KR20030083950A - A Night Photographing Device Using An Image Intensifier Tube And An Image Sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A night photographing system having an image intensifier tube combined with an imaging device is provided to combine an image intensifier tube with an imaging device using a connector having a lens to output clear video signals. CONSTITUTION: A night photographing system having an image intensifier tube combined with an imaging device includes a night photographing unit(200) for receiving lights through an objective lens(140) to amplify the received lights, an image processing board(120) electrically connected to the night photographing unit to process the amplified light signal, and a power processing board(130) for controlling power supplied from a battery(135) according to the volume of power consumed for the night photographing unit and image processing board. The night photographing unit is composed of an image intensifier tube(300), a fixed lens unit(400), a moving lens unit(500), a connector(600), a focus controller(700), and an imaging element(800).

Description

A Night Photographing Device Using An Image Intensifier Tube And An Image Sensor}

The present invention relates to a night photographing apparatus, and more particularly, a combination of small optical lenses in an image intensifier tube that amplifies fine light tens of thousands of times, and captures an image in an imaging device consisting of a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. The present invention relates to a night photographing apparatus that combines an optical amplifier and an image pickup device capable of obtaining a stable and clear analog or digital image so as to observe and monitor an object at night, which is difficult to observe by general vision.

Conventional night photographing apparatuses are infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs), which are mainly applied to surveillance cameras, and adopt infrared lens coating or IRIS lens (aperture-mounted lens) to reflect infrared rays through infrared scanning. Observation by means of observation has limited the viewing distance and image quality, so it has been mainly used for near field observation.

Since the conventional low-light nighttime photographing apparatus uses infrared LEDs, the observation distance is short and the performance of observation at low illumination is low, and thus, the long-distance subject is difficult to identify and has limitations in use.

In addition, since the performance of the device depends on the output of the infrared light emitting diode, it is difficult to miniaturize, and there is a problem that the observation performance is drastically deteriorated in a very dark illumination state.

In addition, there was a drawback of high power consumption, especially in video transmission, more difficult.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and a first object of the present invention is to combine an image pickup device using a connection portion in which a lens is combined with an optical amplifier which is a micro-light amplified image output device. The present invention provides a night photographing apparatus combining an optical amplifier and an image pickup device capable of outputting a clear image signal.

The second object of the present invention is a night photographing apparatus combining an optical amplifier and an image pickup device capable of collecting data even in long distance observation and extreme low lighting conditions by applying to a photographing means for the purpose of night monitoring, observing or photographing. To provide.

The object of the present invention, the night image taking unit for receiving amplified by receiving a relatively small amount of photons through the front objective lens compared to the daytime;

An image processing board electrically connected to the night image photographing unit to image process the amplified photon signal; And

A power processing board controlling power according to the amount of power required by the night image capturing unit and the image processing board;

The night image photographing unit converts photons incident from the objective lens into electrons in the photocathode plate and amplifies and amplifies the electrons in which a plurality of electron micro amplification tubes (MCPs), which are made of optical fibers and arranged in a matrix form, are converted. An optical amplification tube that emits the electrons to the photon by fluorescence screen,

A fixed lens unit in which the first lens and the second lens are sequentially embedded so as to coincide with the center of the optical amplifier in the same straight line;

A moving lens unit in which a third lens and a fourth lens are sequentially embedded so that the centers thereof coincide with each other on the same straight line with respect to the first lens and the second lens;

A connecting part coupled to the other side of the fixed lens unit through one side and one side of the moving lens unit introduced to the other side such that movement of the fixed lens unit is forced by a predetermined interval along the axial direction;

Continuously installed on the other side of the connecting portion to force the movement of the moving lens unit in accordance with the rotation is coupled to the inner circumference spirally coupled to the outer periphery of the connecting portion to the linear movement of the movable lens unit in the axial direction with respect to the fixed lens unit Focus adjuster,

An optical amplifier and an image capturing device comprising an image capturing device unit including an image capturing device which is provided on the other side of the focus controller and is attached to the inner center of the image capturing device. Achieved by the photographing apparatus.

The imaging device may be a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

In addition, between the optical amplifier and the fixed lens unit is attached is characterized in that the gas gasket for maintaining the airtightness and protection from external shock is provided, the lens mounted on the mobile lens unit is provided with one or more. Therefore, it is possible to form a lens group of even or odd array.

In addition, the outer side of the case is characterized in that the output terminal for outputting the image signal processed by the image processing board is provided, the outer side of the case is characterized in that the infrared illuminator for illuminating the subject to be attached.

Other objects, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the preferred embodiments associated with the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall perspective view of a night photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device according to the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view of a night photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device according to the present invention;

3 is a perspective view of a night image photographing unit constituting the present invention;

4 is an exploded perspective view of a night image photographing unit constituting the present invention;

5 is a front view of a night image photographing unit constituting the present invention;

6 is a cross-sectional view of the night image photographing unit constituting the present invention;

7 is a conceptual view for explaining the basic principle of the optical amplifier configured in the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100: night photographing device 110: case

120: image processing board 130: power processing board

135: battery 140: objective lens

150: infrared illuminator 160: gas cat

170: output terminal 200: night video recording unit

300: optical amplifier tube 310: electron micro amplifier tube

320: photocathode plate 330: fluorescent screen

400: fixed lens unit 410: first lens

420: second lens 500: moving lens unit

510: third lens 520: fourth lens

600: connection part 700: focus controller

800: imaging device section 810: imaging device

820: Device combiner 830: Image pickup device protector

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an overall perspective view of a night photographing apparatus combining an optical amplifier and an imaging device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a night photographing apparatus combining an optical amplifier and an imaging device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the night photographing apparatus 100 combining the optical amplifier 300 and the image capturing device 810 according to the present invention uses the objective lens 140 as a device for photographing night images. The night image capturing unit 200 for brightly amplifying a dark image of the night received through the light is provided inside the case 110.

In addition, the night image photographing unit 200 may be electrically connected to the night image photographing unit 200 and may receive power from an image processing board 120 and a battery 135 or an external power source. ) And a power processing board 130 for controlling according to the amount of power required by the image processing board 120 are built in the case 110.

Night photographing apparatus 100 of the present invention configured as described above is provided with a night image photographing unit 200 in the case 110 having a predetermined shape and the case on the same axis of the night image photographing unit 200 ( 110, the objective lens 140 is provided on the outside. The objective lens 140 may add a zoom function to adjust the perspective of the object to be photographed.

Compared with the daytime, a night image having a relatively small amount of photons is received through the objective lens 140, and the night image is amplified through the optical amplifier 300 of the night image capturing unit 200. . The optically amplified image is reflected by the image pickup device 810 included in the night image capturing unit 200, and is processed as a digital image or an analog image by the image processing board 120 electrically connected to the image pickup device 810. Done.

This feature is possible because the image processing board 120 is provided with an analog-to-digital converting means, and the image data processed by the image processing board 120 may be output as analog or digital image data.

At this time, the necessary power is provided by the battery 135 built in the case 110 or an external power supply method, which is controlled by the power processing board 130 according to the amount of power required.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the night image capturing unit 200 of the night image capturing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a night image capturing unit constituting the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a night image capturing unit constituting the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view of a night image capturing unit constituting the present invention, and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the night image photographing part which comprises this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, the night image photographing unit 200 receives minute light (photons) and converts the electrons into electrons to form an electron micro-amplification tube 310 (MCP: Micro Channel Plate) of the optical fiber. It is configured by combining with the optical amplifier 300 to amplify to tens of thousands of brightness through the image sensor 810 which is an image sensor for converting light energy into an electrical signal.

The night image capturing unit 200 includes an optical amplifying tube 300 that amplifies the amount of light and a plurality of lenses, and an image capturing device unit 800 is configured.

Here, the optical amplifier 300 is provided on the same line as the objective lens 140 inside the case 110 so that an image can be incident from the objective lens 140. In the dark night, the human eye completely loses its ability to discriminate color, but can only perceive the subject blurly due to the difference in brightness. Therefore, the optical amplifier 300 is a device for amplifying stray light so that the eyes of the light and the intensity and wavelengths that are not usually detectable by the human eye.

In addition, a fixed lens unit 400 is provided at one side of the optical amplification tube 300 so as to coincide with the center of the optical amplification tube 300 on the same straight line, and the fixed lens unit 400 has a first lens 410. ) And the second lens 420 are sequentially embedded.

In addition, the moving lens unit 500 in which the third lens 510 and the fourth lens 520 are sequentially installed so that the center of the first lens 410 and the second lens 420 coincide with each other on the same straight line is provided. The fixed lens unit 400 is continuously installed.

Here, the fixed lens unit 400 and the moving lens unit 500 are coupled by the connecting portion 600, wherein the other side of the fixed lens unit 400 is imparted through one side of the connecting portion 600 One side of the moving lens unit 500 is configured to flow into the other side of the connection part 600 to be forced by a predetermined interval along the axial direction.

In addition, the material of the first, second, third, and fourth lenses is made of an optical lens (GLASS), a plastic lens or a crystal (QUARTZ) lens, a spherical lens is generally used. In addition, the assembly of each lens to the fixed lens unit 400 and the moving lens unit 500 is preferably made to be waterproof inside by using a molding method.

In addition, a focus controller 700 is continuously installed on the other side of the connection part 600 so that the movable lens unit 500 can be linearly moved along the axial direction with respect to the fixed lens unit 400 of the connection part 600. The inner circumference of the focus controller 700 is spirally coupled to the outer circumference. Accordingly, the movement of the moving lens unit 500 is implemented according to the rotation of the focus controller 700, and the moving lens unit 500 and the focus controller 700 are rotated to the rotation of the focus controller 700. The moving lens unit 500 is characterized in that the linear movement.

The focus distance may be adjusted using the focus controller 700 operated as described above to adjust the sharpness of the image projected on the image pickup device 810.

On the other side of the focus controller 700, the image pickup device portion 800 is continuously installed, the device coupler 820 is coupled to the image pickup device portion 800 is connected to the focus controller 700 and the device combiner ( An imaging device protector 830 is provided at one side of the 820 so that the imaging device 810 is attached to an inner center of the imaging device protector 830.

7 is a conceptual view for explaining the basic principle of the optical amplifier configured in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the optical amplification tube 300 converts photons incident from the objective lens 140 into electrons in the photocathode plate 320 and is made of optical fibers and arranged in a matrix form. The amplification tube 310 (MCP: Micro Channel Plate) amplifies the converted electrons and emits the amplified electrons back to the photon on the fluorescent screen 330 to optically amplify.

That is, when photons of light enter the surface of the photocathode plate 320, initial electrons are emitted from the inside of the photocathode plate 320, and the initial electrons are amplified by the electron micro-amplification tube 310 (MCP: Micro Channel Plate) by a high voltage. Amplifies and generates thousands of tens of thousands of emission electrons. The generated electrons reach the fluorescent screen 330 after 10E-9 seconds to emit light in the form of a photon so that a person can see it.

The electron micro-amplification tube 310 is in the form of a tube that is responsible for the current amplification and made of optical fibers, millions of which are arranged in a matrix form.

The optically amplified nighttime image is reflected on the imaging device 810 through the lenses.

The imaging device 810 is characterized in that a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Image Sensor or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Image Sensor is mainly used.

The CCD image sensor is an image sensor having an integrated circuit including tens of millions of pixels for converting light energy into an electrical signal as one of solid state image pickup devices. That is, it is an element that forms an original image on a solid element using an optical system, scans the image electronically in the solid element, converts the image into an electrical signal, and outputs the same.

In addition, the CMOS image sensor does not need a clock signal of a high voltage, it is a low-power video device that can implement a signal processing circuit on the same chip at a low price using a standard CMOS process.

In addition, between the optical amplification tube 300 and the fixed lens unit 400 is provided with a connecting gas cat 160 to protect the airtightness and external shock. The connecting gas cat 160 is characterized in that the elastic material such as rubber, silicon or urethane.

In addition, the moving lens unit 500 may be provided in an even arrangement in which the third lens 510 and the fourth lens 520 are mounted at the same time or in an odd arrangement in which any one selected is mounted. In addition, the lens mounted on the mobile lens unit 500 may include one or more plurality of lenses to form an even or odd array of lens groups.

This feature is to adjust the inversion of the image according to the characteristics of the optical amplification tube 300 so that the image formed on the image pickup device 810 is normally imaged. That is, when the lenses mounted on the mobile lens unit 500 are in an odd array and in an even array, the images are reversed from each other, and a plurality of lenses may be used for a clearer image.

The image formed on the image pickup device 810 with the above configuration is output through the output terminal 170 as an image signal processed by the image processing board 120. The output terminal 170 is provided on the outside of the case 110 and connected to an image recording apparatus and an image editing apparatus capable of recording an external monitor or image.

In addition, the outside of the case 110 is attached to the infrared illuminator 150 for illuminating the photographing object serves to obtain a more clear image. In addition to the weak moonlight or starlight natural light artificially using the infrared illuminator 150 to obtain a clearer image, even if there is no moonlight or starlight, the illumination of the infrared illuminator 150 is sufficient image There is a feature to get.

As described above, according to the night photographing apparatus 100 in which the optical amplifier 300 and the imaging device 810 are combined according to the present invention, a lens is combined with the optical amplifier 300 which is a micro optical amplifier. By combining the image pickup device 810 and the image processing board by using the connection unit 600 can provide a night photographing device that combines the optical amplifier tube 300 and the image pickup device 810 that can output a clear image signal It became.

In addition, by applying the night photographing apparatus 100 combining the optical amplification tube 300 and the image pickup device 810 to a photographing means for the purpose of night monitoring, observation, or photographing, the data can be recorded in a long distance and in an extremely low lighting condition. Can be collected.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, various other modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

A night image photographing unit 200 which receives and amplifies a relatively small amount of photons through the objective lens 140 in front of the day; An image processing board 120 electrically connected to the night image photographing unit 200 to image process an amplified photon signal; And A power processing board 130 for controlling the power applied from the battery 135 according to the amount of power required by the night image capturing unit 200 and the image processing board 120; , The night image capturing unit 200 converts photons incident from the objective lens 140 into electrons in the photocathode plate 320 and is made of optical fibers and arranged in a matrix to form a plurality of electron micro-amplification tubes 310 (MCP). : An optical amplification tube 300 for amplifying the electrons converted by the micro channel plate and emitting the amplified electrons as photons again on the fluorescent screen 330; A fixed lens unit 400 in which the first lens 410 and the second lens 420 are sequentially embedded so as to coincide with the center of the optical amplifier 300 on the same straight line; The third lens 510 and the fourth lens 520 are sequentially embedded so that the center of the first lens 410 and the second lens 420 coincide with each other on the same straight line. The mobile lens unit 500 is installed continuously, The other side of the fixed lens unit 400 is installed through one side and one side of the moving lens unit 500 is introduced to the other side coupled to be coupled so as to force movement by a predetermined interval along the axial direction and the , The movable lens unit 500 is helically coupled to the outer circumference of the connecting portion 600 so that the movable lens unit 500 can be linearly moved along the axial direction with respect to the fixed lens unit 400. A focus regulator 700 continuously installed on the other side of the connection part 600 to force the movement of the; An image capturing device unit having a device combiner 820 and an image pickup device protector 830 continuously installed at the other side of the focus controller 700 and having an image pickup device 810 attached to an inner central portion of the image pickup device protector 830 ( A night photographing apparatus combining a light amplifier and an image pickup device, characterized in that it comprises a (800). The method of claim 1, The image pickup device 810 is a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, characterized in that the night amplifier device combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device. The method of claim 1, The imaging device (810) is a night-time photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device, characterized in that the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The method of claim 1, Combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device, characterized in that the connection between the optical amplifier 300 and the fixed lens unit 400 is provided with a gas gasket 160 for maintaining airtightness and protection from external shock. One night photographing device. The method of claim 1, The lens mounted to the mobile lens unit 500 is provided with at least one or more, the night photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device, characterized in that to form an even or odd array of lens groups. The method of claim 1, The night photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device, characterized in that the output terminal 170 for outputting the image signal processed by the image processing board 120 is provided on the outside of the case 110. The method of claim 1, The night photographing apparatus combining the optical amplifier and the image pickup device, characterized in that attached to the outside of the case 110, an infrared illuminator 150 for illuminating the subject.