JP2002374542A - Stereo digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and lightweight stereo digital camera that attains stereoscopic vision monitoring. SOLUTION: The camera includes an LCD driver 5 acting like a display control means to display a plurality of left and right digital images photographed from different visual fields on one LCD monitor 6 and a mirror 6a as a reflection member that can be placed nearly perpendicularly to the LCD monitor 6. The stereo digital camera is configured such that the LCD driver 5 controls display of one of a plurality of the images through left right inversion, and the mirror 6a can be folded with compactness in a shape in parallel with the LCD monitor 6 and allows the LCD driver 5 to stop inversion display control of one of a plurality of the images in this case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereo digital camera capable of stereoscopic monitoring.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stereoscopic camera, which has long been known as a stereo camera, has two screens with a predetermined parallax so that a stereoscopic effect can be obtained by the parallax when an object is viewed with the left and right eyes. The camera is also capable of shooting. In recent years, as this kind of camera technology, for example, a “multi-view data input device” disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-12910 has been proposed. There have been attempts to provide by application. This proposal of the related art has a display control unit for superimposing and displaying a plurality of captured two-dimensional images having a stereo effect.

[0003] As a technique of stereoscopic monitoring, there is a "stereoscopic photograph viewing apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-221589, and a stereoscopic photograph viewer using a prism has been proposed. Such observation and display techniques have been accompanied by the development of stereoscopic photography techniques using cameras.

[0004]

However, stereoscopic photographs generally have different preferred parallaxes depending on the distance and shape of the subject, and conventionally, ordinary users cannot easily take pictures and cannot obtain the expected effects. In many cases. Even in the multi-view data input device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-12910, if a sufficient stereoscopic effect is not obtained when a plurality of images are superimposed, it is necessary to retake images many times. Further, in these proposals, a stereoscopic image cannot be monitored well with a simple and small configuration.
The stereoscopic picture viewing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-221589 is a stereoscopic monitor apparatus using a prism, so that its configuration is complicated and the apparatus itself cannot be avoided in size.

There is a need for a camera that can easily and effectively obtain a stereoscopic photograph or that can easily monitor the stereo effect. The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small and lightweight stereo digital camera capable of stereoscopic monitoring.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, according to the first invention, there is provided a stereo digital camera having display control means for displaying a plurality of left and right digital images taken from different fields of view on the same LCD, and arranged substantially perpendicular to the LCD. The present invention proposes a stereo digital camera having a reflecting member capable of performing the above operation, and having a feature that the display control means displays one image of the plurality of images by inverting left and right. The reflection member is foldable in a shape parallel to the LCD. Further, a camera is proposed in which the display control means stops the reverse display control of one of the plurality of images when the camera is folded.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A camera to be exemplified by a specific embodiment as the present invention is intended to obtain an effective three-dimensional photograph simply and to monitor its effect easily. By appropriately combining digital image technology with appropriate human interface technology such as various switches and monitor devices, a stereo digital camera having the following configuration and function is implemented as follows.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment. (First Embodiment) First, the characteristic portion of the stereo digital camera of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 15, and then other detailed portions of this camera will be described with reference to FIGS. explain. The feature of this stereo digital camera is that an image electronically photographed by the photographing function shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is displayed as a three-dimensional image by the display function shown in FIGS.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show the appearance of the camera of this embodiment and a method of monitoring the camera, and FIGS. 9A and 9B show movable cameras selected by this camera. 3 illustrates two images. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an image display switching procedure of the display control. FIGS. 11A to 11F illustrate the state of the camera before and after the stereoscopic monitoring and two images obtained. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, in this embodiment, a reflecting mirror on a monitor (referred to as an LCD monitor 6) provided on the back of the camera is used as a method of monitoring a stereoscopic image.
(Referred to as a mirror 6a).

As a method of viewing an image in three dimensions, techniques for stereoscopic television such as "parallax barrier method" and "lenticular method" are well known.
The left and right eyes see different images obtained with a predetermined parallax, so that the two images can be stereoscopically combined in the observer's 101 head. At this time, it is necessary to devise a method for preventing the right eye from seeing the image for the left eye and the left eye from seeing the image for the right eye.
As described above, according to the present invention, the LCD for the monitor on the back of the camera is used.
A right-eye image R and a left-eye image L are displayed on the monitor 6 and a mirror 6 provided vertically on the LCD monitor 6.
With a, the left and right fields of view can be separated and two images can be stored in a narrow space.

That is, the observer 101 in FIG.
Right eye is directly half image of LCD monitor 6 (for right eye)
, The left eye sees the image for the left eye reflected on the mirror 6a.
At this time, the field of view of the left eye is blocked by the mirror, and the right eye cannot see the image for the right eye. Conversely, the right eye cannot see the image for the left eye, behind the mirror 6a. However, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the image is reversed left and right when it is reflected on the mirror 6a, so that the left and right are reversed at the display stage so as to be consistent.

As shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 8 (c), this mirror member can be arranged perpendicular to the LCD surface on the back of the camera body 10 (see FIG. 8 (b)), or can be provided on the exterior of the camera body. As shown in FIG. 8C, the shaft 10
The movable member 10a is configured so as to rotate with respect to the camera body 10 at the center b. The left and right sides of the left image that is reflected by the mirror 6a match the right and left sides of the right image that is seen without reflection of the mirror 6a. As shown in the figure, the left image is displayed on the LCD display in a reversed left and right form as compared with the right image. Such a device can be easily achieved by digital image control technology.

Further, when the mirror 6a is tilted as shown in FIG. 8C, it is misleading that the image on the LCD monitor 6 is displayed as inverted as described above. The determination can be made by a predetermined switch or the like, and only one image that is not inverted is enlarged and displayed. As this determination switch, as shown in FIG.
A push switch 40a is provided as a detection unit 40 at a position where the mirror 6a is pushed when the mirror 6a is tilted, and the operation of the LCD display control means is switched as shown in FIG. 8A by detecting ON / OFF of the switch. Mirror 6a of mirror part
It is sufficient to provide a switch that is turned on / off only when is vertical.

The LCD display control means includes a predetermined LCD.
1 shows an electronic circuit including a driver 5 and a microcomputer for transmitting a signal to the driver. Such an electronic circuit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. The display control circuit of the LCD display control means operates according to a control program as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 called at step S24 in FIG. The image display is switched. That is, only when the position of the mirror 6a of the mirror unit is perpendicular to the LCD monitor 6 in the determination in step S100, two images for a stereo image are displayed in step S101 (see FIG. 8B). Otherwise, the process branches to step S102 to display one image (see FIG. 8C).

Also, the present invention can be effectively used for a stereoscopic camera having a shape as illustrated in FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (d). FIG. 11A shows the shape of the camera when it is carried, and includes a portion 10a having a lens 2L and a lens 2R.
Is reduced by folding around the portion 10c. At the time of photographing, as shown in FIG. 11B, these portions 10a and 10b are opened so that the distance between the lenses 2R and 2L can be widened to enhance the stereoscopic effect. Further, the reflection member (mirror) 6a for the monitor is also shown in FIG.
In the states of (a) and (b), the effect is not exhibited, but in the state of FIG. 11 (c), stereoscopic monitoring can be performed as shown in FIG. 11 (d).

That is, the camera can be carried compactly in the state shown in FIG. 11A, and can be taken while monitoring the LCD monitor 6 in the state shown in FIG. At this time, on the screen of the LCD monitor 6, the images captured via the lenses 2R and 2L located at positions separated to the left and right as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to judge whether or not an image having an appropriate difference can be photographed while observing this.

FIG. 11C shows a state during stereoscopic monitoring. In this state, the display as shown in FIG. 11 (f) is made, and the image on the L side is reflected by the mirror 6a to be displayed as shown in FIG.
In the observation method as shown in FIG. 1 (d), the left eye looks at the inverted image of the L image on the screen of the LCD monitor 6, and the right eye looks at the R side image on the LCD monitor 6. So that a stereoscopic image is reproduced.

(Modification 1) In addition to the position detection by operating the switch member for switching the display, an optical detection method as shown in FIG. 13 is also effective. FIG. 13 shows a camera as a modification of the present embodiment, and describes an optical detection method.
Although the side wall of the camera body 10 is seen through, the light projected from the infrared light emitting diode 41 is condensed by the condenser lens 42 and reflected by the mirror 6a.
01, and only when the reflected light is detected,
If the display as shown in FIG. 11F is performed, no unnecessary energy is consumed by displaying the display except during observation. The reflected light may be detected by the photodiode 44 detecting the light received through the light receiving lens 43.
The fact that the mirror 6a is substantially perpendicular to the LCD monitor 6 and that the face of the observer who is the user 101 is near,
Even if any of the conditions are not satisfied, the reflected light cannot be detected. Therefore, by detecting the reflected light, it can be determined that the user 101 desires the stereoscopic monitoring. As described above, according to this feature, it is possible to realize a stereo digital camera which can be compact when carried, can photograph with wide parallax at the time of desired photographing, and can perform stereoscopic monitoring with a simple configuration.

(Modification 2) The mirror 6a of the reflection mirror section
For the user 101 who is concerned that the surface of the LCD panel of the LCD monitor 6 is damaged, the following modification may be made. As an example, FIGS. 14A to 14C show a mechanism according to a modification of the present embodiment. In this modified camera,
The mechanism as shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C is adopted, and when the mirror for stereoscopic vision is stored, it faces the LCD monitor 6,
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which these protect each other. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 6a denotes a mirror portion, and the LCD monitor 6 is used for the mirror portion shown in FIG.
When the mirror portion 6a is folded in the state as described above, they are opposed to each other. FIG. 14A shows a state in which the mirror portion (mirror) 6a is vertically raised to enable stereoscopic viewing. FIG. 14 shows a state intermediate between FIGS.
(B), a lever member 1 extending from engagement portions 6b and 6c provided at both ends of a mirror portion (mirror) 6a, respectively.
Since the members 5, 17 move while being restricted in position by the pins 18 and the grooves 16 provided on the camera body 10, the state of FIG. 14A changes from the state of FIG. 14 to the state of FIG. The mirror unit 6a can be moved.

FIG. 15 shows the appearance of the camera body 10 having the above-described mechanism as viewed from the back. A release SW 4a is provided to protrude upward, and an optical finder objective lens 11a is provided on the front surface. The above-mentioned mirror (mirror) 6a is folded with the LCD monitor 6 inside. In this state, at the time of photographing, an image is taken by looking through the optical finder objective lens 11a, and at the time of stereoscopic monitoring, the state shown in FIG. .

According to the first embodiment and the modified examples described above, a stereo digital camera having a function of protecting an expensive LCD panel can be provided.

On the premise of the display means for stereoscopic monitoring as described above, the stereo digital camera of this embodiment has parts as shown in FIGS. First, the configuration of this camera and its usage will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1A schematically showing the configuration of the camera, a camera (ASIC) according to the present embodiment has not only a control function for controlling the entire camera but also an image processing function.
1, for example, CMOS for electronically photographing the subject 100
A photographing unit 2 such as an image sensor and a memory 3 for electronically storing photographed images; and a switch group 4 for selectively switching photographing function portions of the photographing unit 2
And an LCD driver 5 as a monitor display drive unit, an LCD monitor 6 provided for stereoscopic display, a mirror 6a as a reflection member, and a display unit 7 as an external LCD.

The photographing section 2 is composed of four lenses 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D arranged in parallel, and image pickup devices A, B, C, D arranged behind these lenses. Since the lenses 2A to 2D have different optical axes and have parallax, the imaging devices A to D via the lenses 2A to 2D can observe and record images from different viewpoints. Have been. A microcomputer (ASIC) 1 also serving as an image processing IC
Has, for example, a function section for compressing and decompressing an image signal into a JPEG format in addition to an image signal processing function section and a memory control function section. The sequence control of the camera is performed according to (described later).

If the camera of this embodiment is structurally used, four image signals can be obtained by one photographing. These obtained image signals are first stored in the first memory (abbreviated as “memory 1”) 3a of the memory 3 without image compression. The reason is that in order to obtain a stereoscopic image, it is sufficient that there are at least two images for the left and right eyes, and even if there are four captured images as in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to use two of the images. This is because stereoscopic viewing is possible with the left and right eyes. In other words, since a process of deleting two unused images is required, the memory part temporarily stored for the process of the deletion is set to the first memory (memory 1) 3a as described above, and after the unnecessary image is deleted. Another memory part for storing two images is a second memory (abbreviated as “memory 2”)
3b, the memory 3 is provided separately in two parts. The second memory (memory 2) 3b is configured as described above so as to store various scenes only, and stores only the necessary selected images in a compressed form so that various scenes can be recorded. I have.

The second memory 3b is a removable external memory device such as a memory card that can be removed from the camera body when necessary.
The ASIC 1 is also provided with an LCD monitor 6 via the LCD driver 5 for two-dimensional display for the right eye and the left eye.
Is controlled so that the display can be driven. In order to confirm when setting the mode of this camera, etc.
C1 can appropriately control the display unit (external LCD) 7.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the user 101 holds the camera 10 and photographs the subject 100 from different angles. At this time,
An arrow display as shown in FIG. 1C is displayed on the external LCD 7 so as to indicate that the shooting direction of the camera 10 has been performed from the right, and similarly, the shooting direction is set to the left as shown in FIG. Is set so that an arrow is also displayed. That is, in the case of three-dimensional photographing, the camera 10 is configured and arranged such that images are taken from at least two angles out of four directions that can be indicated by arrows on the external LCD 7 in FIGS. In this way, if a plurality of images are obtained by shooting from different directions, a stereoscopic image of the subject image can be obtained by an appropriate combination thereafter.

The camera exemplified in this embodiment is controlled to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with a main routine of a control program dedicated to this function, as shown in a flowchart of FIG. The control program is stored in the flash memory 1a, and is set so as to be operated by the CPU or the ASIC 1 in a control unit (not shown). The images obtained by this camera are four images as illustrated in FIG. That is, when the image is photographed in the above-described manner, four images A to D are obtained.
Image A is an image viewed from the rightmost direction with respect to the subject,
As the image B, the image C, and the image D move, the subject becomes an image viewed from the left side.

4 (a) and 4 (b) show the appearance of the camera 10 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), in addition to the release switch 4a, the above-described display An external LCD 7 and a mode changeover switch 4b and a display changeover switch 4c operated when performing display, screen switching, screen selection, and the like are provided. The photographing lens 2 and the finder objective lens 11b are arranged in front of the camera.

As shown in FIG. 4B when the camera is viewed from the rear side, an eyepiece 11a of an optical finder and an LCD monitor having a display function for three-dimensional display for checking and monitoring a photographed image. 6 can be viewed directly or indirectly. Further, screen shift switches 4d and 4e to be described later are provided.

The screen switching switch 4f is located at a position where it can be operated with the right thumb. When photographing is performed by a camera having such a configuration and four images A to D in FIG.
A subject image viewed from the left side of the subject can be displayed in the order of image B, image C, and image D. It is usually very difficult to select which combination of these images is better to view as a stereoscopic image. If the user expects only the person who emerges from the background, a pair of the image C and the image D with a small parallax may be used, but an image pair with a larger parallax is used to depict even the subtle “overlap” between the hair and the face. (For example, a pair of an image A and an image D) is preferable. Therefore, in the camera of the present invention, stereoscopic monitoring can be performed by indirectly viewing one of the left and right images by passing through the mirror 6a in order to select a pair of image pairs from the three or more images thus obtained. It is configured as follows. Note that the combination for selecting a pair of image pairs from the _n images is _n C _{2 = n!
/ $ 2! × (n-2)! ｝} FIG. 5 illustrates a monitor screen that can be seen by both eyes via the mirror 6a during this monitoring. Simply arranging two images is unnatural or causes fatigue when viewing. Therefore, according to the operation of the screen shift switches 4d and 4e in FIG. 4B, one screen (A) is fixed. One of the images (C) can be shifted laterally to meet individual user preferences. That is, if the user views the LCD monitor 6 while operating the screen shift switches 4d and 4e, it is possible to make appropriate adjustments so that a natural stereoscopic image can be observed. Further, it is also effective to shift up and down by another switch as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

As described above, since the user cannot always determine the viewpoint of the three-dimensional image that the user is particular about, the user can easily select which of the four images should be combined. In this way, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of various image pairs are automatically combined in accordance with the operation of the switch for switching, and can be switched and displayed. As described above, the arrangement and operability suitable for the human interface technology are adopted. When a selection switch also serving as 2RSW of the release switch 4a is operated, an LCD as a display control means is operated.
The driver 5 can sequentially display “ _n C ₂ ” (where n is 3 or more) pairs of images.

A symbol A, B, C or D indicating which image is currently combined with which image may be displayed on the lower right of each screen of the LCD monitor 6 as shown in FIG. Then, the symbol may be displayed and output outside each screen, for example, on the display unit 7.

Here, a control program for controlling the characteristic functions of the camera will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2. First, in step S1, whether or not the camera is in the display mode is determined. Is determined (S1). This is because the camera itself is a photographing means and also a monitor means having two liquid crystal monitors for stereoscopic viewing. If the display is made mischievous at the time of photographing, energy is wasted. The switching operation of the switch 4b switches between the photographing mode and the display mode.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the photographing mode is set (S
2) If the mode is the photographing mode, it is determined in step S3 whether or not the contents of the memory 1 have been erased (S3). If the contents have been erased, the operation state of the release switch (2)
If the ON state of the RSW is detected, shooting is performed in step S4 (S4). The photographing is performed under the control of the photographing unit 2 including the above-described CMOS image sensor, and as a result, image data is generated. Then, from step S5, the ASIC 1 reads out the image data (S1).
5) The image data is stored in the memory 1 (S6),
The process returns to step S1.

In this manner, a predetermined photographed image (see FIG. 3) can be obtained from the four fields of view. If the display mode is set, the process branches from step S1 to step S40, and the memory 1
Is determined (S40), and if yes, A
The SIC 1 controls the LCD driver 5 to display the data stored in the memory 1 (S41). At this time, a predetermined display mode in which four images A to D are adjacent (see FIG. 7). To This indicates whether or not, for example, two images are to be selected from the screen on which four images are displayed. When the switch 4a, which also functions as a release switch, is operated, the process branches to step S14, where two out of four are selected. One image is displayed on the left and right display means (LCD monitor 6), and when the user sets the stereoscopic mirror 6a, the stereoscopic image is made visible. Here, in order to allow the right eye to see an image taken from the right and the left eye to see an image taken from the left, the above-described device shown in FIG. 8 is used.

At this time, a screen shift switch (shift S
W) When 4d and 4e are operated, step S20 is branched, and in step S21, one of the pair of images is slightly moved according to the shift direction (see FIG. 5), and can be adjusted to an easily viewable position. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the two images are aligned and vertically shifted to enable display.

If a different image pair is better, the screen switching switch (switch SW) 4f is operated to replace the illustrated image pair. If the result of the determination in step S22 is a branch to step S23, the previous shift result is obtained. The (shift amount) is stored in the memory 3 (S23), and the screen is switched so that the adjustment result can be reflected at the next display.
The screen is switched in a predetermined order (see FIG. 6). When the display mode is set, the operation of the shift SW from step S20 (S20) until the predetermined time elapses (S25, S26), the switching SW Is performed (S22), the monitor screen is controlled in accordance with the operation of each of these switches. For example, one image is shifted by the operation of the shift SW (S21). Further, by operating the switch SW, the shift amount is stored (S23), and the image is switched (S2).
4) As described above, S20 to S26 are repeated while watching the predetermined time in the display mode, and when the predetermined time comes, the process returns to the camera sequence control (not shown).

When an effective image pair is determined, the operation of a predetermined storage selection switch 4a (in this example, this switch is also used as a release switch) for selecting and instructing shift amount storage is detected. By (S3
0), the selected image (that is, a pair of currently displayed images) is subjected to image compression processing (S31), and the image pair and the shift amount are stored in the memory 2 (S32). At this time, since the contents stored in the memory 1 are unnecessary, the contents are deleted from the memory 1 in the following step S33 (S33).
After that, the camera returns to the camera sequence control to prepare for the next photographing.

As described above, a pair of good image pairs can be selected and stored from a plurality of screens by a simple switch operation. For the camera.

If it is determined in step S3 that previous data remains in the memory 1, the process branches to step S9 where a predetermined warning is issued (S9). Here, it is determined whether or not the display mode is set (S10). If not, the process returns to step S3 described above. If in the display mode, step S
At 11, four images are displayed on the monitor unit in a predetermined form (see FIG. 7) (S11) to notify the user that the selection and storage have not been completed. Then, it is determined whether or not the mode is the selection mode (S12). If not, it is determined whether or not the image is to be erased (S13). If it is to be erased, the image is erased, and the process returns to step S1. If the selection mode is selected, after a pair of image pairs are displayed in step S14 (S14), the process proceeds to the selection storage processing procedure from step S20.

On the other hand, in the display mode, the user can view the previous photographing result by operating the display change switch 4c even if the selection and storage have not been completed in the last photographing. This is determined in step S43 (S43). In step S44, the ASIC 1 expands the image data compressed in the memory 3 (S44), and performs display control in step S45 (S45). At this time, the use of the screen shift shift switches 4d and 4e is also effective.
By performing image shift processing in a direction indicated by a predetermined mark (for example, a black arrow, see FIG. 5), it is possible to make the image more visible.

If the operation of the shift SW is detected in step S46 (S46), the monitor screen is controlled according to the operation of the shift SW. That is, one image is shifted (S47). This display mode is also continued until the operation of the mode switching switch 4b or a predetermined time has elapsed (S48, S49). Then, similarly to the case where the predetermined time has elapsed, the process returns to the camera sequence control (not shown).

However, the product based on the above concept does not need to have four photographing lenses as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the subject 100 is kept still and the user 101 changes the shooting direction while the camera 1
Even when four images are obtained by controlling 0, an image as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained, and the concept of FIG. 2 including shift control of FIG. 5 and pair switching of FIG. 6 becomes effective. At this time, a display as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D is made on the display means of FIG.
The shooting direction and the image may be associated with each other.

Various devices can be considered for a camera capable of performing such photographing. For example, when the stereoscopic mode is selected,
1C, the user shoots from the angle of the arrow, and switches the arrow display every time shooting ends, so that the user changes the angle at which the user views the subject. A method of instructing from the side, or shooting may be performed first, and then the user may associate the screen with the angle (the direction of the arrow on the display unit 7) by a switch operation. The screens thus obtained are shown in FIGS.
The symbol D is associated with the screen. Therefore, according to this embodiment, four photographing lenses are not necessarily required and a screen division is not necessary, so that a stereoscopic image with higher resolution can be obtained.

Next, the manner of operation of the above-described camera will be described in detail. FIG. 6 does not show each image in detail but conceptually shows what combination is displayed when switching. Is shown. The user determines which image pair best suits his or her preference by looking at these. Since a plurality of image pairs can be sequentially checked easily by the switching operation of a predetermined switching switch, an optimum one can be easily selected and determined. Also, once the screen shift switches 4d and 4e are used, the shift amount is stored so that the shift adjustment is not required for the next display.

FIG. 7 shows a display example of four images that can be selected by the user. Under the control of the LCD driver 5, the image data stored in the memory 1 is displayed adjacent to, for example, as shown in FIG.
When two desired images, for example, are selected and designated from images A to D,
A stereoscopic image is obtained based on these.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the display control means (LC) for displaying a plurality of (left and right) digital images photographed from different visual fields on the same LCD monitor 6.
D driver 5) and a reflecting member (mirror 6a) that can be arranged substantially perpendicular to the LCD monitor 6, and the LCD driver 5 displays one of the plurality of images by inverting the left and right sides. A stereo digital camera having such a function as described above is constructed, and its mirror 6a is folded so as to be parallel to the LCD monitor 6. At that time, the LCD driver 5 can stop the reverse display control of one of the plurality of images. By implementing the configuration in this digital camera,
The object of the present invention is achieved.

For example, in a camera having a configuration as shown in FIG. 11, a mirror 6a and an LCD which can be folded in a small space are used.
It is possible to provide a stereo camera in which the monitor 6 is arranged and which can monitor a stereoscopic image with a simple configuration. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, an LCD, an optical system, and the like can be made smaller and less expensive than those in which a stereoscopic image is observed with two eyepieces.

(Other Modifications) In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention, and effects equivalent to or higher than those of the first embodiment can be expected.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention includes the following inventions. (1) Display control means for displaying a plurality of left and right digital images taken from different fields of view on the same LCD monitor
(LCD driver) and a reflecting member (mirror) that can be arranged substantially perpendicularly to the LCD monitor, and the LCD driver displays one of the plurality of images by inverting left and right. The mirror is folded into a shape parallel to the LCD monitor, and at that time, the LCD driver can stop the inverted display control of one of the plurality of images by the LCD driver. Can be provided. (2) It is possible to provide a stereo digital camera (digital camera) including an LCD monitor that reversely displays one of the left and right images and a foldable mirror between the left and right images.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small and lightweight stereo digital camera capable of stereoscopic monitoring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A to 1C show a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of the camera, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing an example of the usage pattern, FIG. 3C is a plan view of the camera displaying one shooting direction, and FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, and showing a main routine of a control program for this operation.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing four image images obtained by the camera.

4 (a) and 4 (b) show the appearance of the camera of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 (a) is a perspective view of the camera as viewed obliquely from the front, and FIG. 4 (b) is an oblique rear view of the camera. The perspective view at the time of seeing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of shift control of images A and C obtained.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition of a switching pattern between left and right images.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen displaying four selected images.

FIGS. 8A to 8C show a camera according to the present embodiment and a method of monitoring a stereoscopic video using the camera.
FIG. 3B is an explanatory view showing a method of stereoscopically viewing an image by separating a field of view into right and left using a mirror provided vertically to an LCD on the back of the camera, and FIG. FIG. 3C is a perspective view showing a display state in which the left and right sides are inverted, and FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing a state in which a mirror is folded down along the back surface of the camera.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show two images selected by the camera, FIG. 9A is an explanatory view showing a screen for moving the two images downward, and FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the screen which moves two images upward.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image display switching procedure performed by the display control circuit.

11A to 11F show a camera and an image according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 11A is a perspective view showing the camera in a compactly folded state, and FIG. (C) is a perspective view showing a state at the time of stereoscopic monitoring, (d) is an explanatory view showing an observation method at the time of stereoscopic monitoring, and (e) is an image taken while monitoring. FIG. 7F is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen display example at the time, and FIG. 7F is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example obtained by inverting the screen display example.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a general appearance of an apparatus for performing stereoscopic observation.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an optical detection method in the camera of the embodiment.

14 (a) to 14 (c) show a mechanism adopted in the present embodiment, FIG. 14 (a) is an explanatory view showing a state in which a mirror is vertical and stereoscopic viewing is possible, and FIG. 7A and 7C are explanatory views showing an intermediate state between FIGS. 7A and 7C, and FIG. 7C is an explanatory view showing a state when the mirror is stored so that the LCD is not damaged.

15 is an external view of the camera having the mechanism shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... ASIC (microcomputer), 1a ... Flash memory, 2 ... Photographing part (photographing optical system), 2A-2D ...
Lens (photographing lens), 2L, 2R: lens (left and right lenses), 3: memory, 3a: first memory, 3b: second memory, 4: switch group (including operation buttons), 4a: release SW (for selection) 4b: Mode change switch (switch SW), 4c: Display change switch,
4d, 4e: screen shift switch (shift SW), 4
f: Screen switching switch 5: LCD driver (LCD display control means), 6: LC
D monitor (for stereoscopic viewing: internal LCD), 6a: mirror part (reflecting mirror, mirror), 6b, 6c: engaging part, 7: display part (external LCD), 10: camera body (stereo digital camera), 10a ... Movable member, 10b ... Shaft, 11a ...
Optical viewfinder objective lens, 15, 17 ... lever member,
16 groove, 18 pin, 40 detection part, 4
0a: push SW (switch for determination), 41: infrared light emitting diode, 42: condenser lens, 43: light receiving lens, 44: photodiode. S1 to S49: Camera control processing step, S100 to S102: One-to-image display processing step.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 13/04 H04N 13/04 // H04N 101: 00 101: 00 F term (Reference) 2H054 AA01 BB05 BB07 2H059 AA08 AA09 AA24 5C022 AA13 AB68 AC03 AC08 AC09 AC18 AC42 AC52 AC54 CA02 5C061 AA08 AA25 AB04 AB06 AB08 AB12 AB14 AB18 AB21

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stereo digital camera having display control means for displaying a plurality of left and right digital images taken from different fields of view on the same LCD, comprising: a reflecting member which can be arranged substantially perpendicular to the LCD; A stereo digital camera, wherein the display control means displays one of the plurality of images by inverting left and right. 2. The stereo digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the reflection member is foldable in a shape parallel to the LCD. 3. The stereo digital camera according to claim 2, wherein at the time of folding, the display control means stops the reverse display control of one of the plurality of images.