JP7667251B2 - Lens device and imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a lens device and an imaging device.

JP 2002-303513 A discloses an observation device having an imaging means for acquiring multiple images of an object to be observed using polarized light with different polarization directions, an image processing means for processing the multiple images acquired by the imaging means to create a brightness image of the object to be observed, and an image display means for displaying the brightness image of the object to be observed created by the image processing means.

JP 2016-208136 A describes a first prism having a first surface, a second surface connected to one end of the first surface to form a 60-degree apex angle, and a third surface connected to the other end of the first surface to form a 60-degree apex angle and also forming an angle of 60 degrees with respect to the second surface; a second prism that splits incident image light into a first light beam and a second light beam that are parallel to each other and causes the two light beams to be incident perpendicularly to the first surface; and an imaging device arranged facing the second surface, the first prism having a splitting surface that passes through the intersection of the first surface and the third surface and is perpendicular to the second surface, and splits the first light beam into a first straight light beam and a first reflected light beam at the splitting surface. a first internal optical filter that separates the first light beam into a first direct light and a second internal optical filter that separates the second light beam into a second direct light and a second reflected light, the first direct light and the second direct light are each totally reflected only at a third surface without being totally reflected within the first prism, and then become two outgoing image lights that are emitted vertically from the second surface, and the first reflected light and the second reflected light are each totally reflected only at the first surface without being totally reflected within the first prism, and then become two outgoing image lights that are emitted vertically from the second surface, and an imaging device simultaneously captures each outgoing image light to obtain a plurality of images simultaneously.

JP2009-226131A discloses an image display device which has a screen provided on the front side of the device body, and a camera for receiving electromagnetic waves provided on the front side of the device body and around the screen, with a mirror provided on the surface of the screen and a polarizing filter or liquid crystal element arranged inside the screen, and on the one hand, when the camera and projection device are in an on state, the image obtained from the camera is projected by the projection device onto the polarizing filter or liquid crystal element and projected onto the screen, and on the other hand, when the camera and projection device are in an off state, the mirror reflects light to create a reflected image, and if a person is in front of the screen, the image of the human body can be displayed as a reflected image.

One embodiment of the technology disclosed herein provides a lens device and an imaging device that can limit the movement of a focus lens when a polarizer is displaced.

A first aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device comprising a focus lens through which light passes, a movement mechanism for moving the focus lens in the optical axis direction, a polarizer that displaces between a first position that transmits a first polarization component contained in the light and a second position that transmits a second polarization component contained in the light, a movement mechanism for displacing the polarizer, and a first locking mechanism having a first state that allows movement of the focus lens by the movement mechanism and a second state that restricts movement of the focus lens by the movement mechanism.

A second aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the first aspect, in which the first state and the second state are switched based on the displacement of a polarizer by a displacement mechanism.

A third aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the first or second aspect, further comprising an aperture through which light passes and a change mechanism for changing the amount of light apertured by the aperture, and a second locking mechanism having a third state that allows the change of the aperture amount by the change mechanism and a fourth state that restricts the change of the aperture amount by the change mechanism.

A fourth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the third aspect, in which the lens device switches between a third state and a fourth state based on the displacement of a polarizer by a displacement mechanism.

A fifth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the fourth aspect, in which the switching between the first and second states and the switching between the third and fourth states are performed in parallel.

A sixth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the displacement mechanism includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the polarizer around the optical axis direction.

A seventh aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, in which the polarizer has a first polarizer that transmits a first polarization component and a second polarizer that transmits a second polarization component, and the displacement mechanism includes a sliding mechanism that switches between the first polarizer and the second polarizer by sliding the polarizer in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction.

An eighth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a lens barrel supporting the moving mechanism and the displacement mechanism, the first state being a state in which the first locking mechanism releases the moving mechanism from the lens barrel, and the second state being a state in which the first locking mechanism fixes the moving mechanism to the lens barrel.

A ninth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a lens barrel supporting the moving mechanism and the displacement mechanism, the first state being a state in which the first locking mechanism is detached from the lens barrel, and the second state being a state in which the first locking mechanism is attached to the lens barrel.

A tenth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, in which the moving mechanism has a first engagement portion, the first locking mechanism has a second engagement portion, the first state is a state in which the first engagement portion is separated from the second engagement portion, and the second state is a state in which the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.

An eleventh aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the tenth aspect, further comprising a sensor for detecting the position of the polarizer and a first drive mechanism for moving the second engagement portion in accordance with the detection result of the sensor.

A twelfth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the eleventh aspect, further comprising a first processor that controls the first drive mechanism based on the detection result of the sensor.

A thirteenth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a second drive mechanism that drives the first locking mechanism, and a second processor that controls the second drive mechanism.

A fourteenth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the second processor has a first mode in which it controls the second drive mechanism to switch the first locking mechanism to the first state, and a second mode in which it controls the second drive mechanism to switch the first locking mechanism to the second state.

A fifteenth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the fourteenth aspect, in which the second processor switches between the first mode and the second mode based on an external instruction or information obtained from the subject.

A sixteenth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, further comprising a third drive mechanism that drives the displacement mechanism and a third processor that controls the third drive mechanism.

A 17th aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the 16th aspect, wherein the third processor controls the third drive mechanism based on a first image obtained by the image sensor capturing the light transmitted through the polarizer when the polarizer is in the first position, and a second image obtained by the image sensor capturing the light transmitted through the polarizer when the polarizer is in the second position.

An 18th aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, further comprising a filter that selects and transmits near-infrared light contained in the light.

A 19th aspect of the technology disclosed herein is a lens device according to the 18th aspect, in which the filter is integral with the polarizer.

A twentieth aspect of the technology disclosed herein is an imaging device comprising a lens device relating to any one of the first to nineteenth aspects and an image sensor on which light transmitted through the lens device is imaged.

1 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating an example of an imaging device according to a first embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging device main body according to a first embodiment. 6A to 6C are diagrams illustrating an example of an operation of the locking mechanism according to the first embodiment. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a lens device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polarizer according to the first embodiment. 11 is a graph showing an example of the relationship between the angle of incidence and the reflectance for a first polarized component and a second polarized component contained in reflected light. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a subject. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a first near-infrared light image. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second near-infrared light image. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a flow of a method of using the imaging device according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polarizer according to a second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a polarizer according to a third embodiment. FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of an imaging device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of an imaging device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of an imaging device according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a turret filter according to a sixth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lens device according to a seventh embodiment. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lens device according to the seventh embodiment at the position of the first ring. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lens device according to the seventh embodiment at the position of the second ring. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a lens device according to an eighth embodiment. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lens device according to the eighth embodiment at the position of the first ring. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the lens device according to the eighth embodiment at the position of the second ring. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a lens device according to a ninth embodiment. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lens device according to a tenth embodiment. A cross-sectional view of the lens device according to the tenth embodiment at the position of the third ring. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging device according to an eleventh embodiment. A block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a CPU according to an eleventh embodiment. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a CPU according to an eleventh embodiment. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing an example of an imaging device according to a twelfth embodiment. 23 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a CPU according to the twelfth embodiment.

Below, an example of a lens device and an imaging device relating to the technology disclosed herein is described with reference to the attached drawings.

First, let us explain the terminology used in the following explanation.

CPU is an abbreviation for "Central Processing Unit". GPU is an abbreviation for "Graphics Processing Unit". NVM is an abbreviation for "Non-Volatile Memory". RAM is an abbreviation for "Random Access Memory". IC is an abbreviation for "Integrated Circuit". ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit". PLD is an abbreviation for "Programmable Logic Device". FPGA is an abbreviation for "Field-Programmable Gate Array". SoC is an abbreviation for "System-on-a-chip". SSD is an abbreviation for "Solid State Drive". HDD is an abbreviation for "Hard Disk Drive". EEPROM is an abbreviation for "Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory". SRAM is an abbreviation for "Static Random Access Memory". I/F is an abbreviation for "Interface". USB is an abbreviation for "Universal Serial Bus". CMOS is an abbreviation for "Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor". CCD is an abbreviation for "Charge Coupled Device". LAN is an abbreviation for "Local Area Network". WAN is an abbreviation for "Wide Area Network". BPF is an abbreviation for "Band Pass Filter". Ir is an abbreviation for "Infrared Rays". EL is an abbreviation for "Electro Luminescence".

In the description of this specification, "vertical" refers to vertical in the sense of including, in addition to perfect vertical, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of this disclosure belongs and an error that does not go against the spirit of the technology of this disclosure. In the description of this specification, "horizontal" refers to horizontal in the sense of including, in addition to perfect horizontal, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of this disclosure belongs and an error that does not go against the spirit of the technology of this disclosure. In the description of this specification, "parallel" refers to parallel in the sense of including, in addition to perfect parallel, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of this disclosure belongs and an error that does not go against the spirit of the technology of this disclosure. In the description of this specification, "orthogonal" refers to orthogonal in the sense of including, in addition to perfect orthogonal, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of this disclosure belongs and an error that does not go against the spirit of the technology of this disclosure. In the description of this specification, "matching" refers to matching in the sense of including, in addition to perfect matching, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of this disclosure belongs and an error that does not go against the spirit of the technology of this disclosure. In the description of this specification, "equally spaced" refers to equal intervals in the sense of including, in addition to completely equal intervals, an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of the present disclosure belongs and that does not go against the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure.

[First embodiment]
1 as an example, an imaging device 10 includes an imaging device body 12 and a lens device 14. The lens device 14 is provided on the front surface of the imaging device body 12. The lens device 14 may be a fixed lens device fixed to the imaging device body 12, or may be an interchangeable lens device that is removable from the imaging device body 12.

The imaging device body 12 includes an image sensor 16. The image sensor 16 has a light receiving surface 16A. Light that has passed through the lens device 14 is focused on the light receiving surface 16A. A plurality of photodiodes (not shown) are arranged in a matrix on the light receiving surface 16A.

As an example, the multiple photodiodes include multiple silicon photodiodes sensitive to visible light and multiple indium gallium arsenide photodiodes sensitive to near-infrared light. Hereinafter, the silicon photodiodes are referred to as Si diodes, and the indium gallium arsenide photodiodes are referred to as InGaAs diodes. The multiple Si diodes generate and output analog image data corresponding to the received visible light. The multiple InGaAs diodes generate and output analog image data corresponding to the received near-infrared light.

In the first embodiment, a CMOS image sensor is exemplified as the image sensor 16, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the technology of the present disclosure is also applicable even if the image sensor 16 is another type of image sensor, such as a CCD image sensor.

2, the imaging device main body 12 includes a control circuit 20, a display 22, a receiving device 24, and an external I/F 26. The control circuit 20 includes an image sensor driver 28, a signal processing circuit 30, a display control circuit 32, a receiving circuit 34, and a computer 36. The image sensor driver 28, the signal processing circuit 30, the display control circuit 32, the receiving circuit 34, and the external I/F 26 are connected to the computer 36 via an input/output I/F 38.

The computer 36 includes a CPU 42, an NVM 44, and a RAM 46. The CPU 42, the NVM 44, and the RAM 46 are connected to each other via a bus 48. The bus 48 is connected to the input/output I/F 38.

NVM 44 is a non-transitory storage medium, and stores various parameters and various programs. For example, NVM 44 is an EEPROM. However, this is merely one example, and instead of or together with EEPROM, a HDD and/or SSD may be used as NVM 44. RAM 46 temporarily stores various information and is used as a work memory. CPU 42 reads out necessary programs from NVM 44 and executes the read programs on RAM 46. CPU 42 controls the entire imaging device 10 in accordance with the programs executed on RAM 46.

The image sensor driver 28 outputs an imaging timing signal to the image sensor 16 according to instructions from the CPU 42. The image sensor 16 captures light according to the imaging timing signal. The signal processing circuit 30 generates and outputs digital image data by performing various signal processing on the analog image data output from the image sensor 16. The CPU 42 generates image display data based on the digital image data.

The display 22 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an EL display, and displays images and/or text information, etc. The display control circuit 32 causes the display 22 to display an image based on the image display data.

The reception device 24 is, for example, a device such as a touch panel and/or a switch, and receives instructions given by a user. The reception circuit 34 outputs a reception signal corresponding to the instructions given by the user to the reception device 24. The external I/F 26 is an interface that is communicatively connected to an external device.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens device 14 includes a lens barrel 52, a focus lens 54, an aperture 56, a filter 60, a polarizer 58, a focus lens moving mechanism 62, an aperture changing mechanism 64, a polarizer rotation mechanism 66, and a locking mechanism 68.

The lens barrel 52 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The lens barrel 52 is disposed in a position where the central axis of the lens barrel 52 coincides with the optical axis OA of the lens device 14. The optical axis OA of the lens device 14 is perpendicular to the light receiving surface 16A and extends from the center of the light receiving surface 16A.

The focus lens 54 and the aperture 56 are housed inside the lens barrel 52. A focus lens movement mechanism 62 and an aperture change mechanism 64, which will be described later, are supported by the lens barrel 52. The focus lens 54 is supported by the lens barrel 52 via the focus lens movement mechanism 62, and the aperture 56 is supported by the lens barrel 52 via the aperture change mechanism 64.

The focus lens 54 is a lens for adjusting the focal position of the image formed on the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16. The focus lens 54 is disposed at a position where the central axis of the focus lens 54 coincides with the optical axis OA of the lens device 14. A coating layer that transmits near-infrared light may be formed on the surface of the focus lens 54.

The diaphragm 56 is an optical element for adjusting the amount of light passing through the lens device 14. The diaphragm 56 has multiple blades 56A, and an opening 56B is formed at the center of the multiple blades 56A. Light that passes through the focus lens 54 passes through the opening 56B. The diaphragm 56 is a movable diaphragm in which the diameter of the opening 56B is variable by opening and closing the multiple blades 56A. As an example, the diaphragm 56 is disposed between the focus lens 54 and the image sensor 16. The diaphragm 56 is disposed at a position where the central axis of the diaphragm 56 coincides with the optical axis OA of the lens device 14.

The focus lens 54 may be a single lens or a lens group having multiple lenses. The lens device 14 may include other lenses in addition to the focus lens 54. The lens device 14 may include other optical elements, such as a half mirror.

The focus lens moving mechanism 62 is a mechanism for moving the focus lens 54 in a direction parallel to the optical axis OA (hereinafter referred to as the optical axis direction). The focus lens moving mechanism 62 is an example of a "moving mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The focus lens moving mechanism 62 includes a first ring 72, a first guide groove 74, and a first power conversion mechanism 76. The first ring 72 (see also FIG. 4) is formed in an annular shape. A first uneven portion 78 (see also FIG. 4) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first ring 72. As an example, the first uneven portion 78 is a flat knurl. The first guide groove 74 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52. The first guide groove 74 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The first ring 72 is accommodated in the first guide groove 74. When a rotational force is applied to the first ring 72, the first ring 72 rotates while being guided by the first guide groove 74. The first ring 72 is rotatable in both directions along the circumferential direction of the first guide groove 74 .

The first power conversion mechanism 76 is provided between the first ring 72 and the focus lens 54. The first power conversion mechanism 76 converts the rotational force applied to the first ring 72 into a linear force in the optical axis direction, and applies the linear force to the focus lens 54. The linear force applied to the focus lens 54 causes the focus lens 54 to move in the optical axis direction. The first power conversion mechanism 76 moves the focus lens 54 toward the image side or the subject side in accordance with the rotational direction of the first ring 72.

The aperture change mechanism 64 is a mechanism for changing the amount of light apertured by the aperture 56. The aperture change mechanism 64 is an example of a "change mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The aperture change mechanism 64 includes a second ring 82, a second guide groove 84, and a second power conversion mechanism 86. The second ring 82 (see also FIG. 4) is formed in an annular shape. A second uneven portion 88 (see also FIG. 4) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second ring 82. As an example, the second uneven portion 88 is a flat knurl. The second guide groove 84 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52. The second guide groove 84 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The second ring 82 is accommodated in the second guide groove 84. When a rotational force is applied to the second ring 82, the second ring 82 rotates while being guided by the second guide groove 84. The second ring 82 can rotate in both directions along the circumferential direction of the second guide groove 84.

The second power conversion mechanism 86 is provided between the second ring 82 and the aperture 56. The second power conversion mechanism 86 converts the rotational force applied to the second ring 82 into a force in the opening and closing direction of the multiple blades 56A, and applies the force in the opening and closing direction to the multiple blades 56A. By applying a force in the opening and closing direction to the multiple blades 56A, the multiple blades 56A operate in the opening and closing direction. The second power conversion mechanism 86 operates the multiple blades 56A in the opening or closing direction according to the rotational direction of the second ring 82. By operating the multiple blades 56A in the opening direction, the diameter of the opening 56B is enlarged, and by operating the multiple blades 56A in the closing direction, the diameter of the opening 56B is reduced.

4, a first boss portion 92 that protrudes radially outward from the first ring 72 is formed on a portion of the circumference of the first ring 72. Similarly, a second boss portion 102 that protrudes radially outward from the second ring 82 is formed on a portion of the circumference of the second ring 82.

1, the first boss portion 92 is formed with a first through hole 94. The first through hole 94 penetrates the first ring 72 in the radial direction. The lens barrel 52 is formed with a first arc-shaped long hole 96 extending in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The first long hole 96 penetrates the lens barrel 52 in the radial direction. The first long hole 96 is formed in a position communicating with the first through hole 94. The inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 52 is formed with a first housing groove 98 extending in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The first housing groove 98 is located radially inward of the lens barrel 52 relative to the first guide groove 74.

A second through hole 104 is formed in the second boss portion 102. The second through hole 104 penetrates the second ring 82 in the radial direction. A second arc-shaped long hole 106 extending in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52 is formed in the lens barrel 52. The second long hole 106 penetrates the lens barrel 52 in the radial direction. The second long hole 106 is formed in a position communicating with the second through hole 104. A second housing groove 108 extending in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 52. The second housing groove 108 is located radially inward of the lens barrel 52 relative to the second guide groove 84.

The locking mechanism 68 includes a first locking mechanism 112 and a second locking mechanism 114. The first locking mechanism 112 is provided in correspondence with the focus lens moving mechanism 62, and the second locking mechanism 114 is provided in correspondence with the aperture changing mechanism 64.

The first locking mechanism 112 has a first bolt 122 and a first nut 124. The shaft portion 122A of the first bolt 122 is inserted into the first through hole 94 and the first long hole 96, and the head portion 122B of the first bolt 122 abuts against the top surface of the first boss portion 92. The first nut 124 is accommodated in the first accommodation groove 98. The first nut 124 is formed with a first screw hole 124A that penetrates the first nut 124 in the axial direction. The tip portion of the shaft portion 122A of the first bolt 122 is screwed into the first screw hole 124A.

As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3 as an example, when the first bolt 122 rotates in a tightening direction, the first nut 124 is pressed against the bottom surface of the first housing groove 98. In this state, the first ring 72 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted. On the other hand, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3 as an example, when the first bolt 122 rotates in a loosening direction, the first nut 124 is separated from the bottom surface of the first housing groove 98. In this state, the fixation of the first ring 72 to the lens barrel 52 is released, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted. The state in which the movement of the focus lens 54 is permitted is an example of a "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the movement of the focus lens 54 is restricted is an example of a "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

The second locking mechanism 114 has the same configuration as the first locking mechanism 112. The second locking mechanism 114 has a second bolt 132 and a second nut 134. The shaft portion 132A of the second bolt 132 is inserted into the second through hole 104 and the second long hole 106, and the head portion 132B of the second bolt 132 abuts against the top surface of the second boss portion 102. The second nut 134 is accommodated in the second accommodation groove 108. The second nut 134 is formed with a second screw hole 134A that penetrates the second nut 134 in the axial direction. The tip portion of the shaft portion 132A of the second bolt 132 is screwed into the second screw hole 134A.

As shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 3 as an example, when the second bolt 132 rotates in a tightening direction, the second nut 134 is pressed against the bottom surface of the second housing groove 108. In this state, the second ring 82 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the change in the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 is restricted. On the other hand, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3 as an example, when the second bolt 132 rotates in a loosening direction, the second nut 134 is separated from the bottom surface of the second housing groove 108. In this state, the fixation of the second ring 82 to the lens barrel 52 is released, and the change in the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 is permitted. The state in which the change in the aperture amount is permitted is an example of the "third state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the change in the aperture amount is restricted is an example of the "fourth state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 1, the polarizer 58 and the filter 60 are arranged at the front end of the lens device 14. The polarizer 58 and the filter 60 are supported by the lens barrel 52 via a polarizer rotation mechanism 66 described below. In the example shown in FIG. 1, as an example, the filter 60 is arranged on the subject side of the polarizer 58, but it may be arranged on the image side of the polarizer 58. The filter 60 is an optical element that has the property of transmitting only near-infrared light contained in the light. The filter 60 is arranged at a position where the central axis of the filter 60 coincides with the optical axis OA of the lens device 14.

The filter 60 may be a turret filter that selectively transmits light of multiple wavelength bands (for example, visible light and near-infrared light of different wavelength bands within the near-infrared wavelength band). An example of using a turret filter as the filter 60 will be described later in the sixth embodiment.

The polarizer 58 has a transmission axis 58A that is perpendicular to the central axis of the polarizer 58. The polarizer 58 is an optical element that transmits only light that oscillates in the direction of the transmission axis 58A and blocks light that oscillates in directions other than the direction of the transmission axis 58A. The polarizer 58 is positioned so that the central axis of the polarizer 58 coincides with the optical axis OA of the lens device 14.

The polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is a mechanism for rotating the polarizer 58 around the optical axis direction. The polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is an example of a "displacement mechanism" and a "rotation mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The polarizer rotation mechanism 66 includes a third ring 142 and a support ring 144. The third ring 142 (see also FIG. 4) is formed in an annular shape. The support ring 144 is formed at the front end of the lens barrel 52. The support ring 144 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The third ring 142 is supported on the outer circumferential surface of the support ring 144. When a rotational force is applied to the third ring 142, the third ring 142 rotates while being supported by the support ring 144. The third ring 142 can rotate in both directions along the circumferential direction of the support ring 144.

The polarizer 58 is fixed to the third ring 142 via a connecting mechanism (not shown). The polarizer 58 rotates integrally with the third ring 142. The filter 60 may be integral with the polarizer 58. The filter 60 may also be fixed to the third ring 142 via a connecting mechanism. The filter 60 may also rotate integrally with the third ring 142 and the polarizer 58.

As an example, Figure 5 shows the case where the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 0° and the case where the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 90°. When the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 0°, a first polarization component contained in the light is transmitted through the polarizer 58, and when the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 90°, a second polarization component contained in the light is transmitted through the polarizer 58. The first polarization component is a polarization component that oscillates in the direction of the transmission axis 58A when the rotation angle θ is 0°, and the second polarization component is a polarization component that oscillates in the direction of the transmission axis 58A when the rotation angle θ is 90°.

When the first polarized component is received by the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16, the image sensor 16 outputs analog image data corresponding to the first polarized component. On the other hand, when the second polarized component is received by the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16, the image sensor 16 outputs analog image data corresponding to the second polarized component. In the imaging device 10, an image is displayed on the display 22 based on the analog image data.

5 shows an example in which the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 0° and an example in which the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 90°, but the polarizer 58 can rotate 360° around the optical axis direction. Regardless of the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58, the polarized light component that oscillates in the direction of the transmission axis 58A is transmitted through the polarizer 58. When the polarized light component that has transmitted through the polarizer 58 is received by the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16, the image sensor 16 outputs analog image data corresponding to the polarized light component. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the rotation position of the polarizer 58 when the rotation angle θ is 0° is an example of the "first position" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the rotation position of the polarizer 58 when the rotation angle θ is 90° is an example of the "second position" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The rotation of the polarizer 58 is also an example of the "displacement of the polarizer" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

As an example, Figure 6 shows an example of the relationship between the angle of incidence and the reflectance for the first and second polarized components when the light is reflected light. When the angle of incidence is in the range of greater than 0° and less than 90°, the reflectance of the first polarized component is greater than the reflectance of the second polarized component. Also, for example, when the angle of incidence is in the range of 40° to 70°, the reflectance of the second polarized component remains close to 0, but the reflectance of the first polarized component increases as the angle of incidence increases. In this way, reflected light has polarization dependence.

As an example, Figure 7 shows an example of a subject 150. The subject 150 has a desk 152, a stand 154 placed on the desk 152, and a soldering iron 156 placed on the stand 154.

As an example, Figure 8 shows an example of a first near-infrared light image 160 obtained by capturing an image of a subject 150 using the imaging device 10. For example, the first near-infrared light image 160 is an image obtained when the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 0°. The first near-infrared light image 160 includes a solid image 162, a thermal radiation image 164, and a reflected image 166.

The solid image 162 is an image based on near-infrared light reflected by the subject 150 and near-infrared light contained in electromagnetic waves emitted by thermal radiation from the subject 150. The thermal radiation image 164 is an image based on near-infrared light contained in electromagnetic waves emitted by thermal radiation from the top of the desk 152 heated by the tip of the soldering iron 156. The reflected image 166 is an image based on light reflected on the desk 152 that is near-infrared light contained in electromagnetic waves emitted by thermal radiation from the tip of the soldering iron 156.

The reflected image 166 included in the first near-infrared light image 160 is an image based on the first polarization component (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the reflected image 166 included in the first near-infrared light image 160 has a higher brightness than the reflected image 166 included in the second near-infrared light image 170 described later. The actual image 162 is an image that represents the actual object of the subject 150. The thermal radiation image 164 does not represent the actual object of the subject 150, and is an image that appears to be shining overall. The reflected image 166 represents the actual object of the subject 150, but is an image that is an enlarged version of the actual object. In this way, the first near-infrared light image 160 includes the reflected image 166 in addition to the actual image 162 and the thermal radiation image 164, and therefore the actual image 162 and the thermal radiation image 164 become difficult to see due to the influence of the reflected image 166.

As an example, FIG. 9 shows an example of a second near-infrared light image 170 obtained by capturing an image of a subject 150 using the imaging device 10. For example, the second near-infrared light image 170 is an image when the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is 90°. The second near-infrared light image 170 includes a solid image 162, a thermal radiation image 164, and a reflected image 166. The reflected image 166 included in the second near-infrared light image 170 is an image based on the second polarization component (see FIG. 6). Therefore, the reflected image 166 included in the second near-infrared light image 170 has a lower brightness than the reflected image 166 included in the first near-infrared light image 160 described above.

Thus, in the imaging device 10 of the first embodiment, the user can change the brightness of the reflected image 166 by rotating the polarizer 58.

Next, the operation of the imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows an example of a method of using the imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment. Here, as an example, a method of use in which the imaging device 10 is used by a firefighter who is rushing into a fire scene will be described. Note that the method of use in this example begins when the imaging device 10 is powered on and a live view image is displayed on the display 22.

10, first, in step S1, before entering the scene of a fire, a firefighter adjusts the focal position by rotating the first ring 72 to adjust the position of the focus lens 54 while checking the live view image displayed on the display 22. At this time, for example, the firefighter sets the focal position to a position 5 m from the imaging device 10.

In step S2, the firefighter sets the first locking mechanism 112 to the locked state, thereby fixing the position of the focus lens 54.

In step S3, the firefighter rotates the second ring 82 to adjust the amount of throttling by the throttle 56.

In step S4, the firefighter sets the second locking mechanism 114 to the locked state, thereby fixing the amount of throttling by the throttling aperture 56.

In step S5, the firefighter rushes into the fire scene while checking the live view image displayed on the display 22.

In step S6, the firefighter adjusts the rotation angle of the polarizer 58 to an angle at which the reflected image 166 is suppressed by rotating the third ring 142 while checking the live view image displayed on the display 22.

In step S7, the firefighter causes the imaging device 10 to capture an image of the fire scene. This results in a near-infrared image of the fire scene.

As described above in detail, in the first embodiment, the imaging device 10 is provided with a first locking mechanism 112 that has an unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62, and a locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. The first locking mechanism 112 is switched between the unlocked state and the locked state based on the rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66. Therefore, by setting the first locking mechanism 112 to the locked state, it is possible to restrict the movement of the focus lens 54 when the polarizer 58 is rotated.

The imaging device 10 also includes a second locking mechanism 114 that has an unlocked state that allows the aperture change mechanism 64 to change the aperture amount, and a locked state that restricts the change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64. The second locking mechanism 114 is switched between the unlocked state and the locked state based on the rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66. Therefore, by setting the second locking mechanism 114 to the locked state, it is possible to restrict the change of the aperture amount when the polarizer 58 is rotated.

The polarizer rotation mechanism 66 also includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the polarizer 58 around the optical axis direction. Therefore, by rotating the polarizer 58 with the polarizer rotation mechanism 66, the polarized light component that passes through the polarizer 58 can be changed. By changing the polarized light component that passes through the polarizer 58, the brightness of the reflected image 166 displayed on the display 22 can be increased or decreased. By fixing the position of the polarizer 58 at a position where the brightness of the reflected image 166 is decreased, the reflected image 166 can be prevented from appearing in the image displayed on the display 22.

In addition, the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 rotates the polarizer 58 360° around the optical axis direction. Therefore, by rotating the polarizer 58 360°, the brightness of the reflected image 166 displayed on the display 22 can be increased or decreased. In addition, by understanding that the brightness of the reflected image 166 is increased or decreased, the number of reflected images 166 can be understood.

The unlocked state of the first locking mechanism 112 is a state in which the first locking mechanism 112 releases the fixation of the focus lens moving mechanism 62 to the lens barrel 52, and the locked state of the first locking mechanism 112 is a state in which the first locking mechanism 112 fixes the focus lens moving mechanism 62 to the lens barrel 52. Therefore, by switching the first locking mechanism 112 between the unlocked state and the locked state, it is possible to switch between a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted and a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted.

Similarly, the unlocked state of the second locking mechanism 114 is a state in which the second locking mechanism 114 releases the fixation of the aperture changing mechanism 64 to the lens barrel 52, and the locked state of the second locking mechanism 114 is a state in which the second locking mechanism 114 fixes the aperture changing mechanism 64 to the lens barrel 52. Therefore, by switching the second locking mechanism 114 between the unlocked state and the locked state, it is possible to switch between a state in which the aperture change mechanism 64 is allowed to change the aperture amount and a state in which the aperture change mechanism 64 is restricted from changing the aperture amount.

Also, as an example, the filter 60 is integrated with the polarizer 58. Therefore, for example, the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the filter 60 is separate from the polarizer 58.

[Second embodiment]
As an example, as shown in Fig. 11 , in the second embodiment, the rotation range of the polarizer 58 is set to a range of 0° to 90°, as compared to the first embodiment. For example, a limiting mechanism that limits the rotation angle of the third ring 142 is provided in the support ring 144 and/or the third ring 142 (see Fig. 1 ), thereby setting the rotation range of the polarizer 58 to a range of 0° to 90°. In the second embodiment, the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 can be switched between 0° and 90°. Note that, although the upper limit of the rotation angle θ of the polarizer 58 is set to 90° in the second embodiment, it may be set to a value other than 90°.

[Third embodiment]
As an example, as shown in Fig. 12, in the third embodiment, a polarizer slide mechanism 180 is used instead of the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 (see Fig. 1) according to the first embodiment. The polarizer slide mechanism 180 is an example of the "displacement mechanism" and "slide mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The polarizer slide mechanism 180 is a mechanism for sliding the polarizer 58 in a direction intersecting with the optical axis direction. The intersecting direction with respect to the optical axis direction may be any direction as long as it is a direction intersecting with the optical axis direction.

The polarizer slide mechanism 180 includes a slide member 182 and a guide groove 184. The slide member 182 is formed in a plate shape. The slide member 182 is arranged with the optical axis direction as the plate thickness direction. The guide groove 184 is formed at the front end of the lens barrel 52 (see FIG. 1). The guide groove 184 extends linearly along a direction intersecting the optical axis direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the guide groove 184 extends is referred to as the guide direction. The slide member 182 slides in the guide direction by being supported by the guide groove 184. By applying a sliding force to the slide member 182, the slide member 182 slides while being supported by the guide groove 184. The slide member 182 can slide in both directions along the guide direction.

The polarizer 58 includes a first polarizer 186 and a second polarizer 188. The first polarizer 186 and the second polarizer 188 are arranged side by side in the guide direction. The first polarizer 186 has a first transmission axis 186A that is perpendicular to the central axis of the first polarizer 186. As an example, the first transmission axis 186A extends along a direction perpendicular to the guide direction when viewed from the optical axis direction. The first polarizer 186 is an optical element that has the property of transmitting only light that oscillates in the direction of the first transmission axis 186A and blocking light that oscillates in directions other than the direction of the first transmission axis 186A.

The second polarizer 188 has a second transmission axis 188A that is perpendicular to the central axis of the second polarizer 188. As an example, the second transmission axis 188A extends along the guide direction when viewed from the optical axis direction. The second polarizer 188 is an optical element that transmits only light that oscillates in the direction of the second transmission axis 188A and blocks light that oscillates in directions other than the direction of the second transmission axis 188A. By sliding the sliding member 182, the polarizer inserted into the optical path on the optical axis OA is switched between the first polarizer 186 and the second polarizer 188. The sliding of the polarizer 58 is an example of the "polarizer displacement" related to the technology disclosed herein.

In the third embodiment, the polarizer 58 has a first polarizer 186 that transmits a first polarized component and a second polarizer 188 that transmits a second polarized component, and the polarizer slide mechanism 180 switches between the first polarizer 186 and the second polarizer 188 by sliding the polarizer 58 in a direction crossing the optical axis direction. Therefore, by sliding the polarizer 58 with the polarizer slide mechanism 180, the polarized component transmitted through the polarizer 58 can be changed. In addition, by changing the polarized component transmitted through the polarizer 58, the brightness of the reflected image 166 displayed on the display 22 can be strengthened or weakened. In addition, by fixing the position of the polarizer 58 at a position where the brightness of the reflected image 166 is weakened, the reflected image 166 can be prevented from appearing in the image displayed on the display 22.

In the third embodiment, a polarizer slide mechanism 180 is used to slide the polarizer 58 in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction, but a polarizer rotation mechanism may be used to rotate the polarizer 58 having the first polarizer 186 and the second polarizer 188 around the optical axis direction. The first polarizer 186 and the second polarizer 188 may be switched by rotating the polarizer 58 around the optical axis direction.

In addition, in the third embodiment, the polarizer 58 has two polarizers, a first polarizer 186 and a second polarizer 188, but may have three or more polarizers having different transmission axes.

[Fourth embodiment]
13 as an example, in the fourth embodiment, the position of the polarizer 58 is changed from that in the first embodiment. That is, the polarizer 58 is disposed on the subject side of the filter 60. The polarizer 58 is separate from the filter 60. The filter 60 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the polarizer 58 rotates integrally with the third ring 142. With this configuration as well, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Fifth embodiment]
As an example, as shown in Fig. 14, in the fifth embodiment, the position of the filter 60 is changed from that in the first embodiment. That is, the filter 60 is housed inside the lens barrel 52. As an example, the filter 60 is disposed between the aperture 56 and the image sensor 16. The filter 60 may be disposed in any position. For example, the filter 60 may be disposed on the subject side of the focus lens 54, or may be disposed between the focus lens 54 and the aperture 56. With such a configuration, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Sixth Embodiment
As an example, as shown in FIG. 15, in the sixth embodiment, a turret filter 190 is used instead of the filter 60 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment. The turret filter 190 is a rotary filter that selects and transmits light of a plurality of wavelength bands contained in light (for example, visible light and near-infrared light of different wavelength bands within the near-infrared wavelength band), as described in detail later. The turret filter 190 is housed inside the lens barrel 52. As an example, the turret filter 190 is disposed between the aperture 56 and the image sensor 16. The turret filter 190 may be disposed in any position. For example, the turret filter 190 may be disposed on the subject side of the focus lens 54, or may be disposed between the focus lens 54 and the aperture 56. The turret filter 190 is an example of a "filter that selects and transmits near-infrared light contained in light" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

In the sixth embodiment, the polarizer 58 is housed inside the lens barrel 52. As an example, the polarizer 58 is disposed on the subject side of the focus lens 54. The polarizer 58 may be disposed in any position. For example, the polarizer 58 may be disposed between the focus lens 54 and the aperture 56, or may be disposed between the aperture 56 and the turret filter 190. The polarizer 58 may also be disposed between the turret filter 190 and the image sensor 16.

In addition, in the sixth embodiment, a polarizer rotation mechanism 200 and a turret filter rotation mechanism 210 are used.

The polarizer rotation mechanism 200 is a mechanism for rotating the polarizer 58 around the optical axis direction. The polarizer rotation mechanism 200 is an example of a "displacement mechanism" and a "rotation mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The polarizer rotation mechanism 200 includes a third ring 202, a third guide groove 204, and a power transmission mechanism 206. The third ring 202 is formed in an annular shape. The third guide groove 204 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52. The third guide groove 204 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The third ring 202 is accommodated in the third guide groove 204. When a rotational force is applied to the third ring 202, the third ring 202 rotates while being guided by the third guide groove 204. The third ring 202 can rotate in both directions along the circumferential direction of the third guide groove 204.

The power transmission mechanism 206 is provided between the third ring 202 and the polarizer 58. The power transmission mechanism 206 transmits the rotational force applied to the third ring 202 to the polarizer 58. The transmission of the rotational force to the polarizer 58 causes the polarizer 58 to rotate. The power transmission mechanism 206 rotates the polarizer 58 in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the third ring 202.

The turret filter rotation mechanism 210 is a mechanism for rotating the turret filter 190 around the optical axis direction. The turret filter rotation mechanism 210 includes a fourth ring 212, a fourth guide groove 214, and a power transmission mechanism 216. The fourth ring 212 is formed in an annular shape. The fourth guide groove 214 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52. The fourth guide groove 214 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The fourth ring 212 is accommodated in the fourth guide groove 214. When a rotational force is applied to the fourth ring 212, the fourth ring 212 rotates while being guided by the fourth guide groove 214. The fourth ring 212 can rotate in both directions along the circumferential direction of the fourth guide groove 214.

The power transmission mechanism 216 is provided between the fourth ring 212 and the turret filter 190. The power transmission mechanism 216 transmits the rotational force applied to the fourth ring 212 to the turret filter 190. The transmission of the rotational force to the turret filter 190 causes the turret filter 190 to rotate. The power transmission mechanism 216 rotates the turret filter 190 in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the fourth ring 212.

A third boss portion 222 that protrudes radially outward of the third ring 202 is formed on a portion of the circumference of the third ring 202. A third through hole 224 is formed in the third boss portion 222. The third through hole 224 penetrates the third ring 202 in the radial direction. A third arc-shaped long hole 226 that extends circumferentially of the lens barrel 52 is formed in the lens barrel 52. The third long hole 226 penetrates the lens barrel 52 in the radial direction. The third long hole 226 is formed at a position that communicates with the third through hole 224. A third housing groove 228 that extends circumferentially of the lens barrel 52 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 52.

Similarly, a fourth boss portion 232 that protrudes radially outward of the fourth ring 212 is formed on a portion of the circumference of the fourth ring 212. A fourth through hole 234 is formed in the fourth boss portion 232. The fourth through hole 234 penetrates the fourth ring 212 in the radial direction. A fourth long hole 236 that is an arc-shaped hole extending in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52 is formed in the lens barrel 52. The fourth long hole 236 penetrates the lens barrel 52 in the radial direction. The fourth long hole 236 is formed in a position that communicates with the fourth through hole 234. A fourth housing groove 238 that extends in the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 52.

In the sixth embodiment, the locking mechanism 68 includes a third locking mechanism 242 and a fourth locking mechanism 244 in addition to the first locking mechanism 112 and the second locking mechanism 114. The third locking mechanism 242 is provided corresponding to the polarizer rotation mechanism 200, and the fourth locking mechanism 244 is provided corresponding to the turret filter rotation mechanism 210. The third locking mechanism 242 and the fourth locking mechanism 244 have the same configuration as the first locking mechanism 112 and the second locking mechanism 114.

The third locking mechanism 242 has a third bolt 252 and a third nut 254. The shaft portion 252A of the third bolt 252 is inserted into the third through hole 224 and the third long hole 226, and the head portion 252B of the third bolt 252 abuts against the top surface of the third boss portion 222. The third nut 254 is accommodated in the third accommodation groove 228. The third nut 254 is formed with a third screw hole 254A that penetrates the third nut 254 in the axial direction. The tip portion of the shaft portion 252A of the third bolt 252 is screwed into the third screw hole 254A.

When the third bolt 252 is rotated in a tightening direction, the third nut 254 is pressed against the bottom surface of the third housing groove 228. In this state, the third ring 142 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is restricted. On the other hand, when the third bolt 252 is rotated in a loosening direction, the third nut 254 is separated from the bottom surface of the third housing groove 228. In this state, the fixation of the third ring 142 to the lens barrel 52 is released, and the rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is permitted. The state in which the rotation of the polarizer 58 is permitted is an example of the "first state" and "third state" according to the technology disclosed herein, and the state in which the rotation of the polarizer 58 is restricted is an example of the "second state" and "fourth state" according to the technology disclosed herein.

The fourth locking mechanism 244 has a fourth bolt 262 and a fourth nut 264. The shaft portion 262A of the fourth bolt 262 is inserted into the fourth through hole 234 and the fourth elongated hole 236, and the head portion 262B of the fourth bolt 262 abuts against the top surface of the fourth boss portion 232. The fourth nut 264 is accommodated in the fourth accommodation groove 238. The fourth nut 264 is formed with a fourth screw hole 264A that penetrates the fourth nut 264 in the axial direction. The tip portion of the shaft portion 262A of the fourth bolt 262 is screwed into the fourth screw hole 264A.

When the fourth bolt 262 rotates in a tightening direction, the fourth nut 264 is pressed against the bottom surface of the fourth housing groove 238. In this state, the fourth ring 212 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the rotation of the turret filter 190 by the turret filter rotation mechanism 210 is restricted. On the other hand, when the fourth bolt 262 rotates in a loosening direction, the fourth nut 264 is separated from the bottom surface of the fourth housing groove 238. In this state, the fixation of the fourth ring 212 to the lens barrel 52 is released, and the rotation of the turret filter 190 by the turret filter rotation mechanism 210 is permitted. The state in which the rotation of the turret filter 190 is permitted is an example of the "first state" and "third state" according to the technology disclosed herein, and the state in which the rotation of the turret filter 190 is restricted is an example of the "second state" and "fourth state" according to the technology disclosed herein.

16, the turret filter 190 includes a disk 192. The disk 192 is provided with a plurality of optical filters, an Ir cut filter 194, a first BPF 196A, a second BPF 196B, a third BPF 196C, and a fourth BPF 196D, at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the disk 192. In the following, the Ir cut filter 194, the first BPF 196A, the second BPF 196B, the third BPF 196C, and the fourth BPF 196D are referred to as optical filters unless there is a need to distinguish between them. In the following, the first BPF 196A, the second BPF 196B, the third BPF 196C, and the fourth BPF 196D are referred to as BPF 196 unless there is a need to distinguish between them.

The turret filter 190 selectively inserts and removes a plurality of optical filters into and from the optical path using a turret system. Specifically, the turret filter 190 rotates in the direction of the circular arrow R shown in FIG. 16, thereby selectively inserting and removing the Ir cut filter 194, the first BPF 196A, the second BPF 196B, the third BPF 196C, and the fourth BPF 196D into and from the optical path. When an optical filter is inserted into the optical path, the optical axis OA passes through the center of the optical filter, and the center of the optical filter inserted into the optical path coincides with the center of the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16.

The Ir cut filter 194 is an optical filter that cuts out infrared light and transmits only light other than infrared light. The BPF 196 is an optical filter that transmits near-infrared light. The first BPF 196A, the second BPF 196B, the third BPF 196C, and the fourth BPF 196D each transmit near-infrared light of a different wavelength band.

The first BPF 196A is an optical filter that corresponds to a wavelength band around 1000 nm (nanometers). As an example, the first BPF 196A transmits only near-infrared light in the wavelength band from 950 nm to 1100 nm. Hereinafter, the near-infrared light that transmits the first BPF 196A is referred to as the first near-infrared light.

The second BPF 196B is an optical filter that corresponds to a wavelength band around 1250 nm. As an example, the second BPF 196B transmits only near-infrared light in the wavelength band from 1150 nm to 1350 nm. Hereinafter, the near-infrared light that transmits through the second BPF 196B is referred to as the second near-infrared light.

The third BPF 196C is an optical filter that corresponds to a wavelength band around 1550 nm. As an example, the third BPF 196C transmits only near-infrared light in the wavelength band from 1500 nm to 1750 nm. Hereinafter, the near-infrared light that transmits the third BPF 196C is referred to as the third near-infrared light.

The fourth BPF 196D is an optical filter that corresponds to a wavelength band around 2150 nm. As an example, the fourth BPF 196D transmits only near-infrared light in the wavelength band from 2000 nm to 2400 nm. Hereinafter, the near-infrared light that transmits through the fourth BPF 196D is referred to as the fourth near-infrared light.

Hereinafter, unless there is a need to distinguish between them, the first near-infrared light, the second near-infrared light, the third near-infrared light, and the fourth near-infrared light will be referred to as near-infrared light. Note that each of the bands listed here includes an error that is generally acceptable in the technical field to which the technology of the present disclosure belongs and that does not deviate from the spirit of the technology of the present disclosure. Also, each of the wavelength bands listed here is merely an example, and each may be a different wavelength band.

When the Ir cut filter 194 is inserted into the optical path and visible light transmitted through the Ir cut filter 194 is imaged on the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16, the multiple Si diodes arranged on the light receiving surface 16A output analog image data obtained by imaging the received visible light. This realizes the function of obtaining a visible light image by imaging the visible light. Also, when the BPF 196 is inserted into the optical path and near-infrared light transmitted through the BPF 196 is imaged on the light receiving surface 16A of the image sensor 16, the multiple InGaAs diodes arranged on the light receiving surface 16A output analog image data obtained by imaging the received near-infrared light. This realizes the function of obtaining a near-infrared light image by imaging the near-infrared light.

In the sixth embodiment, the imaging device 10 includes a third locking mechanism 242 having an unlocked state that allows rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 200 and a locked state that restricts rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 200. Therefore, the position of the polarizer 58 can be fixed by the third locking mechanism 242.

The imaging device 10 also includes a fourth locking mechanism 244 that has an unlocked state that allows the turret filter 190 to be rotated by the turret filter rotation mechanism 210, and a locked state that restricts the rotation of the turret filter 190 by the turret filter rotation mechanism 210. Therefore, the position of the turret filter 190 can be fixed by the fourth locking mechanism 244.

The imaging device 10 further includes a turret filter 190 that selects and transmits near-infrared light contained in the light. Therefore, by selecting the near-infrared light that transmits through the turret filter 190, a near-infrared light image corresponding to the wavelength band of the near-infrared light can be displayed on the display 22.

[Seventh embodiment]
As an example, as shown in FIG. 17, in the seventh embodiment, a lock cover 270 is used instead of the lock mechanism 68 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment. The lock cover 270 is an example of a "first lock mechanism" according to the technology of the present disclosure. As an example, the lock cover 270 is an arc-shaped plate material with a central angle greater than 180°. The lock cover 270 has flexibility. The axial length of the lock cover 270 is set to a length that covers the first ring 72 and the second ring 82 when the lock cover 270 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52. An uneven portion 272 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lock cover 270. As an example, the uneven portion 272 is a flat knurl. The uneven portion 272 engages with the first uneven portion 78 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first ring 72 and the second uneven portion 88 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second ring 82, respectively. The first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88 are an example of a "first engagement portion" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the uneven portion 272 is an example of a "second engagement portion" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

18 and 19, when the lock cover 270 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52, the uneven portion 272 is engaged with the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the first ring 72 and the second ring 82 are fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 and the change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted. On the other hand, when the lock cover 270 is removed from the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52, the uneven portion 272 is separated from the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the fixation of the first ring 72 to the lens barrel 52 and the fixation of the second ring 82 to the lens barrel 52 are released, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 and the change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are permitted. The state in which lock cover 270 is removed from the outer peripheral surface of lens barrel 52 is an example of a "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which lock cover 270 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of lens barrel 52 is an example of a "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

In the seventh embodiment, the imaging device 10 includes a lock cover 270. When the lock cover 270 is removed from the lens barrel 52, the lock cover 270 is in an unlocked state that allows the focus lens 54 to be moved by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. On the other hand, when the lock cover 270 is attached to the lens barrel 52, the lock cover 270 is in a locked state that restricts the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. Therefore, by switching between a state in which the lock cover 270 is removed from the lens barrel 52 and a state in which the lock cover 270 is attached to the lens barrel 52, it is possible to switch between a state in which the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted and a state in which the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted.

Furthermore, when the lock cover 270 is removed from the lens barrel 52, it is in an unlocked state that allows the aperture change mechanism 64 to change the aperture amount. On the other hand, when the lock cover 270 is attached to the lens barrel 52, it is in a locked state that restricts changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64. Therefore, by switching the lock cover 270 between a state in which it is removed from the lens barrel 52 and a state in which it is attached to the lens barrel 52, it is possible to switch between a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are allowed and a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted.

In addition, the switching between the unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 and the locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 and the switching between the unlocked state that allows changes in the aperture amount and the locked state that restricts changes in the aperture amount are performed in parallel. Therefore, the operability of the lens device 14 is improved compared to a case in which, for example, the switching between the unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 and the locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 and the switching between the unlocked state that allows changes in the aperture amount and the locked state that restricts changes in the aperture amount are performed independently.

The first ring 72 and the second ring 82 may each have a first engagement portion that is a convex or concave portion other than the flat knurling, instead of the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. The lock cover 270 may also have a second engagement portion that is a convex or concave portion other than the flat knurling, instead of the uneven portion 272.

[Eighth embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 20 as an example, in the eighth embodiment, a lock mechanism 280 is used instead of the lock mechanism 68 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment. The lock mechanism 280 is provided on the rear end side of the lens barrel 52 relative to the first ring 72 and the second ring 82. As an example, the lock mechanism 280 has a lock member 282 and a guide groove 284. The guide groove 284 is formed along the axial direction of the lens barrel 52. The lock member 282 slides in the axial direction of the lens barrel 52 by being supported by the guide groove 284. The lock member 282 slides between an unlocked position (see the left diagram in FIG. 20) where the lock member 282 is retracted from the first ring 72 and the second ring 82, and a locked position (see the right diagram in FIG. 20) where the lock member 282 overlaps with the first ring 72 and the second ring 82. The lock mechanism 280 is an example of a "first lock mechanism" and a "second lock mechanism" according to the technology disclosed herein.

21 and 22, as an example, an uneven portion 286 is formed on the inner surface of the locking member 282 (i.e., the surface facing the outer circumferential surface of the lens barrel 52). As an example, the uneven portion 286 is a flat knurled surface. The uneven portion 286 engages with a first uneven portion 78 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first ring 72 and a second uneven portion 88 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second ring 82, respectively. The first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88 are an example of a "first engagement portion" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the uneven portion 286 is an example of a "second engagement portion" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

21 and 22, when the locking member 282 slides to the locked position, the uneven portion 286 engages with the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the first ring 72 and the second ring 82 are fixed to the lens barrel 52, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 and change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 slides to the unlocked position, the uneven portion 286 is separated from the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the fixation of the first ring 72 to the lens barrel 52 and the fixation of the second ring 82 to the lens barrel 52 are released, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 and change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are permitted. The state in which the locking member 282 has slid to the unlocked position is an example of a "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the locking member 282 has slid to the locked position is an example of a "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

In the eighth embodiment, the imaging device 10 includes a locking mechanism 280 having a locking member 282 and a guide groove 284. When the locking member 282 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 is slid to the locked position, it is in a locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. Therefore, by switching the locking member 282 between the unlocked position and the locked position, it is possible to switch between a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted and a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted.

Similarly, when the locking member 282 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows the aperture change mechanism 64 to change the aperture amount. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 is slid to the locked position, it is in a locked state that restricts changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64. Therefore, by switching the locking member 282 between the unlocked position and the locked position, it is possible to switch between a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are allowed and a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted.

It is also possible to slide the locking member 282 to a position where it overlaps only with the second ring 82. In this case, the change in aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 is restricted, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens movement mechanism 62 is permitted.

In addition, the first ring 72 and the second ring 82 may each have a first engagement portion that is a convex or concave portion other than the flat knurling, instead of the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In addition, the locking member 282 may have a second engagement portion that is a convex or concave portion other than the flat knurling, instead of the uneven portion 286.

[Ninth embodiment]
As an example, as shown in FIG. 23, in the ninth embodiment, the lock mechanism 280 according to the eighth embodiment is modified as follows. That is, the lock mechanism 280 has a first lock mechanism 292 and a second lock mechanism 294. The first lock mechanism 292 is provided closer to the front end of the lens barrel 52 than the first ring 72, and the second lock mechanism 294 is provided closer to the rear end of the lens barrel 52 than the second ring 82. The first lock mechanism 292 has a first lock member 302 and a first guide groove 304, and the second lock mechanism 294 has a second lock member 312 and a second guide groove 314. The configurations of the first lock member 302 and the first guide groove 304 are similar to those of the lock member 282 and the guide groove 284 according to the eighth embodiment. Also, the configurations of the second lock member 312 and the second guide groove 314 are similar to those of the lock member 282 and the guide groove 284 according to the eighth embodiment.

The first locking member 302 slides between an unlocked position where it is retracted from the first ring 72 (see the left diagram in FIG. 23) and a locked position where it overlaps with the first ring 72 (see the right diagram in FIG. 23). The second locking member 312 slides between an unlocked position where it is retracted from the second ring 82 (see the left diagram in FIG. 23) and a locked position where it overlaps with the second ring 82 (see the right diagram in FIG. 23).

When the first locking member 302 slides to the locked position, the uneven portion of the first locking member 302 engages with the first uneven portion 78. In this state, the first ring 72 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted. On the other hand, when the first locking member 302 slides to the unlocked position, the uneven portion of the first locking member 302 is separated from the first uneven portion 78. In this state, the fixation of the first ring 72 to the lens barrel 52 is released, and the movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted. The state in which the first locking member 302 slides to the unlocked position is an example of the "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the first locking member 302 slides to the locked position is an example of the "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

Similarly, when the second locking member 312 slides to the locked position, the uneven portion of the second locking member 312 engages with the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the second ring 82 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the aperture change mechanism 64 is restricted from changing the aperture amount. On the other hand, when the second locking member 312 slides to the unlocked position, the uneven portion of the second locking member 312 separates from the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the second ring 82 is released from the lens barrel 52, and the aperture change mechanism 64 is allowed to change the aperture amount. The state in which the second locking member 312 slides to the unlocked position is an example of the "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the second locking member 312 slides to the locked position is an example of the "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

In the ninth embodiment, the imaging device 10 includes a first locking mechanism 292 having a first locking member 302 and a first guide groove 304. When the first locking member 302 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. On the other hand, when the first locking member 302 is slid to the locked position, it is in a locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. Therefore, by switching the first locking member 302 between the unlocked position and the locked position, it is possible to switch between a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted and a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted.

The imaging device 10 also includes a second locking mechanism 294 having a second locking member 312 and a second guide groove 314. When the second locking member 312 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows the aperture change mechanism 64 to change the aperture amount. On the other hand, when the second locking member 312 is slid to the locked position, it is in a locked state that restricts changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64. Therefore, by switching the second locking member 312 between the unlocked position and the locked position, it is possible to switch between a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are allowed and a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted.

In the ninth embodiment, the first locking mechanism 292 and the second locking mechanism 294 are independent of each other. Therefore, the first locking mechanism 292 and the second locking mechanism 294 can be switched between an unlocked state and a locked state independently of each other.

[Tenth embodiment]
As an example, as shown in FIG. 24, in the tenth embodiment, the configuration of the lens device 14 is changed as follows from that of the eighth embodiment. That is, a third guide groove 322 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 52. The third guide groove 322 extends in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel 52. The third ring 142 of the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is accommodated in the third guide groove 322. When a rotational force is applied to the third ring 142, the third ring 142 rotates while being guided by the third guide groove 322. The third ring 142 can rotate in both directions along the circumferential direction of the third guide groove 322. The polarizer 58 is accommodated inside the lens barrel 52. The polarizer 58 is fixed to the third ring 142 via a connecting mechanism (not shown). A third uneven portion 146 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the third ring 142.

The locking member 282 slides between an unlocked position (see the left diagram in Figure 24) in which it is retracted from the first ring 72, the second ring 82, and the third ring 142, a first locked position (see the middle diagram in Figure 24) in which it is retracted from the third ring 142 and overlaps with the second ring 82, and a second locked position (see the right diagram in Figure 24) in which it overlaps with the first ring 72, the second ring 82, and the third ring 142.

25, when the locking member 282 slides to the second lock position, the uneven portion 286 of the locking member 282 engages with the third uneven portion 146. At this time, the uneven portion 286 of the locking member 282 also engages with the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88. In this state, the first ring 72, the second ring 82, and the third ring 142 are fixed to the lens barrel 52, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens movement mechanism 62, change in aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64, and rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 are restricted.

On the other hand, when the locking member 282 slides to the first lock position, the uneven portion 286 of the locking member 282 engages with the first uneven portion 78 and the second uneven portion 88, but the uneven portion 286 of the locking member 282 is separated from the third uneven portion 146. In this state, movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens movement mechanism 62 and change in aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted, but the third ring 142 is released from fixation to the lens barrel 52, and rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is permitted.

Furthermore, when the locking member 282 slides to the unlocked position, the uneven portion 286 of the locking member 282 is separated from the first uneven portion 78, the second uneven portion 88, and the third uneven portion 146. In this state, the fixation of the first ring 72 to the lens barrel 52, the fixation of the second ring 82 to the lens barrel 52, and the fixation of the third ring 142 to the lens barrel 52 are released, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens movement mechanism 62, change of the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64, and rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 are permitted.

The state in which the locking member 282 has slid to the unlocked position is an example of a "first state" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the state in which the locking member 282 has slid to the first locking position and the state in which the locking member 282 has slid to the second locking position are examples of a "second state" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

In the tenth embodiment, when the locking member 282 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 is slid to the first lock position or the second lock position, it is in a locked state that restricts movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62. Therefore, by switching the locking member 282 between the unlocked position and the first lock position or the second lock position, it is possible to switch between a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted and a state in which movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted.

Similarly, when the locking member 282 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows the aperture change mechanism 64 to change the aperture amount. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 is slid to the first lock position or the second lock position, it is in a locked state that restricts changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64. Therefore, by switching the locking member 282 between the unlocked position and the first lock position or the second lock position, it is possible to switch between a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are allowed and a state in which changes to the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted.

Furthermore, when the locking member 282 is slid to the unlocked position, it is in an unlocked state that allows rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66. On the other hand, when the locking member 282 is slid to the second locked position, it is in a locked state that restricts rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66. Therefore, by switching the locking member 282 between the unlocked position and the second locked position, it is possible to switch between a state in which rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is permitted and a state in which rotation of the polarizer 58 by the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 is restricted.

[Eleventh embodiment]
As an example, as shown in FIG. 26, in the eleventh embodiment, the configuration of the imaging device 10 is changed as follows from that of the first embodiment. That is, the focus lens moving mechanism 62 has a first engagement portion 332, and the aperture change mechanism 64 has a third engagement portion 336. The lock mechanism 68 has a second engagement portion 334, a fourth engagement portion 338, and a drive mechanism 340. The second engagement portion 334 engages with the first engagement portion 332, and the fourth engagement portion 338 engages with the third engagement portion 336. For example, the first engagement portion 332 is a convex portion or a concave portion, and the second engagement portion 334 is a concave portion or a convex portion that engages with the first engagement portion 332. Similarly, for example, the third engagement portion 336 is a convex portion or a concave portion, and the fourth engagement portion 338 is a concave portion or a convex portion that engages with the third engagement portion 336. The lock mechanism 68 is an example of a “first lock mechanism” and a “second lock mechanism” according to the technique of the present disclosure.

The drive mechanism 340 has a first actuator (not shown) that moves the second engagement portion 334, and a second actuator (not shown) that moves the fourth engagement portion 338. For example, an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid is used for the first actuator and the second actuator. The second engagement portion 334 moves due to the power applied by the first actuator, and is switched between a state in which the second engagement portion 334 is separated from the first engagement portion 332 and a state in which the second engagement portion 334 is engaged with the first engagement portion 332. The drive mechanism 340 is an example of a "first drive mechanism" and a "second drive mechanism" according to the technology disclosed herein.

When the second engagement portion 334 is engaged with the first engagement portion 332, the first ring 72 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is restricted. On the other hand, when the second engagement portion 334 is separated from the first engagement portion 332, the first ring 72 is released from the lens barrel 52, and movement of the focus lens 54 by the focus lens moving mechanism 62 is permitted. The state in which the second engagement portion 334 is engaged with the first engagement portion 332 is an example of a "first state" according to the technology disclosed herein, and the state in which the second engagement portion 334 is separated from the first engagement portion 332 is an example of a "second state" according to the technology disclosed herein.

Similarly, when the fourth engagement portion 338 is engaged with the third engagement portion 336, the second ring 82 is fixed to the lens barrel 52, and the change in the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 is restricted. On the other hand, when the fourth engagement portion 338 is separated from the third engagement portion 336, the second ring 82 is released from the lens barrel 52, and the change in the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 is permitted. The state in which the fourth engagement portion 338 is engaged with the third engagement portion 336 is an example of a "first state" according to the technology disclosed herein, and the state in which the fourth engagement portion 338 is separated from the third engagement portion 336 is an example of a "second state" according to the technology disclosed herein.

In the eleventh embodiment, a sensor 342 is used. The sensor 342 detects the rotational position of the polarizer 58 and outputs a rotational signal corresponding to the rotational position. For the sensor 342, a sensor that detects the rotational position, such as a potentiometer, is used. The rotational signal is an example of a "sensor detection result" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 27, an imaging support processing program 350 is stored in the NVM 44. The imaging support processing program 350 is an example of a "program" related to the technology of the present disclosure. The CPU 42 reads out the imaging support processing program 350 from the NVM 44, and executes the read imaging support processing program 350 on the RAM 46. The CPU 42 performs imaging support processing in accordance with the imaging support processing program 350 executed on the RAM 46. In the imaging support processing, the CPU 42 operates as a rotation signal acquisition unit 352, a lock determination unit 354, an lock release control unit 356, and a lock control unit 358.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 26, the rotation signal acquisition unit 352 acquires a rotation signal input from the sensor 342.

The lock determination unit 354 determines whether or not to lock. As an example, when the lock determination unit 354 determines that the polarizer 58 is not rotating based on the rotation signal, it determines to release the lock. On the other hand, when the lock determination unit 354 determines that the polarizer 58 is rotating based on the rotation signal, it determines to lock.

Also, as an example, when the lock determination unit 354 determines that an unlock instruction to release the lock has been received by the receiving device 24 and/or the external I/F 26, it determines to release the lock. On the other hand, when the lock determination unit 354 determines that a lock instruction to lock has been received by the receiving device 24 and/or the external I/F 26, it determines to lock. An instruction to lock received by the receiving device 24 and/or the external I/F 26 is an example of an "instruction from outside" related to the technology of the present disclosure.

The CPU 42 has an unlock mode and a lock mode as operating modes. When the lock determination unit 354 determines that the lock should be released, the CPU 42 switches to the unlock mode, and when the lock determination unit 354 determines that the lock should be released, the CPU 42 switches to the lock mode. In the unlock mode, the CPU 42 operates as the unlock control unit 356. On the other hand, in the lock mode, the CPU 42 operates as the lock control unit 358. The unlock mode is an example of a "first mode" according to the technology of the present disclosure, and the lock mode is an example of a "second mode" according to the technology of the present disclosure. The CPU 42 is an example of a "first processor" and a "second processor" according to the technology of the present disclosure.

The unlock control unit 356 outputs an unlock command to the drive mechanism 340. Upon receiving the unlock command, the drive mechanism 340 moves the second engagement portion 334 in a direction away from the first engagement portion 332, and moves the fourth engagement portion 338 in a direction away from the third engagement portion 336. This causes the lock mechanism 68 to enter an unlocked state, allowing movement of the focus lens 54 and change in the aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64.

The lock control unit 358 outputs a lock command to the drive mechanism 340. Upon receiving the lock command, the drive mechanism 340 moves the second engagement portion 334 in a direction to engage with the first engagement portion 332, and moves the fourth engagement portion 338 in a direction to engage with the third engagement portion 336. This causes the lock mechanism 68 to enter a locked state, and the movement of the focus lens 54 and the change in aperture amount by the aperture change mechanism 64 are restricted.

Next, the operation of the imaging device 10 according to the 11th embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 28. Fig. 28 shows an example of the flow of imaging support processing according to the 11th embodiment.

In the imaging support process shown in FIG. 28, first, in step S11, the rotation signal acquisition unit 352 acquires the rotation signal input from the sensor 342.

In step S12, the lock determination unit 354 determines whether or not to lock based on the rotation signal and the instructions received by the receiving device 24 and/or the external I/F 26. If the lock determination unit 354 determines in step S12 that locking is to be performed, the process shown in FIG. 28 proceeds to step S13. On the other hand, if the lock determination unit 354 determines in step S12 that locking is not to be performed, the process shown in FIG. 28 proceeds to step S14.

In step S13, the unlock control unit 356 outputs an unlock command to the drive mechanism 340 to cause the lock mechanism 68 to enter an unlocked state.

In step S14, the unlock control unit 356 outputs a lock command to the drive mechanism 340 to place the lock mechanism 68 in a locked state.

The process shown in FIG. 28 returns to step S11 after step S13 or step S14. Then, the process shown in FIG. 28 repeatedly executes steps S11 to S13 or S14 until it is stopped by an instruction from the user and/or an instruction from outside.

As described above in detail, in the eleventh embodiment, the locking mechanism 68 is switched between an unlocked state and a locked state depending on the detection result of the sensor 342. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the need for the user to switch the locking mechanism 68 between an unlocked state and a locked state when rotating the polarizer 58.

Furthermore, the CPU 42 switches between an unlocked mode and a locked mode based on an external instruction received by the reception device 24 and/or the external I/F 26. Therefore, by giving an instruction to the CPU 42 from the reception device 24 and/or the external I/F 26, the lock mechanism 68 can be switched between an unlocked state and a locked state.

The CPU 42 switches between the unlocked mode and the locked mode based on an external instruction received by the reception device 24 and/or the external I/F 26, but may also switch between the unlocked mode and the locked mode based on information obtained from the subject. In this case, information obtained from the subject may include, for example, the type of subject, temperature, environment, and operation.

[Twelfth embodiment]
29 as an example, in the twelfth embodiment, the configuration of the imaging device 10 is changed as follows from the eleventh embodiment. That is, the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 has a motor 362. The motor 362 applies a rotating force to the polarizer 58.

The CPU 42 operates as a first image acquisition unit 372, a first rotation control unit 374, a second image acquisition unit 376, a rotation necessity determination unit 378, and a second rotation control unit 380.

29 as an example, the first image acquisition unit 372 acquires a first image based on first digital image data obtained by capturing light transmitted through the polarizer 58 with the image sensor 16. The first image is an image obtained when the polarizer 58 is in the first position.

The first rotation control unit 374 outputs a first rotation command to rotate the polarizer 58 from the first position to the second position. As an example, the second position is a position where the polarizer 58 is rotated 90° from the first position. The motor 362 rotates the polarizer 58 from the first position to the second position in accordance with the first rotation command.

The second image acquisition unit 376 acquires a second image based on second digital image data obtained by capturing light transmitted through the polarizer 58 with the image sensor 16. The second image is an image obtained when the polarizer 58 is in the second position.

The rotation necessity determining section 378 determines whether or not it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58 .
As an example, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 compares the first image with the second image, and when it is determined that the second image includes the reflected image 166 and the first image does not include the reflected image 166, it determines that it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58. On the other hand, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 compares the first image with the second image, and when it is determined that the second image does not include the reflected image 166 and the first image includes the reflected image 166, it determines that it is not necessary to rotate the polarizer 58.

In addition, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines that it is not necessary to rotate the polarizer 58 when neither the first image nor the second image contains the reflected image 166. In addition, in the case where both the first image and the second image contain the reflected image 166, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines that it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58 when the luminance of the reflected image 166 contained in the second image is higher than the luminance of the reflected image 166 contained in the first image. On the other hand, in the case where both the first image and the second image contain the reflected image 166, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines that it is not necessary to rotate the polarizer 58 when the luminance of the reflected image 166 contained in the second image is lower than the luminance of the reflected image 166 contained in the first image. The rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines whether or not the reflected image 166 is contained in the first image and the second image by using various image analysis processes.

When the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines that it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58, the second rotation control unit 380 outputs a second rotation command to rotate the polarizer 58 from the second position to the first position. The motor 362 rotates the polarizer 58 from the second position to the first position in accordance with the second rotation command. The CPU 42 is an example of a "third processor" related to the technology of the present disclosure. The motor 362 is an example of a "third drive mechanism."

Next, the operation of the imaging device 10 according to the 12th embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 30. Fig. 30 shows an example of the flow of imaging support processing according to the 12th embodiment.

In the imaging support process shown in FIG. 30, first, in step S21, the first image acquisition unit 372 acquires a first image based on the first digital image data.

In step S22, the first rotation control unit 374 outputs a first rotation command to rotate the polarizer 58 from the first position to the second position.

In step S23, the second image acquisition unit 376 acquires a second image based on the second digital image data.

In step S24, the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines whether or not it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58 based on the first image and the second image. If the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines in step S24 that it is necessary to rotate the polarizer 58, the process shown in FIG. 30 proceeds to step S25. On the other hand, if the rotation necessity determination unit 378 determines in step S24 that it is not necessary to rotate the polarizer 58, the process shown in FIG. 30 ends.

In step S25, the second rotation control unit 380 outputs a second rotation command to rotate the polarizer 58 from the second position to the first position.

The processing shown in FIG. 30 ends after step S25.

As described above in detail, in the twelfth embodiment, the CPU 42 controls the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 based on a first image obtained by the image sensor 16 capturing an image of light transmitted through the polarizer 58 when the polarizer 58 is in the first position, and a second image obtained by the image sensor 16 capturing an image of light transmitted through the polarizer 58 when the polarizer 58 is in the second position. This eliminates the need for a user to rotate the polarizer 58 using the polarizer rotation mechanism 66 while checking the first and second images, for example.

Although the first to twelfth embodiments have been described above, among the configurations described in the above embodiments and modified examples, configurations that can be combined may be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, if there are multiple overlapping steps when the above embodiments and modified examples are combined, the multiple steps may be assigned priorities according to various conditions, etc.

In the above embodiment, a lens-interchangeable digital camera is exemplified as the imaging device 10, but this is merely one example and the imaging device 10 may be a fixed-lens digital camera or a digital camera built into various electronic devices such as a smart device, a wearable terminal, a cell observation device, an ophthalmic observation device, or a surgical microscope. The imaging device 10 may be a glasses-type eyewear terminal or a head-mounted display terminal worn on the head. In the eyewear terminal or head-mounted display terminal, a display may be provided for only one eye, or may be provided for both eyes. The display may be formed to be translucent.

In addition, while the above embodiment illustrates a CPU 42, at least one other CPU, at least one GPU, and/or at least one TPU may be used in place of or together with the CPU 42.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example of a form in which the imaging support processing program 350 is stored in the NVM 44 has been described, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the imaging support processing program 350 may be stored in a portable non-transitory storage medium such as an SSD or a USB memory. The imaging support processing program 350 stored in the non-transitory storage medium is installed in the computer 36 of the imaging device 10. The CPU 42 executes the imaging support processing in accordance with the imaging support processing program 350.

In addition, the imaging support processing program 350 may be stored in a storage device such as another computer or server device connected to the imaging device 10 via a network, and the imaging support processing program 350 may be downloaded and installed on the computer 36 upon request from the imaging device 10.

It should be noted that it is not necessary to store the entire imaging support processing program 350 in a storage device such as another computer 36 or server device connected to the imaging device 10, or in the NVM 44; only a portion of the imaging support processing program 350 may be stored.

In addition, although the imaging device 10 shown in FIG. 2 has a built-in computer 36, the technology disclosed herein is not limited to this, and for example, the computer 36 may be provided outside the imaging device 10.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a computer 36 including a CPU 42, an NVM 44, and a RAM is exemplified, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a device including an ASIC, an FPGA, and/or a PLD may be applied instead of the computer 36. Also, a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration may be used instead of the computer 36.

In addition, the following various processors can be used as hardware resources for executing the imaging support processing described in the above embodiment. An example of a processor is a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that functions as a hardware resource for executing imaging support processing by executing software, i.e., a program. An example of a processor is a dedicated electrical circuit, which is a processor having a circuit configuration designed specifically for executing specific processing, such as an FPGA, PLD, or ASIC. Each processor has a built-in or connected memory, and each processor executes the imaging support processing by using the memory.

The hardware resource that executes the imaging support process may be one of these various processors, or may be a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU 42 and an FPGA). Also, the hardware resource that executes the imaging support process may be a single processor.

As an example of a configuration using one processor, first, there is a configuration in which one processor is configured by combining one or more CPUs and software, and this processor functions as a hardware resource that executes the imaging support processing. Secondly, there is a configuration in which a processor is used that realizes the functions of the entire system, including multiple hardware resources that execute the imaging support processing, on a single IC chip, as typified by SoCs. In this way, the imaging support processing is realized using one or more of the various processors mentioned above as hardware resources.

More specifically, the hardware structure of these various processors can be an electric circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. The above-mentioned imaging support process is merely an example. It goes without saying that unnecessary steps can be deleted, new steps can be added, and the processing order can be changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The above description and illustrations are a detailed explanation of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure, and are merely one example of the technology of the present disclosure. For example, the above explanation of the configuration, function, action, and effect is an explanation of one example of the configuration, function, action, and effect of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure. Therefore, it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted, new elements may be added, or replacements may be made to the above description and illustrations, within the scope of the gist of the technology of the present disclosure. In addition, in order to avoid confusion and to facilitate understanding of the parts related to the technology of the present disclosure, the above description and illustrations omit explanations of technical common sense, etc. that do not require particular explanation to enable the implementation of the technology of the present disclosure.

In this specification, "A and/or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A and B." In other words, "A and/or B" means that it may be only A, only B, or a combination of A and B. In addition, in this specification, the same concept as "A and/or B" is also applied when three or more things are expressed by linking them with "and/or."

All publications, patent applications, and technical standards described in this specification are incorporated by reference into this specification to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Claims (19)

A focusing lens through which light passes;
a moving mechanism for moving the focus lens in an optical axis direction;
a polarizer that is displaced between a first position where a first polarization component included in the light is transmitted and a second position where a second polarization component included in the light is transmitted;
A displacement mechanism that displaces the polarizer;
a first lock mechanism having a first state that allows movement of the focus lens by the movement mechanism and a second state that restricts movement of the focus lens by the movement mechanism;
Equipped with
The lens device is switched between the first state and the second state based on the displacement of the polarizer by the displacement mechanism . a diaphragm through which the light passes;
a change mechanism for changing an amount of light diaphragm aperture by the diaphragm;
Further equipped with
a second lock mechanism having a third state that allows the change mechanism to change the throttle amount and a fourth state that restricts the change of the throttle amount by the change mechanism;
The lens device according to claim 1 . The lens device according to claim 2 , wherein the third state and the fourth state are switched based on a displacement of the polarizer by the displacement mechanism . The lens device according to claim 3 , wherein the switching between the first state and the second state and the switching between the third state and the fourth state are performed in parallel . The displacement mechanism includes a rotation mechanism that rotates the polarizer about the optical axis direction.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . the polarizer includes a first polarizer that transmits the first polarization component and a second polarizer that transmits the second polarization component;
The displacement mechanism includes a slide mechanism that switches between the first polarizer and the second polarizer by sliding the polarizer in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . a lens barrel supporting the moving mechanism and the displacement mechanism,
the first state is a state in which the first locking mechanism releases the fixation of the moving mechanism to the lens barrel,
The second state is a state in which the first locking mechanism fixes the moving mechanism to the lens barrel.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . a lens barrel supporting the moving mechanism and the displacement mechanism,
the first state is a state in which the first locking mechanism is detached from the lens barrel,
The second state is a state in which the first locking mechanism is attached to the lens barrel.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The moving mechanism has a first engagement portion,
The first lock mechanism has a second engagement portion,
the first state is a state in which the first engagement portion is separated from the second engagement portion,
The second state is a state in which the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . A sensor for detecting the position of the polarizer;
a first drive mechanism that moves the second engagement portion in response to a detection result of the sensor;
Further equipped
The lens device according to claim 9 . The lens apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a first processor that controls the first drive mechanism based on a detection result of the sensor . a second drive mechanism that drives the first lock mechanism;
and a second processor that controls the second drive mechanism.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 . The second processor has a first mode in which the second drive mechanism is controlled so that the first lock mechanism is switched to the first state, and a second mode in which the second drive mechanism is controlled so that the first lock mechanism is switched to the second state.
The lens arrangement of claim 12 . The lens apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the second processor switches between the first mode and the second mode based on an external instruction or information obtained from a subject. a third drive mechanism that drives the displacement mechanism;
and a third processor that controls the third drive mechanism.
The lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 . The third processor controls the third driving mechanism based on a first image obtained by an image sensor capturing the light transmitted through the polarizer when the polarizer is in the first position, and a second image obtained by an image sensor capturing the light transmitted through the polarizer when the polarizer is in the second position.
The lens arrangement of claim 15 . The optical fiber further includes a filter that selectively transmits near-infrared light contained in the light.
A lens arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 16 . The filter is integral with the polarizer.
18. The lens device of claim 17 . A lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 18;
an image sensor on which the light transmitted through the lens device is imaged;
An imaging device comprising :