JPH05227461A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a video camera which can securely remove the influence of peripheral light, which can improve picture quality and in which a camera head part and a camera control part are separated each other. CONSTITUTION:A solid-state image pickup element 4 image-picks up an optical image by infrared light from a subject by noticing that there is no infrared component in the peripheral light of the subject. Thus, this camera is provided with an optical filter 3 transmitting only the infrared light of the optical image from the subject and an illumination means 9 emitting infrared light or light including infrared light as illumination light to the subject. An infrared light- emitting diode or an infrared laser diode having an advantage that power consumption is less, heat radiation constitution and focus constitution can be eliminated, cost is inexpensive and a life is long is desirable for the illumination means 9. CCD following a line transfer system by which the camera head part 1 can be miniaturized is desirable for the solid-state image pickup element 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera using a solid-state image sensor, and is particularly suitable for application to a camera head section and a camera control section connected by a camera cord.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera head unit having an objective lens and an image pickup device and a camera control unit having a configuration for driving the image pickup device and a process for processing a video signal from the image pickup device are connected by a camera cord. There is a video camera.

In such a video camera, not only the camera head can be positioned almost independently of the position of the camera control section, but also the camera head section is small because the camera head section is separated from the camera control section. It can be made lightweight and can be inserted into a narrow space or a closed space, or can be attached to a support having a small allowable load. Therefore, a video camera in which the camera head is connected not directly to the camera control unit via a camera cord is used not only for industrial endoscopes and medical endoscopes, but also for example, when the camera head is connected to a robot arm. When the robot is controlled by the image attached to the tip of the camera head and the image is taken by the camera head, or when the camera head is provided near the workpiece and the captured image is used for positioning the workpiece. Also used for.

In a video camera used for such an application, it is preferable that the camera head portion is small and light in weight. Therefore, the image pickup element provided in the camera head portion is a solid-state image pickup element, particularly a CCD (charge coupled device). Is most. As is well known, CCD (two-dimensional CC
D) is roughly classified into a frame transfer method, an interline transfer method, and a line transfer method according to the scanning method.

A frame transfer type CCD has a storage unit that has the same number of pixels as the photosensitive unit and is not exposed to light. The signal charges for one field photoelectrically converted and accumulated in the photosensitive section are all transferred in parallel to the accumulating section in a part of the vertical blanking period, and the photosensitive section is again in a state of accumulating photoelectric conversion charges. .. The signal charge for one field transferred to the storage section is transferred to the line transfer section by an amount corresponding to one horizontal scanning line during a part of the horizontal blanking period, and the signal charge transferred to the line transfer section is immediately transferred. A standard television signal is obtained from the output terminal by sequentially transferring to the output terminal at the standard speed and repeating such transfer for each horizontal scanning line.

In the interline transfer type CCD, photosensitive units and storage units corresponding to a pixel line of one vertical line are arranged alternately in the horizontal direction, and a line transfer unit is provided below the photosensitive units. Since the photosensitive section and the accumulating section are adjacent to each other, the signal charges of all pixels photoelectrically converted by each photosensitive section are instantaneously transferred to the corresponding accumulating section in a part of the vertical blanking period, and each photosensitive section is The photoelectric conversion charge is again stored. The signal charge transferred to each storage unit is transferred to the line transfer unit by an amount corresponding to one horizontal scanning line during a part of the horizontal blanking period, and the signal charge transferred to the line transfer unit is immediately transferred at the standard speed. A standard television signal is obtained from the output terminal by sequentially transferring to the output terminal and repeating such transfer for each horizontal scanning line.

The CCD of the line transfer system does not have a storage part unlike the CCD of the frame transfer system or the interline transfer system, and the signal charges of the photosensitive part are horizontally transferred to the line transfer part provided in the lower vertical direction of the photosensitive part. 1 for each scan line
The signal charges for the horizontal scanning lines are sequentially transferred to the output terminal by this line transfer section, and a standard television signal is obtained from the output terminal by repeating such operations.

Accordingly, the CCD of the line transfer system which does not require the storage section is the smallest and the camera head section can be the smallest. However, since the storage unit is not provided, it is unavoidable that the signal charge is exposed to light even during the transfer and the signal charge of another pixel is included in the signal charge, and the smear phenomenon occurs.

Conventionally, there has already been proposed a video camera in which a CCD of a line transfer system is applied in consideration of further downsizing of a camera head portion and the occurrence of a smear phenomenon can be suppressed as much as possible (special feature). Fairness 2-3400
No. 6).

This conventional video camera does not emit light during signal charge transfer but emits pulsed light only during exposure, so that the amount of light received during signal charge transfer is relatively small and the smear phenomenon is suppressed. It is what Then, in order to obtain the effect (suppression of smear phenomenon) of the pulsed light in spite of the presence of ambient light of the subject, a light source lamp capable of emitting visible light with sufficiently strong brightness against ambient light is provided in the camera control section. The subject was provided with the illumination light and radiated it to the subject through the light guide. Although there is no specific description about the type of light source lamp,
A point that emits light with a sufficiently strong intensity against ambient light, or a point that a light beam from a light source lamp is reflected by a parabolic mirror and then condensed by a condenser lens to enter the light guide of irradiation light. From the viewpoint, it can only be considered that a powerful discharge lamp or incandescent lamp of about several hundred W is applied as the light source lamp.

[0011]

However, even though it is exposed to light by pulse emission, when there is a subject in a factory or laboratory where a fluorescent lamp or a discharge lamp is used as an interior lamp, the signal charge of Even during transfer, it is unavoidable that the ambient light emitted from the room light causes exposure, and the smear phenomenon cannot be completely prevented.

Further, a light source lamp (fluorescent lamp or discharge lamp) for pulsed light emission having a large relative light amount ratio with respect to ambient light.
Therefore, the configuration of the camera control unit including the optical system for guiding the emitted light to the light guide was large. In addition, a structure for radiating the heat generated from the light source lamp is also necessary, and from this point, the structure of the camera control unit is large. Further, fluorescent lamps and discharge lamps have the drawbacks of higher power consumption, higher cost, and shorter lifespan than other lighting means.
Since the light is emitted in a pulsed manner, the service life tends to be shorter than in normal use.

Some video cameras using a CCD of the frame transfer system or the interline transfer system also have a light source lamp. That is, there is a device in which the image quality of an image is improved by making the amount of light from the light source lamp significantly larger than the amount of ambient light. However, these video cameras also have the same problems as video cameras using CCD of the line transfer system. That is, the light from the light source lamp (fluorescent lamp or discharge lamp) is of the same kind as the ambient light, and the effect of excluding the influence of the ambient light and improving the image quality cannot be sufficiently exerted.
Further, since the fluorescent lamp or the discharge lamp is used as the light source lamp, there is a problem that there is room for improvement in many aspects such as economy, size, heat dissipation, power consumption, and life.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera capable of reliably eliminating the influence of ambient light and improving the image quality. Also, not only the image quality, but also the economy, size,
It is intended to provide a video camera which is better than the conventional one in terms of heat dissipation, power consumption and life.

[0015]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a camera head section having a solid-state image pickup device for receiving an optical image from a subject and converting it into an electric signal through a camera code. In a video camera connected to the control unit, an optical filter that transmits only infrared light of an optical image from a subject, and an illumination unit that emits infrared light or light containing infrared light as illumination light for the subject And capturing an optical image of infrared light from a subject.

A video camera in which the solid-state image pickup device is a line transfer type charge coupled device and the illumination means emits light during a non-transfer operation period of the charge coupled device is a preferable mode.

Further, it is preferable that the illumination means is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode.

Further, an illumination means, which is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, is provided in the connector for connecting the camera cord to the camera control section, and a light guide for guiding the illumination light from the illumination means is provided in the camera cord. preferable.

Alternatively, it is preferable to provide an illumination means, which is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, in the camera head portion.

Irrespective of whether it is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, it is also preferable to provide an illuminating means in the camera control section and a light guide for guiding the illuminating light from the illuminating means in the camera code. This is one aspect.

[0021]

The present invention was made by paying attention to the fact that ambient light of a subject has almost no infrared component, and an optical image of infrared light from the subject is picked up. The effect of ambient light around the subject can be reliably removed. Therefore, an optical filter that transmits only infrared light of an optical image from the subject and an illumination unit that emits infrared light or light containing infrared light as illumination light to the subject are provided.

Many video cameras having a camera code are required to make the camera head as small as possible, and in order to meet such a demand, a line transfer type charge coupled device is applied as a solid-state image pickup device, and illumination is performed. It is preferred to pulse the means. A video camera to which such a line transfer type charge-coupled device is applied is particularly badly affected by ambient light, and therefore has a great merit of capturing an optical image of infrared light from a subject.

In addition, as the illuminating means in the present invention, infrared light emission is advantageous in that it consumes less power than other illuminating means, can dissipate the heat radiation structure and the light condensing structure, is inexpensive, and has a long life. It is preferable to apply a diode or an infrared laser diode.

Since the infrared light emitting diode and the infrared laser diode are small in themselves, they can be provided in the connector for connecting the camera cord to the camera control section, or can be provided in the camera head section. In the former case, there is an advantage that the structure can be simplified because the connecting connector only needs to electrically connect to the camera control section. Further, in the latter case, there is an advantage that the light guide is not required in the camera cord, the flexibility of the camera cord can be increased, and there is no need to worry about damage to the light guide.

Illuminating means can be provided in the camera control section regardless of whether it is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode. In this case, even a video camera in which a plurality of camera cords are connected to a single camera control section has the advantage that only one illumination means is required.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (A) First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the video camera of the first embodiment is roughly composed of a camera head section 1, a camera control section 8 and a camera cord 7. The camera head unit 1 is provided at the tip of the camera cord 7. The base end portion of the camera cord 7 is a connector 6, and the connector 6 connects the camera cord 7 to the camera control unit 8.

The camera control section 8 includes a light source lamp 9, a video signal amplification circuit 10, a timing generation circuit 11,
A CCD drive circuit 12 and a lamp drive circuit 13 are provided.

The timing generation circuit 11 has a CC which will be described later.
The charge transfer timing signal C1 for D4 and the light emission timing signal C2 for the light source lamp 9 are generated. The charge transfer timing signal C1 is supplied to the CCD drive circuit 13 and the lamp timing signal C2 is supplied to the lamp drive circuit 13.

When the lamp timing circuit C2 receives the lamp timing signal C2, the lamp drive circuit 13 amplifies the lamp timing signal C2 and supplies the light source lamp 9 with the lamp drive signal D2. The ramp timing signal C2 is generated during a part of the vertical blanking period, as will be described later. The light source lamp 9 is composed of, for example, an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, emits light when a lamp drive signal D2 is given from the lamp drive circuit 13, and emits infrared light or light containing infrared light. To do. The camera cord 7 includes a light guide 5 penetrating from the base end to the tip. The light source lamp 9 is provided close to the end face of the light guide 5 on the base end side, and the light beam emitted from the light source lamp 9 is directly incident on the light guide 5 and passes through the light guide 5 to emit light. The light is emitted from the end surface of the guide 5 on the tip end side (the end surface of the camera head portion 1). Note that the camera cord 7 is actually flexible and has an outer diameter of 4 to
It is about 5 mm.

The camera head portion 1 is directed toward a subject (not shown), and the light beam emitted from the end face of the light guide 5 on the side of the front end portion is applied to the subject. Camera head 1
Is provided with an objective lens 2, an infrared transmission filter 3 and a CCD 4 in order from the subject side. The reflected light from the subject is condensed by the objective lens 2 and a subject image is formed on the photosensitive portion of the CCD 4. At this time, since the light is transmitted through the infrared transmission filter 3, a subject image by infrared light is formed on the photosensitive portion of the CCD 4. Actually, the outer diameter of the camera head unit 1 is about 7 to 9 mm when the oval CCD 4 having the 5.5 mm circular upper and lower parts is cut out.

Generally, a fluorescent lamp or a discharge lamp is used as an illumination means in a room where an object is present, but these room lights do not emit a light component in the infrared region and therefore are connected to the photosensitive portion of the CCD 4. The formed subject image is only an image of light rays (infrared light) emitted from the light source lamp 9 reflected by the subject.

In the case of the first embodiment, the camera head unit 1
In consideration of downsizing and weight reduction, a line transfer type CCD 4 is applied. The timing generation circuit 11 described above outputs the charge transfer timing signal (clock signal) C1 to the CCD drive circuit 12 in the video period of the horizontal scanning period, and the CCD drive circuit 12 amplifies the signal and outputs it as the CCD drive signal D1 to the camera. It is given to the CCD 4 via the signal line in the code 7. This allows the CCD
Reference numeral 4 sequentially transfers the accumulated charges obtained by photoelectrically converting the subject image in the photosensitive section, and supplies the video signal S obtained by the transfer processing to the amplifier circuit 10 of the camera control section 8 via a signal line. The amplifier circuit 10 amplifies the video signal S and supplies the amplified signal V0 as a television signal (but does not include a sync signal component) from the output terminal 14 to the next stage device.
Due to the periodicity of the charge transfer timing signal (clock signal) C1, the amplified signal V0 becomes smooth even if the video signal S from the CCD 4 is somewhat stepwise.

Next, the operation of the video camera having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each part of the video camera having the above configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the timing generation circuit 11 generates the ramp timing signal C2 during a part of the vertical blanking period. The lamp timing signal C2 is amplified by the lamp drive circuit 13 and given to the light source lamp 9 as the drive signal D2, whereby the light source lamp 9 emits and emits light. The emitted light (infrared light) passes through the light guide 5 and is applied to the subject, and the reflected light from the subject is imaged on the CCD 4 through the objective lens 2 and the infrared transmission filter 3 sequentially.

FIG. 3 shows the relative spectral characteristics of various optical elements provided in the video camera of the first embodiment. The light source lamp 9 has a relative spectral emissivity characteristic curve 21.
As shown in (1), it emits infrared light in the wavelength range of 780 to 900 nm. The infrared transmission filter 3 (for example, product name IR80 manufactured by Hoya Co., Ltd.) has a relative spectral transmittance characteristic 22 that covers a wide infrared region including the wavelength range of the irradiation light of the light source lamp 9, and is visible. The light area is not transmitted. Therefore, if the ambient light does not include the infrared region due to the indoor fluorescent lamp or the discharge lamp, the infrared light transmitted through the infrared transmission filter 3 is the infrared light emitted from the light source lamp 9 and reflected from the subject. Only light. C
As shown by the relative spectral sensitivity characteristic curve 20, the CD 4 has sensitivity not only in the visible light region but also in a part of the infrared region, and in the infrared light region emitted from the light source lamp 9 and reflected from the subject. On the other hand, it has a relative spectral sensitivity of 0.5 or more. That is, only the subject image by infrared light is captured.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the timing generation circuit 11 transfers an electric charge for each video period of the horizontal scanning period after an infrared image is formed on the CCD 4 and photoelectric conversion is performed. A timing signal (clock signal) C1 is output.
The charge transfer timing signal C1 is amplified via the CCD drive circuit 12 and supplied to the CCD 4, which causes the CCD 4 to transfer the charge accumulated in the photosensitive section to a one-dimensional signal train, as shown in FIG. That is, the video signal S is output. The video signal S is inverted and amplified by the amplifier circuit 10, smoothed, and output from the output terminal 14 as the television signal V0 shown in FIG.

As described above, the light emission of the light source lamp 9 is repeated in the field cycle, and the transfer control from the CCD 4 is repeated in the horizontal scanning cycle.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, even if the CCD 4 of the line transfer system is applied as the image pickup device in consideration of the reduction in size and weight of the camera head unit 1, the infrared image can be obtained by the pulse emission. Therefore, the smear phenomenon can be surely prevented. Although the smear phenomenon can be prevented by dividing the exposure period of the CCD 4 and the transfer period by pulsed light emission, the prevention effect is not sufficient if there is exposure to ambient light during the transfer period. In the first embodiment, the infrared transmission filter 3 forms an image of infrared light, which is rarely present in ambient light, on the CCD 4, so that it is possible to reliably prevent exposure to ambient light during the transfer period. As a result, the smear phenomenon can be reliably prevented.

As a method of obtaining such an effect, it is conceivable that ultraviolet light is pulsed to form an ultraviolet image, but this is not practical. That is, the CCD is shown in FIG.
This is because the sensitivity to ultraviolet light is poor and the light source lamp that emits ultraviolet light and the optical filter that transmits the light are expensive as shown in FIG.

Further, according to the first embodiment described above, since the infrared light emitting diode or the infrared laser diode is applied as the light source lamp 9, compared with the conventional case where the discharge lamp or the fluorescent lamp is applied. The configuration of the camera control unit 8 can be made small. That is, not only is the light source lamp 9 itself reduced in size, but an optical system for causing the light emitted from the light source lamp to enter the light guide 5 can be eliminated, so that the size can be reduced. In practice, by applying an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode as the light source lamp 9, the size of the camera control section 8 could be reduced to about 1/4 to 1/5 of the conventional size.

Furthermore, since an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode is applied as the light source lamp 9,
The power consumption (heat dissipation amount) in the camera control section 8 can be reduced, the life can be extended, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the infrared light emitting diode or the infrared laser diode is applied as the light source lamp 9, it is possible to appropriately control the light amount and the light emitting time to be predetermined. That is, the xenon lamp that has been used in many conventional video cameras has a narrow relative controllable range of the light amount and the light emission time, but the infrared light emitting diode or the infrared laser diode has a wide controllable range. As a result, it becomes possible to execute appropriate control of the amount of light and the light emission time according to the imaging target and the imaging environment.

Incidentally, the infrared light emitting diode or the infrared laser diode has a smaller absolute amount of emitted light than the incandescent lamp or the discharge lamp, but in the case of this embodiment,
Since the image is picked up by infrared light that does not exist in the ambient light, it is not necessary to consider the light amount level of the ambient light, and the image can be sufficiently picked up by the amount of light emitted by these diodes.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, in FIG. 4, the same or corresponding portions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a light source lamp 9 composed of an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode is incorporated in the connector 6 portion of the camera cord 7 for the camera control section 8. Different from the first embodiment. Since the light source lamp 9 is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, the light source lamp 9 can be provided at such a position.

According to the second embodiment as well, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and further the following effects can be obtained. That is, in the case of the first embodiment,
Since there are two types of connection between the camera cord 7 and the camera control unit 8, that is, electrical connection and optical connection, the connection structure is complicated, but in the case of the second embodiment, electrical connection is made. Since only the connection is made, the connection structure can be simplified. However, as compared with the first embodiment, the size of the connector 6 is increased, and the number of light source lamps 9 required when one camera control unit 8 is commonly used by a plurality of camera cords 7 is increased.

(C) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, also in FIG. 5, the same or corresponding portions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the first point is that the light source lamp 9 is provided on the end face of the camera head portion 1.
Unlike the embodiment, therefore, a signal line for the lamp drive signal D2 is provided in the camera cord 7 instead of the light guide 5. Also in the third embodiment, since the light source lamp 9 is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, it can be provided at such a position.

Also according to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and further the following effects can be obtained. That is, since the light guide 5 is not provided, the outer diameter of the camera cord 7 can be further reduced, and the flexibility of the camera cord 7 can be increased to facilitate the wiring. Moreover, since there is no light guide 5 that is more easily damaged than the electrical signal line, the reliability of the camera code 7 can be improved. Further, in the first and second embodiments, when the camera cord 7 is long, the transmission loss due to the light guide 5 becomes a problem, but in this embodiment, such a problem does not occur. However, as compared with the first embodiment, when the required light amount for illuminating the subject is large, the light source lamp 9 having a high light amount is applied, and therefore the camera head unit 1 becomes large.

(D) Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that, also in FIG. 6, the same or corresponding portions as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the fourth embodiment, a one-dimensional sensor is applied as the CCD 4, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a structure for assembling a two-dimensional image from the video signal S from the CCD 4, AD, is used. A converter 30, an image memory 31, and a DA converter 32 are provided. C
The video signal S output from the CD 4 and amplified by the amplifier circuit 10 is converted into a digital signal in the AD converter 30 and stored in a predetermined address of the image memory 31. The image data assembled into a two-dimensional image through such storage is read from the image memory 31 in accordance with the standard format of a television signal, and the read signal is converted into an analog signal by the DA converter 32 and then the television signal. Output terminal 14 as signal V0
Output to the next stage device. The AD converter 3
The timing generation circuit 11 outputs a sampling signal for 0 and the DA converter 32, and a write address and a read address for the image memory 31.

According to the fifth embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, although not confirmed, the camera head unit 1 has a smaller size because the one-dimensional CCD is applied. It is highly possible that In the video camera of this embodiment, the subject is limited to a moving object in a predetermined direction.

(E) Other Embodiments In the first to fourth embodiments, the infrared transmission filter 3 is used.
Although the one shown is positioned between the objective lens 2 and the CCD 4, the infrared transmission filter 3 may be provided in front of the objective lens 2 (on the subject side).

In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the objective lens 2 of the camera head 1 is exposed to the outside, but the light source lamp 9 and the objective are provided on the front side of the camera head 1 on the object side. You may make it provide the transparent protective glass which protects the lens 2 grade | etc.,.

In the above first to third embodiments, the solid-state image pickup device has been described as a CCD according to the line transfer system, but a CCD according to the frame transfer system or the interline transfer system may be applied. Even in a video camera using a CCD that conforms to the frame transfer method or the interline transfer method, the influence of ambient light is excluded to improve the image quality by irradiating the subject with illumination light by pulsed light emission having a large light intensity ratio with ambient light. When the feature of the present invention that an infrared image is taken by irradiating infrared light is applied to such a video camera, the influence of ambient light can be reliably excluded and the image quality can be improved.

Needless to say, a solid-state image sensor other than the CCD, which is sensitive to the infrared region, may be applied.

Further, as in the above embodiments, the light source lamp 9 is preferably an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode, but a discharge lamp or an incandescent lamp that emits a light ray containing an infrared component is applied as a light source lamp. You may.
In this case, the effect of downsizing the configuration when the infrared light emitting diode or the infrared laser diode is applied cannot be obtained, but the effect that the image quality of the captured image can be improved as compared with the related art can be obtained.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, an optical filter that transmits only infrared light of an optical image from a subject, and infrared light or light containing infrared light as illumination light to the subject. Since the optical image of infrared light from the subject is picked up, the influence of ambient light can be reliably excluded from the picked-up image and the image quality can be improved.

Further, when an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode is applied as such an illumination means, in addition to the above effects, all aspects of economy, size, heat dissipation, power consumption and life are obtained. It can be improved compared to the conventional one.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a video camera of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic curve diagram showing relative spectral characteristics of various optical elements of the first example.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a video camera of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a video camera of a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a video camera of a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera head part, 3 ... Infrared transmission filter, 4 ... Line transfer type CCD (charge coupled device), 5 ... Light guide, 6 ... Connector, 7 ... Camera code, 8 ... Camera control part, 9 ... Light source lamp (Infrared light emitting diode or infrared laser diode).

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A video camera in which a camera head unit having a solid-state image sensor for receiving an optical image from a subject and converting it into an electric signal is connected to a camera control unit via a camera cord. An optical filter that transmits only infrared light of the image and an illumination unit that emits infrared light or light containing infrared light as illumination light for the subject are provided, and an optical image of the infrared light from the subject is captured. A video camera characterized by doing. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the solid-state imaging device is a line transfer type charge coupled device, and the illumination means is caused to emit light during a non-transfer operation period of the charge coupled device. 3. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the lighting means is an infrared light emitting diode or an infrared laser diode. 4. The illumination means is provided in a connector for connecting the camera cord to the camera control section, and a light guide for guiding illumination light from the illumination means is provided in the camera cord. The video camera described in 3. 5. The video camera according to claim 3, wherein the lighting means is provided in the camera head portion. 6. The illuminating means is provided in the camera control section, and a light guide for guiding illuminating light from the illuminating means is provided in the camera cord. Video camera.