Image capturing device having multiple optical systems
View Patent ↗In a digital camera having multiple optical systems, multiple image capturing elements are effectively driven to reduce power consumption. A digital camera has a first image capturing optical system having a lens and a first image sensor and a second image capturing optical system having a lens and a second image sensor. A controller and timing generator selects the image signal from the first image capturing optical system while controlling an operation or power of the second image sensor and a clock driver to be OFF when the zoom position falls within a first zoom range. When the zoom position falls within a second zoom range, the image signal from the second image capturing optical system is selected while an operation or power of the first image sensor and a clock driver is controlled to be OFF. An operation or power of the image capturing optical system which is not selected is stopped so that power consumption is reduced.
1. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems, comprising:
a first image capturing optical system which has a first lens and a first image capturing element with a relatively wide angle of view and which has a variable angle of view;
a second image capturing optical system which has a second lens and a second image capturing element with a relatively narrow angle of view and which has a variable angle of view;
a user operating unit which sets a zoom position; and
a control unit which outputs one of an image signal from the first image capturing optical system and an image signal from the second image capturing optical system in accordance with the zoom position which is set by the user operating unit, the control unit performing control to output the image signal from the first image capturing optical system while controlling the second image capturing element to a non-operational state when the zoom position falls within a first zoom range which is at a wider angle than is a predetermined first threshold zoom position and the control unit performing control to output the image signal from the second image capturing optical system while controlling the first image capturing element to a non-operational state when the zoom position falls within a second zoom range which is positioned nearer to a tele side than is the first threshold zoom position; wherein the control unit comprises:
a first amplifying unit which is connected to the first image capturing element and which amplifies and outputs the image signal from the first image capturing optical system; and
a second amplifying unit which is connected to the second image capturing element and which amplifies and outputs the image signal from the second image capturing optical system, wherein
the first amplifying unit and the second amplifying unit have a characteristic that an output terminal attains high impedance when supply of power is stopped and are connected in parallel to each other; and
the image capturing device further comprises a unit which selectively connects the power supply of the first amplifying unit or the second amplifying unit in accordance with the zoom position which is set by the user operating unit.
2. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first clock driver which supplies an operation clock signal to the first image capturing element; and
a second clock driver which supplies an operation clock signal to the second image capturing element; wherein
the control unit comprises a power supply unit which supplies power to the first image capturing element, the first clock driver, the second image capturing element and the second clock driver, wherein the power supply unit supplies power to the first image capturing element and the first clock driver while stopping supply of power to the second image capturing element and the second clock driver when the zoom position falls within the first zoom range and the power supply unit supplies power to the second image capturing element and the second clock driver while stopping supply of power to the first image capturing element and the first clock driver when the zoom position falls within the second zoom range.
3. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 2 , wherein the power supply unit comprises:
a positive power supply;
a negative power supply;
a first switching unit which selectively supplies the positive power supply and the negative power supply to the first image capturing element and the first clock driver; and
a second switching unit which selectively supplies the positive power supply and the negative power supply to the second image capturing element and the second clock driver, wherein
the control unit controls the first switching unit to be ON while controlling the second switching unit to be OFF when the zoom position falls within the first zoom range and controls the first switching unit to be OFF while controlling the second switching unit to be ON when the zoom position falls within the second zoom range.
4. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a third switching unit which selectively grounds a power supply line of the first image capturing element; and
a fourth switching unit which selectively grounds a power supply line of the second image capturing element, wherein
the control unit controls the second switching unit to be OFF and the fourth switching unit to be ON in order to discharge charges accumulated in the second image capturing element and controls the first switching unit to be OFF and the third switching unit to be ON in order to discharge charges accumulated in the first image capturing element.
5. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a common clock driver which supplies an operation clock signal to the first image capturing element and the second image capturing element, wherein
the control unit controls the common clock driver in accordance with the zoom position so that the common clock driver supplies the operation clock signal to the first image capturing element while stopping supply of the operation clock signal to the second image capturing element when the zoom position falls within the first zoom range and the common clock driver supplies the operation clock signal to the second image capturing element while stopping supply of the operation clock signal to the first image capturing element when the zoom position falls within the second zoom range.
6. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 5 , wherein
the common clock driver supplies a common signal as a low-load drive signal with respect to the first image capturing element and as a low-load drive signal with respect to the second image capturing element.
7. An image capturing device having multiple optical systems according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first amplifying unit which is connected to the first image capturing element and which comprises an emitter follower bipolar transistor which amplifies and outputs the image signal from the first image capturing optical system;
a second amplifying unit which is connected to the second image capturing element and which comprises an emitter follower bipolar transistor which amplifies and outputs the image signal from the second image capturing optical system;
a selecting unit to which a signal from the first amplifying unit and a signal from the second amplifying unit are input and which selectively outputs one of the signal from the first amplifying unit and the signal from the second amplifying unit, and
a unit which stops an emitter current of the amplifying unit which is not selected by the selecting unit.
8. An image capturing device having multiple optical system according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the first amplifying unit and the second amplifying unit is an emitter follower which uses a bipolar transistor.