STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING OPTICAL AXIS

• US 20080239064A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: IWASAKI, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,384,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A stereoscopic camera includes first and second image pickup units, having respectively first and second optical axes, for photographing an object to form two image frames. Two angle adjusters make angle adjustment of the optical axes. An object detector detects a human face as a principal object in the two image frames. An arithmetic processor obtains a shift amount of the face between two image frames, and determines an axial correction angle according to the shift amount for the angle adjustment in consideration of the face. A checker checks whether the angle adjustment should be made for both optical axes or for one thereof. A controller operates at least one of the two angle adjusters according to the axial correction angle and in response to information from the checker, for positioning the face equally between the two image frames optically by adjusting the first and/or second optical axis.

Claims

1. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus comprising:

a first image pickup unit, including a first lens system having a first optical axis, and a first image pickup device for generating an image signal of a first image frame by photoelectrically converting an object image;

a second image pickup unit, including a second lens system having a second optical axis, and a second image pickup device for generating an image signal of a second image frame by photoelectrically converting an object image;

first and second angle adjusters for angle adjustment of respectively said first and second optical axes;

an object detector for detecting a principal object in said first and second image frames formed before stereoscopic image pickup;

an arithmetic processor for obtaining a shift amount of said principal object between first and second image frames, and for determining an axial correction angle according to said shift amount;

a checker for checking whether said angle adjustment with said axial correction angle should be made for both of said first and second optical axes or for one thereof; and

a controller for operating at least one of said first and second angle adjusters in response to a result from said checker, for positioning said principal object equally between said first and second image frames optically by adjusting at least one of said first and second optical axes according to said axial correction angle.

2. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second lens systems are zoom lens systems, and said object detector detects said principal object in said first and second image frames picked up while said zoom lens systems are set in a wide-angle end position by zooming.

3. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said checker compares said axial correction angle with a maximum correction angle of said angle adjustment of said first angle adjuster, and if said axial correction angle is less than said maximum correction angle, determines carrying out said angle adjustment of said first optical axis, and if said axial correction angle is equal to or more than said maximum correction angle, determines carrying out said angle adjustment of said first and second optical axes.

4. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second lens systems includes a correction lens shiftable in a plane perpendicular to said first and second optical axes for said angle adjustment.

5. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first and second angle adjusters is constituted by a shake corrector for detecting a shake and for shifting said correction lens according to an amount of said detected shake.

6. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said principal object is a human face, and said object detector is a face detector.

7. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising:

a first component having said first image pickup unit and said first angle adjuster; and

a second component having said second image pickup unit and said second angle adjuster.

8. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

a dual lens adapter for supporting said first and second components; and

a camera body on which said dual lens adapter is mounted, said camera body being adapted to recording information of said first and second image frames formed by said first and second image pickup units after said angle adjustment and transmitted through said dual lens adapter.

9. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said camera body has said object detector, said arithmetic processor, said checker and said controller.

10. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising:

first and second coupling devices for mounting respectively said first and second image pickup units on said dual lens adapter;

a third coupling device for mounting said dual lens adapter on said camera body;

wherein said third coupling device has a shape of compatibility with each of said first and second coupling devices, and in a normal mode without adapter application, said first and second image pickup units are selectively mountable on said camera body directly.

11. A stereoscopic image pickup apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein if said axial correction angle is equal to or more than a total of maximum correction angles of said first and second angle adjusters, said controller disables said first and second image pickup units from image pickup.

12. An optical axis adjusting method for a stereoscopic image pickup apparatus including a first image pickup unit having a first lens system and a first image pickup device, and a second image pickup unit having a second lens system and a second image pickup device, said optical axis adjusting method comprising steps of:

before stereoscopic image pickup, picking up an object with said first and second image pickup units to form first and second image frames;

detecting a principal object in said first and second image frames;

obtaining a shift amount of said principal object between first and second image frames;

determining an axial correction angle according to said shift amount;

checking whether angle adjustment should be made for both of first and second optical axes of respectively said first and second lens systems or for one thereof;

in response to a result of said checking step, positioning said principal object equally between said first and second image frames optically by adjusting at least one of said first and second optical axes according to said axial correction angle.

13. An optical axis adjusting method as defined in claim 12, wherein said first and second lens systems are zoom lens systems, and in said object detecting step, said principal object is detected in said first and second image frames picked up while said zoom lens systems are set in a wide-angle end position by zooming.

14. An optical axis adjusting method as defined in claim 12, wherein in said checking step, said axial correction angle is compared with a maximum correction angle of said first lens system;

said adjusting step includes;

if said axial correction angle is less than said maximum correction angle, carrying out said angle adjustment of said first optical axis;

if said axial correction angle is equal to or more than said maximum correction angle, carrying out said angle adjustment of said first and second optical axes.

15. An optical axis adjusting method as defined in claim 14, wherein in said checking step, said axial correction angle is further compared with a total of said maximum correction angles of said first and second lens systems;

if said axial correction angle is equal to or more than said total of said maximum correction angles, said first and second image pickup units are disabled from image pickup.