U.S. patent application number 11/101126 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for calibration camera device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Olympus Corporation. Invention is credited to Yamaguchi, Kazuo.
Application Number | 20050224704 11/101126 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35059619 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050224704 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamaguchi, Kazuo |
October 13, 2005 |
CALIBRATION CAMERA DEVICE
Abstract
A calibration camera device for geometrical correction or color
correction, including an optical lens part, an optical filter part
which is provided in front of the optical lens part and to which at
least three optical filters are attached, a filter switching part
to select any one from among the optical filters and dispose the
selected one optical filter at a photometric point, a near-infrared
light cutting part which is provided in the rear of the optical
lens part and to which a near-infrared light cutting filter is
attached, a monochrome capturing part which is provided in the rear
of the near-infrared light cutting part and includes a monochrome
imaging element, an image storing part for storing a monochrome
image which is captured by the monochrome capturing part, and a
gain correction part for conducting sensitivity correction on the
monochrome image.
Inventors: |
Yamaguchi, Kazuo; (Hachioji
City, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Olympus Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
35059619 |
Appl. No.: |
11/101126 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
250/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01J 3/0235 20130101;
G01J 3/51 20130101; G03B 11/00 20130101; G01J 3/465 20130101; H04N
9/3194 20130101; G01J 3/0208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/226 |
International
Class: |
G01J 003/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 8, 2004 |
JP |
2004-114347 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A calibration camera device for geometrical correction or color
correction, comprising: an optical lens part to which a lens is
attached, an optical filter part which is provided in front of said
optical lens part on an optical path and to which at least three
optical filters are attached, a filter switching part to select any
one from among said optical filters and dispose said selected one
optical filter at a photometric point on said optical path, a
near-infrared light cutting part which is provided in the rear of
said optical lens part and to which a near-infrared light cutting
filter is attached, a monochrome capturing part which is provided
in the rear of said near-infrared light cutting part on said
optical path and includes a monochrome imaging element, an image
storing part for storing a monochrome image which is captured by
said monochrome capturing part, and a gain correction part for
conducting sensitivity correction on said monochrome image which is
captured by said monochrome capturing part through said selected
one optical filter which is selected by said filter switching
part.
2. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 1, wherein
each optical filter includes soft filmy optical filters, and in
said color correction, each optical filter is configured so that a
designed spectral transmittance characteristic of each optical
filter can be realized by selecting and overlapping one or more of
said soft filmy optical filters.
3. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 2, wherein a
spectral transmittance characteristic of said optical filters, a
spectral transmittance characteristic of said near-infrared light
cutting filter and a spectral transmittance characteristic of said
imaging element are superimposed to obtain a sensitivity
characteristic at capturing, and said sensitivity characteristic is
approached to color matching functions of a three stimulus color
displaying system.
4. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 1, wherein in
said geometrical correction, said optical filter part is set
transparent over a visible light range by said filter switching
part.
5. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 2, wherein
said soft filmy optical filter is a gelatine optical filter.
6. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 1, wherein
said filter switching part includes a pair of rolling mechanisms
and a belt-shaped member which is to be rolled by said rolling
mechanisms and on which said optical filters are arranged.
7. The calibration camera device as defined in claim 1, wherein
said filter switching part includes a slide photograph equipment
with openings and said optical filters are attached to said
openings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a calibration camera device
which can be used in geometrical correction in combination with
color correction by itself and particularly to a calibration camera
device which is preferably used in image quality control of an
image displaying device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, an image displaying device has been proposed
wherein a plurality of images are projected from the corresponding
projectors and synthesized as one large image on one screen. At
each projector, however, may occur geometrical distortion, color
shading, luminance shading, difference in gamma characteristic,
difference in white balance and the like. In this case, the
differences in image quality between the projectors become
conspicuous, thereby deteriorating the displaying quality of the
image displaying device. In this point of view, an image displaying
device is proposed wherein a camera is provided in front of the
screen, and a test pattern displayed on the screen is captured, and
correction data is calculated on the captured image, and the input
image is corrected on the correction data and output, thereby
conducting geometrical correction, color correction and luminance
correction (see, Patent publication No. 1).
[0005] Among the above-mentioned corrections, the color correction
is often conducted by means of a color measuring device or the
like. Since the color measuring device is expensive and is required
to be set at every point if in the color correction, there are a
plurality of photometric points, however, the cost in the color
correction may be increased and the operationality in the color
correction may be complicated. In order to iron out this problem, a
two-dimensional color measuring device is proposed wherein the
color correction can be conducted simultaneously for the plurality
of photometric points (see, Patent publication No. 2). In the use
of the two-dimensional color measuring device, the operation to set
the measuring device to the plurality of photometric points can be
mitigated.
[0006] [Patent publication No. 1] Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 9-326981
[0007] [Patent publication No. 2] Japanese Patent Publication No.
3246021
[0008] The two dimensional color measuring device disclosed in
Patent Publication No. 2 is so configured as to install, in an
capturing device (camera), an optical filter made of a relatively
expensive interference filter (e.g., made of glass) close to the
color matching functions of a given three-dimensional displaying
color system. Therefore, the total cost of the two dimensional
color measuring device is increased because the parts cost is
increased due to the use of the interference filter and the
operationality becomes complicated due to the precise attachment of
the optical filter in the capturing device. Then, if the
geometrical correction and the color correction are conducted
simultaneously, another capturing device (camera) for the
geometrical correction must be provided in addition to the
capturing device for the color correction, so that the setting cost
and the setting space of the capturing devices may be increased and
the setting period of time of the capturing devices may be
elongated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a not
expensive calibration camera device with good operationality which
is configured so that at least three optical filters are
selectively used, thereby conducting the geometrical correction and
color correction simultaneously by itself.
[0010] In order to achieve the first object, the invention of claim
1 relates to a calibration camera device for geometrical correction
or color correction, comprising:
[0011] an optical lens part to which a lens is attached,
[0012] an optical filter part which is provided in front of the
optical lens part on an optical path and to which at least three
optical filters are attached,
[0013] a filter switching part to select any one from among the
optical filters and dispose the selected one optical filter at a
photometric point on the optical path,
[0014] a near-infrared light cutting part which is provided in the
rear of the optical lens part and to which a near-infrared light
cutting filter is attached,
[0015] a monochrome capturing part which is provided in the rear of
the near-infrared light cutting part on the optical path and
includes a monochrome imaging element,
[0016] an image storing part for storing a monochrome image which
is captured by the monochrome capturing part, and
[0017] a gain correction part for conducting sensitivity correction
on the monochrome image which is captured by the monochrome
capturing part through the selected one optical filter which is
selected by the filter switching part.
[0018] The invention of claim 2 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 1, wherein each optical filter includes
soft filmy optical filters, and in the color correction, each
optical filter is configured so that a designed spectral
transmittance characteristic of each optical filter can be realized
by selecting and overlapping one or more of the soft filmy optical
filters.
[0019] The invention of claim 3 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 2, wherein a spectral transmittance
characteristic of said optical filters, a spectral transmittance
characteristic of the near-infrared light cutting filter and a
spectral transmittance characteristic of the imaging element are
superimposed to obtain a sensitivity characteristic of the
monochrome image at capturing, and the sensitivity characteristic
is approached to color matching functions of a three stimulus color
displaying system.
[0020] The invention of claim 4 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 1, wherein in the geometrical
correction, the optical filter part is set transparent over a
visible light range by the filter switching part.
[0021] The invention of claim 5 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 2, wherein the soft filmy optical filter
is a gelatine optical filter.
[0022] The invention of claim 6 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 1, wherein the filter switching part
includes a pair of rolling mechanisms and a belt-shaped member
which is to be rolled by the rolling mechanisms and on which the
optical filters are arranged.
[0023] The invention of claim 7 relates to a calibration camera
device as defined in claim 1, wherein the filter switching part
includes a slide photograph equipment with openings and the optical
filters are attached to the openings.
[0024] According to the invention of claim 1, since at least three
optical filters are attached to the optical filter part which is
provided in front of the optical lens part to which the lens is
attached on the optical path and one appropriate optical filter is
disposed at the photometric point on the optical path through the
selection of the filter switching part, the monochrome image which
is captured through the selected optical filter depends on the
characteristics of the selected optical filter, the lens and the
near-infrared light cutting filter which constitute an optical
system. Therefore, the sensitivity correction is conducted on the
monochrome image by the gain correction part. In the color
correction, therefore, the correction data from the sensitivity
correction on the monochrome image by the gain correction part is
utilized as it is. In the geometrical correction, the correction
data from the sensitivity correction on the monochrome image which
is captured substantially without filters (e.g., correction data
from the sensitivity correction on the monochrome image which is
captured through a filter which is transparent over a visible light
range or correction data from the sensitivity correction on the
monochrome data which is captured without filters). As a result,
both of the geometrical correction and the color correction can be
conducted on only the calibration camera device of the present
invention. In this point of view, the total cost and the
operationality of the calibration camera device can be
enhanced.
[0025] According to the invention of claim 2, each optical filter
includes soft filmy optical filters, and in the color correction,
each optical filter is configured so that a designed spectral
transmittance characteristic of each optical filter can be realized
by selecting and overlapping one or more of the soft filmy optical
filters. Therefore, since the optical filters can be attached on a
belt-shaped member which is to be rolled by rolling mechanisms
constituting the filter switching part, the filter switching part
can be downsized.
[0026] According to the invention of claim 3, since a spectral
transmittance characteristic of the optical filters, a spectral
transmittance characteristic of the near-infrared light cutting
filter and a spectral transmittance characteristic of the imaging
element are superimposed to obtain a sensitivity characteristic at
capturing, and the sensitivity characteristic is approached to
color matching functions of a three stimulus color displaying
system, the calibration camera device can be configured so that the
characteristic of the captured monochrome image device can be
matched to the color matching functions.
[0027] According to the invention of claim 4, since in the
geometrical correction, the optical filter part is set transparent
over a visible light range by the filter switching part (e.g., a
transparent filter over the visible light range or a plate with an
opening through which a light within the visible light range is
passed may be used), the calibration can be conducted by utilizing
the correction result at the time when the monochrome image data
which is obtained without filters is corrected in sensitivity by
the gain correction part. As a result, both of the geometrical
correction and the color correction can be conducted on only the
calibration camera device of the present invention. In this point
of view, the total cost and the operationality of the calibration
camera device can be enhanced.
[0028] According to the invention of claim 5, since the soft filmy
optical filter made of a gelatine optical filter which is not
expensive, the cost of the optical filters can be reduced, and
thus, the total cost of the calibration camera device of the
present invention can be reduced.
[0029] According to the invention of claim 6, since the filter
switching part includes a pair of rolling mechanisms and a
belt-shaped member which is to be rolled by the rolling mechanisms
and on which the optical filters are arranged, the filter switching
part can be downsized as mentioned above.
[0030] According to the invention of claim 7, since the filter
switching part includes a slide photograph equipment with openings
and the optical filters are attached to the openings, the number of
the optical filters can be easily varied by varying the number of
the openings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] In order to bring about a greater understanding of the
present invention, a description will be given on the accompanying
drawings.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the principal structure
of a calibration camera device according to a first embodiment of
the present invention,
[0033] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the calibration
camera of the first embodiment,
[0034] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the calibration camera device
of the first embodiment, as viewed from the top of the calibration
camera device,
[0035] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the selecting method
from a plurality of gelatine filters in the calibration camera
device of the first embodiment,
[0036] FIG. 5(a) is a graph showing the spectral sensitivity
characteristic of the imaging device of the first embodiment,
[0037] FIG. 5(b) is a graph showing the spectral transmittance
characteristic of the near-infrared light-cutting filter of the
first embodiment,
[0038] FIG. 5(c) is a graph showing the spectral transmittance
characteristic of the optical filters of the first embodiment,
[0039] FIG. 5(d) is a graph showing the spectral sensitivity
characteristic obtained by superimposing the spectral sensitivity
characteristics relating to FIGS. 5a-5c,
[0040] FIG. 6 is a view showing the substantial part of a
calibration camera device according to a second embodiment of the
present invention,
[0041] FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are characteristic views showing the
spectral transmittance characteristics of a calibration camera
device according to a third embodiment of the present invention,
and
[0042] FIGS. 8(a) and (b) are views showing the substantial parts
of a calibration camera device according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] The present invention will now be described hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0044] (First Embodiment)
[0045] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the principal structure
of a calibration camera device according to a first embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the
calibration camera of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a top plan
view of the calibration camera device of the first embodiment, as
viewed from the top of the calibration camera device.
[0046] In this embodiment, the calibration camera is configured so
that geometrical correction and color correction can be conducted
simultaneously, and as shown in FIG. 1, includes an optical lens
part 2 to which a lens 1 is attached, an optical filter part 4
which is located in front of the optical lens part 2 on the optical
path L and to which at least three optical filters 3 are attached
(in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, three optical filters 3-1, 3-2,
3-3 are provided), a filter switching part 5 which selects one
among the optical filters 3 which are attached to the optical
filter part 4 and disposes the selected one at the photometric
point P on the optical path L (refer to FIG. 3), a near-infrared
light cutting part 7 which is located in the rear of the optical
filter part 4 on the optical path L and to which a near-infrared
light cutting filter 6 is attached, a monochrome imaging part 9
which is located in the rear of the near-infrared cutting part 7 on
the optical path L and contains a monochrome imaging element 8, an
image storing part 11 which is located in an image processing part
10 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and stores an monochrome image captured by
the monochrome imaging part 9, and a gain correction part 12 which
is located in the image processing part 10 and corrects sensitivity
change at capturing on the monochrome image captured through the
selected optical filters 3 which is selected by the filter
switching part 5 located in the image processing part 10.
Hereinafter, the total part containing the optical lens part 2, the
near-infrared light cutting part 7 and the monochrome capturing
part 9 is called as a "capturing part 13".
[0047] As the lens 1 may be exemplified a lens commercially
available which can be attached to the optical lens part 2 of the
capturing part 13 and a lens integrated with the imaging part 13.
In this embodiment (present invention), therefore, it is not
required that a specially processed lens is applied to the imaging
lens 1, so that the features of the lens 1 can not be treated as
important.
[0048] As the optical filters 3 (optical filters 3-1, 3-2, 3-3) may
be exemplified soft filmy optical filers, respectively. In this
embodiment, the optical filters 3 are made of gelatine optical
filters as not expensive soft filmy optical filters, respectively.
In this case, since each optical filter can not almost exhibit the
desired spectral transmittance characteristic when each optical
filter is made of one gelatine optical film, for example, each
optical filter (optical filter 3-1, 3-2, 3-3) is made of a
plurality of soft filmy optical filters. In use, the plurality of
soft filmy optical filters are overlapped with one another so that
the desired spectral transmittance characteristic of the
corresponding optical filter can be realized. For example, with the
optical filter 3-1 shown in Figures, three gelatine filters 3-11,
3-12, 3-13 are overlapped with one another.
[0049] The filter switching part 5, as shown in FIG. 3, is composed
of a pair of rolling mechanism and a belt-shaped member which is to
be rolled by the rolling mechanism. The rolling mechanism is
configured so that the belt-shaped member is moved clockwise or
counterclockwise on the indication from the controlling section
(not shown) of the image processing part 10, and a desired optical
filter (in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the optical
filter 3-1 is selected) is selected from the optical filters
attached on the belt-shaped member and disposed at the photometric
point P on the optical path L. In this embodiment, since such
gelatine optical filters are employed, the gelatine optical filters
can not be broken when the gelatine optical filters are rolled by
the rolling mechanism, which is different from the case in that
glassy optical filters are employed. In this point of view, the
filter switching part shown in FIG. 3 can be realized. The use of
the filter switching part 5 enables the space to dispose the part 5
to be narrowed and the optical filters to be protected against
atmosphere and dust.
[0050] As the imaging element 8 of the monochrome imaging part 9
may be exemplified a CCD camera and a CMOS sensor. In this
embodiment, although the monochrome imaging element 8 is employed,
a color imaging element may be employed instead of the monochrome
imaging element 8. In this embodiment, although the image storing
part 11 and the gain correction part 12 of the image processing
part 10 are installed in the PC, they may be constituted from the
corresponding image processing devices, respectively. As the
capturing part 13 may be exemplified a monochrome camera mechanism
commercially available to which a near-infrared light cutting
filter can be attached.
[0051] In the calibration camera device of this embodiment, the
constitutions of "the optical filters 3 being composed of a
plurality of (e.g., three) gelatine filters which are overlapped",
"the lens 1", and "the near-infrared light cutting filter 6" are
combined, thereby realizing a two-dimensional color measuring
device which can convert capturing characteristics into color
matching function characteristics of a three-dimensional (XYZ)
displaying color system only by selecting an appropriate
combination from among gelatine filters. In the realization of a
desired characteristic of the two-dimensional color measuring
device similar to the characteristics of color matching functions
of a normal three-dimensional displaying color system, since the
band characteristic within a near-infrared light range can be
varied by the near-infrared light cutting filter of the combined
constitution, the desired characteristic of the two-dimensional
color measuring device can be realized by varying the
characteristics of the optical filters through the selective
combination of the gelatine filters which are not expensive.
[0052] In this embodiment, since the photometric (color measuring)
object is the screen of the image displaying device and the
characteristic distribution of the screen can be known to some
degree in advance, it is not required that the color matching
function characteristics of the three-dimensional (XYZ) displaying
color system are matched over the screen. Therefore, an appropriate
combination from among the gelatine filters can be conducted easily
on the selecting method which will be described in detail, thereby
simplifying the manufacture of the calibration camera device and
thus, reducing the manufacturing cost of the calibration camera
device.
[0053] Also, in this embodiment, since each optical filter is made
of the selective combination of the gelatine filters which are
overlapped with one another in use, the optical directivity of the
each optical filter can be reduced in comparison with an optical
filter made of a glassy interference filter or the like. Therefore,
precise attachment is not required, thereby reducing the
manufacturing cost of the calibration camera device. Moreover, if a
monochrome camera mechanism installing a near-infrared light
cutting filter is employed as the capturing part 13 or if a
monochrome camera mechanism which can be provided later is employed
as the near-infrared light cutting filter, the manufacturing cost
of the calibration camera device can be also reduced.
[0054] Then, the selecting method of the gelatine filters which are
overlapped with one another in use will be described with reference
to FIG. 4, wherein the gelatine filters are selected so as to
realize the optical filters with a spectral transmittance
characteristic close to the desired color matching functions of a
three-dimensional displaying color system. In FIG. 4, at Step S1,
the desired color matching functions
x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda.) of a three-dimensional
displaying color system are defined and then, stored as target
characteristics in a storing device (not shown). At Step S2, the
spectral transmittance characteristics of the gelatine filters
which are prepared in advance are measured and then, stored in a
storing device (not shown). At Step S2, as many as possible data
are measured and stored so as to realize the optical filter on the
ensuing steps. At Step S3, the camera characteristic of the optical
system composed of the lens 1, the near-infrared light cutting
filter 6 and the imaging element 8 at the capturing part 13 are
measured and stored in a storing device (not shown).
[0055] Then, at Step S4, a selecting process is conducted. In the
selecting process, the spectral transmittance characteristics of
the combination appropriately selected from among the filter
characteristic data of the corresponding gelatine filters which are
stored at Step S2 and the camera characteristic data which is
stored at Step S3 are superimposed. At Step S5, a normalizing
process is conducted. In the normalizing process, the attenuation
in transmittance at the time when the gelatine filters are
overlapped with one another is compensated by comparing the thus
obtained superimposed characteristic with the target
characteristics.
[0056] At Step S6, the error values between the target
characteristics of the optical filters and the characteristic data
obtained at Step S4 are calculated. In the calculation, for
example, the least squares method is employed to digitalize the
error values. At Step S7, the digitalized error values are stored
in a storing device (not shown) with associated with the
combination data of the gelatine filters, respectively.
[0057] At Step S8, whether all of the combinations of the gelatine
filters are completed or not is checked, and if not, Steps S4-S7
are repeated. If done, at step S9, a minimum error searching is
conducted. At Step S10, "the data relating to minimum error
combinations of the gelatine filters" which are obtained in the
minimum error searching are stored as appropriate combination data"
in a storing device (not shown). The above-mentioned steps are
conducted for the optical filters corresponding to the desired
color matching functions x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda- .).
[0058] Then, the effect/function in calibrating operation of the
calibration camera device of this embodiment will be described. In
order to download, into the image storing part 11 of the image
processing part 10, the image data of a photometric object which
are obtained by capturing the object by the monochrome imaging part
9, when the sensitivity ratio of the desired color matching
functions x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda.) of a three stimulus
color displaying system is [1.06291]: [1]: [1.782968], for example,
the sensitivity ratio of the calibration camera device must be
matched to the above-exemplified sensitivity ratio at capturing. In
the matching, since the normalization has been already conducted at
Step S5, the desired calibration can be conducted only by comparing
the characteristic shapes of the desired color matching functions
x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda.) with the characteristic shape
of the image data captured by the calibration camera device.
[0059] For example, the characteristic of monochrome image data
obtained through capturing using the imaging element 8 can be
obtained by superimposing the spectral sensitivity characteristic
of the imaging element 8 shown in FIG. 5(a), the spectral
transmittance characteristic of the near-infrared light cutting
filter 6 shown in FIG. 5(b), the spectral transmittance
characteristic of the optical filters 3 shown in FIG. 5(c) and the
spectral transmittance characteristic of the lens 1, which is shown
in FIG. 5(d). In the matching, therefore, the characteristic of the
monochrome image data shown in FIG. 5(d) is approached to the
characteristics of the color matching functions
x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda.). Herein, in FIG. 5, the
abscissa axis designates a wavelength within a visible light range.
In FIGS. 5(a) and (d), the ordinate axis designates a sensitivity,
and in FIGS. 5(b) and (c), the ordinate axis designates a
transmittance.
[0060] Therefore, since the correction information at the time when
the monochrome image data storing in the image storing part 11 is
corrected in sensitivity by the gain correction part 12 at image
processing in the image processing part 10 can be utilized as a
color measuring information at color correction, the characteristic
of the monochrome image data captured by the calibration camera
device can be matched to the characteristics of the color matching
functions x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z- (.lambda.). In the gain
correction part 12, only one gain value may be held at the
corresponding filter or a plurality of gain value (pixel number of
image at the maximum) may be held at the corresponding filter.
[0061] In the geometrical correction using the calibration camera
device of this embodiment, the optical filters 3 are appropriately
selected by the filter switching part 5 so that the optical filter
part 4 can be transparent over a visible light range. For example,
a transparent filter over the visible light range or a plate with
an opening through which a light within the visible light range is
passed may be used. In this case, the calibration can be conducted
by utilizing the correction result at the time when the monochrome
image data which is obtained substantially without filters is
corrected in sensitivity by the gain correction part 12. In this
case, if the geometrical correction is not required in the
calibration using the calibration camera device, it may not
done.
[0062] According to this embodiment, since the calibration camera
device is composed of the gelatine filters which are not expensive
and can conduct the geometrical correction and color correction by
itself, the cost of the calibration camera device can be reduced
remarkably due to the low parts costs and the high operationality.
Also, since the monochrome camera mechanism installing the
near-infrared light cutting filter is employed as the capturing
part 13 and the PC is employed as the image processing part 10, if
the filter mechanism composed of the optical filter part 4 and the
filter switching part 5 is varied, the characteristic of the
calibration camera device can be easily varied.
[0063] (Second Embodiment)
[0064] FIG. 6 is a view showing the substantial part of a
calibration camera device according to a second embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the calibration camera
device includes a filter switching part 14 as shown in FIG. 6 which
is diverted from a normal slide photograph equipment, instead of
the rolling filter switching part 5. The filter switching part 14
is constituted from a frame member 14a with three or more openings
14b (in this embodiment, the number of the openings are set to
six). Then, gelatine filters are attached to the openings,
respectively, e.g., with adhesion as in the first embodiment. Each
gelatine filter constitutes an optical filter. The optical filters
is designated by reference numeral "3", and each optical filter is
numbered as 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 . . . . In the filter switching part 14,
a desired filter can be positioned at the photometric point of the
optical path by moving the frame member 14a back and forth as shown
by the arrow. In the filter switching part 14, since three or more
optical filters can be provided, other optical filters can be
provided in addition to the optical filters corresponding to three
stimulus colors. The number of the optical filters can be easily
varied by varying the number of the openings as in the first
embodiment.
[0065] According to this embodiment, the same effect/function as
the first embodiment can be attained, and the slide photograph
equipment can be easily available and the gelatine filters can be
easily attached.
[0066] [Third Embodiment]
[0067] FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are characteristic views showing the
spectral transmittance characteristics of a calibration camera
device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, the calibration camera device includes the color
matching functions x(.lambda.),y(.lambda.),z(.lambda.) of a three
stimulus color XYZ displaying system as shown in FIG. 7(a), wherein
the function x(.lambda.) exhibits two peaks 15a and 15b. In this
case, the function x(.lambda.) can not be almost realized by
selecting appropriate ones from among gelatine filters so as to
constitute the optical filter so that the characteristic of the
optical filter is similar to the characteristic of the function
x(.lambda.). In this point of view, it is preferred that the
function x(.lambda.) is realized by selecting appropriate ones from
among gelatine filters so that the transmittance within the band
range containing the smaller peak 15b is set to zero. In this case,
the characteristic of the function x(.lambda.) can be set almost
equal to the characteristic of the optical filter composed of the
selected gelatine filters almost without error. However, since the
removal of the band range containing the peak 15b may affect on the
constitution of the optical filter made of the gelatine filters,
the band range containing the peak 15b may be substituted with the
function z(.lambda.) . Also, the gelatine filters may be
appropriately selected in view of only the band range containing
the peak 15b.
[0068] [Fourth Embodiment]
[0069] FIG. 8(a) and (b) are views showing the substantial parts of
a calibration camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the feature of "in the
nonuse of a filter-installed capturing part (camera), it is not
required to modify the structure of the capturing part (camera)
except the attachment of the near-infrared light cutting filter",
which is characterized in the first embodiment through the third
embodiment, is developed.
[0070] In the calibration camera device shown in FIG. 8(a), an
interference filter 22 (e.g., made of glass) is provided in front
of a lens 21, and the shape of the interference filter 22 is
configured so that an incident light is perpendicular to the main
surface of the interference filter 22 as shown by a normal line 23.
In this case, the shape of the interference filter 22 can be
determined commensurate with the design of the lens 21 or on the
actual image of the interference filter which is captured by a
given imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS. The reason the shape
of the interference filter is formed so that the incident light is
perpendicular to the main surface of the interference filter is
that the performance of the interference filter can be constant
irrespective of the incident angle of the incident light because
the interference filter has directivity inherently. In the use of
an absorption filter such as a gelatine filter or a color glass
filter, the above-mentioned shape design of the filter is not
required because the absorption filter does not have directivity
inherently.
[0071] In FIG. 8b, the calibration camera device is modified so as
to use a fish-eye lens. In this embodiment, an interference filter
25 (e.g., made of glass) is provided in front of a lens 24, and the
shape of the interference filter 25 is configured so that an
incident light is perpendicular to the main surface of the
interference filter 25 as shown by a normal line 26. The fish-eye
lens is designed so that the visibility angle is beyond 180.degree.
so as not to interfere with the capturing part (camera) case.
[0072] According to this embodiment, since the capturing part
(camera) is designed as shown in FIG. 8(a) or FIG. 8(b), the
structure of the capturing part is not almost required to be
modified. In this point of view, the capturing part may be made of
a camera commercially available, and may be selected on use.
[0073] Although the present invention was described in detail with
reference to the above examples, this invention is not limited to
the above disclosure and every kind of variation and modification
may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
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