Camera device, liquid lens, and image pickup method

• US 8,072,486 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Namba, Takaaki, Mimura, Masakazu
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US12/373,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 348 42- 60
• US Class Current: 348/46
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/232 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/597 specially adapted for multi-view video sequence encoding

Abstract

A camera device is provided which has a compound eye structure only by a liquid lens unit and a control unit without requiring a plurality of lenses to be mounted in advance and is capable of taking a three-dimensional stereoscopic video image. In addition, a compact and lightweight three-dimensional stereoscopic camera is provided which can be switched to take a two-dimensional planar image or to take a three-dimensional stereoscopic image only by an electronic control with no need for a movable mechanism and can reduce the power consumption and improve the reliability. A camera device comprises a liquid lens (182) switchable to a single eye lens and a compound eye lens; and a switching unit for switching the liquid lens (182) to the single eye lens to take a planar image and switching the liquid lens (182) to the compound eye lens to take a stereoscopic image.

Claims

1. A camera device, comprising:

a liquid lens switchable to a single eye lens and a compound eye lens; and

a switching unit for switching the liquid lens to the single eye lens to take a planar image and switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens to take a stereoscopic image.

2. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit, when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens, changes the number and locations of optical axes thereof.

3. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical axis control unit for changing an optical axis direction of the liquid lens,

wherein the optical axis control unit changes the optical axis direction of the liquid lens in accordance with whether the liquid lens is switched to the single eye lens to take a planar image or the liquid lens is switched to the compound lens to take a stereoscopic image.

4. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit controls the amount of light transmitted through the liquid lens to irradiate an image pickup element when switching the liquid lens to the single eye lens to take a planar image and when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens to take a stereoscopic image.

5. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit for changing a gap between an image pickup element and the liquid lens,

wherein the moving unit controls the gap between the image pickup element and the liquid lens.

6. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic control unit for performing the electromagnetic control by turning on or off, or increasing or decreasing, at least one of a voltage and a magnetic field in a diameter direction continuously in repetition, and generating a wave motion in the liquid by the electromagnetic control, to move the liquid, wherein

A liquid forming the liquid lens is moved between an inner circumferential area and an outer circumferential area, to switch the liquid lens to the single eye lens or the compound eye lens, by the wave motion generated by the electromagnetic control unit or a centrifugal force generated by rotating the liquid lens.

7. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit concentrically moves the liquid forming the liquid lens between the inner circumferential area and the outer circumferential area so as to switch the liquid lens to the single eye lens or the compound eye lens and change a liquid amount distribution, thereby changing a light collection ratio of the liquid lens and thus controlling a sensitivity.

8. A camera device according to claim 7, wherein the liquid amount distribution is changed by changing the voltage applied to the inner circumferential area and the outer circumferential area of the liquid lens to change a shape of the liquid lens.

9. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit, when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens, inscribes the liquid lens to an area of an image pickup element without overlapping.

10. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a video image input processing unit, wherein:

the switching unit, when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens, inscribes the liquid lens to an area of an image pickup element with partial overlapping; and

the video image input processing unit performs calculation processing on an input video image from the overlapped part to correct the video image of each lens.

11. A camera device according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit, when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens, circumscribes the liquid lens to an area of an image pickup element without overlapping.

12. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a video image input processing unit, wherein:

the switching unit, when switching the liquid lens to the compound eye lens, circumscribes the liquid lens to an area of an image pickup element with partial overlapping; and

the video image input processing unit performs calculation processing on an input video image from the overlapped part to correct the video image of each lens.

13. A camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a phase transition control unit for allowing the liquid lens to exist as a liquid only at the time of switching and causing the liquid lens to exist as a solid except for the time of switching.

14. A liquid lens according to claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic control is performed by turning on or off, or increasing or decreasing, at least one of a voltage and a magnetic field in a diameter direction continuously in repetition, and a wave motion is generated in the liquid by the electromagnetic control, to move the liquid.

15. An image pickup method using a liquid lens, by which:

the liquid lens is switched to a single eye lens or a compound eye lens;

a planar image is taken in the state where the liquid lens is switched to the single eye lens; and

a stereoscopic image is taken in the state where the liquid lens is switched to the compound eye lens.