Abstract:
A camera and camera control method capable of aligning the relative angles of a first photo section and a second photo section with good precision in a short time. The camera comprises a first photo section for capturing an image, and a second photo section installed to have a parallax d versus the first photo section, and forms a three dimensional image from the images captured with the first photo section and the second photo section wherein, said camera contains a laser emission section to beam a laser beam L 1  towards nearly the same direction as the optical path CL 1  of the first photo section.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a camera and camera control method for photographing dynamic three-dimensional images.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    In recent years, multimedia related enterprises have become an integral part of our daily lives. Cubical images expressing three dimensional spaces in particular, are frequently utilized in games and movies, creating the illusion that the user is actually inside an imaginary space formed within the cubical image, and the user can have the sensation of actually being on-the-spot to experience the contents of the game or movie, etc. As one method to photograph such three dimensional images, two photographic techniques are utilized and the respective images obtained from the photo sections are combined into a composite image.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 12 is a concept view showing one example of the camera of the related art. A camera  1  is next described while referring to FIG. 12.  
           [0006]    The camera  1  of FIG. 12 is comprised of a first photo section  2  and a second photo section  3 . The first photo section  2  and the second photo section  3  are respectively installed horizontally and separated by a visual differential or parallax d. The first photo section  2  is installed in a cabinet  1   a , and an optical axis CL 1  of first photo section  2  is formed in a fixed direction. The second photo section  3  on the other hand, is installed to swing in the direction of the arrow R in cabinet  1   a . The optical axis CL 2  of second photo section  3  is capable of tilting by an angle θ versus optical axis CL 1 .  
           [0007]    The first photo section  2  has a function to output a first field image fp 1  captured by the first photo section  2 , to a control section  4 . Also, the second photo section  3  has a function to output a second field image fp 2  captured by the second photo section  3 .  
           [0008]    The control section  4  has the function of processing the images captured by the first photo section  2  and second photo section  3  and showing the images on a display section  5 . More specifically, the control section  4  for example, alternately displays the first field image fp 1  and the second field image fp 2  to form one frame image and output the frame image to the display section  5 .  
           [0009]    The typical operation of the camera  1  is next described while referring to FIG. 12. A target photo surface is first set in place, and the distance L from the camera  1  to the target photo surface S is measured. The angle θ for tilting the second photo section  3  is then calculated by means of the distance L and the visual differential or parallax d between the first photo section  2  and second photo section  3 . The optical axis CL 1  for the first photo section  2  and the optical axis CL 2  for a second photo section  3  form a convergence point CP on the target photo surface S at this time.  
           [0010]    The first photo section  2  and second photo section  3  then commences photographing (image capture) and the photographed first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  are respectively sent to the control section  4 . The first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  at this time are images of the target photo surface S taken (photographed) from respectively different angles.  
           [0011]    The control section  4  forms the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  into an alternately displayed (interleaved) frame image, and shows that frame image on the display section  5 . By displaying the frame image in this way, by using the two field images fp 1  and fp 2  photographed from two different angles, the user can view a three dimensional image on the display section  5 .  
           [0012]    In the angle alignment of the second photo section  3  as described above, the distance L from the camera  1  to the target photo surface S to be photographed is measured, and the angle θ for tilting the second photo section  3  is then calculated by utilizing the measured distance L and the preset visual differential or parallax d. The second photo section  3  is then tilted by an amount equivalent to the angle θ and the convergence point CP is then set on the target photo surface S.  
           [0013]    However, the distance L to the target photo surface S must be measured in order to calculate the angle θ for tilting the second photo section  3  and a problem occurs because measuring the angle θ requires much time. Another drawback is that measurement of the distance L demands high precision because the angle that the second photo section  3  must be tilted to is extremely small. Yet another problem is that when an error occurs in measurement of the distance L, find adjustments must be made to the second photo section  3  requiring time and effort.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0014]    In order to eliminate the above problems in the related art, this invention has the object of providing a camera and camera control method thereof capable of aligning the relative angles of a first photo section and a second photo section with good precision in a short time.  
           [0015]    In order to achieve the above objects, the invention according to claim  1  is a camera comprised of a first photo section for capturing an image, and a second photo section swingable by means of a swing means and installed to have a parallax (visual differential) d set from the first photo section, and a three dimensional image is produced from the images captured with the first photo section and the second photo section wherein, the camera further contains a laser emission section to beam a laser beam in a direction parallel to the optical path of the first photo section.  
           [0016]    In the structure according to one aspect of the present invention, the first photo section and second photo section are installed to be separated by a distance equal to a parallax (visual differential) set beforehand, and a three dimensional image is formed from the images captured with the first photo section and the second photo section. A laser emission section is installed in the first photo section or in the second photo section at this time.  
           [0017]    The first photo section and second photo section then start photographing (image capture) while a laser beam is output from the laser emission section. A laser reference image from the laser beam is then displayed within a first field image captured (photographed) by the first photo section. A laser reference image is displayed in the same way, by a laser beam, within the second field image captured (photographed) by the second photo section. Then the second photo section is swung so that the laser reference images in the first field image and the second field image are at approximately the same position.  
           [0018]    The first photo section and second photo section can in this way be aligned to photograph approximately the same area without having to measure the distance to the target photo surface.  
           [0019]    To further achieve the above objects, a control method for a camera aligns the relative positions of the first photo section and the second photo section when generating a three dimensional image utilizing a first field image photographed by the first photo section and a second field image photographed by a second field image wherein, a laser beam is emitted parallel to the optical axis of the first photo section and, the first photo section photographs the first field image containing a reference laser image formed by the laser beam and, the second photo section photographs the second field image containing the reference laser image and the second field image is in an area identical to the first field image and, the second photo section is made to swing in order that the reference laser images positions in the first field image and the second field image will be the same.  
           [0020]    In the control method according to another aspect of the present invention, the first photo section and second photo section commence photographing while a laser beam is emitted parallel to the optical axis of the first photo section. A laser reference image is then displayed in the first field image photographed by the first photo section. A laser reference image is also displayed in the same way in the second field image photographed by the second photo section. The second photo section is then made to swing so that the laser reference images are the same position for the first field image and the second field image.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is a concept view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the control method for the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a drawing showing the first field image photographed by the first photo section of FIG. 2.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 is a drawing showing the second field image photographed by the second photo section of FIG. 2.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a drawing showing the first field image of another embodiment of the camera control method of the invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the second field image of another embodiment of the camera control method of the invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 is a concept view of one example of the camera of the related art.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]    The preferred embodiments of the invention will next be explained in detail while referring to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0034]    The following described embodiments are preferred working examples of the invention and so are limited to their preferred technical aspects, however unless otherwise stated, the scope of the invention is not limited by the following description and not limited by these aspects of the invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention. A camera  10  is described while referring to FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    The camera  10  of FIG. 1 has a structure containing a first photo section  20  and a second photo section  30  inside a cabinet  11 . The images photographed by the first photo section  20  and a second photo section  30  are then sent to the display device  100 , and the user can view a three dimensional image on the display device  100 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 is a flat view as seen from the direction of arrow A, of the camera  10  of FIG. 1. The first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30  are described while referring to FIG. 2.  
         [0038]    The first photo section  20  and a second photo section  30  of FIG. 2 each have a structure installed with lens mirrors  21 ,  31 .  
         [0039]    In the firstphotosection 20  and the second photo section  30 , the respective optical axes CL 1 , CL 2  for the lens mirrors  21 ,  31  are installed in arrayed horizontally (direction of arrow X) to have approximately the same height.  
         [0040]    The optical axis CL 1  of lens mirror  21 , and the optical axis CL 2  of lens mirror  22  are formed separated by a parallax d in the horizontal direction. This parallax d is for example approximately 65 millimeters, and is set as a narrow distance for the visual impression as seen from both eyes of the viewer. The three dimensional image photographed by the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30  can in this way be reproduced with a maximum three dimensional effect.  
         [0041]    A laser emitter section  40  and  50  are installed respectively above the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30 . The laser emitter sections  40  and  50  are for example, semiconductor lasers and output a laser beam in the visible light region. The laser emitter section  40  emits a laser light L 1  roughly parallel to the optical axis CL 1  of the first photo section  20 . Also, the laser emitter section  50  emits a laser light L 2  roughly parallel to the optical axis CL 2  of the first photo section  30 .  
         [0042]    The laser light L 1 , L 2  emitted from the laser emitter section  40 ,  50  are input as laser reference images RF into the first field image fp 1  and the second field image fp 2 , when photography is performed by the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30 . Here the laser light L 1  emitted from the laser emitter section  40  is for example, a laser beam in a line shape and the laser reference image RF is a dot shape. By aligning the relative angles of the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30  by providing the laser emitter section  40  and utilizing the laser reference image RF, the alignment related later on can be performed in a short time, efficiently and with high precision.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 3 is a flat view showing the bottom of the camera  10  of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flat view showing the side of the camera  10  of FIG. 1. The installation structure for the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30  is described while referring to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4.  
         [0044]    The first photo section  20  in FIG. 2 is maintained clamped by the clamping member  51  in the cabinet  11 . The second photo section  30  is maintained to be swingable by the swing means  60  in the cabinet  11 .  
         [0045]    The swing means  60  of FIG. 3 is comprised of a moving plate  61 , a feed screw  62 , a nut  63  and a handle  64 . The moving plate  61  is installed on the bottom surface of the cabinet  11  and installed to swingable in the direction of arrow R 1  in the cabinet  11 . More specifically, a cylinder  12  is formed in the cabinet  11  as shown in FIG. 4, and a hole  61   a  having approximately the same diameter as the cylinder  12 , is formed in the moving plate  61 . The cylinder  12  is inserted into the hole  61   a  so that the moving plate  61  is installed to be swingable around the center of the cylinder  12  in the cabinet  11 .  
         [0046]    A tapered section  61   b  is formed in the tangential direction of the hole  61   a  in the moving plate  61  of FIG. 3 to gradually narrow towards the lens mirror  32  side. This tapered section  61   b  has the function of preventing an offset or deviation in the optical axis CL 2  of the second photo section  30 , when the moving plate  61  swings centering on the cylinder  12 .  
         [0047]    A nut  63  is fastened to the moving plate  61 , and the feed screw  62  is inserted into the nut  63 . When the feed screw  62  rotates in the direction of the arrow R 2 , the moving plate  61  moves in the direction of the arrow Y. A handle  64  for example is installed on the feed screw  62 , and contrived so that the rotation of the handle  64  in the direction of the arrow R 2  makes the feed screw  62  rotate.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 is a view of the camera  10  of FIG. 1 as seen from the rear. Objects such as switches are installed on the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30  to adjust the operation of the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30 . More specifically, the user can operate these switches to align the focus, exposure and contrast of the first field image fp 1  photographed and the second field image fp 2  photographed respectively by the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30 .  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 6 is a concept view showing the preferred embodiment of the camera  10  of the invention. The operation of the camera  10  is explained next while referring to FIG. 6.  
         [0050]    The camera  10  is first moved to establish the position of the optical axis CL 1  of the first photo section  20  in approximately the center of the area to be photographed on the target photo surface S in FIG. 6. The angle of the second photo section  30  is then aligned in order to set the convergence point CP on the target photo surface S. More specifically, the handle  64  is operated to rotate the feed screw  62  in the direction of the arrow R 2 , and the nut  63  moves in the direction of the arrow X by means of the feed screw  62  as shown in FIG. 3. The moving plate  61  then swings in the direction of the arrow R 1  centering on the cylinder  12 . The tapered section  61  prevents the optical path CL 2  of the second photo section  30  from becoming offset (deviated) at this time.  
         [0051]    The photographing then starts when the second photo section  30  is set so that the convergence point CP is aligned onto the target photo surface S.  
         [0052]    Here, the tilting of the optical path CL 2  angle of the second photo section  30  for setting the convergence point CP is performed by a method as follows.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control method for the preferred embodiment of the camera of the invention. The photographic method is next explained while referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 7. The example in FIG. 7 refers to the case when only the laser emitter section  40  installed on the first photo section  20  of FIG. 2 is operated.  
         [0054]    First of all, in step ST 1 , a laser light L 1  is emitted from the laser emitter section  40  of FIG. 2. The laser light L 1  at this time, is formed as a light ray approximately in parallel with the optical axis CL 1  of the first photo section  20 .  
         [0055]    Next, in step ST 2 , the first field image fp 1  photographed by the first photo section  20  is shown on the display section  100 . A reference laser image RF is then formed by the laser light L 1  in the section above the screen center in the field image fp 1  as shown for example in FIG. 8. Here, the laser reference image RF is shown as a dot shape since the laser light L 1  is emitted in a line (or beam) approximately parallel to the optical axis CL 1 .  
         [0056]    In step ST 3 , the second photo section  30  commences photographing, and the second field image fp 2  photographed by the second photo section  30  is shown on the display section  100 .  
         [0057]    Then, in step ST 4 , a check is made to determine if the reference laser image RF is formed in approximately the same section in the first field image fp 1  and the second field image fp 2 . In other words, the reference laser image RF is formed in approximately the same position in the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  when the identical area is photographed on the target photo surface S by the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30 . The convergence point CP can therefore be set on the target photo surface S by comparing the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2 .  
         [0058]    More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the reference laser image RF is projected by the laser light L 1  on the right edge of the second field image fp 2 . Therefore, in the case that the position of the reference laser image RF is deviated (offset) in the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2 , the angle of the second photo section  30  is aligned in step ST 5 . The second photo section  30  here, swings in the direction of the arrow R 1  by the rotation of the handle  64  of FIG. 3. The horizontal swing of the second photo section  30 , makes the optical axis CL 2  of second photo section  30 , or in other words, the area capable of being photographed by second photo section  30 , shift in the horizontal direction.  
         [0059]    The handle  64  is then operated while observing the display section  100 , and the tasks in steps ST 4 , ST 5  repeated until the reference laser images RF are in the same position. The handle  64  in particular, is operated while alternately displaying the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  on the display section  100 . The person performing the alignment can in this way align the angle of the second photo section  30  by rotating the handle  64  while observing the display section  100 . The improved user interface therefore allows the convergence point CP to be efficiently aligned in a short time. Further, there is no need to measure the distance L to the target photo surface S, so that errors in making measurements are prevented, and the second photo section  30  positioning can be performed with high precision.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are drawings showing another embodiment of the camera control method of this invention. This camera control method is described while referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The camera utilized to explain the camera control method in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is the same as the camera shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 so an explanation is omitted.  
         [0061]    The reference laser image RF is comprised from the reference pointer SP and the reference line SL in the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The reference pointer SP is derived from the laser light L emitted from the laser emitter section  40  of FIG. 2. The reference line SL is derived from the laser light L 2  emitted from the laser emitter section  50  installed on the second photo section  30 .  
         [0062]    More specifically, the laser emitter section  50  is output while the laser light L 2  is made to horizontally scan (direction of arrow X) a fixed area (for example, the horizontal area of the screen image). The reference pointer SP from the laser light L and the reference line SL from the laser light L 2  are therefore contained in the first field image fp 1  of FIG. 10. The reference laser image RF and the reference line SL are in the same way contained in the second field image fp 2  of FIG. 11. The height of the first photo section  20  or the second photo section  30  is then aligned so that the heights of the reference pointer SP and the reference line SL (direction of Z arrow) match each other.  
         [0063]    Therefore, even if the heights of the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30  are different from each other, alignment can be performed while observing the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  shown on the display section  100 . Alignment of the relative positions of the first photo section  20  and second photo section  30  can therefore be performed in a short time and with good efficiency.  
         [0064]    In the above embodiment, the convergence point CP is aligned by utilizing the laser light L 1  emitted from the laser emitter section  40  so that the convergence point CP can be checked on the display section  100  without having to measure the actual distance. The setting of the convergence point CP required when setting the three-dimensional image can therefore be with good efficiency and in a short time.  
         [0065]    The embodiment of the invention is not limited by the above working examples.  
         [0066]    The laser emitter section  40  in FIG. 2 for example is installed above the first photo section  20 , however the laser light  1  may be emitted in parallel with the optical axis CL 1  of the first photo section  20 , and further, the laser light L 1  may be emitted within a photographing (image capture) range of the first photo section  20 . If the angles of the second photo section  30  are then aligned so that the reference laser images RF of the first field image fp 1  and second field image fp 2  overlap, a convergence point CP can then be formed on the target photo surface.  
         [0067]    In FIG. 3, the second photo section  30  swings in the direction of the arrow R 1  by operating the handle  64  to turn the feed screw; however, the swing of the second photo section  30  may also be controlled by a drive means such as a motor.  
         [0068]    Further, after aligning the relative positions (direction of arrow Z) of the first photo section  20  and the second photo section  30  by means of the camera control method shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the angle of the second photo section  30  maybe aligned by means of the camera control method shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0069]    The invention as described above, is capable of providing a camera and camera control method capable of aligning the relative angles of a first photo section and a second photo section with good precision in a short time.