Image pickup apparatus

• US 8,780,184 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kusaka, Hiroya
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duley, Janese
• Application Number:
  US13/234,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20120069152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/128 Adjusting depth or disparity
• 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 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/681 Motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus capable of taking a 3D picture may produce a 3D picture that gives a viewer a sense of strangeness if panning, tilting, or considerable camera shake occurs during imaging. Provided is an image pickup apparatus including: a motion detecting section, which detects the motion of the image pickup apparatus; and a picture data outputting section, which switches its output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data obtained by picking up subject images, depending on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus. An appropriate picture is provided by switching the output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data depending on the motion of the image pickup apparatus. An appropriate picture is provided also by changing the stereo base of optical systems, or adjusting a parallax between the left image and the right image, in accordance with the motion of the image pickup apparatus.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a motion detecting section which detects a motion of the image pickup apparatus; and

a picture data outputting section which switches its output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data obtained by picking up subject images, depending on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus.

2. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determining section which determines whether or not the image pickup apparatus is performing at least one of panning imaging and tilting imaging based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus is performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging while the picture data outputting section is outputting the 3D picture data, the picture data outputting section switches its output from the 3D picture data to the 2D picture data.

3. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus has shifted from performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging to performing none of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging, the picture data outputting section switches its output from the 2D picture data to the 3D picture data.

4. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determining section which determines a state of shaking of the image pickup apparatus due to camera shake based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus is equal to or larger than a given level while the picture data outputting section is outputting the 3D picture data, the picture data outputting section switches its output from the 3D picture data to the 2D picture data.

5. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus has shifted from the given level or more to less than the given level, the picture data outputting section switches its output from the 2D picture data to the 3D picture data.

6. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion detecting section comprises an angular velocity sensor.

7. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motion detecting section detects a motion vector from an image taken.

8. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a motion detecting section which detects a motion of the image pickup apparatus;

a first optical system and a second optical system which are disposed side by side and each form a subject image;

a picture data generating section which generates 3D picture data based on image signals that are obtained by picking up two subject images formed by the first optical system and the second optical system; and

a changing section which moves at least one of the first optical system and the second optical system in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis in accordance with the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus, to thereby change a stereo base which is a distance between optical axes of the first optical system and the second optical system and change a parallax between an image for a right eye and an image for a left eye.

9. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a determining section which determines whether or not the image pickup apparatus is performing at least one of panning imaging and tilting imaging based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus is performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging, the changing section shortens the stereo base.

10. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus has shifted from performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging to performing none of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging, the changing section lengthens the stereo base.

11. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a determining section which determines a state of shaking of the image pickup apparatus due to camera shake based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus is equal to or larger than a given level, the changing section shortens the stereo base.

12. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus has shifted from the given level or more to less than the given level, the changing section lengthens the stereo base.

13. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the motion detecting section comprises an angular velocity sensor.

14. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the motion detecting section detects a motion vector from an image taken.

15. An image pickup apparatus, comprising:

a motion detecting section which detects a motion of the image pickup apparatus;

a parallax adjusting section which changes a parallax between an image for a right eye and an image for a left eye obtained by picking up subject images by the image pickup apparatus in accordance with the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus; and

a picture data generating section which generates 3D picture data based on the changed parallax.

16. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a determining section which determines whether or not the image pickup apparatus is performing at least one of panning imaging and tilting imaging based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus is performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging, the parallax adjusting section reduces the parallax.

17. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 16, wherein, when it is determined that the image pickup apparatus has shifted from performing the at least one of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging to performing none of the panning imaging and the tilting imaging, the parallax adjusting section increases the parallax.

18. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a determining section which determines a state of shaking of the image pickup apparatus due to camera shake based on the detected motion of the image pickup apparatus,

wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus is equal to or larger than a given level, the parallax adjusting section reduces the parallax.

19. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, when it is determined that the shaking of the image pickup apparatus has shifted from the given level or more to less than the given level, the parallax adjusting section increases the parallax.

20. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the motion detecting section comprises an angular velocity sensor.

21. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the motion detecting section detects a motion vector from an image taken.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for causing an image pickup apparatus to execute picture processing, the program further causing the image pickup apparatus to execute the step of switching its output between 2D picture data and 3D picture data obtained by picking up subject images, depending on a motion of the image pickup apparatus.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program for causing an image pickup apparatus to execute picture processing, the program further causing the image pickup apparatus to execute the steps of:

changing a parallax between an image for a right eye and an image for a left eye obtained by picking up subject images by the image pickup apparatus in accordance with a motion of the image pickup apparatus; and

generating 3D picture data based on the changed parallax.