Imaging apparatus, distance measurement apparatus and method for measuring distance

Abstract: The imaging apparatus of this invention includes: a lens, a half mirror, and a first CCD arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror, wherein one of the first and second CCDs outputs a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD outputs an inverted image of the input image.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus which, in order to grasp the status of a road, images an object using a plurality of CCDs to detect an obstacle and the like on the road, and a distance measurement apparatus for calculating the distance between the car and the object. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART: In recent years, with the increasing interest in the automobile safety, the demand of being able to drive a car while keeping a safe distance between the car and a car travelling ahead, as well as the demand for an apparatus which can detect in advance an obstacle and the like on a road and urge the driver to avoid the obstacle, have increased and will further increase. In order to satisfy these demands, it has been started to observe the road ahead of his or her car using an imaging apparatus. A conventional distance measurement apparatus is described in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 8-75454, for example. This conventional distance measurement apparatus will be described with reference to Figure 12 . Referring to Figure 12 , the conventional distance measurement apparatus includes imaging elements 102 , 103 , and 104 , half mirrors 105 and 106, and an image processing element 107. The operation of the conventional distance measurement apparatus with the above configuration will be described. The distance measurement apparatus images an object 101 using the imaging elements 102, 103 , and 104 so that the horizontal or vertical parallax between the adjacent imaging elements constitutes several pixels. The image processing element 107 receives a plurality of imaged video signals simultaneously to synthesize video signals on the same horizontal or vertical lines among the plurality of video signals and thus to produce an image for parallax detection. Using the produced image for parallax detection, the parallax is obtained from the tilt of a straight line formed by points corresponding to the edges of the object 101 , and then the distance between the car and the object 101 is calculated based on the parallax. The conventional distance measurement apparatus with the above configuration is disadvantageous in the following points. Since the conventional distance measurement apparatus includes a plurality of imaging elements, the following problems arise. It is not easy to accommodate such an apparatus in a small space inside a car. Two optical systems are required, increasing the production cost. The resolution of each pixel is as small as about 50 cm for an object located about 100 m distant from the car, which fails to provide a sufficient distance measurement performance. The plurality of optical systems need to be aligned with one another with high precision, resulting in the difficulty in adjustment and an increase in maintenance cost. Reference may be made to US 5132802, which describes high contrast imaging apparatus, intended for detecting camouflaged objects. To obtain high contrast images of objects which are in an area covered with rich vegetation and which additionally are given a camouflage coating, the wavelength specific differences in reflection behaviour of the clutter and of the camouflage coating of the object are utilised. For this purpose, the apparatus is said to include at least two image pick-up elements, particularly CCD cameras, whose output signals are fed to a signal processing arrangement whereby they are combined and displayed to the user as a combined image. On the side of the object, respective optical filters are disposed in front of the image pick-up elements so as to cause each image pick-up element to have its maximum sensitivity in a different spectral range. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The imaging apparatus of the present invention includes: a lens, a half mirror, and a first CCD arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror, wherein one of the first and second CCDs outputs a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD outputs an inverted image of the input image, and characterised by an image processor circuit for processing the output signals of the first and second CCDs based on their inverse relationship in order to perform image recognition. In one embodiment of the invention, the imaging apparatus further includes a wavelength selective optical element on an optical path from the lens to at least one of the first and second CCDs. In another embodiment of the invention, the wavelength selective optical element is an infrared filter. In still another embodiment of the invention, the half mirror also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively reflects infrared radiation. In still another embodiment of the invention, the half mirror also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively transmits infrared radiation. In still another embodiment of the invention, the imaging apparatus further includes a magnifying lens on an optical path from the lens to at least one of the first and second CCDs. In still another embodiment of the invention, the imaging apparatus further includes a circuit for detecting a correlation between the normal image and the inverted image. Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the advantages of providing a small-size high-precision imaging apparatus with easy maintenance using an optical system for detecting an obstacle on a road and the like. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic view of an optical system for an imaging apparatus of Example 1 according to the present invention. Figure 2A is a view illustrating a normal image obtained on a second CCD in Example 1. Figure 2B is a view illustrating a mirror image of the normal image of Figure 2A obtained on a first CCD in Example 1. Figures 3A and 3B are views schematically illustrating changes in brightness signals along a raster X-X in Figure 2A and a raster Y-Y in Figure 2B, respectively. Figure 4A is a view illustrating a normal image which has passed a color filter obtained on a second CCD in Example 2. Figure 4B is a view illustrating a mirror image of the normal image of Figure 4A obtained on a first CCD in Example 2. Figure 5 is a schematic view of an optical system for an imaging apparatus of Example 3 not forming part of the present invention. Figure 6A is a view illustrating a wide-angle image obtained when a mirror image obtained on a first CCD is re-inverted using an electric signal in Example 3. Figure 6B is a view illustrating a telescopic image obtained on a second CCD in Example 3. Figures 7A and 7B are views schematically illustrating changes in brightness signals along a raster X-X in Figure 6A and a raster Y-Y in Figure 6B, respectively. Figure 8 is a block diagram of a distance measurement apparatus not forming part of the present invention. Figure 9 is a view illustrating a white-line edge detection method employed in the distance measurement apparatus. Figure 10 is an X-Z plane coordinate system used in the distance measurement apparatus. Figure 11 is a view illustrating horizontal edge detection performed in the distance measurement apparatus. Figure 12 is a view illustrating a conventional distance measurement apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinbelow, the present invention. will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. (Example 1) Figure 1 is a schematic view of an optical system for an imaging apparatus of Example 1 according to the present invention. The optical system in this example includes a lens 1 , a half mirror 2 , a first CCD 3 , a second CCD 4 , and a housing 5 . In the optical system for the imaging apparatus, the lens 1 , the half mirror 2 , and the second CCD 4 are arranged coaxially, while the first CCD 3 is arranged along an axis of light reflected by the half mirror 2 . A color filter 6 may be disposed between the half mirror 2 and the first CCD 3 or the second CCD 4 , if required. The operation of the imaging apparatus with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 1 , 2A , and 2B . Part of light incident on the lens 1 is reflected by the half mirror 2 to be focused as a mirror image on the first CCD 3 disposed along the axis of the reflected light. The remainder of the incident light which has passed through the half mirror 2 is focused as a normal image on the second CCD 4 . Figure 2A illustrates a normal image 7 obtained on the second CCD 4 . A fade-out point 8 in the normal image 7 is an infinite point on a road. Left and right white lines 9 and 9' on the road intersect with each other at the fade-out point 8 as the infinite point. A broken line 10 on the road also intersects with the white lines 9 and 9' at the fade-out point 8 . Figure 2B illustrates a mirror image 7' of the normal image 7 obtained on the first CCD 3 . As in Figure 2A, a fade-out point 8 ' in the mirror image 7' is an infinite point on the road. Left and right white lines 9'' and 9''' intersect with each other at the fade-out point 8' as the infinite point. A broken line 10' on the road also intersects with the white lines 9'' and 9''' at the fade-out point 8'. Figures 3A and 3B schematically show changes in brightness signals along a raster X-X in Figure 2A and a raster Y-Y in Figure 2B, respectively. In Figure 2A , the left white line 9 , the broken line 10 , and the right white line 9' on the road are positioned in the order from left to right in the normal image 7 obtained on the second CCD 4 , and the signal X-X of Figure 3A represents the change in brightness in the above order. When the rising of the brightness of the white line is used for the detection of the white line 9, the left edge of the white line is detected. Likewise, the left edges of the broken line 10 and the right white line 9' are detected in this order, thus continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. In this way, the geometry of the road using the left edges of the white lines is recognized. In Figure 2B , the right white line 9''' , the broken line 10' , and the left white line 9'' on the road are positioned in the order from left to right in the mirror image 7' obtained on the first CCD 3 , and the signal Y-Y of Figure 3B represents the change in brightness in the above order. The rising of the brightness of the white line is used for the detection of the white line 9''' as in Figure 3A . In this case, however, since the mirror image is scanned from left to right, the right edge of the white line is detected. Likewise, the right edges of the broken line 10' and the left white line 9" are detected in this order, thus continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. In this way, the geometry of the road using the right edges of the white lines is recognized. Thus, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines and the road geometry using the right edges of the white lines are recognized by individual signals having no correlation with each other. Each of these two road geometries is basically obtained by shifting the other in a horizontal direction by a distance corresponding to the width of the white lines (about 15 cm). Since they are recognized by individual signals, in the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, such a blurred or defective portion can be complemented by the correlation without mutual interference. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. Moreover, since one raster is scanned from the opposite directions of an image simultaneously, the image can be taken and processed in parallel at high speed, allowing for high-speed image recognition. Furthermore, since two CCDs are incorporated in one optical system, such an optical system is small in size. This is suitable for applications in cars where a smaller apparatus is required. (Example 2) In Example 2, in the optical system of the imaging apparatus of Figure 1 where the lens 1 , the half mirror 2 , and the second CCD 4 are arranged coaxially, a color filter 6 is additionally disposed between the half mirror 2 and the second CCD 4 . The operation of the imaging apparatus of this example will be described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B . In Figure 4A , a normal image 7 obtained on the second CCD 4 has passed through the color filter 6 . When an infrared filter is used as the color filter 6 , a portion of a road surface, for example, which reflects or emits infrared radiation appears rising from the surgrounding image. In particular, since the road is uniform and has a temperature different from that of the surrounding area, the road is characterized as rising from the surrounding area. A brightness signal similar to that obtained along the raster X-X in Figure 2A is obtained, and the left edge of a white line 9 on the road is detected. Likewise, the left edges of a broken line 10 and a left white line 9' are detected in this order, thus continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. In this way, the geometry of the road using the left edges of the white lines is recognized. Figure 4B illustrates a mirror image 7' of the normal image 7 obtained on the first CCD 3 . As in Figure 2B , the geometry of the road using the right edges of the white lines is recognized by continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. Thus, in Example 2, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines is obtained from the image which had passed through the color filter. Accordingly, the resultant road geometry is different in contrast from the road geometry using the right edges of the white lines obtained from the image without using a color filter. The road geometry using the left edges of the white lines and the road geometry using the right edges of the white lines are recognized by individual signals having no correlation with each other. Each of the two road geometries is basically obtained by shifting the other in the horizontal direction by a distance corresponding to the width of the white lines (about 15 cm). In the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, such a blurred or defective portion can be complemented by mutual correlation. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. Alternatively, the half mirror 2 may incorporate a color filter which reflects only infrared radiation or a color filter which transmits only infrared radiation. In such a case, essentially the same effect as that described above obtained by the apparatus of Example 2 where the color filter is disposed between the half mirror 2 and the second CCD 4 can be obtained. (Example 3) Figure 5 is a schematic view of an optical system for an imaging apparatus of Example 3 according to the present invention. The optical system includes a lens 21 , a half mirror 22 , a first CCD 23 , a second CCD 24 , a housing 25 , and a magnifying lens 26 . In the optical system for the imaging apparatus of this example, the lens 21 , the half mirror 22 , the magnifying lens 26 , and the second CCD 24 are arranged coaxially, while the first CCD 23 is arranged along an axis of light reflected by the half mirror 22 . The operation of the imaging apparatus with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 5 , 6A , and 6B . Part of light incident on the lens 21 is reflected by the half mirror 22 to be focused as a wide-angle mirror image on the first CCD 23 disposed along the axis of the reflected light. The remainder of the incident light which has passed through the half mirror 22 is magnified by the magnifying lens 26 and focused as a normal telescopic image on the second CCD 24 . Figure 6A illustrates a wide-angle image 27 obtained by re-inverting the mirror image obtained on the first CCD 23 using an electric signal. A fade-out point 28 in the wide-angle image 27 is an infinite point on a road. Left and right white lines 29 and 29' on the road intersect with each other at the fade-out point 28 as the infinite point. A broken line 30 on the road also intersects with the white lines 29 and 29' at the fade-out point 28 . Figure 6B illustrates a telescopic image 27' obtained on the second CCD 24 . As in Figure 6A , a fade-out point 28' in the telescopic image 27' is an infinite point on the road. Left and right white lines 29'' and 29''' intersect with each other at the fade-out point 28' as the infinite point. A broken line 30' on the road also intersects with the white lines 29" and 29''' at the fade-out point 28' . Since the wide-angle image 27 and the telescopic image 27' are obtained from the coaxial optical system, the optical axes of these images can be aligned with each other. Also, considering the telescopic image 27' as a magnified image of a portion of the wide-angle image 27 by a simple operation, the two images can be superimposed. Figures 7A and 7B schematically show changes in brightness signals along a raster X-X in Figure 6A and a raster Y-Y in Figure 6B , respectively. In Figure 6A , the left white line 29 , the broken line 30 , and the right white line 29 ' on the road are positioned in the order from left to right in the normal image 27 obtained on the first CCD 23 , and the signal X-X of Figure 7A represents the change in brightness in the above order. When the rising of the brightness of the white line is used for the detection of the white line 29 , the left edge of the white line is detected. Likewise, the left edges of the broken line 30 and the right white line 29' are detected in this order, thus continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. In this way, the geometry of the road using the left edges of the white lines is recognized. In Figure 6B , the left white line 29", the broken line 30' , and the right white lines 29'" on the road are positioned in the order from left to right in the telescopic image 27' obtained on the second CCD 24 , and the signal Y-Y of Figure 7B represents the change in brightness in the above order. Unlike Figure 7A , since the telescopic image 27' corresponds to a magnified view of a portion of the wide-angle image 27 , the width of the white lines 29", the broken line 30' , and the white line 29''' and the distances therebetween have been magnified. This allows the white lines on the road in the telescopic image to be observed in more detail. The road geometry can be recognized by continuously detecting the white lines along the raster. Thus, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the wide-angle image and the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the telescopic image are recognized. These two road geometries basically match with each other. In the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, such a blurred or defective portion can be mutually complemented by the correlation with each other. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. (Example 4) Figure 8 is a block diagram of a distance measurement apparatus of Example 4 according to the present invention for measuring the distance between cars. The apparatus of this example includes an optical system for an imaging apparatus which is the same as the optical system for the imaging apparatus of Example 3 shown in Figure 5 . Referring to Figure 8 , the distance measurement apparatus of this example includes the lens 21 , the half mirror 22 , the first CCD 23 , the second CCD 24 , the housing 25 , the magnifying mirror 26 , a lane detection section 31 , an image delimitation section 32 , a car characteristic detection section 33 , and a distance calculation section 34 . In the optical system for the imaging apparatus, the lens 21 , the half mirror 22 , the magnifying lens 26 , and the second CCD 24 are arranged coaxially, while the first CCD 23 is arranged along an axis of light reflected by the half mirror 22 . The wide-angle image and the telescopic image output from the two CCDs 23 and 24 are supplied to respective portions for the wide-angle and telescopic images of the lane detection section 31 , the image delimitation section 32 , the car characteristic detection section 33 , and the distance calculation section 34 for processing. The operation of the distance measurement apparatus with the above configuration will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 . As described in Example 3, part of light incident on the lens 21 is reflected by the half mirror 22 to be focused as a wide-angle mirror image on the first CCD 23 disposed along the axis of the reflected light. The remainder of the incident light which has passed through the half mirror 22 is magnified by the magnifying lens 26 and focused as a normal telescopic image on the second CCD 24 . The wide-angle image 27 obtained by re-inverting the mirror image obtained on the first CCD 23 using an electric signal is input into the lane detection section 31 . The telescopic image 27' obtained on the second CCD 24 is also input into the lane detection section 31 . As shown in Figure 9 , the lane detection section 31 detects vertical edges by scanning rightward and leftward along the scanning lines starting from the center of the bottom of each of the wide-angle image and the telescopic image to the top. The edges detected first are determined as outline points of the white lines on the road. The image delimitation section 32 converts the outline points on the image plane into coordinates on a plane coordinate system of the actual distance. More specifically, the outline points on the image plane coordinate system (hereinbelow, referred to as the "x-y plane coordinate system) are converted into points on a plane coordinate system where the Y-axis of an X-Y-Z stereo coordinate system corresponds to the road surface (hereinbelow, referred to as an "X-Z plane coordinate system) shown in Figure 10 . X, Y, and Z of this coordinate system are represented as follows. X = (x/F) (Zcos - Ysin) Z = Y (Fcos + ysin) / (ycos - Fsin) Y = -H wherein F denotes the focal distance of the lens of the imaging apparatus,  denotes the tilt angle of the optical axis, and H denotes the height of the imaging apparatus from the road surface. If the car receives a change in pitch angle or a vertical vibration, the outlines of the right and left white lines are no longer in parallel with each other. In such a case, the outlines on the x-y plane coordinate system are shifted upward or downward to make the outlines of the right and left white lines parallel with each other. Then, the above conversion is performed, so that the outlines of the right and left white lines on the X-Z plane coordinate system are in parallel with each other. Thus, the change in pitch angle or the vertical vibration is corrected. The detected outline points are linked together starting from the bottom of the image. In this way, the image delimitation section delimits an area of the lane along which the car is travelling ahead of the car in the images received from the lane detection section 31 by using the lane along which the car is travelling detected by the lane detection section 31 ; As shown in Figure 11 , the car characteristic detection section 33 detects horizontal edges in an area surrounded by right and left detection curves for each of the wide-angle image and the telescopic image. The number of edge points existing on each column of pixels in the direction vertical to the scanning line is then counted to produce a histogram. The histogram is searched from the bottom to the top, and the scanning line position where the number of edge points first exceeds a threshold value EB is determined as the position of a car travelling ahead. It is confirmed that the car has been detected at the same position in the wide-angle image and the telescopic image by overlapping the fade-out points in these images with each other. The distance calculation section 34 calculates the distance between the car and the car travelling ahead based on the scanning line position from the bottom of the image, and the height and the angle of depression of the imaging apparatus from the road surface. The smaller one of the values of the distance between the cars calculated from the wide-angle and telescopic image is determined as the distance between the cars. (Example 5) A distance measurement apparatus of Example 5 according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 8 . In this example, the distance measurement apparatus includes a lens 21 , a half mirror 22 , an infrared-sensitive CCD 23 , a visible-light-sensitive CCD 24 , a lane detection section 31 , an image delimitation section 32 , a car characteristic detection section 33 , and a distance calculation section 34 . The operation of the distance measurement apparatus with the above configuration will be described. Part of infrared light incident on the lens 21 is reflected by the half mirror 22 to be focused as an image on the infrared-sensitive CCD 23 . Part of visible light which has passed through the half mirror 22 is focused as an image on the visible-light-sensitive CCD 24 . An image obtained by re-inverting the image obtained on the CCD 23 using an electric signal is input into the lane detection section 31 . The image obtained on the CCD 24 is also input into the lane detection section 31 . The lane detection section 31 detects vertical edges by scanning rightward and leftward along the scanning lines starting from the center of the bottom of each of the infrared image and the visible-light image to the top. The edges detected first are determined as outline points of the white lines on the road. The image delimitation section 32 converts the outline points on the image plane into coordinates on a plane coordinate system of the actual distance. More specifically, the outline points on the image plane coordinate system (hereinbelow, referred to as the "x-y plane coordinate system) are converted into points on a plane coordinate system where the y-axis of an X-Y-Z stereo coordinate system corresponds to the road surface (hereinbelow, referred to as an "X-Z plane coordinate system). X, Y, and Z of this coordinate system are represented as follows. X = (x/F) (Zcos - Ysin) Z - Y (Fcos + ysin ) / (ycos - Fsin) Y = -H wherein F denotes the focal distance of the lens of the imaging apparatus,  denotes the tilt angle of the optical axis, and H denotes the height of the imaging apparatus from the road surface. If a car receives a change in pitch angle or a vertical vibration, the outlines ( M1 and M2 ) of the right and left white lines are no longer parallel with each other. In such a case, the outlines on the x-y plane coordinate system are shifted upward or downward to make the outlines ( M'1 and M'2 ) of the right and left white lines parallel with each other. Then, the above conversion is performed, so that the outlines of the right and left white lines on the X-Z plane coordinate system are in parallel with each other. Thus, the change in pitch angle or the vertical vibration is corrected. The detected outline points are linked together from the bottom of the image. The car characteristic detection section 33 detects horizontal edges in an area surrounded by right and left detection curves for each of the infrared image and the visible-light image. The number of edge points existing on each column of pixels in the direction vertical to the scanning line is then counted to produce a histogram. The histogram is searched from the bottom to the top, and the scanning line position where the number of edge points first exceeds a threshold value EB is determined as the position of the car. It is confirmed that the car has been detected at the same position in the infrared image and the visible-light image by overlapping the fade-out points in these images with each other. The distance calculation section 34 calculates the distance between the car and a car travelling ahead based on the scanning line position from the bottom of the image, and the height and the angle of depression of the imaging apparatus from the road surface. A telescopic car tracing section is also provided for extracting a car characteristic closest to the bottom of the image among the car characteristics detected by a telescopic portion of the car characteristic detection section 33 and tracing the extracted car characteristic. Also, a car determination section is provided for determining that a car detected by a wide-angle portion of the car characteristic detection section 33 is identical to the car traced by the telescopic car tracing section. A wide-angle distance calculation section is also provided for calculating a distance between the car and a car travelling ahead by using a car characteristic from the car determination section obtained when the car determined by the car determination section has just moved outside from the bottom of the image in the telescopic car tracing section. Thus, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes the optical system having the lens 1 , the half mirror 2 , and the second CCD 4 arranged coaxially, and the first CCD 3 arranged on the axis of light reflected from the half mirror. With this configuration, since the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines and the road geometry using the right edges of the white lines are recognized by individual signals having no correlation with each other. Accordingly, in the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, such a blurred or defective portion can be complemented by the correlation with each other without mutual interference. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. Since one raster is scanned from the opposite directions of an image simultaneously, the image can be taken and processed in parallel at high speed, allowing for high-speed image recognition. Furthermore, since two CCDs are incorporated in one optical system, such an optical system is small in size. This is suitable for applications in care where a smaller apparatus is required. According to another embodiment of the invention, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines is obtained from the image which had passed through the color filter. Accordingly, the resultant road geometry is different in contrast from the road geometry using the right edges of the white lines obtained from the image without using a color filter. In the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, therefore, such a blurred or defective portion can be complemented by the correlation with each other. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the wide-angle image and the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the telescopic image are recognized. These two road geometries basically match with each other. In the case where the white lines are blurred or defective, such a blurred or defective portion can be mutually complemented by the correlation with each other. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. According to still another embodiment of the invention, the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the wide-angle image and the road geometry using the left edges of the white lines in the telescopic image are recognized. These two road geometries basically match with each other. In the case where the white lines are blurred or defective in the wide-angle image, the telescopic image which corresponds to a magnified image of a portion of the wide-angle image can be used to detect the white lines on the road in more detail. Such a blurred or defective portion can be complemented by the correlation with each other. In this way, the precision of the recognition of the white lines can be improved. Various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this invention.

Claims: An imaging apparatus a lens (1), a half mirror (2), and a first CCD (4) arranged along a same optical axis; and a second CCD (3) arranged on an axis of light reflected from the half mirror (2), wherein one of the first and second CCDs (4, 3) outputs a normal image of an input image input via the lens while the other CCD outputs an inverted image of the input image, and characterised by an image processor circuit (31-34) for processing the output signals of the first and second CCDs based on their inverse relationship in order to perform image recognition. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a wavelength selective optical element (6) on an optical path from the lens (1) to at least one of the first and second CCDs (4). An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the wavelength selective optical element (6) is an infrared filter. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the half mirror (2) also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively reflects infrared radiation. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the half mirror (2) also functions as the wavelength selective optical element which selectively transmits infrared radiation. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a magnifying lens (6) on an optical path from the lens to at least one of the first and second CCDs. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processor circuit further comprises a circuit for detecting a correlation between the normal image and the inverted image.

Inventors: IISAKA ATSUSHI, NOMURA NOBORU, YASUI NOBUHIKO, IISAKA, ATSUSHI, NOMURA, NOBORU, YASUI, NOBUHIKO
Applicants: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC IND CO LTD, MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G01S11
IPC codes: G01S11, B60Q1