JPH0847001A - Steroscopic television camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reproduce a natural stereoscopic sense of an object even at a closest position by providing an output of a video image by one camera as both left and right video signals when a distance from the cameras to the object is a prescribed distance or below. CONSTITUTION:A congestion/focus adjustment section 17 adjusts congestion and focus of left/right cameras 11L, 11R based on distance information from a distance detection section 16. An output selection section 15 usually delivers a signal of a left light receiving sensor 13L to a left output circuit 14L and delivers a signal of a right light receiving sensor 13R to a right output circuit 14R. The output selection section 15 gives one of signals of the left/right cameras 11L, 11R to both of the left right output circuits 14L, 14R when the distance to the object reaches a prescribed distance or below. Which of the signals of the left/right cameras 11L, 11R is to be fed to the output circuits 14L, 14R is set by a selector switch 18. In this case, the same video image is displayed on left/right display sections 30L, 30R of a display device 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic television camera for photographing an object with two cameras.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stereoscopic television camera is one which photographs the same subject by two cameras which are installed apart from each other on the left and right sides, and utilizes the parallax generated between the left and right images to provide an observer with a stereoscopic image of the subject. is there. The parallax between the left and right images captured by the left and right cameras depends on the distance from the camera to the subject and the installation interval of the left and right cameras, that is, the baseline length.

FIG. 9 shows an image of a subject located at an intermediate distance taken by a stereoscopic television camera and a subject image. The optical axes 5L and 5R of the left and right cameras 4L and 4R intersect each other on the subject, and the subject image exists substantially at the center of the left and right image frames 8L and 8R. Parallax appears in the left and right subject images, and stereoscopic image recognition is performed by observing the left image 9L with the left eye and the right image 9R with the right eye, and fusion with the brain. FIG. 10 shows a case where the left and right cameras 4L and 4R are photographed toward a close-up subject. As in FIG. 9, the subject image exists substantially in the center of the left and right image frames 8L and 8R, but the parallax between the left and right images 9L and 9R is extremely large.
In this state, it is difficult for the observer to recognize as a natural stereoscopic image.

The parallax between the left and right images increases as the angle formed by the left and right optical axes, that is, the convergence angle increases. If the base line length is constant, the vergence angle becomes larger as the subject distance becomes smaller and becomes farther away, and if the subject distance is constant, as the base line length becomes longer and shorter, the vergence angle becomes smaller. This type of stereoscopic television camera that adjusts the convergence can provide a stereoscopic image with a natural stereoscopic effect when the subject is at a relatively long distance, but when the subject is located at a close distance, the left and right images are The parallax becomes too large, and it becomes difficult for the observer to recognize as a natural stereoscopic image.

Even if the optical axes of the left and right cameras are fixed and photographed without adjusting the convergence, a parallax is generated between the left and right images, and a stereoscopic effect can be obtained. However, in this case, the subject is imaged at different positions in the left and right image frames depending on the distance. FIG. 11 shows a state in which the left and right optical axes are fixed in parallel and one of the cameras is photographed toward a subject located at an intermediate distance, and the subject image. In the figure, the subject is on the optical axis 5L of the left camera 4L, and the left image 9L is the left image frame 8L.
Located in the center of. The right image 9R is closer to the left side than the center in the right image frame 8R. There is a parallax between the left and right images 9L and 9R, and a stereoscopic image can be obtained by observing each of them with the left and right eyes and fusion with the brain. However, at this time, the left and right image frames 8L and 8R do not match as shown in FIG. The shift of the image frame increases as the subject distance decreases. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the subject in FIG. 11 has reached a close range. In this case, the subject is captured in the center of the left image frame 8L, but since the subject is located outside the angle of view of the right camera 4R, there is no subject image in the right image frame 8R.

As described above, there is a problem that it is not possible to take a subject located at a close range into a stereoscopic image that reproduces a natural stereoscopic effect by any of the methods. If an unnatural image is forcibly attempted to be viewed three-dimensionally, a great burden is placed on the eyes, which causes a problem in the health of the observer. To this end, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-26278, a technique has been proposed in which the base line length and the vergence angle of the left and right cameras are made variable and are adjusted at the same time to widen the distance range in which photography is possible. There is.

[0007]

However, in order to adjust the base line length and the convergence angle in conjunction with each other, a complicated mechanism is required, which complicates the manufacturing process of the stereoscopic television camera and increases the cost. Further, even in a display device for presenting a photographed image to both eyes of an observer, special consideration such as synchronization with the base line length and vergence angle setting of the stereoscopic television camera is required.

In the method without congestion adjustment, it is conceivable to shorten the shortest distance at which the left and right cameras can capture the subject by shortening the base line length when photographing the subject at a close range. However, in this case, the parallax between the left and right images is
This is different from the original parallax when shooting with a fixed baseline length, and does not provide a natural stereoscopic image. In addition, it is necessary to incorporate a mechanism for changing the base line length in the camera, which complicates the configuration.

The present invention can be applied to both a method for adjusting the congestion and a method for fixing the congestion, and a stereoscopic image that can widen the photographing range with a simple structure and reproduce the natural stereoscopic effect of the subject even at a close range. It is an object of the present invention to provide a stereoscopic television camera capable of capturing images.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, two images having left and right information of a subject are taken by two left and right cameras, and a first video signal and a second image are obtained.
When the distance from the camera to the subject exceeds a predetermined value in the stereoscopic television camera that outputs the video signal of, the images from the left camera and the right camera are output as the first and second video signals, respectively, from the camera to the subject. When the distance is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the image from one camera is output as the first and second image signals.

When the distance from the camera to the subject exceeds a predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output as the first and second video signals, respectively, and the distance from the camera to the subject is equal to or less than the predetermined value. In some cases, the image from one camera may be output as the first image signal and the second image signal may not be output.

Further, the predetermined value is set to a different value when the distance from the camera to the subject becomes shorter and when the distance becomes longer.

[0013]

When the distance from the camera to the subject exceeds the predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output as the first and second video signals, respectively, and when the distance from the camera to the subject is less than or equal to the predetermined value. In a stereoscopic television camera configured to output images from one camera as first and second image signals, the images from the left and right cameras are output when the subject distance exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, if the first image signal output is input to the left display unit and the second image signal output is input to the right display unit in combination with a display device having two left and right display units, a subject image can be stereoscopically observed. it can. When the subject distance is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the images from one camera are output as two image signals. At this time, the left and right images on the display device are the same.

When the distance from the camera to the subject exceeds a predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output as first and second video signals, respectively, and when the distance from the camera to the subject is equal to or less than the predetermined value. Even in a configuration in which the image from one camera is output as the first image signal and the second image signal is not output, when the subject distance exceeds a predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output respectively, The image can be viewed three-dimensionally. When the subject distance is less than or equal to the predetermined value, only the image from one camera is output and the image signal from the other camera is not output. Therefore, the subject image is displayed only on one of the left and right sides of the display device, and is not displayed on the other side.

If the predetermined value is set to a different value when the distance from the camera to the subject becomes shorter and when the distance becomes longer, the frequency of switching one of the video outputs is reduced. If the predetermined value is one, and if the distance from the camera to the subject is near that value, the subject distance will rise or fall below the predetermined value even with a slight movement of the camera, and the video output will switch each time. By setting the output switching distance to different values when the subject distance becomes shorter and when the subject distance becomes longer, the output switching is performed only once at the subject distance.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a first embodiment in which a stereoscopic television camera according to the present invention and a display device are combined. The stereoscopic television camera 1 includes a pair of left and right cameras 11L and 11R. The left camera 11L is a taking lens 12L and a light receiving sensor 1.
3L, and the light that has passed through the taking lens 12L and is incident forms an image on the light receiving sensor 13L. Similarly, the right camera 11R also includes a taking lens 12R and a light receiving sensor 13R. CCD sensors that convert light into electric signals are used as the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R. An optical viewfinder 19 is installed in the center of the left and right of the camera 1, and the photographer captures the subject with the viewfinder 19
Aim at the subject.

A distance detecting section 16 is provided so as to be connected to the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R. The distance detection unit 16 compares the signals from the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R to detect the distance from the camera 1 to the subject. The detected subject distance is sent to the convergence / focus adjustment unit 17. The convergence / focus adjusting unit 17 adjusts the convergence and focus of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R based on the distance information from the distance detecting unit 16. As a result, the stereoscopic television camera 1 is set to the appropriate convergence and focus according to the subject distance.

Left and right output circuits 14L and 14R are provided for outputting a video signal. Left light sensor 13L
The left and right output circuits 14L and 14R via the output selection unit 15.
The right light receiving sensor 13R is also connected to the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R via the output selection unit 15. Object distance information is sent from the distance detection unit 16 to the output selection unit 15. A selection switch 18 is also provided, and the setting status thereof is transmitted to the output selection unit 15.

The display device 3 is composed of left and right display portions 30L and 30R composed of a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and left and right display circuits 31L and 31R for displaying them. The left output circuit 14L and the right output circuit 14R of the stereoscopic television camera 1 are connected to the left display circuit 31L and the right display circuit 31R, respectively. The observer observes the image of the left display portion 30L with the left eye and the image of the right display portion 30R with the right eye.

In the above structure, when the camera 1 is aimed at the subject, the distance detection unit 16 detects the subject distance from the signals from the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and the congestion of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R is detected based on the distance information. The focus is adjusted. The signals from the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R are also sent to the output selection unit 15. The output selection unit 15 normally
The signal from the left light receiving sensor 13L is transmitted to the left output circuit 14L, and the signal from the right light receiving sensor 13R is transmitted to the right output circuit 14R. The left and right output circuits 14L and 14R send video signals to the left and right display circuits 31L and 31R of the display device 3, respectively. As a result, the subject images captured by the left and right cameras 11L and 11R are displayed on the left and right display units 30L and 30R of the display device 3, respectively.
The observer can stereoscopically recognize the subject image.

Distance information is sent from the distance detection unit 16 to the output selection unit 15. However, when the subject distance becomes a predetermined value or less, the output selection unit 15 outputs the left and right light receiving sensors 13L,
Left and right output circuits 14L, 14R
Send to both. Either left or right signal output circuit 14L, 1
Whether to send to 4R is determined by the setting state of the selection switch 18. At this time, the left and right display portions 30 of the display device 3
The same image is displayed on L and 30R.

Hereinafter, the mode in which the images of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R are displayed on the left and right display portions 30L and 30R is called the standard mode, and the mode in which only one image is displayed is called the single mode. The single mode is used when the subject is located at a close distance such that it is difficult for the observer to stereoscopically view the image even when displayed in the standard mode, and the standard mode is used in other cases. The subject distance for mode switching will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which an object located at infinity is being photographed by the stereoscopic television camera 1, the object images formed on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R at that time, and the left and right display of the display device 3. The images displayed on the sections 30L and 30R are schematically shown. Optical axis 5 of left and right cameras 11L and 11R
L and 5R are parallel to each other, and the subject is imaged at the center of each of the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R. At this time, no parallax is generated between the left and right subject images 6L and 6R. The same image 7L as the left light receiving sensor 13L is displayed on the left display portion 30L of the display device 3, and the right light receiving sensor 13R is displayed on the right display portion 30R.
The same image 7R is displayed.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a short-distance subject is being photographed, subject images on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and display images on the left and right display portions 30L and 30R. Left and right cameras 11
The L and 11R are set so that the subject is located at the intersection of the optical axes 5L and 5R. The subject images 6L and 6R in FIG. 3 are located at the centers of the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, respectively, but unlike the case of infinity shown in FIG. 2, left and right images 6L and 6R have parallax. At this time, the same images 7L and 7R as the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R are displayed on the left and right display portions 30L and 30R of the display device 3, respectively, and the standard mode is set.

The left and right cameras 11L and 11R, the light receiving sensor 13 when the subject is located closer and closer to the subject
Images of L and 13R and images of the left and right display portions 30L and 30R are shown in FIG. The subject is on the optical axes 5L and 5R of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R, and forms an image in the center of the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R. Since the distance between the camera 1 and the subject is short, the left and right images 6L and 6R have an extremely large parallax. In this case, using the single mode, the left and right light receiving sensors 13L, 1
One of the 3R video signals is displayed on both display units 30L, 30L.
Send to R and display. In the example of FIG. 3, the left light receiving sensor 13L
The subject image 6L is displayed on the left and right display units 30L and 30R. Therefore, the observer observes the same image with the left and right eyes, which impairs the stereoscopic effect.

By the way, when an object located at a certain distance from the camera is focused, there is a range in focus from a certain position closer to the camera than the object to a certain position farther from the object. This range is called the depth of field, and is deep when focusing on a long distance, that is, the distance range in focus is wide and shallow when focusing on a short distance. Objects within the depth of field are clearly captured, and objects outside the depth of field are blurred.

In the stereoscopic television camera of the present invention, when the subject is at a close range, the same image is displayed on the left and right sides, so that the stereoscopic effect is impaired, but the observer can perceive the perspective due to the depth of field. it can. Further, when a moving subject is photographed and dynamically displayed, a sense of perspective can be obtained to some extent also by the movement of the subject. Further, the sense of perspective is supplemented by the size of the subject image. Therefore, even when the close-up subject is displayed in the single mode, the observer can obtain a stereoscopic effect to some extent.

When the distance between the subject and the stereoscopic television camera 1 is to be switched between the standard mode and the single mode, the magnitude of the left and right parallax depending on the installation intervals of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R is taken into consideration. To decide. Further, in the present invention, the distance at which the standard mode is switched to the single mode (first switching distance) when the subject approaches from the distant position to the close range and the distance at which the subject located at the close range is moved away from the single mode to the standard mode. (2nd switching distance) is set separately. These switching distances are unique to the camera 1 and are stored in the output selection unit 15 in advance.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the left and right cameras 11
The interval between L and 11R, that is, the base line length is set to 60 mm, the first switching distance is set to 40 cm, and the second switching distance is set to 50 cm. Therefore, the camera 1
When the distance approaches 40 cm or less, the left and right display units 30
The images displayed on L and 30R are the same. When the distance from the camera 1 is 50 cm or more, the left / right display unit 30
Different images are displayed on L and 30R, and the stereoscopic effect is restored. By setting the mode switching distance in two stages in this manner, frequent mode switching is prevented when the shooting distance slightly changes due to camera shake or the like near the mode switching distance.

A human observes an object with both his left and right eyes, but generally, one of the eyes becomes his or her eyes, and visual recognition of an object is mainly performed using his or her eyes. The other eye plays a role of assisting the blind eye for perception of perspective and stereoscopic effect.
In the stereoscopic television camera 1 having the above configuration, when the subject approaches and reaches the first switching distance, one image of the display device 3 is replaced with the other image. Further, when the subject moves away from the closest distance and reaches the second switching distance, one of the left and right images is replaced with a different image. This mode switching causes an observer to feel a sense of discomfort instantaneously, but the sense of discomfort is reduced by continuously displaying the image for the unsighted eye and switching the image for the one who does not.

Therefore, the stereoscopic television camera 1 of the present invention is provided with a selection switch 18 for selecting which of the video signals sent from the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R to the display device 3 is to be switched. If the selection switch 18 is set according to the observer, the image of one camera is continuously displayed on the observer's eyes, and the discomfort caused by the mode switching can be reduced.

The configuration of the stereoscopic television camera and display device of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, a monitor display unit 20 is provided instead of the finder 19 of the first embodiment, and the photographer turns the camera 1 toward the subject while monitoring this display. Further, a plurality of display devices 3 are connected to the stereoscopic television camera 1, so that a plurality of observers can simultaneously observe the images captured by one camera 1. The left and right cameras 11L and 11R are similar to those of the first embodiment in that the taking lenses 12L and 12R and the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R are used.
It consists of and. The left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R are directly connected to the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R, respectively.
The left and right video signals are constantly sent to the display device 3.

The monitor display unit 20 is a monitor display circuit 2
Driven by 1. Video signals from the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R are input to the monitor display circuit 21, and subject distance information is sent from the distance detection unit 16. Further, the monitor display circuit 21 detects the setting status of the selection switch 18.

The display device 3 has left and right display sections 30L and 30R formed of LCDs, respective display circuits 31L and 31R, an input selection section 32 and a selection switch 33. The left and right output circuits 14L and 14R of the stereoscopic television camera 1 are connected to the input selection section 32, and the input selection section 32 is the left and right display circuit 3
It is connected to 1L and 31R. Object distance information is sent from the distance detection unit 16 to the input selection unit 32, and the setting state of the selection switch 33 is transmitted.

In the above structure, the photographer operates the selection switch 18 to display the left and right cameras 11 on the monitor display section 20.
Display one of L and 11R images, and turn the stereoscopic television camera 1 toward the subject while watching the image. The distance detection unit 16 detects the subject distance based on the signals from the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and transmits this to the convergence and focus adjustment unit 17. The convergence / focus adjustment unit 17 sets the convergence and focus of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R according to the subject distance.

The signals from the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R are sent to the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R, respectively, and the video signal of the left camera 11L is output from the left output circuit 14L and the image of the right camera 11R is output from the right output circuit 14R. The signal is always output. These video signals are sent to the monitor display circuit 21, selected based on the setting of the selection switch 18, and one of them is displayed on the monitor display unit 20.

Video signals are sent from the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R to the input selection section 32 of the display device 3. The input selection section 32 normally sends a video signal from the left output circuit 14L to the left display circuit 31L and sends a video signal from the right output circuit 14R to the right display circuit 31R to perform display in the standard mode. When it is determined that the subject is located at the shortest distance based on the distance information from the distance detector 16, the input selector 3
2 sends one of the video signals to the left and right display circuits 31L and 31R and displays it in a single mode. FIG. 5 shows a plurality of display devices 3.
Are shown, all have the same configuration, and mode switching is performed at the same time.

Also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment,
When the subject is located at a close range, one of the left and right images is replaced with the other and displayed. Therefore, the positional relationship between the left and right cameras 11L and 11R and the subject, the subject images on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and the left and right images of the display device 3 are the same as those in FIG. However, when a plurality of observers observe the same image as in the present embodiment, the eyes are different depending on the observer, and therefore the display device 3 side is selected as compared with the case where the camera 1 uniformly selects the image switching. It is desirable to make a selection suitable for the observer. This selection is made by the observer operating the selection switch 33 of the display device 3. Therefore, FIG.
The image displayed on the display device 3 of
The image 6L of the left light receiving sensor 13L is displayed on the left and right display sections 30L,
It may be displayed on 30R, or the light receiving sensor 1 on the right
The image 6R of 3R may be displayed on both display units 30L and 30R.

The positional relationship between the left and right cameras 11L and 11R and the subject, the subject images on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and the display device 3 when the subject is at infinity and short distance.
The left and right images displayed on the screen are the same as those shown in FIGS.

The photographer operates the selection switch 18 to determine which of the left and right images is to be displayed on the monitor display section 20. The left and right cameras 11L,
Either one of 11R is displayed. The distance information is sent from the distance detector 16 to the monitor display circuit 21, but this is not for switching the display mode of the monitor display 20. Based on this distance information, the mode currently used is displayed on the monitor display unit 20. Thereby, the photographer can know which of the standard mode and the single mode is displayed on each display device 3. Instead of the single monitor display unit 20, a monitor display unit having left and right display units like the display device 3 may be used to switch the display mode.

As described above, even in the present embodiment, the mode switching is performed according to the distance between the subject and the camera 1. However, the first switching distance at which the standard mode is switched to the single mode and the single mode is switched to the standard mode. Second to switch
The switching distance is set separately. The second switching distance is set to a value larger than the first switching distance, and frequent mode switching due to a slight change in the shooting distance near the mode switching distance is avoided.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which a stereoscopic television camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention and a display device are combined. The description of the components and functions common to those of the first embodiment will be omitted to avoid duplication. Stereoscopic TV camera 1 of the present embodiment
, The optical axes 5L and 5R of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R are fixedly set in parallel, and congestion adjustment is not performed. However, the focus adjustment is performed according to the subject distance detected by the distance detection unit 16. This is done by the focus adjustment unit 22.

The left and right cameras 11L and 11R are provided with sockets 23L and 23R for mounting the viewfinder, and one of the cameras has an optical viewfinder 19
Is attached. The sockets 23L and 23R are provided with switches 24L and 24R that are closed when the finder 19 is attached. The switches 24L and 24R detect which camera the finder 19 is attached to.
By capturing the subject through the finder 19, the photographer can point the camera with the finder 19 attached to the subject. In FIG. 6, the finder 1
9 shows a state in which 9 is attached to the left socket 23L.

The light receiving sensors 13L and 13R of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R are connected to the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R, respectively. The left and right video signal outputs from the left and right output circuits 14L and 14R are the left and right display circuits 31L and 3L of the display device 3.
It is sent to 1R and the image is displayed on the left and right display units 30L and 30R. The left and right output circuits 14L and 14R normally output video signals, respectively, and their outputs are controlled by the output selection unit 15. Subject distance information is sent from the distance detector 16 to the output selector 15, and when the subject distance is less than or equal to a predetermined value, output of one of the output circuits 14L and 14R is prohibited. In this case, which output is prohibited is determined by mounting the finder 19. The switch 24
The signal from the camera determined to have the finder 19 attached by L or 24R is output, and the output of the other video signal is prohibited. In the example of FIG. 6, the finder 19 is attached to the left camera 11L, and the output of the right output circuit 14R is stopped.

Therefore, the present embodiment also has the standard mode and the single mode. In the single mode, no image is displayed on one of the display units 30L and 30R of the display device 3, and only one is displayed. .

When the stereoscopic television camera 1 shoots a subject at infinity, the subject images on the left and right cameras 11L and 11R, the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and the display image on the display device 3 are the same as those in FIG. The positional relationship between the subject and the left and right cameras 11L and 11R when the subject is located at a short distance, the subject images on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R, and the display unit 30
The images displayed on L and 30R are shown in FIG. Left and right camera 1
The optical axes of 1L and 11R are parallel, and the subject is on the optical axis 5L of the left camera 11L.
The subject image 6L on 3L is formed in the center, and the subject image 6R on the right light receiving sensor 13R is formed left from the center.
A subject image 7L that is the same as the left light receiving sensor 13L is displayed on the left display unit 30L of the display device 3, and a subject image 7R that is the same as the right light receiving sensor 13R is displayed on the right display unit 30R.

A state where a subject at a close range is photographed,
The images captured by the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R and the display on the display device 3 at that time are shown in FIG. The subject is extremely close to the camera 1, and when it is captured by one of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R, it exists outside the angle of view of the other camera and forms an image only on the light receiving sensor of one camera. In the example of FIG. 8, the left camera 11L captures the subject, and the right light receiving sensor 1
There is no subject image in 3R. At this time, the image 6L of the left light receiving sensor 13L is displayed on the left display portion 30L of the display device 3, and nothing is displayed on the right display portion 30R. In this case, the stereoscopic effect is naturally impaired, but the observer can obtain a sense of distance to some extent from the depth of field of the displayed image, the size and movement of the image.

As described above, also in this embodiment, the display mode is switched according to the subject distance. When the subject is located at a position other than the closest distance, the left and right cameras 11L and 30L are respectively displayed on the left and right display units 30L and 30R in the standard mode.
Display the image of 11R. When the subject is at a close range, the single mode is used to display only one display unit.
In the single mode, which of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R is to be displayed is determined by the finder 1 as described above.
It is decided depending on which side the 9 is attached to.

The switching distance between the standard mode and the single mode is set in consideration of the degree of overlapping of the images of the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R.
It depends on the angle of view and the baseline length. Further, also in the present embodiment, the first switching distance at which the standard mode is switched to the single mode and the second switching distance at which the single mode is switched to the standard mode are separately set. Specifically, the subject distance at which the overlap between the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R is 20% is the first switching distance, and the subject distance at which the overlap is 30% is the second switching distance. These switching distances are unique to the camera 1 and are stored in the output selection unit 15 in advance.

When the subject exists at infinity, the images on the left and right light receiving sensors 13L and 13R overlap with each other by almost 100%.
Is. At this time, the display is performed in the standard mode.
As the subject approaches, the proportion of the subject increases and the subject positions on the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R deviate, and the degree of overlap decreases. Further, when the subject approaches the camera 1 and the degree of overlap becomes 20% or less, the mode is switched to the single mode, and only the image captured by the camera equipped with the finder 19 is displayed. When the subject is far from this state and the overlap of the images of the light receiving sensors 13L and 13R becomes 30% or more, the standard mode is resumed, and the images of the left and right cameras 11L and 11R are displayed on the display units 30L and 3L.
Displayed at 0R respectively.

According to the stereoscopic television camera 1 having the above structure,
When the subject is located at a position other than the closest distance, the left and right cameras 1
The images captured at 1L and 11R are displayed, and the viewer can stereoscopically recognize the subject. Only one image can be seen at close range, but as described above, depending on the depth of field, the movement of the subject, or the size of the subject image,
The observer can obtain a certain sense of perspective.

The three-dimensional television camera of the present invention has been shown by taking the above three examples. The variable or fixed setting of the congestion of the camera, the display method in the single mode, the connection to a plurality of display devices, the viewfinder and the monitor display section. A combination such as selective installation can be arbitrarily performed.

In the above embodiment, the display device is an LC.
Although the display device having D on the left and right sides is used, the display device is not limited to this. For example, a device that outputs images for the left and right eyes to one display unit in a time-sharing manner, synchronizes the left and right liquid crystal shutters in front of the eyes to give the respective images to both eyes, and a device for stereoscopic viewing. It is also possible to use a device that gives different polarizations or colors to the image of the display device and stereoscopically views with corresponding polarized glasses or colored glasses. Furthermore, the stereoscopic television camera of the present invention can be used by connecting the display device to a head mounted display in which the display device is placed on the head of an observer.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a stereoscopic television camera which captures two images having left and right information of a subject by two left and right cameras and outputs a first video signal and a second video signal. In, when the distance from the camera to the subject exceeds a predetermined value, the images from the left camera and the right camera are output as first and second video signals, respectively, and when the distance from the camera to the subject is equal to or less than the predetermined value, The video output by one camera is switched as the first and second video signals, and the video output is switched according to the subject distance. Normally, it is possible to output the video signals of the left and right cameras to provide a stereoscopic image with an appropriate parallax.

When the subject is at a close range, the same image is displayed because the images from one camera are output to both, but it is more natural than displaying unnatural left and right images with excessive parallax. You can provide images. This allows
The eye strain of the observer is reduced. Perspective is complemented by the depth of field and movement of the subject.

When the distance from the camera to the subject is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the image from one camera is
In the case of a configuration in which the second video signal is not output and the second video signal is not output, since the subject at the close range can display only one of the left and right images, the observer can view the left and right images with excessive parallax. It is possible to observe a natural subject image without having to look at it. With respect to subjects other than the closest object, an image with a proper parallax can be observed by the left and right cameras, and the subject can be recognized stereoscopically.

As described above, according to the present invention, the video signal of one camera is always output, and the other video output is switched according to the subject distance. If the same switching distance is used when the subject distance is short and when the subject distance is long, when the subject is near the switching distance, the subject distance will fluctuate due to small camera movements due to camera shake, etc. Switching frequently occurs. This causes one of the left and right display images to change frequently, which makes the image unstable. With a configuration in which the video output switching distance is set to a different value when the distance from the camera to the subject is shorter and when it is longer, the frequency of video output switching is reduced, and natural video is provided stably. To be done.

As described above, according to the present invention, the distance range of a subject capable of capturing a natural image as a stereoscopic television camera can be expanded with a simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic television camera and a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an object at infinity is being photographed by the stereoscopic television camera according to the first embodiment and an image thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a short-distance subject is photographed by the stereoscopic television camera according to the first embodiment and an image thereof.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a close-up subject is photographed by the stereoscopic television camera according to the first embodiment and an image thereof.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a stereoscopic television camera and a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configurations of a stereoscopic television camera and a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a short-distance subject is photographed by the stereoscopic television camera according to the third embodiment and an image thereof.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a stereoscopic television camera according to the third embodiment is shooting an object at a close range and an image thereof.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a stereoscopic camera according to a conventional example adjusts the convergence and photographs an intermediate-distance subject, and an image thereof.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a stereoscopic camera according to a conventional example adjusts the convergence and photographs an object at a close range, and a video thereof.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a congestion is fixed by a stereoscopic camera according to a conventional example and a medium-distance subject is photographed, and an image thereof.

FIG. 12 is a diagram in which the images of FIG. 11 are superimposed so that the subject is fused.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a stereoscopic camera according to a conventional example fixes a convergence and photographs an object at a close range, and an image thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Stereoscopic TV camera 3 Display device 4L Left camera 4R Right camera 5L Left optical axis 5R Right optical axis 6L Left subject image 6R Right subject image 7L Left display subject image 7R Right display subject image 8L Left image frame 8R Right image frame 9L Left subject Image 9R Right subject image 11L Left camera 11R Right camera 12L Left shooting lens 12R Right shooting lens 13L Left photo sensor 13R Right photo sensor 14L Left output circuit 14R Right output circuit 15 Output selection part 16 Distance detection part 17 Convergence and focus adjustment part 18 Selection switch 19 Finder 20 Monitor display section 21 Monitor display circuit 22 Focus adjustment section 23L Left socket 23R Right socket 24L Left switch 24R Right switch 30L Left display section 30R Right display section 31L Left display circuit 31R Right display circuit 32 Input selection section 33 Selection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a stereoscopic television camera that captures two images having left and right information of a subject by two left and right cameras and outputs a first video signal and a second video signal, the distance from the camera to the subject is When the value exceeds the predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output as the first and second video signals, respectively, and when the distance from the camera to the subject is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the image from one camera is output as the first and second images. A stereoscopic television camera characterized by outputting as a second video signal. 2. In a stereoscopic television camera that captures two images having left and right information of a subject by two left and right cameras and outputs a first video signal and a second video signal, the distance from the camera to the subject is When the distance exceeds the predetermined value, the images from the left and right cameras are output as the first and second video signals, respectively, and when the distance from the camera to the subject is less than or equal to the predetermined value, the video from one camera is output as the first video signal. A stereoscopic television camera which outputs as a video signal and does not output a second video signal. 3. The stereoscopic television camera according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is different when the distance from the camera to the subject is shorter and when the distance is longer.