JPH06133209A - Turning image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the spatial resolution by eliminating an unsharp of an image caused by dissidence between a moving speed of the image and the charge transfer speed around an upper end and a lower end of an image pickup visual field of the turning image pickup device. CONSTITUTION:Image pickup units 24, 25 of an image pickup element 23 are arranged in a direction vertical to a moving direction of an image caused by the rotation of a rotation table on an image face of a lens. A timing generator 37 generates a CCD drive clock whose period is coincident with a moving speed of the image of the image pickup units 24, 25 to drive the image pickup unit 24, 25 individually through CCD drivers 38, 39. The image pickup units 24, 25 implements a TDI operation at a charge transfer speed coincident with the moving speed of the image thereby implementing turning image pickup by decreasing a difference between the moving speed of the image and the CCD charge transfer speed caused especially around the upper edge and lower edge of the image pickup visual field. The output of the image pickup units 24, 25 is individually amplified by amplifiers 40, 41 and A/D-converted by A/D converters 42, 43 and the processed signals are synthesized by a picture synthesis circuit 44.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in the spatial resolution of a rotary image pickup device for picking up images of the entire circumference while rotating, and more particularly to an improvement in the spatial resolution near the upper and lower ends of a visual field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a conventional turning image pickup apparatus. In the figure, 1 is a rotary table, 2 is an elevation angle setting means mounted on the rotary table 1, 3 is a lens supported by the elevation angle setting means 2, 4 is a housing supported by the elevation angle setting means 2, and 5 is a housing. An image sensor housed in the body 4, 6 is a timing generator, 7 is a CCD (Cha) connected to the timing generator 6 and the image sensor 5.
rge Coupled Device) driver, 8 is an amplifier connected to the image sensor 5, and 9 is an A / D converter connected to the amplifier 8.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pickup element and an electronic circuit system of a conventional turning image pickup apparatus.
0, 11, 12, 13 are photodetectors, 14-21 are CC
D and 22 are charge-voltage conversion amplifiers. 1 of these
4, 15, 16, 17 are X-CCDs, 18, 19, 2
Reference numerals 0 and 21 are Y-CCDs. Further, the X-CCD direction of the pixel pitch _{P x, X-CCD, Y} -CCD array number of pixels each N _x, and N _y. Here, for simplification of the description, a pixel having N _x = 4 pixels is shown. In addition, X-CC
D14, 15, 16, 17 are arranged in the X direction, YC
The direction in which the CDs 18, 19, 20, 21 are arranged is the Y direction,
The image of the object to be imaged is detected on the image sensor 5 by the photodetectors 10, 11,
The rotary table 1, the elevation angle setting means 2, the lens 3, the housing 4, and the image sensor 5 are moved so as to move in the X direction in the order of 12 and 13.
Is set.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the elevation angle setting means 2 is used to set the elevation angle imaging field of view. Next, the turntable 1 is rotated. At this time, the components 2 to 9 shown in FIG. 6 rotate together with the turntable 1. If the focal length of the lens 3 is f, the rotational angular velocity of the rotary table 1 is ω, and the elevation angle formed by the visual axis of each photodetector with respect to the rotary surface of the rotary table 1 is α, the image is on the image sensor 5 in the X direction. The pixel moves in the cycle T _image shown in "Equation 1" per pixel.

[0005]

[Equation 1]

On the other hand, the timing generator 6 includes the photodetectors 10, 11, 12 and 13 and the X-CCDs 14 and 1.
5, 16 and 17, charge transfer to the X-CCD 14,
Charge transfer between 15, 16 and 17 is represented by the period T shown in "Equation 2".
Generate CCD driving clock by _ccd and use this as CC
The charge is transferred to the D driver 7 and the charge in the image sensor 5 is transferred. In “Equation 2”, α _c is an elevation angle formed by the visual axis of the photodetector located at the center of the image sensor 5 in the Y direction with respect to the rotation surface of the rotary table 1. FIG. 6 shows a case where the upper part is imaged, and α _c ≧ 0. However, when the lower part is looked down and imaged, α _c ≦ 0.

[0007]

[Equation 2]

As described above, the signal charges X-CCDs 14, 15, 16, and 17 generated in the photodetectors 10, 11, 12, and 13 are sequentially added and transferred in sequence in accordance with the movement of the image. This is TDI (Time Delay)
It is known as an "and Integration" operation. After repeating the charge transfer in the X-CCD, the charges transferred to the Y-CCDs 18, 19, 20, 21 are sequentially transferred to the charge-voltage conversion amplifier 22 and converted into a voltage, and then amplified by the amplifier 8 and A / A / D conversion is performed by the D converter 9 to obtain an image output.

[0009]

Since the conventional rotary image pickup device is constructed as described above, the charge transfer period of the X-CCD and the image movement period are coincident with each other at the center of the image pickup device 5 in the Y direction. However, X-C near the top and bottom
There is a problem in that the charge transfer cycle of the CD and the moving cycle of the image are deviated from each other and the spatial resolution is lowered.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a swivel image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining an image with high spatial resolution without causing image blur even in the vicinity of the upper and lower ends of the visual field. To aim.

[0011]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a swivel image pickup apparatus, wherein an image pickup unit composed of a two-dimensionally arranged photodetector and a CCD is imaged on a lens image plane due to rotation of a turntable. A plurality of image pickup elements provided in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the, a plurality of CCD drivers connected to a plurality of image pickup units, a plurality of amplifiers, a plurality of A / D converters, and a plurality of A / D converters. And an image composition circuit connected to the A / D converter.

The turning image pickup device according to the present invention is
An image pickup unit composed of a two-dimensionally arranged photodetector and a CCD is arranged so that the CCD exists on the extension line of the photodetector and the photodetector exists on the extension line of the CCD.
Connected to the plurality of image pickup units and an image pickup device in which two pieces are arranged in the image movement direction due to the rotation of the turntable and a plurality of pieces are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the image movement direction on the image surface of the lens. Multiple CCD drivers and the above multiple C
A timing generator connected to a CD driver, a plurality of amplifiers connected to the plurality of imaging units, a plurality of A / D converters connected to the amplifier, and a plurality of A / Ds
A plurality of delay circuits connected to the converter and the plurality of A / Ds
It is provided with an image synthesizing circuit connected to a converter and a plurality of delay circuits.

[0013]

In the swivel image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, an X-CCD having a desired cycle necessary for the TDI operation of each image pickup unit.
The timing generator generates a drive clock corresponding to the elevation angle of each imaging unit, and the CCD driver drives each imaging unit. The output of each imaging unit is individually amplified and A / D converted by a plurality of amplifiers and A / D converters, and then combined by an image combining circuit.

Further, according to the present invention, the timing generator generates an X-CCD drive clock having a desired period necessary for the TDI operation of each image pickup unit corresponding to the elevation angle of each image pickup unit, and the CCD driver drives each image pickup unit. . After the output of each imaging unit is individually amplified and A / D converted by a plurality of amplifiers and A / D converters, a delay circuit is provided for each imaging unit of the image data of the imaging unit located ahead of the image movement. A desired delay corresponding to the elevation angle of is given and the image is synthesized by the image synthesis circuit.

[0015]

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pickup element and an electronic circuit of a turning image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, in which 23 is an image pickup element and 24 and 25 are image pickup elements 23. Is the unit of imaging. Photodetectors 26, 27, 28, 29, CCD 30
~ 35, the charge-voltage conversion amplifier 36 is a component of the imaging unit 24. Of the CCDs 30-35, 30, 31,
32 and 33 are X-CCDs, and 34 and 35 are Y-CCDs. The image pickup device 23 includes, for example, two image pickup units 24 and 25 in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image on the image plane of the lens 3, and the image pickup units 24 and 25 have the same configuration. 37 is a timing generator, 38 and 39 are CCD drivers connected to the imaging units 24 and 25, respectively.
Reference numerals 40 and 41 are amplifiers connected to the imaging units 24 and 25, 42 and 43 are A / D converters connected to the amplifiers 40 and 41, and 44 is an image composition circuit connected to the A / D converters 42 and 43. Is. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the entire configuration of the turning image pickup device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 to 4 are the same as conventional ones. As an example, the case where all of the electronic circuit system components 37 to 44 are installed on the rotary table is shown.

Next, the operation of the turning image pickup device according to the present invention will be described. First, the elevation angle setting means 2 is used to set the imaging field of view in the elevation angle direction. Next, the turntable 1 is rotated. At this time, the constituent elements 2, 3, 4, and 23 to 44 shown in FIG. 1 rotate together with the turntable 1, and the image of the object to be imaged is 1 in the X direction on the image sensor 23 as in the conventional apparatus.
It moves in the cycle of T _image shown in the above-mentioned “Equation 1” per pixel.

The timing generator 37 is "equation 3",
CCD drive clocks for performing charge transfer from the photodetectors in the imaging units 24 and 25 to the X-CCD and charge transfer between the X-CCDs are generated in the cycles T _ccd1 and T _ccd2 shown in " _Equation 4", respectively. It is transmitted to the drivers 38 and 39.

[0018]

[Equation 3]

[0019]

[Equation 4]

Α _c1 and α _c2 are, for example, the imaging unit 2
The rotation table 1 is the center of the visual field in the Y direction of each of 4 and 25.
Is the elevation angle with respect to the plane of rotation of. CCD driver 3
8 and 39 are image pickup units 2 according to the CCD driving clock.
The charge transfer within 4 and 25 is performed individually. Photodetectors 26, 2
7, 28, 29, X-CCD 30, 31, 32, 33,
The TDI operation performed by the image pickup unit 24 including the Y-CCDs 34 and 35 and the charge-voltage conversion amplifier 36, and the image pickup unit 25 having the same configuration as the image pickup unit 24 is the same as that of the conventional apparatus. The outputs of the imaging units 24 and 25 are individually amplified by the amplifiers 1 and 2 and then individually amplified by the A / D converters 42 and 43.
It is converted and transmitted to the image synthesis circuit 44. The image synthesizing circuit 44 synthesizes the outputs of the A / D converters 42 and 43 as shown in FIG. 3 to obtain a synthetic output.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 2 of an image pickup element and an electronic circuit of a turning image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, in which 45 is an image pickup element and 46, 47, 48 and 49 are image pickup elements. Image pickup units constituting 45, and image pickup units 46, 47, 48, 49
Have the same structure as each other. Regarding the image pickup device 45, the CCD rows of the image pickup units 48 and 49 exist on the extension lines of the photodetector rows in the image pickup units 46 and 47, and the image pickup unit 4
Image pickup units 48 and 4 are shown on the extension lines of the CCD rows in 6 and 47.
2 rows in the moving direction of the image, so that there are 9 photodetector rows,
Also, as an example, in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image, 2
The case where the image pickup units in a row are arranged on the image plane of the lens 3 is shown. 50 is a timing generator, 51, 52, 5
3, 54 are CCD drivers connected to the imaging units 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 57, 58 are amplifiers connected to the imaging units 46, 47, 48, 49, 59, 60, 61, 62. Is the amplifier 55, 56, 5
A / D converters connected to 7, 58, 63, 64, respectively
Is a delay circuit connected to the A / D converters 59 and 60, and 65 is an image synthesizing circuit connected to the A / D converters 61 and 62 and the delay circuits 59 and 60. Further, the constituent elements 45 to 65 are the same as in the first embodiment, the elevation angle setting means 2, the lens 3, and the housing 4.
It shall be installed on the turntable 1 together with and shall turn.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the elevation angle setting means 2 is used to set the elevation angle of the imaging visual field with respect to the rotation surface of the turntable 1. Next, the turntable 1 is rotated.
The timing generator 50 _{supplies the} CCD drive clocks having the periods T _ccd3 and T _ccd4 shown in “ _Equation 5” and “ _Equation 6” corresponding to the elevation angles α _c3 and α _c4 formed by the Y-direction visual field centers of the imaging units 46 and 47, respectively. Is generated, and the charge transfer from the photodetectors in the imaging units 46 and 47 to the X-CCD and the charge transfer between the X-CCDs are performed as in the first embodiment.

[0023]

[Equation 5]

[0024]

[Equation 6]

The elevation angle of the imaging units 48 and 49 is the imaging unit 4
Since they are almost equal to 6 and 47, the image pickup units 48 and 49 are driven by the same clocks as the image pickup units 46 and 47, respectively. Due to the arrangement configuration of the imaging units 46, 47, 48, 49 and the swivel imaging operation, the target whose image is located in the gap between the photodetector arrays of the imaging units 46, 47 is imaged by the photodetector arrays of the imaging units 48, 49. On the contrary, the target whose image is located in the gap between the photodetector arrays of the imaging units 48 and 49 is imaged by the photodetector arrays of the imaging units 46 and 47. Imaging units 46, 47, 48, 49
Is amplified by amplifiers 55, 56, 57 and 58, respectively, and then A / D converted by A / D converters 59, 60, 61 and 62. Since the image moves from the image pickup units 46 and 47 toward the image pickup units 47 and 48 by the turning, the A / D converter 5
For the output data of 9 and 60, the time delays TD1 and TD2 shown in "Equation 7" and "Equation 8" in the delay circuits 63 and 64, respectively.
Is added and transmitted to the image synthesizing circuit 65.

[0026]

[Equation 7]

[0027]

[Equation 8]

In the image synthesizing circuit 65, the A / D converter 61,
The outputs of 62 and the delay circuits 63 and 64 are combined as shown in FIG. 5 to obtain a combined output.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image pickup device is constituted by a plurality of image pickup units arranged in the elevation direction, and a desired TDI operation is required for each image pickup unit according to the moving speed of an image. Since the charges are transferred in the image sensor with a clock having a cycle, the amount of deviation between the image transfer speed near the upper and lower ends of the field of view and the charge transfer speed of the CCD is reduced, and space is maintained even near the upper and lower ends of the field of view. The effect is that an image with good resolution can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, since the image output data is time-delayed for each image pickup unit in accordance with the moving speed of the image to perform the image combination, the upper end of the field of view during the image combination in the image moving direction, The image synthesis deviation that occurs near the lower end is reduced, and an image with good spatial resolution can be obtained at the upper and lower ends of the visual field.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an image pickup element and an electronic circuit of a turning image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of a turning image pickup device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of an image synthesizing circuit of the rotation imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the image pickup element and electronic circuit of the turning image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation of an image synthesizing circuit of the turning imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image pickup element and an electronic circuit of a conventional turning image pickup device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a conventional turning imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 rotary table 2 elevation setting means 3 lens 4 housing 23 imaging device 24 imaging unit 25 imaging unit 26 photodetector 27 photodetector 28 photodetector 29 photodetector 30 CCD 31 CCD 32 CCD 33 CCD 34 CCD 35 CCD 36 Charge-voltage conversion amplifier 37 Timing generator 38 CCD driver 39 CCD driver 40 Amplifier 41 Amplifier 42 A / D converter 43 A / D converter 44 Image combining circuit 45 Image sensor 46 Image capturing unit 47 Image capturing unit 48 Image capturing unit 49 Image capturing unit 50 Timing generator 51 CCD driver 52 CCD driver 53 CCD driver 54 CCD driver 55 Amplifier 56 Amplifier 57 Amplifier 58 Amplifier 59 A / D converter 60 A / D converter 61 A / D converter 62 A / D converter 63 Extension circuit 64 a delay circuit 65 the image synthesizing circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A rotary table, an elevation angle setting means mounted on the rotary table, a lens and a housing supported by the elevation angle setting means, a photodetector housed in the housing and arranged two-dimensionally. And CCD (Charge Coup)
an image pickup device including a plurality of image pickup units composed of a red device) in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image caused by the rotation of the rotary table on the image plane of the lens, and the plurality of image pickup units are desired. A plurality of CCD drivers that are individually driven by a clock having a period of, a timing generator that supplies a CCD drive clock to the plurality of CCD drivers, a plurality of amplifiers that individually amplify the outputs of the plurality of imaging units, A turning image pickup device comprising: a plurality of A / D converters for individually A / D converting the outputs of the amplifiers; and an image synthesizing circuit for synthesizing the outputs of the plurality of A / D converters. 2. A rotary table, an elevation angle setting means mounted on the rotary table, a lens and a housing supported by the elevation angle setting means, and a two-dimensionally arrayed photodetector housed in the housing. And CCD (Charge Coup)
an imaging unit composed of a red device), and a CCD is present on the extension line of the photodetector, and an image resulting from the rotation of the rotary table is arranged so that the photodetector is present on the extension line of the CCD. An image pickup device in which two are arranged in the moving direction and a plurality of them are arranged on the image plane of the lens in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the image, and the plurality of image pickup units are individually separated by a clock having a desired cycle. , A plurality of CCD drivers for driving the plurality of CCD drivers, a timing generator for supplying a CCD driving clock to the plurality of CCD drivers, a plurality of amplifiers for individually amplifying the outputs of the plurality of image pickup units, and outputs of the amplifiers for A A plurality of A / D converters for A / D conversion, a delay circuit for giving a desired time delay to the outputs of the plurality of A / D converters, and a plurality of the A / D converters.
A turning image pickup device comprising a D converter and an image synthesizing circuit for synthesizing outputs of a plurality of delay circuits.