Imaging apparatus with multiple pickups, processing and displays

• US 5,654,752 A
• Filed: 11/06/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US08/746,152
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 348/47, 348/51, 348/227, 348/222, 348/208, 348/262, 348/239, 348/333, 359/363, 359/374, 359/378, 359/375, 359/407, 359/466, 359/470, 359/480, 359/554, 359/557
• US Class Current: 348/208.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• 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 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/344 with head-mounted left-right displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6811 based on the image signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/686 with a variable apex prism
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

An imaging apparatus is disclosed which is integrally provided with two image pickup systems for respectively converting subject light into image signals and two displays for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by the two image pickup systems. In the disclosed imaging apparatus, since the operations of the two image pickup systems are synchronized, it is not necessary to insert an element, such as a prism, in each optical path. Further, since a common signal processing circuit is provided for performing predetermined processing of the image signals outputted from the two image pickup systems, the size of the imaging apparatus is reduced.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

(a) an apparatus body;

(b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals, each of said two image pickup means including a magnification system for varying a magnification of said image;

(c) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, said two image pickup means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus said two display means being capable of displaying information relative to a photographing state other than the images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, the information relative to the photographing state including magnifications of said respective two image pickup means.

2. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

(a) an apparatus body;

(b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals;

(c) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, said two image pickup means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body, said two display means being capable of displaying information relative to a photographing state other than the images relative to the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means, the information relative to the photographing state including a distance to a subject and/or a luminance of the subject light.

3. An imaging apparatus comprising:

(a) an apparatus body;

(b) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals;

(c) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means;

(d) two display means for respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means;

said two image pickup means, said signal processing means and said two display means being integrally provided in said apparatus body;

(e) characteristic switching means for switching a characteristic of said signal processing means in accordance with a photographing state; and

(f) two shake correcting means providing for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images, said two shake correcting means synchronously performing the shake correction operations.

4. An imaging apparatus comprising:

(a) two image pickup means for respectively converting subject light into image signals;

(b) signal processing means for performing processing of the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means;

(c) two display means capable of respectively displaying images relative to the image signals generated by said two image pickup means and subjected to the processing performed by said signal processing means;

(d) two shake correcting means provided for said respective two image pickup means and arranged to correct shakes of associated subject images;

(e) control means for controlling operations of said two image pickup means, operations of said signal processing means and operations of said two shake correcting means, respectively;

(f) output means for externally outputting the image signals obtained by said two image pickup means; and

(g) characteristic switching means for interlockingly switching characteristics of said respective two image pickup means and a characteristic of said signal processing means.

5. A viewing apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images;

(b) a plurality of viewing means for viewing said plurality of images;

(c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical image viewed by said plurality of viewing means respectively;

(d) detection means for detecting a shake of said viewing apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and

(e) driving means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means comprise display members.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means comprise liquid crystal display members.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

9. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

10. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of viewing means include a plurality of image pickup means for picking up said optical images respectively.

11. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said drive means includes a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of image stabilizing members.

12. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said viewing apparatus is a binocular.

13. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of image forming optics form a common object image.

14. A binocular apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of image forming optics for forming a plurality of optical images;

(b) a plurality of viewers for viewing said plurality of images;

(c) a plurality of image stabilizing members for stabilizing said optical images viewed by said plurality of viewers respectively;

(d) detection means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and

(e) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of viewers comprise display members.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of viewers comprise liquid crystal display members.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

18. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive means includes a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of image stabilizing members.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of image forming optics form a common object image.

21. A binocular apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of image forming optics for forming a pair of optical images;

(b) a pair of viewing finders for viewing said pair of images;

(c) a pair of image stabilizing members for stabilizing optical images viewed by said pair of said viewing finders respectively;

(d) detection circuit means for detecting a shake of said binocular apparatus and for forming a common detection signal; and

(e) drive circuit means for driving said pair of image stabilizing members in response to said common detection signal.

22. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of viewing finders comprise display devices.

23. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of viewing finders comprise liquid crystal display devices.

24. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image stabilizing member includes an optical stabilizing member for stabilizing said optical image.

25. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said image stabilizing member includes a variable angle prism.

26. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a plurality of image pickup devices for picking up said optical images respectively.

27. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means include a memory for compensating the characteristics difference between said pair of image stabilizing members.

28. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said pair of image forming optics form a common object image.

29. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means concurrently drive said pair of image stabilizing members.

30. A binocular apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drive circuit means cooperatively drive said pair of image stabilizing members.

31. A viewing apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of image forming optical systems for forming a plurality of optical images;

(b) a plurality of viewing members for viewing said plurality of images formed by said plurality of image forming optical systems;

(c) a plurality of image stabilizing means for stabilizing said image viewed by said viewing members;

(d) drive means for driving said plurality of image stabilizing means; and

(e) a compensation means for compensating a characteristic difference between said plurality of stabilizing means.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of viewing members comprise image display members.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of viewing members comprise liquid crystal display members.

34. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of image stabilizing means include a plurality of optical stabilizing members for respectively stabilizing said plurality of images.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said optical stabilizing member comprises a variable angle prism.

36. An apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising motion detecting means for detecting a motion of said apparatus.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said drive means drives said plurality of image stabilizing means according to an output of said motion detecting means.

38. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said compensation means include a memory for compensating the characteristic difference between said plurality of stabilizing means.

39. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said plurality of image forming optical systems, said plurality of viewing members, said plurality of image stabilizing means, said drive means and said compensation means are integrally provided in an apparatus body.

40. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said viewing apparatus is a binocular.