KR100851576B1 - Optical device with triple lenses - Google Patents

Abstract

A 3-eye optical apparatus is provided to realize a forward surveillance function to a binocular device by adding one additional lens to two lenses in the binocular device. A 3-eye optical apparatus includes first to third lenses(10a,10b,10c), an image input unit(24), optical elements, and an image processor. The lenses take an image of an object. The image input unit receives images from the lenses. The optical elements are arranged between the lenses and the image input unit and adjust optical paths from the lenses toward the image input unit. The image processor processes the image data received by the image input unit. The first and second lenses are arranged to be apart from each other by a predetermined distance on a first plane, while the third lens is arranged on a second plane between the first and second lenses. The images from the first to third lenses are inputted to the single image input unit. The optical element includes a prism unit having first and second prisms, and optical elements. The prisms are arranged, such that the light from first to third reflective surfaces(32,34,33) of the prisms are inputted to the single image input unit.

Description

Optical Device with Triple Lenses

1 is a simplified structural diagram of a conventional binocular optic device;

2 is an internal structural diagram of the binocular optical apparatus of FIG. 1;

3 is a simplified structural diagram of a conventional improved binocular optic device;

4 is an internal structural diagram of the binocular optical apparatus of FIG. 3;

5 is a structural diagram of a trinocular optical device according to the present invention;

Figure 6a is a perspective view of a three-eye mirror structure used in the present invention,

6B is a plan view, front view, and side view of the mirror structure of FIG. 6A;

7 is a view showing the optical transmission process of the trinocular optical device of the present invention from the side,

8 is a plan view showing a light transmission process of the trinocular optics of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a view showing an optical device configured to enable rotation of one eye as an embodiment of the three-eye optical device of the present invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical apparatus such as a stereoscopic apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image using two cameras.

Conventionally, a method of photographing a subject using two cameras, that is, a stereoscopic apparatus has been used. The stereoscopic method refers to a photographing technique that adds depth information to a two-dimensional image for three-dimensional display and uses the depth information to allow people to feel three-dimensional liveness and reality. A stereoscopic image is taken and displayed using the binocular parallax principle. That is, two cameras are installed at intervals of about 7 cm to photograph one subject, and a stereoscopic image is realized by generating image signals corresponding to each of the left and right sides of the stereo camera.

1 schematically shows a portion of a conventional general binocular optic, in which two lenses 10a and 10b are connected to two solid-state imaging elements (CCDs) 12a and 12b, respectively, from the same subject. An image passes through each lens 10a, 10b and enters each CCD 12a, 12b. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the captured image is passed through the image processing apparatus connected to each CCD stage and then input to the stereoscopic image processor to be output as the final stereoscopic image.

Typically, binocular optics are often used for making a stereoscopic image of a subject or for measuring distance, but may be used to enlarge a field of view as another use. That is, since the wide angle that a single first camera can cover is limited, and as the magnification of the camera is increased, the wide angle becomes narrower. A second camera serving as a photography center point can be further provided. Accordingly, an image of a wider angle can be obtained by connecting images respectively received from the first and second cameras into one image in the image processing apparatus.

As described above, the conventional binocular optics of FIG. 1 or 2 use two identical lenses and two identical detectors (CCD). However, data obtained through two different cameras must be compensated for data since it is very difficult to obtain accurate data due to the misalignment of the two cameras.

 In addition to the optical data compensation, the error caused by the electrical and electronic characteristics of the two CCDs must be compensated for. For example, each of the CCDs is composed of a sensor array consisting of a number of detection sensors, each sensor constituting the sensor array is slightly different in the performance of the temperature or light for each sensor due to errors in the manufacturing process. Thus, there was a need to calibrate each sensor so that all sensors at the same temperature or light intensity had the same value.

Accordingly, a binocular optical device having one CCD has been proposed as a solution to the above problem. 3 and 4 show a simplified structural diagram and an internal structural diagram of this improved binocular optic, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the image passing through the two lenses 10a and 10b is input to one same CCD via the mirrors 21a and 21b and the prism 22, respectively. The problem of non-uniformity between CCDs that appeared during use can be eliminated. Moreover, when one CCD is used, only one image is processed instead of two, which enables faster data processing.In addition, when a very expensive infrared detection CCD is used, two to one CCD is used. Reduction can also benefit economically.

However, despite the advantages of binoculars, it was very difficult to display the necessary images in a binocular on a single display unless it was a stereoscopic image. Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have realized that by using a three-eye optical device with an additional one eye in the binocular, data obtained in the binocular can be displayed in an image of one eye, which can solve various inconveniences. It became. In addition, the use of the added one eye can be used for the entire video surveillance use to absorb the disadvantages of the binocular only. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical device which is more convenient and economical than conventional binocular optics and which has the advantage of observing various risk factors.

Embodiments of the present invention for achieving the above object will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5 schematically shows the configuration of a trinocular optical apparatus according to the present invention. As shown, the third lens 10c is positioned between the two existing lenses 10a and 10b. However, as will be described below, the lens 10c is not positioned at the same height as the lenses 10a and 10b and is provided above the lenses 10a and 10b.

An image passing through the two lenses 10a and 10b is input to the image processor 25 through the same elements as the conventional technology described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. That is, light passing through the lenses 10a and 10b is reflected by the mirrors 21a and 21b, and then reflected by the prism element 22 to be input to the CCD 24. Light passing through the third lens 10c enters the prism element 22 via the mirror (31 in FIG. 7), and then turns to input the CCD 24.

6A and 6B show an embodiment of the prism element 22 used in the trinocular optics of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the prism element 22 is formed by combining an upper prism having one reflective surface 32 and a lower prism having two reflective surfaces 33 and 34. Thus, the view of the prism element 22 when viewed from the top, front and side is shown as shown in Fig. 6B, respectively. That is, when viewed from the top, the reflective surface 32 of the upper prism is seen from above, and when viewed from the front, the reflective surface 32 is located at the upper side and the reflective surfaces 33 and 34 at the bottom, as shown in the lower left figure of FIG. ) Are located from side to side.

In the optical device of the present invention provided with such a prism element 22, the image of the subject is input by the path as shown in Figs.

Fig. 7 shows a light transmission process of the trinocular optics of the present invention from the side, in which light passing through the lens 10c is redirected in a vertical direction by the mirror 31, and then the upper portion of the prism element 22. The light is reflected by the prism reflecting surface 32 and input to the CCD 24 via the lens 23. The path of light passing through the lenses 10a and 10b is shown in detail in FIG. 8, which shows in plan view the light transmission process of the trinocular optics of the present invention. Light entering through the lenses 10a and 10b respectively positioned on the left and right sides of the three lenses is reflected vertically through the mirrors 21a and 21b, respectively, and then the reflective surface 34 of the lower prism of the prism element 22 is applied. 33 are respectively reflected by the lens 33 and then passed through the lens 23 to the CCD 24.

According to this configuration, the image coming through the left and right lens (10a, 10b) is subjected to the same image processing process as in the conventional binocular optics to provide a three-dimensional image as in the conventional or the arrangement position of the lens (10a, 10b) The function of providing an image having an enlarged wide angle may be performed due to the change of.

In addition, according to the present invention, by additionally installing the third lens 10c in the center, a separate lens for photographing a subject is provided, thereby providing an additional function in addition to the function of the existing binocular optical apparatus. Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of a trinocular optics with additional functionality, by placing the mirror 31 within the rotatable barrel, allowing the observer to sense the entire 360 degree direction, and also the lens 10c. If you use a lens with a zoom function, you can get closer and detailed data about the subject. In addition, although the barrel is installed in the upper portion of the optical device in FIG. 9, in another alternative embodiment, the barrel may be located below the optical device, and in this case, the reflective surfaces 32, 33, 34, and the mirror ( 31) and the like may be installed upside down from those shown in FIG.

In addition, the three-eye optical device of the present invention can be used for a variety of other applications. First of all, the binocular function enables the stereoscopic recognition of the object and the calculation of the distance of the front object, and this data is displayed in the real human eye, that is, the existing LCD display goggles such as a head up display. ) Can be used as a device that directly recognizes an external object, and at the same time, one image can have more diverse information, including different viewing angles that the binocular cannot reach. These principles are able to simultaneously monitor the front of military tanks and armored vehicles and general vehicles, as well as rear object recognition and distance recognition, and thus have a variety of functions as a single CCD and detector.

Also, in the application to the vehicle, distance recognition currently used in automobiles generally uses ultrasonic sensors, and sensors are installed in each direction to recognize objects of various angles. It facilitates rear distance recognition and displays the image of one eye except binocular together with distance and object image, so it can be used as a front / rear surveillance radar. For example, image data obtained from binoculars (for example, information on a subject's distance, etc.) may be output to an image display of one eye, and in this case, an observer may display a screen displaying various information about a subject coming from the binocular and the other one eye, respectively. Can be recognized. In another embodiment, the data obtained in the binocular or single eye may be displayed to the viewer by the method of sound, music, light emitting lamp (lamp, LED, etc.).

In this way, if the functions applicable to the optical device of the present invention are summarized,

First, to provide humans with information about stereoscopic viewing angles and other viewing angles.

Second, this data can be used for military equipment such as mobile type to implement a safe defense device against direct attack and attack from external attack, and to secure a three-dimensional view of soldiers who control and move military equipment at the same time. Easily obtain data from multiple vehicles, such as visibility,

Third, it is easy to observe the front and rear as a miniaturized equipment for external monitoring when establishing a camp. For example, the single-eye function can be rotated 360 degrees, and the binocular can be used for analysis of main objects such as front stereoscopic surveillance and distance measurement. At the same time monitoring of the target is possible.

The fourth is for the front and rear of the car, especially for the low object which can be neglected in the rear view and the recognition of all angles at the same time. It can be used so that This expression can ensure safety by providing the driver with distance data and data that is generally available to ensure safety in a single image.

In addition, the trinocular optics of the present invention may be used in various applications such as military front day and night all-weather monitoring devices, and forward monitoring devices for ships and military reconnaissance aircraft.

As described above, the three-eye optical device of the present invention can use one additional lens for front surveillance in addition to the conventional binocular lens, and has a function of adding a separate front surveillance function in the existing binocular. In addition, the image processing image obtained when using one CCD and the detector is composed of one CCD and the detector, and the spatial reduction of time and hardware is achieved, which has various effects in terms of performance and volume reduction.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, but is limited only by the following claims, and variously changed or modified the configuration of the present invention without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. can do.

Claims (6)

In the optical device for receiving and processing the image through the lens, A first lens 10a, a second lens 10b, and a third lens 10c for photographing a subject; Image input means (24) for receiving images from the first, second, and third lenses; It is provided between the first, second, and third lenses and the image input means 24 so that the optical path from each of the lenses 10a, 10b, 10c is directed toward the image input means 24. Adjusting optical elements 21 and 22; And And an image processor 25 for processing the image data received by the image input means 24. The first and second lenses 10a and 10b are arranged side by side and spaced apart by a predetermined distance on the same first plane, and the third lens 10c is arranged between the first lens and the second lens. Arranged on a second plane different from the plane, all the images input from the first, second, and third lenses are input to the one image input means 24, The optical element, A prism element 22 composed of a first prism having a first reflecting surface 32, a second prism having a second reflecting surface 34, and a third reflecting surface 33; Optical means (21a, 21b) for directing light passing through the first lens (10a) and the second lens (10b) to the second reflecting surface (34) and the third reflecting surface (33), respectively; And And optical means (31) for directing light passing through the third lens (10c) to the first reflective surface (32), The prism element (22) is arranged such that light from the first, second and third reflecting surfaces is input to one image input means (24). delete The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the image information from the first and second lenses and the image information from the third lens are displayed on different displays. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the image information from the first and second lenses is displayed together on a screen displaying the image information from the third lens. The optical device according to claim 4, wherein the image information from the first and second lenses is displayed on the screen by any one of audio or light emission. 6. The optical device according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5, wherein the optical device further comprises a barrel which protrudes from the top or the bottom thereof and is driven to rotate 360 degrees. And the third lens (10c) and the optical means (31) are provided in the barrel.

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