a direct view type as shown in Figure 4. It can also be a deaf person. The same parts as in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted. Furthermore, the shape of the imaging block is not limited to this. Furthermore, a part of the drive circuit on the camera control section side may be built into the imaging block side.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the example of a conventional camera with a pan head, the scanning direction of the image sensor and the receiver that receives the video signal is constant, so the positional relationship in the playback image depends on the camera position. There is a problem in that when an object moves upward, it becomes difficult to correspond to the direction in which the object is actually moving.

According to the solid-state imaging device based on BAK, the output signal of the CCD imaging device is controlled by the switch control signal from the camera control unit, in addition to the normal image, mirror image, upside-down image, and mirror image. You can choose either K, which is large and has an inverted image. For example, Figures 5(a) and (b)
Consider a case where the arrangement of the imaging blocks 24 is reversed, as shown in FIG. 51 is the position of the image sensor. Even in such a relationship, by switching between the vertically inverted image and the normal image, it is possible to
In this state, even if the actual subject is located at the bottom or top of the imaging field of view, it can be unified to the top or bottom of the screen in the reproduced image. In addition, even when capturing an odd number of reflected images from a mirror, etc. due to the spatial position of the subject, a normal reproduced image can be obtained by selecting the mirror image output signal or the mirror image and upside-down output signal. be able to. In particular, for cameras intended for surveillance, etc., the stable positional relationship of the reproduced images as described above means that
This is a big advantage that traditional cameras don't have. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned output selection function is provided, the setting position of the camera can be freely selected, so that the advantages of the camera's compact size and weight can be fully utilized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic concept and operation of this invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of this invention,
FIG. 3 is an overview diagram of the solid-state imaging device of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the imaging block according to the invention, and FIG.
The figure is a state diagram of an imaging block shown to explain the effects of this inventive device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional camera. 21... Lens, 22... Charge coupled image sensor, 24
...Imaging block, 351.35B...Horizontal transfer register, 32...Vertical transfer C■. Applicant's agent: Patent Attorney Dozu Hiko Ushiki Figure 1 (A) Figure 1 (Bl) (B2) (B3) (B4) Figure 3 (a) Figure 4 Figure 5 (a) (b) Figure 6 figure

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An imaging unit having a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a row and column direction, and each row of the light-receiving elements corresponding to each scanning line, and sequentially transmitting electrical information while scanning each light-receiving element in the horizontal and vertical directions. readout means for reading out a signal; horizontal scanning control means for selecting a horizontal scanning direction of the light receiving element between a first direction and a second direction that is the inverse thereof; and a horizontal scanning control means for controlling vertical scanning of the light receiving element. 1. A solid-state imaging device comprising readout control means including at least one of vertical scanning control means capable of selecting a direction between a first direction and a second direction opposite thereto. (2) The readout means is a vertical transfer register that sequentially transfers the electrical information of the imaging unit in parallel for each scanning line by applying three or more different clock pulses to each of the plurality of transfer electrodes. a group of vertical transfer registers, which are present at both ends of the group of vertical transfer registers in the transfer direction, receive the output of the group of vertical transfer registers in parallel, and apply three or more different clock pulses to each of the plurality of transfer electrodes. According to a patent claim, the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with at least two horizontal transfer registers that read data in series in the horizontal direction, and has a structure in which an output section is formed at at least one of both ends of each of the two horizontal transfer registers. A solid-state imaging device according to scope 1.