JPH0664268B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus using a light-light conversion element.

(Prior Art) Examples of light-to-light conversion elements configured to input an optical image and output the optical image also include, for example, a liquid crystal type optical modulator, a photoconductive Pockels effect element, and a microchannel type. Spatial modulation elements such as optical modulators, or those of various configuration forms such as elements configured using photochromic material, for example, optical writing projection device, an element for optical parallel processing of an optical computer, It has been attracting attention as an element for recording images, etc.
The applicant company has also proposed a high-resolution image pickup device using a light-light conversion element.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a configuration example of a conventional light-light conversion element. In the light-light conversion element shown in FIG. 9, 1 and 2 are glass plates, and 3 and 4 are transparent electrodes. , 5, 6, 1
1 is a terminal, 7 is a photoconductive layer, 8 is a dielectric mirror, 9 is an optical member that changes the state of light according to the intensity distribution of an applied electric field (for example, a light modulation material layer such as a lithium niobate single crystal). , Or nematic liquid crystal layer), WL is writing light,
RL is a reading light and EL is an erasing light.

In FIG. 9, the incident direction of the erasing light EL is the reading light R.
Although shown as being the same as the incident direction of L, this is the dielectric mirror 8 used in the light-to-light conversion element, which has the light transmission characteristics as shown in FIG. 3 shows the incident direction of the erasing light with respect to the light-light conversion element when is used. Regarding the light-to-light conversion element configured such that the erasing light enters the light-to-light converting element in the same direction as the writing light, it goes without saying that the erasing light enters in the same direction as the writing light. Absent.

When optical information is written in the light-to-light conversion element shown in FIG. 9, a circuit composed of the power supply 10 and the changeover switch SW is connected to the terminals 5 and 6 of the light-to-light conversion element. The movable contact of the changeover switch SW is changed to the fixed contact WR side by the changeover control signal supplied to the input terminal 11 of the changeover control signal in the changeover switch SW, and the voltage of the power source 10 is applied between the transparent electrodes 3 and 4 described above. Is applied so that an electric field is applied between both ends of the photoconductive layer 7, and the write light WL is made incident from the glass plate 1 side of the light-to-light conversion element to obtain optical information for the light-to-light conversion element. Is written.

That is, when the writing light WL that has entered the light-to-light conversion element as described above passes through the glass plate 1 and the transparent electrode 3 and reaches the photoconductive layer 7, the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer 7 reaches it. In order to change corresponding to the optical image by the incident light,
The photoconductive layer 7 is provided on the boundary surface between the photoconductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8.
A charge image corresponding to the optical image due to the incident light that has reached is generated.

In order to reproduce the optical information written in the form of the charge image corresponding to the optical image by the incident light from the light-to-light conversion element as described above, the movable contact of the changeover switch SW is fixed to the fixed contact WR side. With the voltage of the power source 10 being applied between the transparent electrodes 3 and 4 via the terminals 5 and 6, the constant light from the light source (not shown) is fed from the glass plate 2 side. This can be done by projecting an intense reading light RL.

As described above, an optical image by the incident light reaching the photoconductive layer 7 is formed on the boundary surface between the photoconductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8 in the light-to-light conversion element in which the optical information is written by the incident light. Since the corresponding charge image is generated, the photoconductive layer 7 described above is formed.
On the other hand, the optical member 9 (for example, the lithium niobate single crystal 9) provided in series with the dielectric mirror 8 is in a state in which an electric field having an intensity distribution corresponding to the optical image by the incident light is applied. Has been done.

Since the refractive index of the lithium niobate single crystal 9 changes according to the electric field due to the electro-optical effect, the photoconductive layer 7 described above is in a state in which the electric field having the intensity distribution corresponding to the optical image by the incident light is applied. On the other hand, the refractive index of the crystal 9 of lithium niobate provided in series with the dielectric mirror 8 is the same as that of the photoconductive layer 7 in the light-to-light conversion element due to the writing of optical information by the incident light described above. It changes depending on the optical image generated by the incident light reaching the photoconductive layer 7 at the boundary surface with the dielectric mirror 8 and the charge image generated correspondingly.

Therefore, when the reading light RL is projected on the glass plate 2 side, the reading light RL projected on the glass plate 2 side as described above is transparent electrode 4 → lithium niobate single crystal 9 → dielectric mirror 8 The light travels as shown by →, and then the above-mentioned read light RL is reflected by the dielectric mirror 8 and returns to the glass plate 2 side as reflected light. However, the crystal 9 of lithium niobate is used.
Since the refractive index of the light changes according to the electric field due to the electro-optical effect, the reflected light of the reading light RL is an image according to the intensity distribution of the electric field applied to the crystal 9 of lithium niobate due to the electro-optical effect of the crystal 9 of lithium niobate. Information is included and a reproduced optical image corresponding to the optical image by the incident light is generated on the glass plate 2 side.

Further, in order to erase the information written by the writing light WL as described above, the changeover control signal is supplied to the input terminal 11 of the changeover control signal in the changeover switch SW to move the movable contact of the changeover switch SW. To the fixed contact E side to make the potentials of the terminals 5 and 6 in the light-to-light conversion element the same so that an electric field is not generated between the transparent electrodes 3 and 4, and then the writing light WL is set to the incident side. The erasing light EL having a uniform intensity distribution is made incident from the glass plate 1 side, or the light transmittance characteristic of the dielectric mirror 8 with respect to the wavelength of the light becomes the reading light RL and the erasing light EL. On the other hand, in the case as shown in FIG. 10, the erasing light EL having a uniform intensity distribution is made incident from the glass plate 2 side as shown in FIG.

When the incident side of the erasing light used when erasing the previously written optical information in the light-to-light conversion element is set to be the same as the incident side of the writing light WL, imaging is performed on the side on which the writing light WL is incident. In addition to the image pickup device having a configuration in which it is necessary to provide an optical system, the device having a configuration in which it is difficult to provide an erasing light incident device on the side on which the writing light WL is incident is used as an optical device. Since a big problem occurs when the light conversion element is used, the light-light conversion element having the structure shown in FIG. 9 in which the incident direction of the erasing light and the incident direction of the reading light are the same is used in the image pickup apparatus. It is effectively used for configuration.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-described light-to-light conversion element, in the state where a voltage is applied between the two transparent electrodes at the time of writing operation, the light-to-light conversion element is exposed to the photoconductive layer. By forming optical information, a charge image corresponding to the optical image of the subject is formed on the interface between the photoconductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8, and the applied electric field of the light-to-light conversion element is changed. The transparent electrode 4 on the side of the optical member 9 that changes the state of light according to the intensity distribution
The read light incident from the direction is reciprocated in the optical member 9 whose optical constant is changed by the electric field due to the electric charge image corresponding to the optical image of the subject, and thus the optical image corresponding to the electric charge image is obtained. An image is reproduced, and the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer 7 is reduced by the incidence of the erasing light so that the transparent electrodes have the same potential.
Each of the operations of writing the optical information, reading the optical information, and erasing the optical information is performed by erasing the charge image on the boundary surface between the dielectric mirror 8 and the dielectric mirror 8. In the case of performing the writing operation of, the electric charge image written by the previous optical information must be erased before the new optical information can be written.

By the way, since the erasing operation in the above-described conventional light-to-light conversion element is performed by irradiating the erasing light with the two transparent electrodes at the same potential, the read of the written optical information is performed. The operation and the operation of erasing the written optical information cannot be performed at the same time. Therefore, it is difficult to capture a moving image satisfactorily, and the writing operation of the optical information by the writing light is performed. When writing is performed by writing light that irradiates the entire surface of the light-to-light conversion element at the same time, when the optical information written in a reading manner that generates a time-series signal is read, an erasing operation is performed. Since the time length from the time when the reading is performed to the time when the reading is performed for each part of the charge image formed on the charge image forming surface of the light-to-light conversion element is different, the reproduced image While problems such as shading occurs occurs, this problem light - so worsen the quality of the video signal generated by the imaging apparatus using the optical conversion element, wherein the problems solutions was determined.

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, at least the photoconductive layer and the light in the wavelength range of the reading light can be reflected between the two transparent electrodes, and the light in the wavelength range of the erasing light can be transmitted. The above-mentioned two transparent members in the light-to-light conversion element in which an optical member having such wavelength selectivity, an optical member that changes the state of light according to the intensity distribution of an applied electric field, and a transparent electrode are laminated. As one of the electrodes, the optical information of the subject is transmitted to the photoconductive layer of the light-to-light conversion element using a divided transparent electrode composed of a plurality of parts each having an electrically independent predetermined pattern. The means for forming an image by the image pickup optical system and the reading light and the erasing light from the transparent electrode on the side of the optical member which changes the state of the light according to the intensity distribution of the applied electric field in the light-light conversion element. In parallel (EN) An image pickup device provided with a scanning means and a means for selectively supplying an erasing operation voltage only to the divided transparent electrodes corresponding to the portion scanned by the erasing light.

(Examples) Hereinafter, specific contents of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image pickup device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a configuration and operation of a divided transparent electrode portion in a light-light conversion element used in the image pickup device of the present invention. Partial perspective views, FIGS. 3 to 5 are side views for explaining the operation of the light-to-light conversion element used in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining the operation of the divided transparent electrode portion of the light-light converting element used therein, and FIG. 8 is a wavelength diagram for explaining the operation of the light-light converting element used in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, O is a subject, 14 is an image pickup lens, and PPC is a light-light conversion element, that is, two elements. At least the photoconductive layer, the optical member that changes the light state according to the intensity distribution of the applied electric field, and the transparent electrode are laminated between the transparent electrodes. The light-to-light conversion element is formed by using, as one transparent electrode of the transparent electrodes, a divided transparent electrode composed of a plurality of portions each having a predetermined electrically independent pattern.

SR is a shift register that operates so as to sequentially apply a predetermined voltage on the time axis to the divided transparent electrodes in the light-to-light conversion element PPC, and a signal is generated at the terminal 12 of this shift register SR. A clock signal Pc {see (a) in FIG. 8} is supplied from the circuit SG,
A reset signal Pr {see (l) in FIG. 8} is supplied to the terminal 13 of the shift register SR from the signal generating circuit SG.

An optical image of the subject O is supplied to the light-light conversion element PPC as writing light via the imaging lens 14, and the light-light conversion element PPC includes a laser light source 23 → half mirror 22 → light deflector Pdef. The reading light RL is supplied through the optical path of the f.theta. Lens 21.fwdarw.beam splitter 15.fwdarw.the laser light source 24.fwdarw.half mirror 22.fwdarw.light deflector Pdef is provided to the light-light conversion element PPC. → fθ lens 21 → beam splitter 1
The erase light EL is supplied through the optical path 5 →.

As is clear from the above description of the optical path, the erase light EL is supplied to the light-light conversion element PPC from the same side as the supply side of the read light RL to the light-light conversion element PPC. As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the light RL and the erasing light EL are in a state in which the reading light RL and the erasing light EL scan the light-light conversion elements in parallel. So that each laser light source 23, 24
The laser beam emitted from the laser beam is deflected by the optical deflector Pdef. Reference numeral 25 is a supply terminal of a control signal supplied from the signal generation circuit SG to the optical deflector Pdef.

In FIG. 1, the optical information read by the reading light RL incident on the light-light conversion element PPC is supplied to the photoelectric converter 18 via the analyzer 16 and the lens 17, and after being converted into an electric signal. The signal is supplied to the signal processing circuit 19, is subjected to predetermined signal processing in the signal processing circuit 19, and is then sent to the output terminal 20. The signal processing in the signal processing circuit 19 is performed based on various timing signals supplied from the signal generating circuit SG described above.

The light-to-light conversion element PPC shown in FIG. 1 reflects at least a photoconductive layer and light in the wavelength range of read light between two transparent electrodes as one example thereof, and erases the light. Light formed by laminating a transparent electrode and an optical member having wavelength selectivity capable of transmitting light in the wavelength range of light, an optical member that changes the state of light according to the intensity distribution of an applied electric field, and a transparent electrode. -A light-to-light conversion element, in which, as one of the above-mentioned two transparent electrodes in the light conversion element, a divided transparent electrode composed of a plurality of portions having a predetermined electrically independent pattern is used. Is a light-to-light conversion element P used in the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG.
PC is one of the two transparent electrodes,
The structure is different from that of the conventional light-to-light conversion element described above with reference to FIG. 9 in that a divided transparent electrode composed of a plurality of parts having electrically independent predetermined patterns is used. I have to.

FIG. 2 is a divided transparent electrode portion used as one transparent electrode of the two transparent electrodes in the light-to-light conversion element PPC used in the image pickup device of the present invention, that is, electrically independent of each other. The figure which illustrates the portion of the divided transparent electrode which is composed of a plurality of portions having a predetermined pattern and the constituent portion for supplying an operating voltage to the divided transparent electrode portion at a predetermined timing on the time axis. Therefore, the shift register SR and the input terminal 1 in FIG.
2, 13 and the like are designated by the same reference numerals as the corresponding portions in FIG.

In FIG. 2, 1 and (2) are glass plates, and 3
d and (4d) are divided transparent electrode portions used as one transparent electrode of the two transparent electrodes in the light-to-light conversion element PPC, that is, a plurality of predetermined transparent electrodes that are electrically independent of each other. The part of the division transparent electrode comprised from the part is shown. In FIG. 2, the glass plate 1, (2) and the divided transparent electrodes 3d, (4d) are used for displaying the reference numerals, but in the case of the glass plate 1, the divided transparent electrode 3d is This means that the divided transparent electrode 4d is used in the case of the glass plate 2.

The divided transparent electrodes 3d and (4d) shown in FIG.
A large number of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the light-to-light conversion element PPC are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction, and each transparent conductive strip is individually provided with a predetermined potential. It can be set to. 1H, 2H ... nH in FIG. 2 indicate the individual transparent conductive strips described above.

In FIG. 2, a plurality of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the light-to-light conversion element PPC are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction in parallel, and each transparent in the divided transparent electrodes 3d, (4d). The conductive strips 1H, 2H, ...
Output pulses P1, P2, P3, ...
A predetermined one of n {see (f) and (k) in FIG. 8} is supplied through the connection lines 11, 12, and ln.

FIG. 8B shows the horizontal synchronization signal Sh, and
In the figure, (m) is a vertical synchronizing signal Sv, and the above-mentioned shift register SR supplies a low level to the reset pulse Pr shown in (l) of FIG. 8 which is supplied to the terminal 13 in each vertical scanning period. Each time when the high level state changes to the low level state in the clock pulse Pc shown in (a) of FIG. 8 supplied to the terminal 12 after the time point when the state changes to the high level state, Connection lines l1, l
Output pulses P1, P2, P3 ... Pn having a pulse width of one horizontal scanning period are sequentially output with respect to a predetermined number of 2 ... In.

FIG. 8D is a diagram showing the timing of supply of the read light RL supplied to the light-light conversion element PPC,
Further, (e) of FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the timing of supply of the erase light EL supplied to the light-to-light conversion element PPC, and (c) of FIG. 8 is further shown at (c) of the light-to-light conversion element PPC. The video signal output from the photoelectric conversion element 18 based on the optical information read out from is shown.

FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) illustrate and explain the scanning mode of the reading light RL and the erasing light EL at the time points respectively indicated by the upward arrows a, b, c in FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a scanning mode of the read light RL and the erase light EL at a time point indicated by an upward arrow a in FIG. Therefore, the divided transparent electrodes 3d in the light-to-light conversion element PPC,
Among a large number of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of (4d), the transparent conductive strips are made to have the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4 for one horizontal scanning period by the output pulse P1 from the shift register SR. The state where the erasing light EL is scanning the strip 1H and the reading light RL is scanning the transparent conductive strip 2H adjacent to the transparent conductive strip 1H is shown.

Further, FIG. 6 (b) shows an upward arrow b in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the scanning mode of the reading light RL and the erasing light EL at the time point shown by, which is divided transparent electrodes 3d, (4
1) by the output pulse P2 from the shift register SR among the many transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of d).
The erasing light EL scans the transparent conductive strips 2H that are at the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4 over the horizontal scanning period, and the transparent conductive strips 3 adjacent to the transparent conductive strips 2H.
It shows a state in which the reading light RL scans H.

Further, FIG. 6 (c) is a diagram illustrating the scanning mode of the reading light RL and the erasing light EL at the time point indicated by the upward arrow c in FIG.
The divided transparent electrodes 3d, (4
1) by the output pulse P3 from the shift register SR among the many transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of d).
The erasing light EL scans the transparent conductive strips 3H which are in a low level state during the horizontal scanning period, and at the same time, the transparent conductive strips 4H adjacent to the transparent conductive strips 3H.
Indicates that the reading light RL is scanning.

As described above, in the transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrodes 3d and (4d) in the light-to-light conversion element PPC and arranged in parallel, a low-level output voltage is supplied from the shift register. The erasing light is traced to the transparent conductive strips on which the reading light RL is traced to the transparent conductive strips provided in parallel with the transparent conductive strips on which the erasing light is tracing. Therefore, since the signal from the optical information read at any transparent conductive strip position has a constant time from the erasing time to the reading, shading does not occur in the reproduced signal, and Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily capture a moving image.

The operation example shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 6 is an example in the case where the erasing EL and the reading light RL are arranged to follow the adjacent ones in the transparent conductive strips provided in parallel. However, in the implementation, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, one transparent conductive strip has a width (in the example shown in FIG. 7, one transparent conductive strip) capable of reading out signals in a plurality of horizontal scanning periods. The width of the strip is such that the signals can be read out in three horizontal scanning periods).

FIGS. 3 to 5 show division of a configuration in which a large number of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction are arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction toward the glass plate 1 in the light-to-light conversion element PPC. In addition to providing the transparent electrode 3d, the dielectric mirror 8 reflects the light in the wavelength range of the read light RL and transmits the light in the wavelength range of the erase light EL, and has an optical member having a wavelength selectivity (for example, the tenth member). An optical member having light transmission characteristics as shown in the figure ... For example, a light-light composed of a dichroic filter composed of a multilayer film of a SiO2 thin film and a TiO2 thin film can be used. Taking the conversion element PPC as an example, the writing light WL and the reading light R
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of operation by L and erase light EL.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, 1 and 2 are glass plates,
3d is a divided transparent electrode, 4 is a transparent electrode, and 7 is a photoconductive layer.
Is an optical member having a wavelength selectivity capable of reflecting the light in the wavelength range of the reading light and transmitting the light in the wavelength range of the erasing light, and 9 is the state of the light depending on the intensity distribution of the applied electric field. The optical member (for example, a light modulating material layer such as a lithium niobate single crystal, or a nematic liquid crystal layer) that changes the temperature is shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the terminal shown in FIG. Illustrations of the components 5, 6, 11, the changeover switch SW, the power supply 10, etc. are omitted (the same applies to FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the writing operation is performed in a state where only the writing light WL is incident on the light-light converting element PPC, and in this state, the divided transparent electrodes of the light-light converting element PPC. All transparent conductive strips 1H in 3d,
Since a predetermined electric field is applied between 2H and 3H and the transparent electrode 4 and an electric field is applied between both ends of the photoconductive layer 7, write light is applied from the glass plate 1 side in the light-light conversion element PPC. By making WL enter, all the transparent conductive strips 1H, 2H, in the divided transparent electrode 3d corresponding to the writing light WL made incident on the light-light conversion element PPC from the glass plate 1 side are shown in FIG. A charge image is generated on the boundary surface between the transparent conductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8 corresponding to the position of 3H.

That is, as described above, when the writing light WL that has entered the light-to-light conversion element PPC passes through the glass plate 1 and the transparent electrode 3d and reaches the photoconductive layer 7, the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer 7 reaches it. The incident light reaching the photoconductive layer 7 is formed on the boundary surface between the transparent conductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8 at a position corresponding to the transparent electrode 3d, because the incident light reaches the photoconductive layer 7 due to the change in the optical image. A charge image corresponding to the optical image is generated.

Next, the case of reading or erasing the optical information written as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Although the incident direction of the erasing light EL is shown to be the same as the incident direction of the reading light RL in FIGS. 4 and 5, this is the dielectric mirror 8 used in the light-to-light conversion element. 11 shows the incident direction of the erasing light with respect to the light-to-light conversion element when the one having the light transmission characteristic as shown in FIG. 10 is used.

Regarding the light-to-light conversion element having a configuration in which the erasing light is made incident on the light-to-light conversion element in the same direction as the writing light,
It goes without saying that the erasing light is made to enter from the same direction as the writing light.

As described above, the optical information written in the form of the charge image corresponding to the optical image by the incident light is converted into the light-light conversion element P.
To reproduce from the PC, a voltage RL is applied between the transparent electrodes 3d and 4, and a reading RL with a constant light intensity from a light source (not shown) is projected from the glass plate 2 side. In order to erase the optical information written in the form of a charge image corresponding to the optical image by the incident light as described above, the transparent electrode 3 is used.
This can be performed by setting d and 4 to the same potential and projecting the erasing light EL having a constant light intensity from a light source (not shown) from the glass plate 2 side. Among a large number of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrode 3d in the PPC, the output pulse P1 from the shift register SR makes the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4 for one horizontal scanning period. Transparent conductive strip 1
While the erasing light EL is scanning the position of H and the reading light RL is scanning the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H adjacent to the transparent conductive strip 1H, the erasing operation and the reading operation are performed in parallel. It is shown that it is being done.

In a plurality of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrode 3d in the light-to-light conversion element PPC in the operation state shown in FIG. 4, one horizontal scanning period is generated by the output pulse P1 from the shift register SR. The position of the transparent conductive strip 1H that is made to have the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4 over the erase light E
As L scans, the electrical resistance of the transparent conductive layer 7 in the portion corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 1H decreases, so that the boundary surface between the transparent conductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8 is reduced. The generated charge image is erased.

Then, the read light RL scans at the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H adjacent to the transparent conductive strip 1H, but in the light-light conversion element corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H described above. Due to the charge image on the boundary surface between the photoconductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8, the optical member 9 (for example, lithium niobate single crystal 9) at a portion corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H is affected by the incident light. Since the electric field having an intensity distribution corresponding to the optical image is applied and the refractive index of the lithium niobate single crystal 9 changes according to the electric field due to the electro-optic effect, the transparent conductive strip 2H is used. The reading light RL scanning the position of # 1 progresses in the order of transparent electrode 4 → lithium niobate single crystal 9 → dielectric mirror 8 →, and then the reading light RL is reflected by the dielectric mirror 8. To the glass plate 2 side The reflected light of the read light RL returned as light contains image information corresponding to the intensity distribution of the electric field applied to the crystal 9 of lithium niobate due to the electro-optical effect of the crystal 9 of lithium niobate. To produce a reproduced optical image corresponding to the optical image of the incident light.

Further, FIG. 5 shows one of a large number of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrode 3d in the light-to-light conversion element PPC, which is output by the output pulse P2 from the shift register SR for one horizontal scanning period. The erasing light EL scans the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H that is set to the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4, and the position of the transparent conductive strip 3H adjacent to the transparent conductive strip 2H is read out by the reading light RL. 2 shows a case where an erase operation and a read operation are performed in parallel while scanning is performed.

In a plurality of transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrode 3d in the light-to-light conversion element PPC in the operation state shown in FIG. 5, one horizontal scanning period is generated by the output pulse P2 from the shift register SR. The position of the transparent conductive strip 2H that is made to have the same potential as the other transparent electrode 4 over the erase light E
As L scans, the electrical resistance of the transparent conductive layer 7 in the portion corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H is reduced, and the electrical resistance is generated at the boundary surface between the transparent conductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8. The charge image that had been erased is erased.

The read light RL scans at the position of the transparent conductive strip 3H adjacent to the transparent conductive strip 2H, but the photoconductive in the light-to-light conversion element corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 3H described above. Due to the charge image of the boundary surface between the layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8, the optical member 9 (for example, lithium niobate single crystal 9) at a portion corresponding to the position of the transparent conductive strip 2H has an optical image by incident light. Since an electric field having an intensity distribution corresponding to is applied, and the refractive index of the lithium niobate single crystal 9 changes according to the electric field due to the electro-optic effect, the position of the transparent conductive strip 3H is changed. The read-out light RL that scans the transparent electrode 4 → lithium niobate single crystal 9
→ Dielectric mirror 8 → Proceeds as follows, and then the above-mentioned read light RL is reflected by the dielectric mirror 8 and returned to the glass plate 2 side as reflected light. The read light RL is reflected by lithium niobate. Due to the electro-optical effect of the crystal 9, image information corresponding to the intensity distribution of the electric field applied to the crystal 9 of lithium niobate is included, and a reproduced optical image corresponding to the optical image by incident light is generated on the glass plate 2 side. .

In FIG. 5, among the many transparent conductive strips extending in the lateral direction of the divided transparent electrode 3d in the light-to-light conversion element PPC, the erase operation described with reference to FIG. The writing light WL is formed on the boundary surface between the photoconductive layer 7 and the dielectric mirror 8 corresponding to the formed transparent conductive strip 1H.
Shows that a new charge image is formed. Although the single-wavelength optical information is read from the light-to-light conversion element PPC in the embodiments described so far, the optical information other than the single-wavelength information is read from the light-to-light conversion element PPC. It goes without saying that it may also be implemented as read.

Further, as the light source of the reading light used when reading the optical image information from the light-light conversion element PPC, any light source {source of electromagnetic radiation} can be used in addition to the laser light source as in the embodiment. . In addition, electromagnetic radiation is light in a broad sense,
That is, it is well known that it means the radiation in the entire spectrum region of radiation called electromagnetic waves (the region including the regions such as γ-rays and X-rays to the long wave of radio waves).

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the imaging device of the present invention reflects at least the photoconductive layer and the light in the wavelength range of the reading light between the two transparent electrodes, and
Light formed by stacking a transparent electrode and an optical member having a wavelength selectivity that transmits light in the wavelength range of erasing light, an optical member that changes the light state according to the intensity distribution of an applied electric field, and a transparent electrode. -Light of the light-to-light conversion element, which uses as one transparent electrode of the above-mentioned two transparent electrodes in the light-to-light conversion element, a divided transparent electrode formed of a plurality of portions having a predetermined electrically independent pattern. Means for imaging the optical information of the subject on the conductive layer by an imaging optical system, and a transparent electrode on the side of the optical member for changing the light state according to the intensity distribution of the applied electric field in the light-to-light conversion element. Means for scanning in parallel with the reading light and the erasing light, and the erasing operation voltage is selectively supplied only to the divided transparent electrodes corresponding to the portion scanned by the erasing light. Means and Since the image pickup apparatus comprises the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the reading operation of the optical information written in the light-light conversion element used in the configuration of the image pickup apparatus and the light-light conversion element are read. In order to be able to perform the erasing operation of written optical information at the same time in the adjacent parts,
The time from the time when the erasing operation is performed to the time when the moving image can be captured satisfactorily and the time when the reading is performed on each part of the charge image formed on the charge-image forming surface of the light-to-light conversion element. Since the length is the same, reproduced image shading does not occur,
According to the present invention, all the above-mentioned conventional problems can be solved well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of an image pickup device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a structure of a divided transparent electrode portion in a light-light conversion element used in the image pickup device of the present invention. And FIGS. 3 to 5 are side views for explaining the operation of the light-to-light conversion element used in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining the operation of the divided transparent electrode portion of the light-to-light conversion element used in the image pickup device of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the optical conversion element, and FIG.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a configuration example of the light conversion element, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a characteristic example of the dielectric mirror. 1, 2 ... Glass plate, 3, 4 ... Transparent electrode, 5, 6, 11 ...
Terminal, 7 ... Photoconductive layer, 8 ... Dielectric mirror, 9 ... Optical member that changes light state according to intensity distribution of applied electric field (for example, light modulation material layer such as lithium niobate single crystal, or Nematic liquid crystal layer), WL ... writing light, R
L ... Read light, EL ... Erase light, O ... Subject, 14 ... Imaging lens, PPC ... Light-light conversion element, SR ... Shift register, SG ... Signal generating circuit, 23, 24 ... Laser light source, 2
2 ... Half mirror, Pdef ... Optical deflector, 21 ... f.theta. Lens, 15 ... Beam splitter, 16 ... Analyzer, 17 ...
Lens, 18 ... Photoelectric converter, 19 ... Signal processing circuit, 20
... Output terminals, 3d, (4d) ... Split transparent electrodes, 1H, 2
H to nH ... Transparent conductive strips in divided transparent electrodes,

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Den Asakura Den 12, 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Masato Furuya 3--12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Address within Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-54-94058 (JP, A) JP-A-50-22649 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. At least a photoconductive layer between two transparent electrodes and an optical element having a wavelength selectivity capable of reflecting light in the wavelength region of read light and transmitting light in the wavelength region of erase light. One of the two transparent electrodes in the light-to-light conversion element, which is formed by laminating a member, an optical member that changes the state of light according to the intensity distribution of the applied electric field, and a transparent electrode. Means for forming optical information of a subject by an imaging optical system on a photoconductive layer of a light-to-light conversion element using divided transparent electrodes composed of a plurality of electrically independent independent portions And means for scanning in parallel with the reading light and the erasing light from the transparent electrode on the side of the optical member which changes the state of the light according to the intensity distribution of the applied electric field in the light-light conversion element, Erase Imaging device including a means for supplying selectively erase operation voltage only to the divided transparent electrode that support the parts being by connexion scanned light