JP2008020543A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional image pickup device in which camera shake correction is performed not only in moving image shooting but also in still image shooting.
A CPU adjusts convergence angles of two image pickup units I1 and I2 by rotating motors M1 and M2 which are actuators. Further, in response to the detection of the camera shake by the camera shake detection sensor 12 for detecting the camera shake, the two image pickup units I1 and I2 are corrected by the motors M1 and M2 so as to correct the camera shake based on the detection result of the camera shake detection sensor 12. Adjust the orientation.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention includes an imaging unit that includes an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and captures a stereoscopic image by capturing a subject in the same manner as capturing a subject with human eyes with a plurality of imaging units. The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  Imaging that has two imaging units each having an imaging optical system and an imaging device, and captures the subject and generates image data representing a stereoscopic image in the same manner as the subject is captured by the human eye with the two imaging units. There exists an apparatus (refer patent document 1). A technique for generating a suitable stereoscopic image by using both motion vectors and parallax has been proposed for the imaging apparatus of Patent Document 1.

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if camera shake occurs during moving image shooting, camera shake correction is preferably performed based on both motion vectors and parallax.

However, it does not optically correct camera shake by moving the camera shake correction lens or moving the image sensor as in general camera shake correction, but it uses motion vectors to correct camera shake at the signal processing stage. Therefore, camera shake correction can be performed only during movie shooting.
JP 2003-92768 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a stereoscopic image capturing apparatus in which camera shake correction is performed not only in moving image shooting but also in still image shooting.

The imaging apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a plurality of imaging units each having a photographing optical system and an imaging element;
An actuator for adjusting a convergence angle of the plurality of imaging units;
A camera shake detection sensor for detecting camera shake,
The actuator drives the plurality of imaging units so as to adjust the convergence angle and correct camera shake based on a detection result of the camera shake detection sensor.

  According to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, since the convergence angle is adjusted suitable for taking a three-dimensional image, and the camera shake is optically corrected based on the detection result of the camera shake detection sensor. Regardless of the image, the camera shake of the stereoscopic image is always corrected.

  Further, by using the actuator in common for convergence angle adjustment and camera shake correction, it is possible to reduce the size by simplifying the structure.

  As described above, it is possible to realize a three-dimensional image capturing apparatus in which camera shake correction is performed not only in moving image shooting but also in still image shooting.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a view of the imaging apparatus as viewed from above.

  The imaging apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has two imaging units I1 and I2 each having an imaging optical system and an imaging element, and the two imaging units I1 and I2 so that the same subject is captured. An actuator 110 that adjusts the convergence angle of the units I1 and I2 and a camera shake detection sensor 12 that detects camera shake are provided.

  Each of the imaging units I1 and I2 shown in FIG. 1 is supported by lead screws LS1 and LS2 and nuts N1 and N2 that are rotatably supported on the rear side and rotated on the front side by motors M1 and M2 that are actuators. It is configured to move in an arc shape with respect to the side axis. For this reason, when the lead screws LS1 and LS2 are rotated by receiving the rotation of the motors M1 and M2, the side surfaces of the imaging units I1 and I2 are pushed or pulled to adjust the directions of the two imaging units I1 and I2. Is done.

  In this example, the operation of the motors M1 and M2 for rotating the lead screws LS1 and LS2 is controlled by the CPU 10. When the CPU 10 instructs the motor driver 11 to rotate the motors M1 and M2 to rotate the lead screws LS1 and LS2, both of them are maintained at the convergence angle set by the convergence angle setting means 13 shown in FIG. The positions of the nuts N1, N2 are adjusted in a dependent manner. Note that the convergence angle setting means 13 shown in FIG. 1 is constituted by, for example, a dedicated processor, and it is possible to provide a distance measuring function and a photometric function in the processor. In the present embodiment, the following description will be made assuming that the dedicated processor is provided with a convergence angle setting unit and a distance measuring function. For this reason, in the following description, the convergence angle setting means 13 may be described as a processor.

  The actuator may be a piezoelectric element, for example, and in that case, the motors M1 and M2 are omitted. FIG. 1 also shows which part the convergence angle indicates in order to clarify the definition of the convergence angle according to the present invention. It also shows how the hand shake affects the convergence angle when it occurs.

  Here, the configuration of the imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 is controlled by the CPU 10 in an integrated manner. The CPU 10 is supplied with a signal indicating a value related to the convergence angle from the convergence angle setting means 13, a detection signal from the camera shake detection sensor 12, and a release signal from a release button (not shown). The motor driver 11 is controlled by the CPU 10, and the orientations of the two imaging units I1 and I2 are adjusted by the motors M1 and M2 that are actuators. Note that a release button (not shown) provided in the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment has two operation modes of half-pressing and full-pressing, and photometry / ranging is performed when the release button is half-pressed. It is assumed that the focus adjustment and exposure adjustment are performed and the shutter release button is fully pressed to take a picture.

  For example, the convergence angle setting means 13 calculates the convergence angle required to cross the optical axes at the subject distance to the nearest subject when the release button is pressed halfway for shooting. As described above, the processor provided with the convergence angle setting means 13 is equipped with a distance measuring function, a photometric function, and the like, and the distance to the subject is measured by the distance measuring function therein to calculate the convergence angle. At this time, image data generated by the image sensor while moving the focus lens (not shown) in the image pickup unit is input to the processor, and the contrast is detected for each position of the focus lens by the processor, and a contrast peak is obtained. Ranging is performed with the in-focus point. When the distance is measured in the processor and the convergence angle is calculated based on the result of the distance measurement, the convergence angle is notified to the CPU 10 and set in the CPU. In response to the notification of the convergence angle, the CPU 10 drives the two motors M1 and M2 to cause the motor driver 11 to individually adjust the positions of the nuts N1 and N2, thereby individually adjusting the positions of the imaging units I1 and I2. Adjust the direction of each.

  Here, when the release button is fully pressed, the photographing process is started. If camera shake is detected by the camera shake detection sensor 12 at this time, the CPU 10 receives a signal from the camera shake detection sensor 12 and instructs the motor driver 11 to cancel the camera shake and keep the convergence angle constant. The imaging process is started while individually driving and adjusting the direction of each imaging unit.

  According to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, camera shake correction is not performed in the signal processing stage as before, and based on the detection result of the camera shake detection sensor 12, a convergence angle is set to a predetermined angle for the motors M <b> 1 and M <b> 2 that are actuators. Since image stabilization is performed optically while maintaining the value, the orientation of the imaging unit is adjusted appropriately according to the state of camera shake, whether it is still image shooting or movie shooting, and camera shake is corrected. It becomes like this.

  As described above, it is possible to realize a three-dimensional image capturing apparatus in which camera shake correction is performed not only in moving image shooting but also in still image shooting.

  In the present embodiment, an imaging apparatus including two imaging units has been described as an example, but three or more imaging units may be provided.

It is a figure which shows the imaging device which is one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Imaging device 10 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Motor driver 110 Actuator LS1 LS2 Lead screw N1 N2 Nut 12 Camera shake detection sensor 13 Convergence angle setting means

Claims (1)

A plurality of imaging units each having an imaging optical system and an imaging device;
An actuator for adjusting a convergence angle of the plurality of imaging units;
A camera shake detection sensor for detecting camera shake,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the actuator drives the plurality of imaging units so as to adjust the convergence angle and correct camera shake based on a detection result of the camera shake detection sensor.

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