JP2007101662A - Panoramic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

A panoramic camera is provided that can easily take a panoramic photo without distortion any number of times without using a film.
In a panoramic camera that exposes a subject image in a wide-angle range on an image surface curved so as to have a partial shape on a side surface of a cylinder, an image sensor 107 formed so as to be curved is curved along the image surface. Deploy.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a panoramic camera capable of taking a wide-angle photograph with little distortion.

  A conventional panoramic camera that takes a wide-angle photograph is equipped with a wide-angle lens as described in Patent Document 1 below, and also takes a wider (longer side) range than a normal photograph. Is pulled out from the patrone to the image plane.

  In addition, when the subject is imaged with the wide-angle lens, as shown in FIG. 7, the captured image 99 on the image plane of the subject 98 at a location away from the optical axis is distorted. It is curved so that the captured image 99 is not distorted.

JP-A-5-281468

  However, since a conventional panoramic camera takes a picture using a film, it is necessary to draw a soft film from the cartridge every time it is taken and to set the film neatly along a long curved image surface. For this reason, if the film (patrone) is slightly attached to the camera, the film may not be pulled out satisfactorily and panoramic photography may fail.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a panoramic camera that can easily take a panoramic photo without distortion any number of times without using a film.

  The panoramic camera of the present invention is a panoramic camera that exposes a subject image in a wide-angle range on an image plane curved so as to have a partial shape of a cylindrical side surface. It is characterized by having arranged.

  The panoramic camera according to the present invention includes a rotating lens that rotates to expose a subject image on the image plane.

  The panoramic camera of the present invention is a panoramic camera provided with a wide-angle lens whose image plane is curved, and is characterized in that the image plane includes a curved imaging element that matches the curved shape of the image plane.

  The panoramic camera of the present invention includes a control unit that divides a light receiving region of the image sensor from a photographing start end to a photographing end end into a plurality of regions and reads a picked-up image signal from the region where the exposure is finished during photographing. And

  According to the present invention, since a curved imaging device having a shape that matches the curvature of the image surface is used, it is easy to repeatedly capture a subject image in a wide angle range that is less affected by the aberration of the lens system (with less image distortion). An image can be taken.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external view of a panoramic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The panoramic camera 100 of the present embodiment has a configuration called a swing camera, and the lens unit 101 swings (rotates) in the direction of arrow A when panoramic photography starts.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the camera shown in FIG. A lens unit 101 provided in the panoramic camera 100 is attached to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A, and an imaging lens 102 that rotates integrally with the lens unit 101 is housed inside the lens unit 101.

  Of the peripheral wall of the lens unit 101, an opening 103 for capturing incident light is provided at the front surface position of the imaging lens 102. An opening (slit) elongated in the direction of the rotation axis is provided at a position facing the opening 103 of the peripheral wall. 104 is provided. The width of the slit 104 can be adjusted, and the shutter speed can be changed by changing the slit width.

  When the release button 105 (FIG. 1) of the panoramic camera 100 having such a configuration is pressed, the lens unit 101 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow A, and the imaging position B of the imaging lens 102 is circular (the shape of the side surface of the cylinder). Therefore, the image surface 106 is curved from the start position X to the end position Y.

  In the present embodiment, a curved imaging element 107, which will be described in detail later, is disposed along the curved image surface 106.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram of the panoramic camera shown in FIGS. The panoramic camera according to the present embodiment performs analog signal processing on the lens unit 101, a curved image sensor 107 disposed along the curved image plane of the lens unit 101, and image data output from the curved image sensor 107. A correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 108, an A / D conversion circuit 109 that converts an analog image signal output from the CDS 108 into a digital signal, and three motor drivers 110a and 110b that drive and control the lens unit 101. 110c, a timing generator 111 that drives the curved imaging element 107, and a CPU 112 that controls the entire panoramic camera.

  The lens unit 101 includes a motor 101a that swings and drives the entire lens unit 101 at the time of photographing, a motor 101b that drives a lens diaphragm, and a motor 101c that adjusts and drives the position of a focus lens that constitutes the imaging lens 102. , 101b, 101c are driven by motor drivers 110a, 110b, 110c, respectively.

  The panoramic camera of this embodiment further includes an image input controller 113 that captures output image data of the A / D conversion circuit 109, an image processing circuit 114 that processes the image data, and a compression process that compresses the image data into a JPEG format or the like. A circuit 115, a video encoder 117 for displaying image data as a video signal on the external monitor device 116, an AF (automatic focus) detection circuit 118, an AE (automatic exposure) and AWB (automatic white balance) detection circuit 119, A memory (SDRAM) 120, a frame memory (VRAM) 121, and a media controller 123 that stores image data in an external recording medium 122, and these are connected to each other via a bus 124. .

  The CPU 112 is connected to the two-stage release switches SW1 and SW2 that respond to the release button 105 (FIG. 1). When the user presses the release button 105 halfway and the SW1 is turned on, the AF detection circuit 118, AE & AWB. The CPU 112 drives and adjusts the motor drivers 110 a, 110 b, 110 c and the like according to the detection result of the detection circuit 119, and when the release button 105 is fully pressed and SW 2 is turned on, the curved image sensor 107 is connected via the timing generator 111. Is driven, and the captured image data is output from the curved image sensor 107.

  The captured image data is taken into the VRAM 121 from the image input controller 113 through the CDS 108 and the A / D conversion circuit 109, and the image signal processing circuit 114 performs various image processing on the image data, and the captured image data is sent to the monitor 116. Image data that is displayed or compressed in JPEG format or the like is stored in the recording medium 122.

  FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the curved imaging element 107. A large number of pixels 130 are arranged in a square lattice pattern in the illustrated example on the surface of the curved imaging element 107, and R (red) and G detected by each pixel 130 are formed at the bottom of each pixel 130. A signal readout circuit 131 that reads out image signals R, G, and B corresponding to the signal charges of (green) and B (blue) is formed.

  In this embodiment, the signal readout circuit 131 is illustrated as an example of a signal readout circuit having a three-transistor configuration used in a CMOS image sensor, but may be a signal readout circuit having a four-transistor configuration. Three signal readout circuits 131 are provided for each pixel, and each signal readout circuit reads out the respective detection signals of R, G, and B to the CDS 108 when designated by the vertical shift register 132 and the horizontal shift register 133. It has become.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view per pixel at the position of the VV line in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a technique for manufacturing a TFT matrix or the like of a liquid crystal substrate on the surface of a flexible film 1 such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The signal readout circuit 131 described is formed.

  A P-type semiconductor layer 2 is formed on the surface portion of the flexible film 1, and a diode portion 41 serving as a charge accumulation region of the first color (in this embodiment, red (R) color) is further formed on the surface region 3. And a diode portion 42 which is a charge storage region of the second color (in this embodiment, green (G) color) and a diode which is a charge storage region of the third color (in this embodiment, blue (B) color) Part 43 is formed, and a signal readout circuit 131 is formed between the diode parts 41, 42, 43. A channel stop 6 is formed between the pair of diode portions 41, 42, 43 and the signal readout circuit 131.

  An insulating layer 7 is laminated on the further surface of the flexible film 1 on which the semiconductor layers 2 and 3 are formed. The insulating layer 7 is connected to each of the diode portions 41, 42, and 43 and read out signals. Electrodes 91, 92, and 93 that shield the circuit 131 are embedded.

  On the insulating layer 7, a pixel electrode film 11 for the first color divided for each pixel is laminated. The pixel electrode film 11 may be formed of a transparent material or an opaque material.

  On each pixel electrode film 11, a first layer photoelectric conversion layer 12 that photoelectrically converts incident light of the first color is laminated in common for all pixels, and on the first layer photoelectric conversion layer 12, A transparent common electrode film (a counter electrode film of the pixel electrode film 11) 13 is laminated.

  A transparent insulating film 14 is laminated on the common electrode film 13, and a transparent pixel electrode film 15 for the second color divided for each pixel is further laminated thereon. Then, on each pixel electrode film 15, a second layer photoelectric conversion layer 16 that photoelectrically converts incident light of the second color is laminated in one pixel common to all pixels, and on the second layer photoelectric conversion layer 16. A transparent common electrode film (a counter electrode of the pixel electrode film 15) 17 is laminated.

  A transparent insulating film 18 is laminated on the common electrode film 17, and a transparent pixel electrode film 19 for the third color divided for each pixel is further laminated thereon. On each pixel electrode film 19, a third layer photoelectric conversion layer 20 that photoelectrically converts incident light of the third color is stacked in common for all the pixels, and on the third layer photoelectric conversion layer 20. A transparent common electrode film (a counter electrode of the pixel electrode film 19) 21 is laminated. Further, a protective film may be formed thereon, but this is not shown.

  The pixel electrode film 11 for the first color is electrically connected to the electrode 91 of the first color charge storage diode portion 41 by the vertical wiring (columnar electrode) 22, and the pixel electrode film 15 for the second color is The third color pixel electrode film 19 is electrically connected to the electrode 92 of the two-color charge storage diode unit 42 by the vertical wiring (columnar electrode) 23, and the third color charge storage diode unit 43 is connected to the electrode 93 of the third color charge storage diode unit 43. They are electrically connected by vertical wiring (columnar electrodes) 24. Each vertical wiring 22, 23, 24 is insulated from the electrodes other than the corresponding electrodes 91, 92, 93 and the pixel electrode films 11, 15, 19.

  The curved imaging element 107 of the photoelectric conversion film laminated type according to this embodiment has a configuration in which the photoelectric conversion layers 12, 16, 20, etc. using an organic material or the like are stacked on the flexible film 1. After being flexible and formed into a flat plate shape, it can be curved according to the curved image plane.

  When light from the subject is incident on the curved image sensor 107, light in the blue wavelength region or less of the incident light is absorbed by the third photoelectric conversion layer 20, and a charge corresponding to the absorbed light amount is generated. Then, this charge flows from the pixel electrode film 19 through the vertical wiring 24 and the electrode 93 into the diode portion 43.

  Similarly, light in the green wavelength region or less of the incident light is absorbed by the second photoelectric conversion layer 16, and a charge corresponding to the absorbed light amount is generated. This charge is vertically connected from the pixel electrode film 15. 23 and the electrode 92 to flow into the diode part 42.

  Similarly, light in the red wavelength region or less of the incident light is absorbed by the first photoelectric conversion layer 12, and a charge corresponding to the absorbed light amount is generated. This charge is vertically connected from the pixel electrode film 11. 22 and the electrode 91 to flow into the diode part 41.

  Signal extraction from each of the diode portions 41, 42, and 43 can be performed by a technique according to signal extraction from the light receiving portion in the CMOS image sensor. For example, a predetermined amount of bias charge is injected into the diode portions 41, 42, and 43 (refresh mode), and the charge due to light incidence is accumulated (photoelectric conversion mode), and then the vertical shift register 132 and horizontal shift register 133 (FIG. 4). When the select signal is received from), an image signal is output.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for reading an image signal from the curved imaging element 107. When a subject image in a wide-angle range is imaged using the curved image sensor 107, the image signal may be read from the image sensor 107 once after the entire subject image has been imaged. Since it becomes longer, accumulation is performed for a much longer time than the actual exposure time. For this reason, it is disadvantageous in terms of noise as compared with a normal digital camera.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the imaging range from the imaging start start end X to the imaging end end Y of the curved image sensor 107 is divided into four areas I, II, III, and IV. Then, accumulation of the region I is started immediately before the lens unit 101 starts swinging from the start of photographing. Accumulation of the region II is started immediately before the exposure of the region I is completed, and the image signal of the region I is read after the exposure of the region I is completed and during the exposure of the region II.

  Next, the accumulation of the region III is started immediately before the lens unit 101 finishes the exposure of the region II, and after the exposure of the region II is completed and during the exposure of the region III, the image signal of the region II is read. Similarly, image signals up to region IV are sequentially accumulated and read out. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the accumulation times between adjacent regions overlap at the end portions.

  In this way, by sequentially reading out the image signal from the area where the exposure has been completed, an increase in noise can be prevented even with the long image sensor 107, and the image signal is processed immediately after the photographing is finished, and the photographed video is monitored in FIG. This can be confirmed by the device 116.

  In the above-described embodiment, a wide-angle range subject image is captured using the swing lens. However, a wide-angle range subject image may be captured using the wide-angle lens. In this case, a curved imaging element that is curved in the same shape as the curved shape of the image plane of the wide-angle lens to be used is used.

  The signal readout circuit can also be configured using a charge transfer path used in a CCD type image sensor instead of a transistor.

  A digital camera equipped with a curved imaging device according to the present invention is useful when applied to a panoramic camera or the like because it can capture an image with little influence of lens aberration (low image distortion) and no optical loss. is there.

1 is an external view of a panoramic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the swing lens and curved image plane of the panoramic camera shown in FIG. It is a block block diagram of the panoramic camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial surface schematic diagram of the curved imaging element shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the VV line position of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the procedure which reads an image signal from the curved imaging device shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the distortion of an image when it images using a wide angle lens.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible film 12, 16, 20 Photoelectric conversion layer 22, 23, 24 Vertical wiring 41, 42, 43 Charge storage part (diode)
100 Optical Lens System 107 Curved Image Sensor 130 Pixel X Shooting Start Y Shooting End

Claims (4)

  In a panoramic camera that exposes a subject image in a wide-angle range on a curved image plane so as to be a partial shape of a cylindrical side surface, the imaging element formed so as to be capable of being curved is arranged along the image plane. And panoramic camera.   The panoramic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating lens that rotates to expose a subject image on the image plane.   A panoramic camera having a wide-angle lens with a curved image plane, wherein the image plane includes a curved imaging element that matches a curved shape of the image plane.   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that divides a light receiving region of the image sensor from a photographing start end to a photographing end end into a plurality of regions and reads a picked-up image signal from the region where the exposure is finished during photographing. Item 4. The panoramic camera according to any one of items 3 to 4.

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