Device for capturing three-dimensional images with independently controllable groups of photoelectric conversion elements

• US 6,982,761 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Tani, Nobuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, HEATHER RAE
• Application Number:
  US09/589,064
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: 348/348, 348/311, 348/312, 348/314, 348/315, 348/317, 348/319, 348/320, 348/322, 348/208.14, 348/362, 348/230.1, 396/96, 250/559, 250/38, 250/206.1, 250/206.2, 356/601
• US Class Current: 348/348
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects

Abstract

A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes, a vertical transfer unit and a substrate. The plurality of photo-diodes is separated into a plurality of groups and each of the groups can be controlled independently. A distance measuring light beam having a predetermined pulse width is radiated to a measurement subject and a reflected light beam, generated by the measurement subject due to the distance measuring light beam, is sensed by the photo-diodes, so that a distance information sensing operation which detects distance information of the measurement subject is executed. In the distance information sensing operation, only predetermined groups of the photo-diodes are used for sensing the distance information, while in an image information sensing operation, which detects an image of the measurement subject, all photo-diodes in the CCD are used.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising:

a light source that radiates a distance measuring light beam irradiating a measurement subject, the measurement subject reflecting the distance measuring light beam to generate a reflected light beam;

a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, configured in a matrix arrangement, that receive the reflected light beam, said photoelectric conversion elements accumulating electric charge corresponding to at least distance information based on an amount of the received reflected light beam;

a vertical transfer unit that is disposed along each vertical line of said photoelectric conversion elements, said photoelectric conversion elements transferring the accumulated electric charge in a vertical direction;

a horizontal transfer unit that is disposed near one end of said vertical transfer unit and in parallel with horizontal lines of said photoelectric conversion elements, so that the electric charge is transferred in a horizontal direction;

an electric charge transfer processor that transfers electric charge accumulated only in photoelectric conversion elements comprising effective horizontal lines, which are disposed every predetermined number of the horizontal lines;

an electric charge integrating processor that drives said electric charge transfer processor repeatedly and integrates the electric charge accumulated in said photoelectric conversion elements comprising the effective horizontal lines in said vertical transfer unit; and

a transfer operation control processor that controls said horizontal transfer unit and said vertical transfer unit, so that said horizontal transfer unit is driven only when the electric charge corresponding to the effective horizontal lines is transferred to said horizontal transfer unit,

wherein the horizontal lines are separated into first, second and third groups, which are arranged in a vertical direction such that an order of first group, second group, second group, third group, second group, second group is repeated.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the effective horizontal lines comprise at least one of the groups.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of groups shares at least one of the horizontal lines.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of groups comprises at least three groups.

5. A three-dimensional image capturing device, comprising:

a light source that irradiates a measurement subject;

a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in a matrix, that receive an amount of light reflected from the measurement subject and that accumulate electric charge corresponding the received amount of light said photoelectric conversion elements comprising first photoelectric conversion elements and second photoelectric conversion elements, a number of said second photoelectric conversion elements being less than a number of said first photoelectric conversion elements;

an electric charge transfer control processor that controls an electric transfer operation, which outputs the electric charge accumulated in said photoelectric conversion elements;

a distance calculating processor that calculates a distance to the measurement subject based on the amount of electric charge accumulated in said photoelectric conversion elements;

a first distance measuring processor that drives said electric charge transfer control processor to output the electric charge accumulated in all said photoelectric conversion elements, and calculates the distance corresponding to all said photoelectric conversion elements using said distance calculating processor;

a second distance measuring processor that drives said electric charge transfer control processor in order to output the electric charge accumulated in selected photoelectric conversion elements of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and calculates the distance corresponding to said selected photoelectric conversion elements using said distance calculating processor; and

a distance measurement selecting processor that selects one of said first distance measuring processor and said second distance measuring processor, and drives the selected processor;

wherein said second distance measuring processor comprises;

a first high speed mode that drives said electric charge transfer control processor to output electric charge from said first photoelectric conversion elements, and that calculates the distance corresponding to said first photoelectric conversion elements; and

a second high speed mode that drives said electric charge transfer control processor to output electric charge from said second photoelectric conversion elements, and that calculates the distance corresponding to said second photoelectric conversion elements; and

wherein said first high speed mode calculates the distance when the measurement subject is moving at a relatively slow speed and said second high speed mode calculates the distance when the measurement subject is moving at a relatively fast speed.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said first distance measuring processor measures a stationary measurement subject and said second distance measuring processor measures a moving measurement subject.