Patent Application
20070046809
The present invention relates to an image pickup device and a multi-eye image pickup device for capturing image data from an image sensor and for transferring the image data to an external controller.
In recent years, an image pickup device using a solid-state image sensor rapidly becomes popular. In this kind of the image pickup device, an image is captured as digital data. Since the solid-state image sensor is further downsized and is manufactured at lower cost, a multi-eye image pickup device provided with a plurality of imaging units, which respectively comprise the solid-state image sensor and a taking lens, is put to practical use. Among such multi-eye image pickup devices, a stereoscopic image pickup device for taking a stereoscopic image is known. This kind of the stereoscopic image pickup device comprises a pair of imaging units capable of simultaneously shooting a subject at different angles to obtain the data of two images having parallax. In the stereoscopic image pickup device, it is possible to three-dimensionally analyze the subject, which is taken as the images having the parallax, by means of a so-called stereo method. The stereoscopic image pickup device is recently beginning to be utilized for a biometrics camera, a security camera and so forth. The biometrics camera is used for identifying a contour of a face and so forth. The security camera is used for correctly counting a number of persons entering a supervised area.
When the multi-eye image pickup device is used as the biometrics camera and the security camera, the multi-eye image pickup device is placed at a position where it is possible to shoot a subject. At this time, the multi-eye image pickup device is generally actuated in accordance with control signals outputted from an external controller, which is placed at a remote location separating from the subject. The multi-eye image pickup device used as the biometrics camera and the security camera is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-190972, for instance. In this kind of the image pickup device, the image sensor is generally used in a condition of prolonged actuation. In this regard, the remote control camera system described in the Publication No. 2002-190972 is provided with a movable barrier disposed in front of a lens unit. At a time of shooting, the movable barrier is kept in an open state to expose the lens unit. At a time of non-shooting, the movable barrier is kept in a closed state to prevent unnecessary light from entering the lens unit.
However, when the image pickup device is controlled from the external controller placed at the remote location, the image sensor built in the image pickup device is kept in the state of prolonged actuation during which the ambient light always enters a light-receiving area of the image sensor. Consequently, the image sensor is likely to deteriorate and a problem of durability arises. Particularly, in the image pickup device constantly sending a preview image at a normal time and performing regular shooting at any timing in response to the control signal of the external controller, pixels are thinned in the preview-image shooting relative to the regular shooting. In other words, the preview-image shooting is performed in an intermittent readout pattern. Due to this, the pixels of the light-receiving area used in the constant shooting are depleted in comparison with the pixels thereof which are not used in the preview shooting. Thus, endurance of the image sensor is shortened.
Meanwhile, it is considered to prevent the unnecessary light from entering the image sensor by providing the movable barrier such as described in the above-noted Publication No. 2002-190972. However, this Publication teaches the control method for the remote control camera system in which the movable barrier is moved to the light shielding position in response to communication performed between the external controller and the remote control camera system. Thus, if the communication is performed, the movable barrier is moved even when the image sensor outputs the image signal. Thus, when the camera is used for the biometrics and the security, there is a possibility that shooting is not performed at important timing if the movable barrier happens to be kept in the light-shielding state.
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an image pickup device in which image data obtained from an image sensor for a prolonged period is transmitted to an external control device and deterioration of the image sensor is retarded to elongate a lifetime thereof.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a multi-eye image pickup device and a control program for the same in which image data obtained from an image sensor for a prolonged period is transmitted to an external control device and deterioration of the image sensor is retarded to elongate a lifetime thereof.
In order to achieve the above and other objects, the image pickup device according to the present invention comprises an optical system, an image sensor, a signal processor, a communication processor and a controller. The optical system includes a shutter mechanism. The image sensor is disposed behind the optical system. The signal processor processes an image signal outputted from the image sensor. The signal processor produces preview-image data and regular-image data on the basis of the image signal. The communication processor performs transmission and reception with the external control device via a communication tool. The controller controls the communication processor to transmit the preview-image data to the external control device in real time. The controller halts the transmission of the preview-image data and transmits the regular-image data to the external control device upon reception of a control signal which is sent from the external control device to request regular-image shooting. While the regular-image data is transmitted, the shutter mechanism is kept in a closed state to prevent ambient light from entering the image sensor.
The multi-eye image pickup device according to the present invention comprises a plurality of imaging units, a signal processor, a communication processor and a controller. The respective imaging units have an optical system, in which a shutter mechanism is included, and an image sensor disposed behind the optical system. The signal processor processes an image signal outputted from the image sensor. The signal processor produces preview-image data and regular-image data on the basis of the image signal. The communication processor performs transmission and reception with the external control device via a communication tool. The controller controls the communication processor to transmit the preview-image data to the external control device in real time. The controller halts the transmission of the preview-image data and transmits the regular-image data to the external control device upon reception of a control signal which is sent from the external control device to request regular-image shooting. While the regular-image data is transmitted, the shutter mechanism is kept in a closed state to prevent ambient light from entering the image sensor.
The shutter mechanism is changeable between the closed state in that a shutter member prevents the ambient light from entering the image sensor, and an open state in that the shutter member is evacuated and allows the ambient light to enter the image sensor. As to the image sensor, a CCD and a CMOS type are used.
It is preferable that one of the imaging units is selected and the preview-image data is obtained from the image signal outputted from the selected imaging unit. Moreover, it is preferable to use the imaging units such that the imaging unit from which the preview-image data is obtained is changed every predetermined period. Alternatively, it is preferable to use the imaging units such that the imaging unit from which the preview-image data is obtained is changed after transmitting the regular-image data.
The control program according to the present invention makes the multi-eye image pickup device execute the steps of transmitting the preview-image data to the external control device in real time and producing the regular-image data upon reception of the control signal which is sent from the external control device to request regular-image shooting. Moreover, the control program makes the multi-eye image pickup device execute the step of halting the transmission of the preview-image data after producing the regular-image data to transmit the regular-image data to the external control device. Further, the control program makes the multi-eye image pickup device execute the step of keeping the shutter mechanism in the closed state to prevent ambient light from entering the image sensor while the regular-image data is transmitted.
It is preferable to make the multi-eye image pickup device execute the step of selecting one of the imaging units to obtain the preview-image data therefrom. Moreover, it is preferable to make the multi-eye image pickup device execute the step of changing the selected imaging unit every predetermined period. It is also preferable to make the multi-eye image pickup device execute the step of changing the selected imaging unit in association with the transmission of said regular-image data.
According to the present invention, the image data obtained from the image sensor for a prolonged time is transmitted to the external control device and deterioration of the image sensor is retarded to elongate the lifetime thereof.
The respective imaging units 10 and 11 are attached to the case 12 in a state that optical axes P1 and P2 of these units 10 and 11 are slightly inclined inward so as to converge. The front of the case 12 is provided with openings 12a formed for exposing the respective imaging units 10 and 11. The front of the case 12 is further provided with screw holes 12b formed for attaching the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 to an exclusive bracket, an exclusive stay, other device and so forth. Further, the side of the case 12 is provided with connectors 12c for connecting with the communication cable 5.
The first lens barrel 14 contains the first taking lens 13, a stop mechanism 17, a shutter mechanism 18 and so forth. The first taking lens 13 comprises a zoom lens 13a and a focus lens 13b. The shutter mechanism 18 is switched between an open state and a closed state by the first shutter drive motor 19. The shutter mechanism 18 is a mechanical type. When the shutter mechanism 18 is kept in the closed state, a shutter plate is positioned at an optical path of the first taking lens 13 to prevent ambient light from entering an imaging area of the first CCD 23. When the shutter mechanism is kept in the open state, the shutter plate is evacuated from the optical path of the first taking lens 13 to allow the ambient light to enter the imaging area of the first CCD 23. In this embodiment, the shutter mechanism 18 is controlled so as to be set to the closed state upon reception of a control signal which is outputted from the controller 4 connected to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3.
The zoom lens 13a and the focus lens 13b are moved in an optical-axis direction by the first focus motor 20. Further, a stop diameter of the stop mechanism 17 is changed by the first stop drive motor 21. All of the first shutter drive motor 19, the first focus motor 20 and the first stop drive motor 21 are connected to the first motor driver 22 connected to a CPU 40, which controls the whole of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3, via a data bus 42. The CPU 40 controls the first motor driver 22 to actuate the first shutter drive motor 19, the first focus motor 20 and the first stop drive motor 21.
The first CCD 23 is disposed behind the first taking lens 13. The first taking lens 13 forms a subject image on a light-receiving surface of the first CCD 23 connected to the first timing generator 24, which is connected to the CPU 40 via the data bus 42. The CPU 40 controls the first timing generator 24 to generate a timing signal (clock pulse). In response to an input of the timing signal, the first CCD 23 is activated to photoelectrically convert the subject image into an electrical signal. This image signal is sent to the first CDS 25 which is a correlation double sampling circuit.
In this embodiment, the first CCD 23 is driven in accordance with either one of two kinds of readout patterns. In other words, the first CCD 23 is driven after setting either one of an all pixel readout pattern and an intermittent readout pattern. In the all pixel readout pattern, signals of all the pixels are read out. In the intermittent readout pattern, the signals of the pixels arranged in a horizontal scanning direction are intermittently read out in a vertical direction in accordance with image resolution. For example, in the intermittent readout pattern, the image signals are alternately thinned in the vertical direction and are read out at a rate of half of scanning lines of the first CCD 23.
The first CDS 25 obtains the image signal from the first CCD 23 and outputs image data of R, G and B correctly corresponding to an accumulated charge amount of each pixel of the first CCD 23. The image data outputted from the first CDS 25 is amplified by the first AMP 26 and is converted into digital data by the first A/D converter 27. The digitized image data is outputted as right-eye image data from the first A/D converter 27 to a system memory 43 via the data bus 42. In addition, the digitized image data is also outputted to the first AF/AE integration circuit 28.
The first AF/AE integration circuit 28 performs an exposure operation and a focal position operation on the basis of the right-eye image data. In this embodiment, when the first AF/AE integration circuit 28 performs the exposure operation, brightness level of the image data outputted from the A/D converter 27 is accumulated by one frame and an accumulated value is outputted to the first motor driver 22 as exposure information.
Meanwhile, when the first AF/AE integration circuit 28 automatically detects a focal position, only high-pass component of the brightness level is extracted from the image signal and is accumulated, for example. And then, an accumulated value is outputted to the first motor driver 22 as a focus evaluation value.
The first motor driver 22 is controlled on the basis of the focus evacuation value and the exposure information, which are sent from the first AF/AE integration circuit 28, to actuate the first focus motor 20. In virtue of this, the focus lens 13b is moved to an optimum position to adjust the focal position. At the same time, the first stop drive motor 21 is actuated to adjust the stop mechanism 17 to an optimum f-number.
The second imaging unit 11 has a similar structure with the first imaging unit 10. The second imaging unit 11 is composed of the second lens barrel 16, a second shutter drive motor 29, a second focus motor 30, a second stop drive motor 31, a second motor driver 32, a second CCD (image sensor) 33, a second timing generator 34, a second CDS 35, a second AMP 36, a second A/D converter 37 and a second AF/AE integration circuit 38. The second lens barrel 16 contains the second taking lens 15, a stop mechanism 39 and a shutter mechanism 41. The second taking lens 15 comprises a zoom lens 15a and a focus lens 15b. Left-eye image data digitally converted by the second A/D converter 37 is outputted to the system memory 43 via the data bus 42 and is also outputted to the second AF/AE integration circuit 38. Similarly to the first CCD 23, the second CCD 33 is activated in either one of the all pixel readout pattern and the intermittent readout pattern. Meanwhile, the shutter mechanism 41 is changed by the second shutter drive motor 29 between an open state and a closed state.
In the second AF/AE integration circuit 38, an exposure operation and a focal position operation are performed on the basis of the left-eye image data. Similarly to the first AF/AE integration circuit 28, the second AF/AE integration circuit 38 derives exposure information and a focus evacuation value to be outputted to the second motor driver 32. On the basis of the focus evacuation value and the exposure information sent from the second AF/AE integration circuit 38, the second motor driver 32 is controlled to actuate the second focus motor 30. In virtue of this, the focus lens 15b is moved to an optimum position to adjust the focus. In addition, the second stop drive motor 31 is actuated to adjust the stop mechanism 39 to an optimum f-number.
The CPU 40 temporarily stores the image data in a predetermined region of the system memory 43 comprising a ROM and a RAM. The system memory 43 stores setting information and various programs for controlling the stereoscopic image pickup device 3. Moreover, the system memory 43 works as a buffer for temporarily storing the program, which is read out by the CPU 40, and the obtained image data.
The CPU 40 is connected to an image-signal processing circuit 46 via the data bus 42. The image-signal processing circuit 46 reads the image data from the system memory 43 and performs various image processes therefor. As to the image processes, are performed gradation conversion, white-balance processing and gamma correction processing, for example. The processed image data is stored in the system memory 43 again.
Further, the CPU 40 is connected to a communication I/F (communication tool) 48 via the data bus 42. The communication I/F 48 is connected to the communication cable 5 via the connector 18 and is formed with a circuit based on specification of the communication cable 5. The CPU 40 performs communication with external equipments including the controller 4, via the communication I/F 48 and the communication cable 5. The communication I/F 48 is also connected to a power-supply control circuit 49 comprising a filter and a limiter. The filter removes power supply noise. The limiter prevents overcurrent. The power-supply control circuit 49 distributes the bus power, which is supplied via the communication cable 5, to the respective sections of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 through a DC/DC converter 50. The image data stored again in the system memory 43 after performing the various image processes is outputted to the communication I/F 48 and is transmitted to the external equipment via the communication cable 5.
In this embodiment, when the CPU 40 has received a control signal from the controller 4 via the communication I/F 48 and the communication cable 5, the CPU 40 captures regular-image data and transmits this data to the controller 4 via the communication I/F 48 and the communication cable 5. The control signal from the controller 4 is described later in detail.
A front side of the controller 4 is provided with an LCD panel 63 (see
A communication I/F 67 and a power-supply control circuit 68 are connected to the CPU 60 via the data bus 61. The communication I/F 67 is connected to the communication cable 5 via a connector. The CPU 60 performs communication with the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 via the communication I/F 67 and the communication cable 5. The power-supply control circuit 68 comprises a filter for removing power-supply noise, a limiter for preventing overcurrent, and so forth. A battery 69 and a power switch 70 are connected to the power-supply control circuit 68. The power switch 70 is exposed to the outside of the controller 4. In accordance with an ON/OFF state of the power switch 70, an electric power is sent from the battery 69 to a DC/DC converter 71 by which the electric power, which is sent from the power-supply control circuit 68, is converted into a predetermined voltage. The converted electric power is supplied to the respective sections of the controller 4. The electric power from the DC/DC converter 71 is also supplied to the communication I/F 67 and is sent to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 as the bus power. Incidentally, turning on and off the power supply of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is controlled in association with whether the bus power is supplied or not from the external equipments including the controller 4.
Next, an operation of the stereoscopic image pickup system 2 having the above structure is described below with reference to flowcharts and an operational menu picture shown in
In using the stereoscopic image pickup device 3, the controller 4 is connected thereto via the communication cable 5 to construct the stereoscopic image pickup system 2, and then the power switch 70 of the controller 4 is turned on. Upon turning on the power switch 70, the electric power of the battery 69 is distributed to the respective sections of the controller 4 via the power-supply control circuit 68 and the DC/DC converter 71. The CPU 60 to which the electric power has been distributed supplies the bus power to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 via the communication cable 5 to drive the image pickup device.
The stereoscopic image pickup device 3 set to the activation state such as described above is used as the security camera, the authentication camera and so forth. The LCD panel 63 of the controller 4 displays an operational menu picture 75 shown in
As described above, the preview-image data is normally transmitted to the controller 4 in real time to display the preview image within the image display area of the LCD panel 63 of the controller 4 as the through image. When a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 78 has been pressed during the display of the preview image, the control signal for requesting regular-image shooting is sent from the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3.
When the CPU 40 has received the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting, the CPU 40 changes the shooting mode of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 including the CCDs 23 and 33. Further, the CPU 40 activates the respective sections to perform the regular-image shooting and outputs the image signal. Incidentally, upon reception of the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting, the transmission of the preview-image data is halted. And then, the shooting mode of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 is changed from the preview shooting mode to the regular-image shooting mode. At this time, the readout pattern of the CCDs 23 and 33 is changed from the intermittent readout pattern to the all pixel readout pattern. In the changed readout pattern, the image signal is read by one frame. The read image signal is temporarily stored in the system memory 43. After that, various kinds of signal processing are performed to produce the regular-image data. The produced regular-image data is transmitted to the controller 4 via the communication I/F 48, the communication cable 5 and the communication I/F 67. During the transmittance of the regular-image data, the CPU 40 activates the motor drivers 22 and 32 of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 to set the first and second shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 to the closed state so that the ambient light is prevented from entering the first CCD 23 and the second CCD 33.
On the basis of the regular-image data received by the controller 4, the regular image is displayed within the image display area 76 of the LCD panel 63. At the same time, the regular-image data is recorded in the system memory 62 of the controller 4. After completing the transmission of the regular-image data, the first and second shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are returned to the open state. Further, the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 are changed to the preview shooting mode to commence the output of the image signal again. The stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is returned to the normal state in that the preview-image data is transmitted, and the preview image is displayed on the controller 4.
In this way, the shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are kept in the closed state during the transmission of the regular-image data to prevent the ambient light from entering the first CCD 23 and the second CCD 33. Thus, deterioration of the CCD is retarded so that a lifetime of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is elongated. In this embodiment, while the CCD performs shooting, the intermittent readout pattern and the all pixel readout pattern are changed. However, since the ambient light is prevented from entering the CCD as describe above, it is possible to retard the deterioration of the light-receiving area of the CCD.
By the way, in the above embodiment, the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 activates both of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 to take the regular image upon reception of the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting, and the regular-image data is produced from the outputted image signal. After that, the regular-image data is transmitted to the controller 4. During this period, the transmission of the preview-image data is halted. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. In a second embodiment described below, the transmission of the preview image is halted and the shutter mechanism is kept in the closed state only while the regular-image data is transmitted after producing the regular-image data of the taken regular image. A stereoscopic image pickup system used in the second embodiment has a similar structure with the first embodiment and comprises the stereoscopic image pickup device 3, the controller 4 and the cable 5 for connecting these devices.
In this embodiment, there are two control signals to be sent form the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3. One of the control signals requests regular-image shooting, and the other thereof requests regular-image data obtained by the regular-image shooting. In this embodiment, upon reception of the control signal requesting the regular-image data, the image pickup device 3 halts the transmission of the preview-image data and commences the transmission of the regular-image data. While the regular-image data is transmitted, the shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are kept in the closed position.
An operation of the above structure is described below with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and an operational menu picture shown in
As described above, the preview-image data is normally transmitted to the controller 4 in real time to display the preview image within the image display area 81 of the controller 4 as the through image. When a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 83 has been pressed during the display of the preview image, the control signal for requesting regular-image shooting is sent from the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 (see
When the CPU 40 has received the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting, the CPU 40 activates the respective sections of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 to take a regular image. Further, the CPU 40 outputs the image signal. Incidentally, the transmission of the preview-image data is continued when the CPU 40 receives the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting and while the regular-image shooting is performed. Upon reception of the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting, the shooting mode of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 is changed from the preview shooting mode to the regular-image shooting mode. At this time, the readout pattern of the CCDs 23 and 33 is changed from the intermittent readout pattern to the all pixel readout pattern. In the changed readout pattern, the image signal is read by one frame. The read image signal is temporarily stored in the system memory 43. After that, various kinds of signal processing are performed to produce the regular-image data. The produced regular-image data is stored in the system memory 43.
After that, when the operation for requesting the transmission of the regular-image data has been performed at the controller 4, namely when a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 84 has been pressed, the control signal requesting the transmission of the regular-image data is sent from the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 (see
On the basis of the regular-image data received by the controller 4, the regular image is displayed within the image display area 81 of the LCD panel 63. At the same time, the regular-image data is recorded in the system memory 62 of the controller 4. After completing the transmission of the regular-image data, the first and second shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are returned to the open state. Further, the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 are changed to the preview shooting mode to commence the output of the image signal again. The stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is returned to the normal state in that the preview-image data is transmitted, and the preview image is displayed on the controller 4.
In this way, the shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are kept in the closed state during the transmission of the regular-image data to prevent the ambient light from entering the first CCD 23 and the second CCD 33. Thus, deterioration of the CCD is retarded so that the lifetime of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is elongated. While the regular shooting is performed, the preview-image data is simultaneously transmitted. In virtue of this, the preview image is efficiently transmitted.
In the above first and second embodiments, the preview image to be transmitted to the controller 4 is obtained from both of the first CCD 23 and the second CCD 33. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. In a third embodiment of the prevent invention described below, either one of the two imaging units is selected to obtain the preview image. A stereoscopic image pickup system used in the third embodiment has a similar structure with the first embodiment and comprises the stereoscopic image pickup device 3, the controller 4 and the cable 5 for connecting these devices.
In this embodiment, either one of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 is used for preview shooting. The imaging unit to be used is selected on the basis of an input sent from the controller 4. Although the sole imaging unit is used for taking a preview image, both of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 are used for taking a regular image.
An operation of this embodiment is described below with reference to flowcharts and an operational menu picture shown in
As described above, the preview-image data is normally transmitted to the controller 4 in real time to display the preview image within the image display area 86 of the controller 4 as the through image. When a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the change button 89 has been pressed during the display of the preview image, an instruction for changing the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is inputted. Upon this instruction, a control signal requesting the changeover of the imaging unit is sent from the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3. At this time, lighting display of the indicator is changed from the indicator 88a representing the first imaging unit 10 to the indicator 88b representing the second imaging unit 11.
When the CPU 40 has received the control signal requesting the changeover of the imaging unit, the CPU 40 changes the imaging unit performing the preview shooting. In other words, the first imaging unit 10 used until now is halted, and at the same time, the second imaging unit 11 is activated to commence the preview shooting. And then, the image signal is outputted from the second imaging unit 11 in the intermittent readout pattern to produce the preview-image data. The produced preview-image data is transmitted to the controller 4. On the basis of the transmitted preview-image data, the preview image is displayed within the image display area 86. After that, the succeeding preview-image data is repeatedly produced in the identical sequence and is sent to the controller 4 to display the preview image within the image display area 86 as a through image. Meanwhile, when a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 91 has been pressed, the control signal requesting the regular-image shooting is sent. Upon reception of this control signal, the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 captures the regular-image data similarly to the foregoing first embodiment. Further, when a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 92 has been pressed, the control signal requesting the transmission of the regular-image data is sent. Upon reception of this control signal, the stereoscopic image pick device 3 halts the transmission of the preview-image data and sends the regular-image data. At the same time, the shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are set to the closed state to prevent the ambient light from entering the imaging areas of the CCDs 23 and 33.
In this way, the sole imaging unit is used while the preview shooting is performed. In addition, the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is changed by the control signal outputted from the controller 4. Thus, deterioration of the CCD is further retarded so that the lifetime of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is further elongated.
In the third embodiment, the imaging unit taking the preview image is changed upon the imaging-unit switching operation of the controller 4. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. The imaging unit may be changed upon another operation. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention described below, the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is changed upon an operation of the regular-image shooting. A stereoscopic image pickup system used in the fourth embodiment has a similar structure with the first embodiment and comprises the stereoscopic image pickup device 3, the controller 4 and the cable 5 for connecting these devices.
In this embodiment, either one of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 performs the preview shooting, and the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is changed upon the operation of the regular-image shooting. Although the sole imaging unit is used for taking a preview image, both of the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 are used for taking a regular image.
An operation of this embodiment is described below with reference to flowcharts and an operational menu picture shown in
As described above, the preview-image data is normally transmitted to the controller 4 in real time to display the preview image within the image display area 96 of the controller 4 as the through image. When a position of the touch screen 65 corresponding to the menu button 99 of the regular-image shooting has been pressed during the display of the preview image, a control signal requesting the regular-image shooting is sent from the controller 4 to the stereoscopic image pickup device 3. Upon receipt of this control signal, the CPU 40 of the image pickup device 3 controls the respective sections including the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 to produce the regular-image data. Further, the CPU 40 halts the transmission of the preview-image data and sends the regular-image data from the image pickup device 3 to the controller 4. Incidentally, the shutter mechanisms 18 and 41 are kept in the closed state during the transmission of the regular-image data to prevent the ambient light from entering the CCDs 23 and 33.
After commencing the transmission of the regular-image data, the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is changed. In other words, the first imaging unit 10 used until now is halted, and at the same time, the second imaging unit 11 is activated to commence the preview-image shooting. After completing the transmission of the regular-image data, the preview-image data is produced from the image signal outputted from the second imaging unit 11 in the intermittent readout pattern. The produced preview-image data is transmitted to the controller 4. On the basis of the transmitted preview-image data, the preview image is displayed within the image display area 96. At this time, lighting display of the indicator is changed from the indicator 98a representing the first imaging unit 10 to the indicator 98b representing the second imaging unit 11. After that, the succeeding preview-image data is repeatedly produced in the identical sequence and is transmitted to the controller 4 to display the preview image within the image display area 96 as a through image.
Whenever the regular-image data is transmitted, the imaging unit performing the preview-image shooting is changed between the first and second imaging units 11 and 12 in order. In this way, the imaging unit taking the preview image is changed. In virtue of this, deterioration of the CCD is further retarded so that the lifetime of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is further elongated. In this embodiment, since the imaging unit is changed upon the operation of the regular-image shooting, it is unnecessary to perform an exclusive operation for changing the imaging unit.
In the above third and fourth embodiments, the imaging unit performing the preview shooting is changed upon reception of the control signal outputted from the controller 4 and upon transmission of the regular-image data. The present invention, however, is not limited to these. The imaging unit may be changed every predetermined period. In a fifth embodiment of the present invention described below, the imaging unit is changed every predetermined period to take the preview image. A stereoscopic image pickup device 100 according to the fifth embodiment has a structure shown in
The stereoscopic image pickup device 100 comprises the first and second imaging units 10 and 11 similarly to the first embodiment, and further comprises a timer 101 and a CPU 102 for controlling each section of the image pickup device 100. A component identical with that of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral and description thereof is abbreviated.
The timer 101 is connected to the CPU 102 via the data bus 42 and counts elapsed time from the commencement of the preview-image shooting. In this embodiment, the system memory 43 stores a changeover time for changing the imaging unit.
Next, an operation of the above-mentioned structure is described below with reference to flowcharts shown in
In this way, the preview-image data is normally transmitted to the controller 4 in real time to display the preview image on the controller 4 as the through image. At the start time of the transmission of the preview-image data, the changeover time for changing the imaging unit is read from the system memory 43, and simultaneously the timer 101 of the imaging pickup device 3 commences counting the elapsed time. When the elapsed time counted by the timer 101 has reached the changeover time t, the imaging unit performing the preview-image shooting is changed. In other words, the first imaging unit 10 used until now is halted, and at the same time, the second imaging unit 11 is activated to commence the preview shooting. And then, the image signal is outputted from the second imaging unit 11 in the intermittent readout pattern to produce the preview-image data. The produced preview-image data is transmitted to the controller 4. On the basis of the transmitted preview-image data, the preview image is displayed on the controller 4. After that, the succeeding preview-image data is repeatedly produced in the identical sequence and is transmitted to the controller 4 to display the preview image on the LCD 63 as a through image.
Whenever the predetermined changeover time t has passed, the imaging unit performing the preview-image shooting is changed between the first and second imaging units 11 and 12 in order. In this way, the imaging unit taking the preview image is changed. In virtue of this, deterioration of the CCD is further retarded so that the lifetime of the stereoscopic image pickup device 3 is further elongated. In this embodiment, since the imaging unit is changed every predetermined time, it is unnecessary to perform an exclusive operation for changing the imaging unit.
In the above-described first through fifth embodiments, the image pickup device comprises the plural imaging units from which the preview image and the regular image are obtained. The present invention, however, is not limited to this and may be adopted to an image pickup device having a single imaging unit. In a sixth embodiment of the present invention described below, an image pickup device employs the sole imaging unit. The image pickup device 110 of this embodiment has a structure shown in
The image pickup device 110 includes the sole imaging unit 115 and a CPU 116 for controlling each section of the image pickup device 110. A component identical with that of the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference numeral and description thereof is abbreviated.
When the image pickup device 110 having the above structure is used as a monitoring camera, an authentication camera and so forth, the preview image and the regular image are obtained from image signals outputted from the CCD 23 of the imaging unit 115. The obtained image is sent to the controller 4. Sequence executed at this time is identical with that of the first embodiment. While the image pickup device 110 transmits the regular-image data, the transmission of the preview-image data is halted and the shutter mechanism 18 is kept in the closed state. In virtue of this, the deterioration of the CCD is retarded so that the lifetime of the image pickup device 110 is elongated.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as included therein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-248288 | Aug 2005 | JP | national |
