Imaging system

Abstract

An imaging system is provided that is capable of controlling a photographic operation to provide favorable images of a fundus of an eye to be examined. When a normal photographic mode is selected, a single operation of a shutter button causes a single trigger signal to be generated. On the other hand, when a stereo photographic mode is selected, a single operation of a shutter button causes two trigger signals to be generated in succession. The generated trigger signal triggers a switching device so that a position of a photographic stop is automatically switched to a position predetermined for the photographic mode, and the photographic light source is caused to emit light a number of times that corresponds to the selected photographic mode. In such a configuration, fundus images are automatically produced a set number of times by a single operation of the shutter. Therefore, a high-quality fundus image can be obtained without concerns that an appropriate moment to capture an image will be missed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an imaging system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a plan view showing a configuration of a movable stop unit;

FIG. 2 b is a plan view showing a configuration of a fixed stop;

FIG. 2 c is a plan view showing a configuration of an apertured total reflection mirror;

FIGS. 3 a through 3c are illustrative views each showing a state in which a photographic aperture is selected according to a movement of the movable stop unit;

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing in detail a path of a light beam that travels through a photographic stop;

FIGS. 5 a through 5c are illustrative views each showing a manner in which an illumination stop is switched;

FIGS. 6 a and 6b are illustrative views each showing a state in which a black spot is changed in accordance with a photographic mode;

FIG. 7 a is a block diagram showing an example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIGS. 7 b and 7c are timing diagrams showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 8 a is a block diagram showing an example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIGS. 8 b and 8c are timing diagrams showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 9 a is a block diagram showing another example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIGS. 9 b and 9c are timing diagrams showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 10 a is a block diagram showing still another example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIGS. 10 b and 10c are timing diagrams showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 11 a is a block diagram showing yet another example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIG. 11 b is a timing diagram showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 12 a is a block diagram showing still yet another example of a system for generating a trigger signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIG. 12 b is a timing diagram showing the timing at which the signals are generated;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a system for generating a strobe signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing another example of a system for generating a strobe signal a preset number of times and capturing images by a single operation of a shutter button;

FIGS. 15 a through 15c are timing diagrams showing points at which the signals are generated in the configuration of FIG. 14;

FIGS. 16 a and 16b are timing diagrams showing points at which the signals are generated in the configuration of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 a is a block diagram of an imaging system in which a conventional camera is employed;

FIG. 17 b is a timing diagram showing points at which the signals are generated in the configuration of FIG. 17a; and

FIGS. 18 a and 18b are block diagrams each showing a conventional imaging system.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising a photographic apparatus capable of controlling a photographic operation in which a shutter button is operated to cause a photographic light source to momentarily emit light to photograph an object comprising: means for selecting a photographic mode; andmeans for controlling the photographic operation such that, when a first photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes a single photographic operation to be performed, and, when a second photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes a plurality of photographic operations to be successively performed, wherein, for each of the photographic operations, photographic conditions are set to those that are predetermined for the photographic operation.

2. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the photographic apparatus comprises a main unit, an imaging device connected thereto for imaging an object, and an image capturing device for capturing the imaged object, the photographic operation being performed by sending a predetermined signal from the main unit to the imaging device or the image capturing device or both the devices.

3. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the photographic apparatus comprises a main unit, an imaging device connected thereto for imaging an object, and an image capturing device for capturing the imaged object, the photographic operation being performed by sending a predetermined signal from the imaging device to the main unit or the image capturing device.

4. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the photographic apparatus comprises a main unit, an imaging device connected thereto for imaging an object, and an image capturing device for capturing the imaged object, the photographic operation being performed by sending a predetermined signal from the image capturing device to the main unit or the imaging device.

5. An imaging system comprising a photographic apparatus capable of controlling a photographic operation in which a shutter button is operated to cause a photographic light source to momentarily emit light to photograph an object comprising: means for selecting a photographic mode; andmeans for controlling the photographic operation such that, when a first photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes the photographic light source to emit light for still image photography, and, when a second photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes the object to be photographed as an moving image for a predetermined period of time, the photographic light source being caused to emit light a plurality of times during said period of time.

6. An imaging system according to claim 5, wherein, when the photographic light source is caused to emit light, an image is extracted and stored as a still image from the moving image.

7. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein at least the position of a photographic stop changes for each photographic operation when the second photographic mode is selected.

8. An imaging system according to claim 5, wherein at least the position of a photographic stop changes for each photographic operation when the second photographic mode is selected.

9. An imaging system comprising a photographic apparatus capable of controlling a photographic operation in which a shutter button is operated to cause a photographic light source to momentarily emit light to photograph an object comprising: means for selecting a photographic mode; andmeans for controlling the photographic operation such that, when a first photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes a single photographic operation to be performed, and, when a second photographic mode is selected, a single operation of the shutter button causes a plurality of photographic operations to be successively performed, at least the position of a photographic stop being set to a position that is preset for each of the photographic operations.

10. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein information concerning the selected photographic mode is provided to an image captured in the photographic mode.

11. An imaging system according to claim 5, wherein information concerning the selected photographic mode is provided to an image captured in the photographic mode.

12. An imaging system according to claim 9, wherein information concerning the selected photographic mode is provided to an image captured in the photographic mode.

13. An imaging system according to claim 9, wherein information of the position of the photographic stop is provided to an image captured in the photographic stop position.

14. An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the object to be imaged is a fundus of an eye to be examined.

15. An imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the object to be imaged is a fundus of an eye to be examined.

16. An imaging system according to claim 9, wherein the object to be imaged is a fundus of an eye to be examined.