[OoKU]

(19) [Publication country] Japan Patent Office (JP)
(12) [Kind of official gazette] Published unexamined patent application (A)
(11) [Publication number] JP 2023 - 131181A (P2023-131181A)
(43) [Date of publication of application] Reiwa 5(2023) September 22 (2023.9.22)
(54) [Title of the invention] IMAGE TAKING APPARATUS AND IMAGE TAKING METHOD
(21) [Application number] Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-35755 (P2022-35755)
(22) [Filing date] Reiwa 4(2022) March 9 (2022.3.9)
(71) [Applicant]
[Identification Number]311015207
[Name]Ricoh imaging incorporated company

(57) [Overview]
[Problem] To provide a photographing device and a photographing method capable of suitably photographing a relatively moving subject by a simple configuration or method.
[Means for solving] A photographing apparatus comprising: a two dimensional image pickup device configured to obtain a plurality of images by photographing a subject moving relative to the photographing apparatus at a predetermined photographing time interval; and an image synthesizing unit configured to synthesize the plurality of images while shifting the subject moving relative to the photographing apparatus so as to overlap each other. A photographing method comprising the steps of: obtaining a plurality of images by photographing a subject relatively moving with respect to a photographing apparatus at a predetermined photographing time interval by a two dimensional image pickup device; and synthesizing the plurality of images by an image synthesizing unit while shifting the subject relatively moving with respect to the photographing apparatus so as to overlap each other.

[Summary of the invention]
[Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005]
However, in a case where a slit image is obtained by a film camera, since it is necessary to perform photographing by moving a film in synchronization with a subject using a dedicated slit camera, a special and large-scale apparatus is required, which leads to an increase in cost. The arrival order and time determination device of Patent Document 1 is a technique for capturing a slit image after a film camera is replaced with a digital camera, but also requires a special and large-scale device including a plurality of line sensor cameras, which leads to an increase in cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus and a photographing method capable of suitably photographing a relatively moving subject with a simple configuration or method.
[Means for solving the problem]
[0007]
An imaging apparatus of the present embodiment includes a two dimensional image sensor that obtains a plurality of images by imaging a subject moving relative to the imaging apparatus at a predetermined imaging time interval, and an image combining unit that combines the plurality of images while shifting the subject moving relative to the imaging apparatus so as to overlap the subject.
[0008]
The image capturing method according to the present embodiment includes a step of obtaining a plurality of images by capturing, with a two dimensional image sensor, an object moving relative to an image capturing apparatus at a predetermined image capturing time interval; And a step of synthesizing the plurality of images while shifting the subject moving relatively to the photographing device so as to be overlapped.

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Last edited by OoKU; 09-28-2023 at 05:59 AM.

[gatorguy]

In practice, would this be a new camera body or a feature that could be added to existing models?

[OoKU]

Fig.1

[Rondec]

Interesting. So this is a new way of taking pictures of trains?

[OoKU]

Strip photography (slit photography)Wikipedia
Strip photography - Wikipedia

[MikeNArk]

It does look like a process that independently captures each element of the photo of moving subjects and then combines them. I suspect that pixel shift could do this process. A new feature? Thanks for posting the diagrams. They make it much clearer.

Edit: Based on comments after my post, perhaps I don't understand this new patent at all.

[FozzFoster]

trains

conveyor belts. or the things on conveyor belts...
industrial applications for qa/qc

[gatorguy]

conveyor belts. or the things on conveyor belts...
industrial applications for qa/qc

Besides racing could it perhaps have other sports-related uses?

[nonpigliounoshoot]

Interesting! I'm not clear in practice when I can find greater application but it's not important. How long can it take for the patent to be approved?
Many thanks.

[Not a Number]

Slit scan photography was famously used in the "Stargate Sequence" in 1968's "2001: a Space Odyssey".

As I recall Cokin had a slit filter for creating distortion effects on film. I don't remember the mechanics but it involved winding/rewinding the film during the exposure through the filter.

[house]

Perhaps a Theta thing? Isn't that somewhat close to the use cases of slit scan? You'd be able to get better quality at the "cost" of changes along the frame?

[Rondec]

I am excited that Pentax may remove 4K video from the K-1 III and replace with the ability for the camera to shoot flip book animations.

14 awe-inspiring flip books | Creative Bloq

[Bob 256]

One advantage of slit scan cameras is that they can usually employ a much simpler and cheaper sensor. It only needs to be a line scan sensor rather than a two dimensional array. Most flatbed and film scanners are slit scan. The once famous Nikon Cool Scan scanners used a linear array (only small and primitive 2D arrays were available at that time and they were $$$) and four LEDs. As the scan head moved, the LEDs would flash in unison to capture RGB information. The fourth LED was an infrared LED which captured dust and dirt when scanning color materials (dyes are transparent to IR) which allowed the scanner to efficiently remove many defects from color scans. Much ahead of its day, all due to slit scan technology.

[EssJayEff]

Turn-of-the-twententieth-century panoramic CIrkut cameras used slit apertures, but it was the camera that moved, not the subject. The camera rotated on a tripod.

[AstroDave]

Early spacecraft cameras (satellites and planetary rovers) used 1-D sensors to make strip scan images. The satellite guys called their technique "push broom" scanning.

Somewhere there is a nifty shot of the JPL engineers who made one of the early Mars rovers (an early "selfie" I guess of the team). One of the guys in the back realized that it took several seconds for an individul strip scan, and then the camera rotated for the next line scan. He moved between scans and is in the picture 8 times or so!