JPS636937Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an image input device that inputs an image of a certain subject using a solid-state image sensor.

Conventionally, image input has been mainly carried out using an image pickup tube such as a vidicon, and images have been obtained by synchronizing signals in the vertical and horizontal directions. By the way, solid-state image sensors have been developed in recent years, and as they have become smaller and lighter, they have become extremely easy to handle. Television cameras that use this solid-state image sensor as an image input means have also appeared, but in this case, the image receiver is a conventional cathode ray tube television receiver, so the driving frequency is responsive to the synchronization signal similar to that of a videocon. isn't it. However, when image information is handled digitally, the output need not be from a television camera, so image information can be taken in at any speed by appropriately adjusting the signal transfer clock of the solid-state image sensor. This allows image information to be taken in faster than before. However, since there is a one-to-one relationship between the transfer clock (scanning speed) and the exposure time, it has the disadvantage that an appropriate image cannot be obtained unless the amount of light incident on the solid-state image sensor is adjusted.

This invention aims to provide an image input device that eliminates this drawback, and by providing an aperture mechanism in the optical system that is linked to the transfer clock speed, it is possible to automatically always provide the appropriate amount of light to the solid-state image sensor. This is a device that can do this.

This invention will be explained below with reference to the illustrated embodiment.
The drawing schematically shows the apparatus of this invention, in which the object 6 is irradiated with a lamp 7 which irradiates a moderate amount of light even if the highest clock is sent in advance (even at the highest scanning speed). 10 is its power supply section. Reflected light from the subject 6 is input to the solid-state image sensor 3 via the lens 1 and projected, but an aperture mechanism 2 is provided to limit the amount of light. A/4 converts the output (analog amount) from the fixed image sensor 3 into a digital amount and inputs it into the image memory 5.
It is a D converter. A binary circuit can also be used instead of an A/D converter. Reference numeral 9 denotes a clock signal generator, and the fixed image pickup device 3 receives this signal, scans an image at a scanning speed corresponding to the signal, and outputs an electrical signal. The clock signal is also input to the aperture amount regulating mechanism 5, and the aperture mechanism 2 is adjusted so as to create an amount of aperture that corresponds to the speed of the clock (scanning speed). There are various specific mechanisms (methods) for adjusting the aperture amount, and for example, a servo motor or the like can be used. Further, as the aperture mechanism 2, for example, a camera aperture mechanism may be applied.
For example, a pill or the like is applied as the subject.

This invention is as described above, and provides an excellent image input device that can always automatically provide an appropriate amount of light to a solid-state image sensor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing schematically shows the device of this invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Lens, 2... Aperture mechanism, 3... Solid-state image sensor, 4... A/D converter, 5... Aperture adjustment mechanism, 6... Subject, 7... Lamp, 8... Image memory, 9...Clock signal generator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a device that scans an image of a subject projected on an image input machine using a solid-state image sensor using a clock signal from a clock signal generator and converts it into an electrical signal, there is a method for limiting the amount of light incident on the image. The aperture mechanism includes an aperture mechanism and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the aperture amount of the aperture mechanism, and is configured so that a clock signal from the clock signal generator is also input to the aperture adjustment mechanism to adjust the aperture amount in accordance with the scanning speed. An image input device characterized in that: