JP2000258697A - Stereoscopic endoscopic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stereoscopic endoscopic system easily used, made inexpensive and adaptive to plural image pickup devices. SOLUTION: This stereoscopic endoscopic system is provided with an image pickup part 1 picking up a pair of left and right images having specified parallax as a left image and a right image, a signal switching part 6 alternately switching an image signal outputted from the image pickup part 1 to the left image and the right image and selectively outputting the images, and image processing equipment 2 receiving the image signal obtained by picking up the image by the image pickup part 1 through the switching part 6 and performing specified signal processing to perform stereoscopic display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for capturing left and right images having a predetermined parallax, performing predetermined signal processing on image signals sequentially output by a time division signal switching method, and displaying a stereoscopic image. The present invention relates to a stereoscopic endoscope system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various techniques for performing stereoscopic display by a time-division signal switching method have been proposed. For example,
"3D video (Shuichi Inada, Hideo Kusaka, et al. 199
July 5, 2001, first edition, published by Shokodo Co., Ltd.)
In Section 5, "Flickerless Time-Division 3D TV System"
Is described.

[0003] That is, the document describes that the output signals of the left and right cameras are temporarily stored in a frame memory and then stored in a frame memory.
By reading at twice the frequency, converting it to the field frequency, rearranging it and displaying it on the display, it eliminates flicker and can display information on all fields of the left and right camera output without losing information A technique relating to a "time-division stereoscopic television system" is described.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-54992 discloses a 3D encoding circuit for forming a three-dimensional image signal from image signals from two cameras, and reducing the data amount of the three-dimensional image signal by 1 / without reducing the vertical resolution. 2. An image recording / reproducing means for compressing and recording the image data into 2 and a 3D decoding circuit for converting a stereoscopic image signal reproduced by the image recording / reproducing means into a signal format capable of displaying stereoscopically, to observe a high-quality stereoscopic image. A technique relating to a stereoscopic image recording / reproducing device that has been enabled is disclosed.

Here, in the above-mentioned prior art, it was necessary to perform double-speed signal conversion in order to perform clear three-dimensional display. This double-speed signal conversion is performed by a dedicated double-speed signal converter, and a signal from the double-speed signal converter is output to a monitor for displaying a stereoscopic image, and a predetermined display is performed based on the signal. .

The above-mentioned monitor for displaying a stereoscopic image is a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a P) which has rapidly spread in recent years.
C), which can be used as a monitor for displaying a stereoscopic image, is more easily available than before. On the other hand, the double speed signal converter is still expensive. Furthermore, for stereoscopic display, it is necessary to use not only the double-speed signal converter but also a stereoscopic imaging device, an image converter, and a monitor for displaying a stereoscopic image. It was not suitable for doing so.

In addition, there has been a tendency for the system to be complicated and expensive, for example, a plurality of dedicated devices must be prepared simultaneously for image confirmation. Further, since a plurality of images having parallax are required at the same time for stereoscopic viewing, a plurality of imaging devices are also required at the same time, which is one of the factors that complicate the system.

In view of such a problem, an imaging apparatus for capturing an image having a plurality of parallaxes by combining a single imaging unit, a single solid-state imaging device, and a left / right image switching shutter mechanism at least for the purpose of simplifying an imaging system. Is being developed.

[0009]

However, in the above-described prior art, the output video signal from the image pickup section is output in a left-right sequential manner. Therefore, head mounted displays (HMDs) and face mounted displays (FMDs)
Display), which displays a plurality of images including parallax corresponding to each of the left eye and the right eye on a plurality of image display devices provided in front of both eyes, and does not support a device for obtaining a stereoscopic image. . Furthermore, it does not correspond to a stereoscopic image display method that does not require special glasses or the like, that is, a stereoscopic image observation method using a lenticular screen or a display with a lenticular lens, for example.

Further, the same video source cannot be easily shared by a plurality of devices due to the incompatibility of the video signal format and the format incompatibility. As described above, in the above-described related art, various problems have occurred in terms of usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a stereoscopic endoscope system which is simple and inexpensive to operate the system and is compatible with a plurality of imaging devices. It is in.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solid-state image pickup device for picking up a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively. An image signal output from the solid-state imaging device, a signal switching unit that selectively switches and selectively outputs a left image and a right image, and an image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device, There is provided a stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: an image processing unit that receives a signal via a signal switching unit and performs predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display.

In a second mode, a solid-state image sensor for picking up a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively, and an image signal output from the solid-state image sensor is converted into a left image and a right image. A signal switching unit that alternately switches to an image and selectively outputs the image signal; and a predetermined signal for receiving an image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device through the signal switching unit and performing stereoscopic display. A stereoscopic endoscope system is provided, comprising: an image processing unit that performs processing; and a stereoscopic image conversion unit that receives an image signal output from the image processing unit and converts the image signal into a stereoscopic image.

[0014] In a third aspect, an image pickup device that outputs a pair of or more images having a predetermined parallax in a left-right sequential manner according to a predetermined timing, and is connected to the image pickup device;
A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising a stereoscopic image display device for displaying a stereoscopic image is provided.

According to the first to third aspects, the following operations are provided.

That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax are respectively picked up as a left image and a right image by the solid-state image pickup device, and the signal switching means sets the left and right images.
An image signal output from the solid-state imaging device is alternately switched to a left image and a right image and selectively output, and the image processing unit stereoscopically displays an image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device. Is performed to perform the predetermined signal processing.

In the second mode, a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax are respectively picked up as a left image and a right image by the solid-state image sensor, and the image signal output from the solid-state image sensor is output by the signal switching means. The image is alternately switched to the left image and the right image and selectively output, and by the image processing means,
An image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device is input through the signal switching unit, subjected to predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display, and output from the image processing unit by the stereoscopic image conversion unit. The obtained image signal is converted into a stereoscopic image.

In the third mode, a plurality of images having a predetermined parallax and a plurality of images having a predetermined parallax are sequentially output in a left-right manner in accordance with a predetermined timing, and a stereoscopic image is displayed by a stereoscopic image display device.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the output of an image pickup unit 1 having a single or a plurality of image pickup devices (CCDs: Charge Coupled Devices) is supplied to an image processing device 2 and a signal converter 3 for stereoscopic images. It is connected to the input of the display unit 4.

In such a configuration, the imaging information obtained by the CCD of the imaging unit 1 is photoelectrically converted into a predetermined electric signal. The electric signal is input to the image processing device 2 according to a predetermined procedure, and is converted into a video signal of a predetermined format by the image processing device 2 in the order of input. This video signal is input to the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 at the subsequent stage, and is stored in a memory unit in the stereoscopic image signal converter 3. Then, the data is read from the memory unit as required, and sent to the subsequent three-dimensional image display unit 4. The stereoscopic image display unit 4 presents a stereoscopic image to a user or an observer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram further embodying the configurations of the imaging unit 1 and the image processing device 2 in the stereoscopic endoscope system shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, two CCDs 5R and 5L for obtaining a plurality of pieces of imaging information having a predetermined parallax are provided at the tip of the imaging unit 1. This CCD
The outputs of 5R and 5L are selectively connected to the input of the subsequent image processing device 2 via the signal switching unit 6. A switching circuit 7 is provided inside the image processing device 2, and an output of the switching circuit 7 is connected to a signal switching unit 6.

In such a configuration, a plurality of pieces of imaging information having a predetermined parallax, which are imaged by the CCDs 5R and 5L of the imaging unit 1, are converted into electric signals, respectively, and then sent to the image processing device 2 at the subsequent stage. . At this time, a predetermined timing signal is output from the switching circuit 7 of the image processing device 2 to the signal switching unit 6.

When the signal switching section 6 receives the timing signal, the signal switching section 6 determines a predetermined timing based on the signal,
According to a predetermined order, the electric signals of the CCDs 5R and 5L are selectively output to the image processing device 2 at the subsequent stage. The predetermined timing is, for example, a time interval during which all of the imaging information formed on the front surfaces of the CCDs 5R and 5L is converted into an electric signal. Further, the signal may be a signal based on a timing signal such as a so-called video signal field signal. Regardless of whether the signal related to the time interval or the field signal is used, the time interval must be sufficient and sufficient to perform signal processing in the image processing device 2 disposed downstream of the imaging unit 1. .

On the basis of the above principle, general video signals output from the image processing device 2 correspond to the CCDs 5L and 5R.
Is a video signal of a format in which the image information captured alternately appears alternately at a predetermined timing, for example, on a field basis.

Normally, when a video signal of this format is input to an image display device, for example, different CCD images are displayed on a field-by-field basis, so that an image in which two images overlap is confirmed on the screen. Become. However, in such a state, clear stereoscopic observation cannot be performed, and thus the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 is required.

An output signal which receives a signal from the image processing device 2 and is signal-processed by the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 is a double speed video signal for displaying an image at twice the speed of a general video signal. . Therefore, it can be said that the signal does not hinder the stereoscopic observation through the shutter operation of the liquid crystal using, for example, liquid crystal glasses.

However, it can be said that the video signal is not suitable as an input signal to an image display device such as HMD or FMD capable of stereoscopic observation. Therefore, H
As input signals to image display devices such as MD and FMD,
A plurality of general video signals having a predetermined synchronized parallax are required. This is realized by the stereoscopic image signal converter 3, which will be described in detail later.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the three-dimensional image signal converter 3 and will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, an input buffer unit 301 for receiving an input video signal is provided at a predetermined position of the signal converter 3 for stereoscopic images. This input buffer unit 3
One output 01 is connected to an input of a first signal switch 9 via a field discriminating detector 8 at the subsequent stage.
One output of the first signal switch 9 is connected to an image memory 10
Is connected to one input of the output switching unit 12 to output an output video signal on the odd field side via the input terminal, and is directly connected to another input of the output switching unit 12. On the other hand, the other output of the first signal switch 9 is
Is connected to one input of the output switching unit 13 for outputting the output video signal of the even field through the input terminal, and is directly connected to another input of the output switching unit 13.

The output of the field discriminating detector 8 is
They are connected to the inputs of the first signal switch 9 and the output switches 12 and 13, respectively. The other output of the input buffer unit 301 is electrically connected to an input of a processing circuit 3a of a liquid crystal glasses system for outputting an output video signal of a liquid crystal glasses system.

In such a configuration, the CCD 5
A field signal included in a video signal on which different imaging information is superimposed for each field imaged by L and 5R (see FIG. 2) is input to the field discriminating detector 8.

The field discriminating detector 6 performs a field discrimination, and outputs a field discrimination signal to a first stage in a subsequent stage.
Is input to the signal switch 9. This first signal switch 9
In, switch switching is performed based on the field determination signal.

As a result of this switch change, for example, only the odd fields are written into one of the image memories 10 and 11 at the subsequent stage of the first input signal switch 9, and only the even fields are written into the other image memory. still,
The writing / reading to / from the plurality of image memories 10 and 11 is different from the writing / reading of the video signal of the liquid crystal glasses system, and the writing and reading may be at the same speed.

On the other hand, the output signal from the field discriminating detector 8 is also supplied to a plurality of output switching units 12 and 13 at the subsequent stage of the image memories 10 and 11.

The output switching units 12 and 13 provide image information from an image memory that stores image signals on the field side different from the fields of the input image output in parallel with the image signals from the image memories 10 and 11. Is read.

Further, in this example, only the odd-numbered fields are provided on the side selected by the plurality of output switching units 12 and 13.
By supplying only the even-numbered field to the other side, a plurality of images captured by different synchronized CCDs having a predetermined parallax can be supplied from the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 to the outside.

By performing an interpolation operation on the output image signals from the plurality of stereoscopic image signal converters 3 as needed, an image having a plurality of predetermined parallaxes that can withstand normal observation can be obtained. . These multiple images are HMD or FMD
This is a video signal that can be displayed with. Therefore, the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 including therein a circuit capable of outputting a stereoscopic image signal of a liquid crystal eyeglass system and a circuit for supplying a plurality of images having a plurality of synchronized parallaxes is used. For example, since video signals of different image formats can be supplied simultaneously, the number of devices used can be reduced. Thereby, the user can easily manage the device, and as a result, it is possible to provide the user with a stereoscopic endoscope system in which the device can be easily managed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG.
The rotary shutter 14 is provided at a predetermined position in the traveling direction of the observation image incident through the shutter. And on the back side,
An image sensor 402 is provided. This image sensor 402
Is connected to the input of the image processing unit 403, and the output of the image processing unit 403 can be connected to the input of a subsequent device (not shown). The image processing unit 403 is also connected to a driver 404 and a timing generator 405, and the output of the driver 404 is a motor 406 for driving the rotary shutter 14 to rotate.
Connected to the input. At a predetermined position near the rotary shutter 14, a counting element 4 for counting the rotation is provided.
07 is provided. The output of the counting element 407 is connected to the input of the timing generator 405.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the means for switching the optical path incident on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 402 at a predetermined timing is provided on the front surface of the image pickup device 402, so that a plurality of light sources having a predetermined parallax are provided. Is obtained.

That is, a rotary shutter 14 for switching an incident optical path is provided on the front surface of the image sensor 402, and the rotary shutter 14 is rotated so that the image sensor 4
By switching the incident optical path on the front surface of 02, a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax can be obtained at the above-mentioned arbitrary timing by a single image sensor 402.

The configuration for image processing downstream of the image pickup device 402 is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Here, FIG. 4B shows a detailed configuration of the rotary shutter 14 to be used and will be described. As shown in the figure, the rotary shutter 14 includes a space (A) 15 and a space (B) 16 for switching an incident optical path and a counting slit 17 for counting the number of rotations along the circumference. The configuration is provided.

For example, assuming that a field signal of a general interlaced video signal is a reference for switching between left and right images, an image obtained in the space (A) 15 is an odd field, and an image obtained in the space (B) 16 is an image. If the field switching timing is corrected by measuring the counting slit 17 and the field switching timing is corrected, the output video signal output from the image processing device 2 can be any of a left image and a right image for each field. A signal is obtained by alternately superimposing images having parallax.

In this output format, if the video signal output from the image processing device 2 is input to the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 as described in the first embodiment,
It is possible to obtain a video signal that is compatible with a stereoscopic image observation using a double-speed video signal using liquid crystal glasses and a stereoscopic image observation that requires an output signal having a plurality of arbitrary parallaxes used for an HMD, an FMD, and the like. Becomes

Next, FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a first specific example which further embodies the second embodiment and will be described. In the first specific example, the liquid crystal glasses method and the HMD / FMD method are not compatible, and the application is limited to only the HMD / FMD method, and without using the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 described above. It is characterized in that a stereoscopic image can be observed only by adding a signal transmission switching unit 18 for switching a signal transmission path to the image processing device 2 and an image memory 19 for storing a video signal.

Since the outline of the image pickup section 1 is the same as that in the case where the rotary shutter 14 shown in the second embodiment is used, a detailed description is omitted here.

The route to the image processing circuit 403 in the image processing device 2 is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the space A1 provided in the rotary shutter 14 is provided.
The image formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 402 in the optical path defined by 5 is divided into odd fields, and the image sensor is similarly defined in the optical path defined by the space B16 provided in the rotary shutter 14. The image formed on the imaging surface of 402 is allocated to even fields. Further, the correction of the field switching timing is performed by measuring the counting slit provided in the rotary shutter 14 with the counting element 407.

Also in the first specific example, the video signal output from the image processing circuit 403 in the image processing device 2 alternately superimposes an image having an arbitrary parallax of a left image and a right image for each field. Signal. This image processing circuit 4
The video signal output from 03 and superimposed on the image having a different optical path for each field is transmitted to a first signal switching unit SW21 provided at the subsequent stage of the image processing circuit 403.

The first signal switching section SW 21 is provided with a timing controller 2 provided in the image processing apparatus 2.
4 is switched at a predetermined timing output from the control unit 4. In the first specific example of the second embodiment,
The predetermined timing is determined by the field signal.

The video signal switched for each field component is guided to the second and third signal switching units SW22 and SW23 in a through-out manner and to the image memories 25 and 26. That is, the video signal of only the odd or even field component is switched by the first signal switching unit SW21 for each field.
The signal is transmitted to the second signal switching unit SW22 and the third signal switching unit SW23 in the image processing device 2 in a through-out manner.

On the other hand, this route is separate from the image memory 25,
After they are written and stored in the memory 26, they are read from the image memories 25 and 26 again and transmitted to the second signal switching unit SW22 and the third signal switching unit SW23.

The second signal switching unit SW22 and the third signal switching unit SW23 are connected to the timing controller 2
4 is switched by an arbitrary timing signal outputted from Under such a configuration, the video signal output from the image processing circuit 403 can be switched in output path for each field in accordance with an arbitrary signal from the timing controller 24, and only odd fields are provided to one of the subsequent circuits and even numbers are provided to the other circuit. Only fields are supplied.

Each of the image memories 25 and 26 stores the image memory 25, 26 while the video signal output from the image processing circuit 403 is being input by the first signal switching unit SW21.
Write processing is performed on 26. Then, at the timing when the video signal output from the image processing circuit 403 is not input in the first signal switching unit SW21, the reading process from the image memories 25 and 26 is performed. Then, after performing the reading process from the image memories 25 and 26, a video signal is always supplied to the second and third signal switching units SW22 and SW23.

Further, the second and third signal switching units SW
Based on an arbitrary signal output from the timing controller 24, any one of the video signal supplied from the first signal switching unit SW21 and the video signal supplied from the image memories 25 and 26 is provided. That is, since the path on the side to which the video signal is supplied to the second and third signal switching units SW22 and SW23 is set to be discarded, a pair of left and right images having a predetermined constant parallax is formed. It can always be supplied to the outside of the image processing device 2. Thus, in the case of the HMD / FMD system only, stereoscopic observation can be performed with a single imaging unit and a single image processing device.

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the second embodiment.
5 is a timing chart showing the flow of various signals in the specific example of FIG. In the figure, the rotary shutter 14, the signal switching unit SW2
1 shows the flow of the video signal defined by SW22 and SW23.

In FIG. 6, m and n are integers. A,
B indicates the division of the space A / B of the rotary shutter 14. Further, Ox means an odd number field, Ex means an even number field, and Xx (M) means a value read from the image memories 25 and 26. Further, for example, (M) in the description of On (M) means that the video signal is supplied from the image memories 25 and 26 described above.

As described above, the rotary shutter 14 is switched to the space A / B division at a predetermined timing (see FIG. 6A), and the output of the first signal switching unit SW21 is for the odd field and the even field. Minutes (see FIG. 6)
(B)). When the odd field output from the first signal switching unit SW21 is output from the second signal switching unit SW22, the even field read from the image memory 26 by the third signal switching unit SW23 is output. The minute is output. On the other hand, the third signal switching unit SW2
3, when the even-numbered fields output from the first signal switching unit SW21 are output, the odd-numbered fields read from the image memory 25 are output from the second signal switching unit SW22. This is alternately repeated (see FIGS. 6C and 6D).

Next, a second specific example of the second embodiment will be described.

As a second specific example, the first to third image processing apparatuses are externally transmitted from the image processing apparatus 2 described in the second embodiment.
If it is possible to output an arbitrary timing signal for driving the signal switching units SW21 to SW23, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, the blocks subsequent to the first signal switching unit SW21 shown in FIG.
If the image processing device 2 is incorporated in a driver portion for driving an MD or the like, even if the image processing device 2 is the same as in the second embodiment, a device in which a signal switching portion is incorporated in the driver portion instead of the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 is attached. HMD / FMD
Although limited to the method, stereoscopic observation is possible.

In the second embodiment described above, the rotary shutter 14 including the first and second specific examples described above is used.
Is stopped, the normal image observation, that is, the plane (2)
D) Since the image observation can be easily performed, for example, if a function switch capable of stopping the rotation of the rotary shutter 14 is provided on the front panel of the image processing apparatus or a part of the imaging unit, the planar (2D) observation system can be easily performed. It can be diverted.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In recent years, monitors called non-flicker monitors or flickerless monitors have been developed. This is one of the general video signal systems, PAL (Phas
e Alternation by Line color television) system, in order to reduce the flicker of the screen, that is, flicker, a field memory in which a PAL video signal having a frame rate of usually 25 Hz is provided in the receiver side is provided.
The image is displayed at 50 Hz twice as high. This type of monitor often does not only support the PAL system, but also supports a video signal of the NTSC system.

The monitor has the function of the three-dimensional image signal converter 3 provided after the image processing device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first embodiment.
Therefore, using such a non-flicker monitor,
If the image processing device 2 and the non-flicker monitor are directly connected, a stereoscopic image can be observed without using the stereoscopic image signal converter 2.

In this case, the non-flicker monitor used stores the signal of each field of the video signal in a field memory provided therein, and stores the signal of each field stored in the field memory according to a predetermined procedure. ,
It is assumed that the monitor display is performed at a field rate twice as high as that of a general video signal, that is, at a frame rate twice as high as that of a general video signal by reading data at a frequency twice as high as the writing frequency when the data is stored from the field memory. Under such an assumption, since the frequency differs between writing and reading in the field memory, there is a high possibility that an image sufficient for image display cannot be obtained in a single field. Therefore, the above-mentioned field memory is not a single one, but has a configuration in which a plurality of field memories and input / output paths of the plurality of field memories can be appropriately switched as necessary.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to the third embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the outputs of the television cameras (R) 30 and (L) 29 are connected to the inputs of the camera control units (R) 27 and (L) 28 at the subsequent stage. The camera control units (L) 27 and (R) 28 are connected to each other via a synchronization cable 31. The output of the camera control unit (R) 27 is supplied to the field detection circuit 3
3 and to the input of the analog switch 34.

The camera control unit (L) 2
The output of 8 is connected to another input of the analog switch 34. Further, the output of the field detection circuit 33 is also connected to the input of the analog switch 34. The output via the analog switch 34 is connected to the input of a non-flicker monitor 50 at the subsequent stage. The analog switch 34 is configured to be switched by a field discrimination signal output from a field detector.

In such a configuration, the camera control units (R) 27 and (L) 28 receive a signal from an external device only to at least one of them.
It has a function of outputting a video signal in synchronization with at least the field rate with the other camera control unit. In this case, each of the television cameras (L) 29,
At (R) 30, a pair of left and right images having an arbitrary parallax are captured and converted into electric signals, and the obtained image signal is used as a camera control unit for image processing prepared for a left image / right image. (L) 28 and (R) 27, and a general video signal is formed in each camera control unit.

In the third embodiment, the camera control units (R) 27 and (L) 28 are connected to each other by the synchronization cable 31 as described above, so that both camera control units (R) 27 and (L) 27 are connected. , (L) 2
8 makes it possible to output a video signal synchronously. This camera control unit (R) 27,
(L) 28 outputs each output signal to the signal switch 32 at the subsequent stage.
To supply.

A field detector 33 is provided at one of the input stages of the two video signals supplied to the signal switch 32, and performs field detection of the input video signal. In the third embodiment, the field detector 33 is provided at the input stage of the video signal from the camera control unit (R) 27, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. Since the video signals of the left and right images are synchronized at least at the field rate by the above-described synchronization cable, only one of the left and right image video signals needs to be subjected to field detection.

Further, the analog switch 34 is switched for each field by a field discrimination signal from the field detector 33, so that the signal switch 3
2, the non-flicker monitor 50 is supplied with a video signal in which imaging information of a different television camera is superimposed for each field.

However, it is not possible to observe a stereoscopic image only by observing the screen of the non-flicker monitor 50. Therefore, as appropriate, a “liquid crystal glasses system” using so-called “liquid crystal glasses” that performs a shutter operation in synchronization with the field switching indicated by the monitor, or a so-called “polarized glasses” using a liquid crystal panel in front of the monitor tube surface is used. Observe the image using the polarized glasses method. Thereby, observation of a stereoscopic image becomes possible. In this case, the image is switched at twice the frequency of the general video signal.

In the third embodiment described above,
If the television camera using the rotary shutter shown in FIG. 4 is used, two television cameras are not used, and a common video signal output from the signal switch from the television camera using the rotary shutter is used. Since a video signal of a format can be obtained, it is needless to say that a stereoscopic image can be observed only with a single television camera.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a first specific example of the fourth embodiment, and will be described.

The basic configuration of the first specific example is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment described above, except that the method of obtaining a pair of left and right images from the image pickup unit 1 is different.

That is, in the above-described first embodiment, the signal for driving the signal switching unit 6 in the imaging unit 1 is supplied from the image processing device 2 to the imaging unit 1. If the timing for switching the switching unit 6 is predetermined and stable without external correction, if the image capture is performed in synchronization with the timing at which the signal switching unit 6 switches, the first The same effect as the embodiment can be obtained.

Focusing on this point, in the first specific example of the fourth embodiment, a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax is picked up by a pair of image pickup device groups 5.

The image pickup section 1 has the image pickup element group 5 therein.
The image information formed on the imaging surface of the imaging device group 5 converted into an electric signal is converted into an external image processing device in accordance with the timing specified by the driver circuit 36 in the imaging unit 1 based on the output of the timing generator 802. 2 and a driver circuit 36 for driving the switch 35.

The driver circuit 36 not only switches the changeover switch 35 in the imaging unit 1 described above at a predetermined cycle at the timing specified by the driver circuit 36, but also switches the switch to the external image processing device 2. Is supplied.

On the image processing device 2 side, the image pickup unit 1
A transfer clock or the like for capturing image information converted into an electric signal supplied from the imaging unit 1 into the device based on a predetermined drive signal output from the driver circuit 36 in the device,
In synchronization with the switching timing of the changeover switch 35 on the imaging unit 1 side, the image information necessary for image display is fetched, and the image processing circuit 80 is executed based on the fetched image information.
1 performs necessary image processing and outputs it to an external device in a general video signal format.

If the timing to switch the changeover switch 35 in the image pickup section 1 is specified to be performed, for example, for each odd / even field, the video signal output from the image processing device 2 is divided into left and right fields for each field. It becomes a video signal of a format in which image information is alternately superimposed. In the case of a video signal of this format, the stereoscopic image signal converter 3 shown in the above-described first embodiment is adopted, and if input to this, stereoscopic observation can be appropriately performed by using liquid crystal glasses or the like. You can do it.

Next, FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a second specific example of the fourth embodiment and will be described.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the driver circuit 36 and the changeover switch 35 of the image pickup unit 1 are externally attached (external driver unit 40). The difference is that the configuration is such that a pair of imaging elements 5 are housed. The other points are the same as those in the first specific example, and thus detailed description is omitted here. Even under such a configuration, the same operation and effect as those of the first specific example can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a third specific example of the fourth embodiment and will be described.

As shown in the figure, in the third specific example, a signal switching section 35 and a driver circuit 36 are provided in an image processing device 37.

For example, when the image processing device 37 is provided with a plurality of connecting portions to the image pickup section 38, and only the single connection section is used by connecting the image pickup section 38, a normal plane (2D)
In the case where the image processing device 37 functions as an observation device and a plurality of image pickup units 38 are connected to the plurality of connection units and used, for example, two connection units are provided in the image processing device 37, and both of them are connected to the image pickup unit 3
When 8 is connected, it is configured so that stereoscopic (3D) observation can be performed.

Therefore, a single image processing device 37 can perform two-dimensional observation and three-dimensional observation only by exchanging the imaging unit 38.

The switching between the planar observation and the stereoscopic observation can be performed by providing a recognition pin in a connector to be connected at the connection between the imaging unit 38 and the image processing device 37 and determining whether or not the recognition pin exists on the image processing device 37 side. And a 3D / 2D switching circuit 39 dedicated to switching may be provided on the front panel of the image processing device 37 so that the user can intentionally select planar observation / stereoscopic observation. Good.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of devices used can be reduced as compared with conventional stereoscopic image observation. For example, a camera control unit and a stereoscopic image converter can be eliminated. Further, in some embodiments, it is possible to provide a user with a stereoscopic image display device applicable to both the liquid crystal glasses system and the HMD / FMD system.

[0097] The embodiments of the present invention described above include the following inventions.

(1) A solid-state image sensor for picking up a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively, and an image signal output from the solid-state image sensor as a left image and a right image. A signal switching means for alternately switching and selectively outputting, and an image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device is received via the signal switching means and subjected to predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display. A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: an image processing unit.

(2) A solid-state image sensor for capturing a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively, and an image signal output from the solid-state image sensor as a left image and a right image. A signal switching means for alternately switching and selectively outputting, and an image signal obtained by imaging with the solid-state imaging device is received via the signal switching means and subjected to predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display. A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: an image processing unit; and a stereoscopic image conversion unit that receives an image signal output from the image processing unit and converts the image signal into a stereoscopic image.

(3) The three-dimensional image conversion means includes a storage means capable of storing the input signal, and a storage means which stores the left or right video signal when the image processing means outputs one of the left and right video signals. Means for simultaneously outputting the output signal and the signal output from the image processing means. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to the above (2), further comprising:

(4) The image processing means further includes a storage means, and the three-dimensional image conversion means simultaneously outputs a signal stored in the storage means and a signal output from the image processing means. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to the above (2), further comprising means.

(5) It has storage means for storing an input signal therein for reducing flicker flickering, and writes a video signal into the storage means in synchronization with a scanning frequency of a normal video signal.
A stereoscopic image display monitor according to (1), further comprising a stereoscopic image display monitor for reading at twice the frequency of the written frequency and displaying an image at twice the scanning frequency of a normal video signal. Endoscope system.

(6) An imaging device for outputting image information of a pair or more images having a predetermined parallax in a left-to-right order in accordance with a predetermined timing, and connected to the imaging device;
A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: a stereoscopic image display device that displays a stereoscopic image.

(7) The stereoscopic image display device has a plurality of storage means therein for storing image information output from the image pickup device in a left-right sequential manner at an arbitrary timing. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to (6).

(8) The three-dimensional image display device has a plurality of storage means therein, and the storage means allows the output image information output from the image pickup device to be sequentially output in a left-right order from an external device in a through-out manner. And one of the output image information (for example, image information for the left eye) output from the imaging apparatus in a left-right sequential manner in any of a plurality of storage means while being selectively stored. The stereoscopic endoscope according to (6), wherein one of the output image information (for example, image information for the right eye) output in a left-right sequential manner can be stored in the plurality of storage means. system.

(9) In the three-dimensional image display device, based on the image information stored in the storage means, an image for the left eye is input from among the image information input sequentially from left and right from the imaging device. If there is, the image for the right eye is read out simultaneously from the storage means in which the image for the right eye is stored,
When the image for the right eye is input from the imaging device, the image for the left eye can be read out simultaneously from the storage unit in which the image for the left eye is stored (8).
A stereoscopic endoscope system according to item 1.

(10) The three-dimensional image display device is arranged such that the image for the right eye is always supplied to the right eye of the observer, and the image for the left eye is always supplied to the left eye of the observer. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to (7), further comprising a circuit for selecting an output path of an image signal from an input signal from a device and the plurality of storage units.

(11) The image pickup device is integrally formed with the stereoscopic image display device, and the image pickup device stores therein image information which is sequentially and horizontally output from the image pickup device at an arbitrary timing. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to the above (6), comprising a plurality of storage means capable of storing the information.

(12) The image pickup device is characterized by comprising a combination of a plurality of image pickup devices and a single device having therein a circuit for converting an electric signal from the image pickup device into image information. The stereoscopic endoscope system according to the above (6).

(13) The image pickup apparatus has a single image pickup device, a left / right switching shutter provided on the front surface of the single image pickup device, and converts an electric signal from the image pickup device into image information therein. (3) The stereoscopic endoscope system according to the above (6), comprising a combination with a single device having a circuit for performing the operation.

(14) The stereoscopic camera according to (13), wherein the left / right switching shutter means switches the opening and closing of an optical path incident on a single image pickup device by an arbitrary means at a predetermined timing. Endoscope system.

[0112]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a stereoscopic endoscope system that is simple and inexpensive to operate the system and can support a plurality of imaging devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram further embodying the configurations of an imaging unit 1 and an image processing device 2 in the stereoscopic endoscope system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a three-dimensional image signal converter 3.

FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a rotary shutter 14 to be used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first specific example in which the second embodiment is further embodied.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the flow of various signals in the first specific example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first specific example of the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a second specific example of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a third specific example of the fourth embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 imaging unit 2 image processing device 3 stereoscopic image signal converter 4 stereoscopic image display unit 5 imaging device 6 signal switching unit 7 switching circuit 3a processing circuit of liquid crystal glasses system 8 field detector 9 first Signal switcher 10 image memory 11 image memory 12 output switching unit 13 output switching unit 14 rotary shutter 15 space A provided in rotary shutter 16 space B provided in rotary shutter 17 counting slit provided on rotary shutter 18 Signal transmission switching unit (SW21, SW22, SW23
19) Image memory 21 First signal switching unit 22 Second signal switching unit 23 Third signal switching unit 25 Image memory 26 Image memory 27 Camera control unit R 28 Camera control unit L 29 Television camera L 30 Television camera R 31 Synchronous cable 32 Signal switch 33 Field detection circuit 34 Analog switch 35 Changeover switch 36 Driver circuit 37 Image processing device 38 Imaging unit 39 3D / 2D switching circuit 40 External driver unit 50 Non-flicker monitor 301 Stereoscopic image signal Input buffer 401 of converter 3 401 Extended optical unit for forming an image of the observation target on the imaging unit 402 Image sensor 403 Image processing unit provided in image processing device 2 404 Driver unit and motor for driving rotary shutter 14 406 A counting device 405 the timing controller 408 inverter 801 image processing circuit 802 a timing generator for measuring a driver unit and a motor 407 for counting the slits 17 for driving the 14

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 13/02 H04N 13/02 F term (Reference) 2H040 BA15 GA02 GA05 GA11 4C061 AA00 BB02 BB06 CC06 DD00 LL01 LL08 NN01 NN05 PP12 RR06 RR18 RR26 SS30 WW04 WW20 XX01 XX02 5C022 AA09 AC01 AC42 AC51 AC53 AC54 AC69 5C054 AA01 AA05 CA04 CC05 EA01 EA05 EH05 FD02 FE11 GA04 GB01 HA12 5C061 AA07 AA17 AB04 AB06 AB08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state imaging device that captures a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively, and an image signal output from the solid-state imaging device is alternately formed into a left image and a right image. A signal switching unit for selectively outputting the image signal, and an image signal obtained by capturing an image with the solid-state imaging device via the signal switching unit and performing predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display. A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: processing means. 2. A solid-state image sensor for picking up a pair of left and right images having a predetermined parallax as a left image and a right image, respectively, and an image signal output from the solid-state image sensor is alternately changed to a left image and a right image. A signal switching unit for selectively outputting the image signal, and an image signal obtained by capturing an image with the solid-state imaging device via the signal switching unit and performing predetermined signal processing for performing stereoscopic display. A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: a processing unit; and a stereoscopic image conversion unit that receives an image signal output from the image processing unit and converts the image signal into a stereoscopic image. 3. An imaging device that outputs a pair of or more images having a predetermined parallax in a left-right sequential manner according to a predetermined timing, a stereoscopic image display device connected to the imaging device and displaying a stereoscopic image, A stereoscopic endoscope system comprising: