KR20140127631A - Photographing apparatus and method for night photography - Google Patents

Abstract

An imaging apparatus having a night imaging function comprises a first filter allowing light of a visible region to be transmitted therethrough and blocking light of an infrared region, a second filter blocking light of a visible region and allowing light of an infrared region to be transmitted therethrough, a third filter allowing both light of an infrared region and light of a visible region to be transmitted therthrough, an imaging device capturing an image, a driving unit moving any one of the first filter, the second filter, and the third filter to be selected, a sensor unit sensing an environment for imaging a subject, and a control unit controlling the driving unit to select any one of the first filter, the second filter, and the third filter on the basis of a signal from the sensor unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nighttime photographing apparatus,

Embodiments relate to a photographing apparatus having a night photographing function and a night photographing method, and more particularly, to a photographing apparatus and a night photographing method which can perform optimum photographing in accordance with daytime photographing and night photographing.

In general, a method of supplementing the insufficient amount of light is used by emitting infrared rays toward the subject during nighttime shooting in which the light amount is insufficient at night. However, if the visible light illumination is photographed with the subject during nighttime photography using infrared rays of the photographing apparatus, the resolution of the photographing using the infrared light of the photographing apparatus is lowered due to the influence of the visible light of the visible light illumination, .

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2009-0020864 (Feb. 27, 2009)

The object of the embodiments is to provide a photographing apparatus having a night photographing function capable of performing optimum photographing in accordance with daytime photographing and night photographing, and a night photographing method.

Another object of the embodiments is to make it possible to pick up a clear image by allowing the optical filter to be selected in accordance with the photographing environment of the subject such as the light amount or distance of the subject during night shooting.

A photographing apparatus having a night photographing function according to one embodiment includes a first filter that transmits light in a visible light region and blocks light in an infrared region and a second filter that blocks light in a visible light region and transmits light in an infrared region A third filter that transmits both light in the infrared region and the visible light region, an image pickup element that receives light and captures an image, and a third filter that selects either the first filter, the second filter, or the third filter A driving unit for moving the first filter, the second filter, and the third filter so as to be located on a path of light incident on the imaging device; a sensor unit for sensing a photographing environment of the subject and generating a signal; And a control unit for controlling the driving unit to select either the first filter, the second filter or the third filter.

The sensor unit may include a light amount sensing unit for measuring a light amount, and the control unit may include a day / night determination unit for determining whether the photographing operation is a daytime shooting or a nighttime shooting based on the signal of the light amount sensing unit, 1 filter and selects a second filter or a third filter in the case of a night image capturing.

The filter selecting unit can select the second filter when the amount of light is greater than or equal to the predetermined value and select the third filter when the amount of light is less than the predetermined value.

The sensor unit may further include a distance sensing unit for sensing a distance to a subject. If the distance to the subject is less than a predetermined value, the filter selecting unit may select the second filter based on the sensing signal of the distance sensing unit And the distance to the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the third filter can be selected.

A day / night photographing judging step of judging whether the photographing is performed in the daytime or nighttime photographing in accordance with the sensed photographing environment; A second filter that blocks light in a visible light region and transmits light in an infrared region when it is determined to be a night image pickup; And a third filter for transmitting light in both the infrared region and the visible light region, through the light of the subject.

In the night shooting step, the second filter is selected when the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and the third filter is selected when the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject is less than a predetermined value.

The photographing apparatus and the night photographing method having a night photographing function according to the embodiments as described above can be realized by selecting any one of the first filter, the second filter and the third filter, It is possible not only to perform optimum shooting, but also to select optimal filters in consideration of the amount of light in the shooting environment and the distance of the subject, etc., even at night shooting, so that optimum shooting can be performed to obtain a clear image.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a connection relationship among components of a photographing apparatus having a night photographing function according to an embodiment.
2 is a perspective view schematically showing a connection relationship of the components of the photographing apparatus of FIG.
3 is a flowchart schematically showing the steps of a photographing method having a night photographing function according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a photographing apparatus having a night photographing function and night photographing method according to the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The expression " and / or " used in the description refers to one of the elements or a combination of elements.

1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a connection relationship among components of a photographing apparatus having a night photographing function according to an embodiment.

1 includes a first filter 11, a second filter 12 and a third filter 13, an image pickup element 120 for taking an image, A driving unit 20 for moving the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13, a sensor unit 160 for sensing a photographing environment of the subject and generating a signal, And a control unit (140) for controlling the control unit (20).

The optical device 10 having the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13 is disposed on the path of the light that passes through the lenses 112 and enters the image pickup device 120 And the light passes through the first filter 11, the second filter 12, and the third filter 13, and then enters the imaging device 120.

In the photographing apparatus according to the embodiments, the photographing apparatus senses the photographing environment of the subject and selects the weekly photographing and the night photographing to execute the optimum photographing. The image pickup device 120 can photograph a daytime image or a night image in conjunction with the operation of the optical device 10. [

The photographing apparatus according to the embodiments may be implemented in various forms such as a digital still camera for photographing a still image or a digital video camera for photographing a moving image.

The image pickup device 120 captures an image of a subject and converts it into an electrical signal. The electric signal generated by the image pickup device 120 is converted into image data by the image conversion unit 141. [ The photographing control section 147 of the control section 140 controls the photographing element 120 to execute photographing operation.

The plurality of lenses 112 and the optical device 10 form an optical system disposed in front of the image pickup device 120. [ The lens barrel 110 having the plurality of lenses 112 and the optical device 10 introduces external image light to the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 120 to form an image.

The lenses 112 are arranged such that the distance between them is variable. When the distance between the lenses 112 is changed, the zoom magnification, the focus, and the like can be adjusted. The lenses 112 are disposed along an optical axis L, which is an imaginary straight line connecting the optical centers of the lenses 112.

The lenses 112 are driven by a lens driving unit 111 having a driving means such as a zoom motor (not shown), so that the position with respect to each other can be varied. The lenses 112 may include a zoom lens for enlarging or reducing the size of the subject, a focus lens for adjusting the focus of the subject, and the like.

The lens driving unit 111 is operated by a control signal applied from the lens control unit 142 of the control unit 140 and controls the position of the lenses 112 so that the lenses 112 have any one of a plurality of magnifications .

The image pickup device 120 includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), and passes through the lenses 112 and the optical device 10, And converts the converted image light into an electrical signal. The imaging device 120 is driven by a control signal applied from the imaging control unit 147. [

The image conversion unit 141 converts an electrical signal of the image pickup device 120 into image data so that the image signal can be processed or stored in a storage medium such as the memory 115. [ For example, the image converting unit 141 converts the electrical signals of the image pickup device 120 into RGB data, and then converts the RGB data into raw data of a YUV signal including a luminance (Y) signal and a chrominance (UV) Data can be converted into raw data.

The process of converting the electrical signal of the image pickup device 120 by the image conversion unit 141 is performed by using a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS circuit), for example, by using the driving noise of the image pickup device 120 included in the electrical signal Adjusting an gain of a signal after noise reduction by an automatic gain control circuit (AGC circuit); converting an analog signal into a digital signal using an A / D converter; Such as signal processing such as defect correction, gain correction, white balance correction, gamma correction, and the like. The correlated double sampling circuit (CDS circuit), the automatic gain control circuit (AGC circuit), the A / D converter, etc. described here may be configured as separate circuits.

The control unit 140 includes an imaging device 120, a lens driving unit 111, a display unit 150, an optical device 10, a sensor unit 160, a memory 115, a driving unit 20, Etc., and performs functions such as exchanging control signals with these components to control the operation of each component, processing data, and the like.

The control unit 140 includes an image conversion unit 141, a lens control unit 142, a memory control unit 143, a display control unit 144, a motor driving unit 145, a signal receiving unit 146, A day / night determination unit 148, a filter selection unit 149, a light emission control unit 149a, and the like.

The control unit 140 may be implemented by a microchip or a circuit board including a microchip, and each component included in the control unit 140 may be implemented by software or an electronic circuit built in the control unit 140 .

The memory control unit 143 controls data writing to the memory 115 and reading (reading / writing) of recorded data and setting information.

The memory 115 may be a volatile internal memory, and may be a semiconductor memory device such as a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM). The memory 115 can perform a buffer memory function for temporarily storing image data generated by the image conversion unit 141 and a work memory function used for a data processing operation.

Also, the memory 115 may be a non-volatile external memory, for example, a flash memory such as a memory stick, SD / MMC, or a storage device such as an HDD or an optical storage device such as a DVD or a CD. In this case, the memory 115 may store compression-converted image data in the form of a JPEG file, a TIF file, a GIF file, a PCX file, or the like.

The photographing apparatus may include a display unit 150 for displaying an image of image data. The display unit 150 detects a touch on the surface using a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting display (OLED), for example, and generates a signal corresponding to the sensed position And a touch screen.

An optical device (10) disposed in front of the barrel (110) includes a first filter (11) that transmits light in a visible light region and blocks light in an infrared region, and a second filter And a third filter 13 for transmitting light in both the infrared region and the visible light region.

As the first filter 11, for example, an IR cut filter having a transmittance of 10% or less in a wavelength region of 760 nm or more can be used. Accordingly, the first filter 11 can perform the function of an optical low pass filter. The first filter 11 can be used for daytime photographing.

A long pass filter or an optical high pass filter having a transmittance of 90% or more in a wavelength region of 760 nm or more and a transmittance of 10% or less at a wavelength of 760 nm or less can be used as the second filter 12 have. The second filter 12 may be used for night photography.

As the third filter 13, for example, a dummy glass having a transmittance of 90% or more in all wavelength regions can be used. The third filter 13 may also be used for night photography.

The driving unit 20 selects one of the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13 to select the first filter 11 The second filter 12, and the third filter 13, respectively.

The driving unit 20 may be implemented in various forms, for example, a step motor, a voice coil motor, and an ultrasonic motor using a piezoelectric element.

The control unit 140 may control the driving unit 20 to select one of the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 130 based on the signal of the sensor unit 160 .

The sensor unit 160 senses the photographing environment of the subject and generates a signal. The sensor unit 160 includes a light amount sensing unit 161 for measuring the light amount of the photographing environment and a distance sensing unit 162 for sensing the distance to the subject. The sensing signal of the sensor unit 160 is transmitted to the control unit 140 through the signal receiving unit 146.

The distance sensing unit 162 may be implemented using a sensor using a light (visible light, infrared, or laser) or a sensor using an ultrasonic wave.

The day / night determination unit 148 performs a function of determining whether it is a daytime shooting or a nighttime shooting based on the signal from the light amount sensing unit 161. [ The photographing apparatus can change the operation mode so as to perform the daytime photographing or the nighttime photographing in accordance with the judgment result of the day / night judgment unit 148. [

The filter selecting unit 149 selects either the first filter 11 or the third filter 13 in the case of the nighttime photographing based on the judgment result of the day / And performs the function of selecting.

In the case of night photography, the light emission control section 149a controls the infrared ray emission section 190 to emit infrared rays toward the subject in order to secure the light quantity for photographing. The infrared ray firing unit 190 may operate by a control signal applied from the light emission control unit 149a to emit infrared rays toward a subject.

The filter selection unit 149 selects the second filter 12 when the amount of light is equal to or greater than a predetermined value based on the detection signal of the light amount detection unit 161. When the amount of light is less than a predetermined value, The filter 13 can be selected.

2 is a perspective view schematically showing a connection relationship of the components of the photographing apparatus of FIG.

2, the optical device 10 supporting the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13 is arranged in a direction crossing the path of the light incident on the image pickup device 120 So that the light incident on the imaging element 120 passes through either the first filter 11 or the second filter 12 or the third filter 13 as the optical device 10 moves. The filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13 can be selected.

The optical device 10 is made in a plate shape, and a gear surface 10a is provided at one side edge. The driving gear 21a rotated by the driving unit 20 is engaged with the gear surface 10a of the optical device 10. [ The driving force of the driving unit 20 is transmitted to the optical device 10 and the optical device 10 can move in the direction crossing the path of the light incident on the imaging device 120. [ The driving unit 20 is electrically connected to the control unit 140 and operates according to a control signal applied from the control unit 140.

The circuit board 121 provided with the image pickup device 120 is electrically connected to the control unit 140 through the first wiring 121a. The detection signals of the light amount sensing unit 161 and the distance sensing unit 162 of the sensor unit 160 are transmitted to the control unit 140 through the signal transmission unit 163 and the second wiring line 121a.

The infrared ray can be shot in accordance with the dark shooting environment of the subject by emitting infrared rays from the photographing apparatus toward the subject at night. The second filter 12 is selected to receive only the infrared light and to block the light of the visible light ray when the infrared ray is photographed using the infrared light.

For example, even when shooting at night, a light source of a visible light such as a streetlight may be present. When an infrared ray is reflected from a subject and is incident on the imaging element, visible light of the streetlight is also incident on the imaging element, Optimal shooting can not be achieved.

In such a case, when the amount of light of the photographing environment of the subject is equal to or larger than a predetermined value based on the detection signal of the light amount sensing unit 161, the second filter 12 can be selected and the visible light can be blocked. The predetermined value of the amount of light for selecting the second filter 12 is not necessarily limited to a numerical limit here, and is generally set to a method such as a method of experimentally measuring the amount of visible light rays that adversely affect infrared imaging A predetermined value of the light amount can be set.

However, since the subject to be photographed is located at a long distance even in the same nighttime photographing, the infrared ray emitted from the photographing device is reflected by the subject and the amount of infrared rays reaching the photographing device may be insufficient. In this case, not only infrared rays but also visible rays existing in a shooting environment at night can be all accepted and shooting can be performed. Therefore, when the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject is less than the predetermined value, the third filter 13 is selected and the photographing is performed using both the infrared light and the visible light.

By using any of the first filter 11, the second filter 12 and the third filter 13 by using the above-described photographing apparatus, an optimum photographing It is possible to perform optimum shooting by appropriately selecting filters based on the light amount of the shooting environment even at night shooting.

In the embodiment described above, a technique for considering the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject from the signal of the light amount sensing unit 161 to select either the second filter 12 or the third filter 13 during night shooting However, the embodiment is not limited to such a configuration. Therefore, for example, when the distance of the subject is long on the basis of the signal of the distance sensing unit 162 during night shooting, it is determined that the amount of infrared light is insufficient and the third filter 13 is selected. It is determined that the second filter 12 is sufficient and the second filter 12 is selected to perform the photographing.

3 is a flowchart schematically showing the steps of a photographing method having a night photographing function according to an embodiment.

The photographing method according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 includes a measuring step (S100) of measuring the light amount of the photographing environment for photographing a subject, a day / night photographing judging step (S120), a first filter selecting step (S120) for photographing light of a subject through a first filter that transmits light in a visible light region and blocks light in an infrared region, (S140) and S140), and when it is determined that the night view photographing is to be performed, the second filter that blocks the light in the visible light region and transmits the light in the infrared region is selected (S140) S150, and S160) of selecting a third filter that transmits all of the first filter (S150) and the second filter (S150).

In particular, in the night shooting step S160 in which the second filter or the third filter is selected and the shooting is performed, the infrared ray photographing can be performed in which the infrared ray is emitted toward the subject in order to secure the light amount for photographing in consideration of the insufficient amount of light.

In the above-described embodiment, the technique of considering the distance of the subject in order to select either the second filter or the third filter during night shooting has been described, but the embodiment is not limited to such a configuration. Therefore, for example, when the amount of light is insufficient (when the light amount is less than a predetermined value) in consideration of the light amount of the photographing environment of the object during night shooting, the third filter is selected. When the light amount is sufficient, Can be executed.

By selecting one of the first filter, the second filter and the third filter by using the above-described photographing method, it is possible not only to perform optimum photographing in the case of daytime photographing and nighttime photographing, The optimal shooting can be performed by appropriately selecting the filters based on the light amount of the shooting environment.

The construction and effect of the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims.

10: optical device 141: image conversion section
10a: gear surface 142: lens control section
11: first filter 143: memory controller
12: second filter 144: display control section
13: third filter 145: motor driving section
20: driving unit 146: signal receiving unit
21a: driving gear 147: photographing control unit
110: barrel 148: day / night judgment unit
111: Lens driver 149a:
112: Lenses 149: Filter selector
115: memory 150:
120: image pickup element 160:
121a: Wiring 161: Light amount sensing unit
121: circuit board 162: distance sensing unit
130: third filter 163: signal transmission device
140: control unit 190: infrared ray emitting unit

Claims (6)

A first filter that transmits light in a visible light region and blocks light in an infrared region;
A second filter for blocking light in the visible light region and transmitting light in the infrared light region;
A third filter for transmitting light in both the infrared region and the visible light region;
An image pickup device for receiving light and capturing an image;
A drive unit for selecting either the first filter, the second filter, or the third filter to move the first filter, the second filter, and the third filter so as to be positioned on a path of light incident on the image pickup device, ;
A sensor unit for sensing a photographing environment of a subject and generating a signal; And
And a control unit for controlling the driving unit to select one of the first filter, the second filter and the third filter based on the signal of the sensor unit. The method according to claim 1,
And a control unit for controlling the light amount of the light emitted by the light source based on the light amount detected by the light amount sensing unit, wherein the sensor unit comprises a light amount sensing unit for measuring light amount, And a filter selecting unit for selecting either the first filter or the third filter in the case of a night-time photographing. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the filter selecting unit selects the second filter when the amount of light is equal to or greater than a predetermined value based on the detection signal of the light amount sensing unit and selects the third filter when the light amount is less than the predetermined value, A photographing apparatus having a photographing function. 3. The method of claim 2,
The sensor unit may further include a distance sensing unit for sensing a distance to a subject,
When the distance to the subject is less than a predetermined value, the filter selecting unit selects the second filter based on the sensing signal of the distance sensing unit, and when the distance to the subject is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, And a third filter is selected. A measuring step of measuring an amount of light in an imaging environment for imaging a subject;
A day / night photographing judgment step of judging whether the photographing is performed in the daytime or nighttime according to the sensed photographing environment;
A daylight photographing step of photographing light passing through the subject through a first filter that transmits light in a visible light region and blocks light in an infrared region when it is determined to be a daylight shooting; And
A second filter for blocking light in a visible light region and a third filter for transmitting light in an infrared region and a visible light region, A nighttime photographing step of photographing by passing through the nighttime photographing step. 6. The method of claim 5,
The nighttime photographing step selects the second filter when the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and selects the third filter when the light amount of the photographing environment of the subject is less than a predetermined value, How to shoot.

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