JPH06331926A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain high resolving power by which a high-definition output image can be photographed from a high-definition input image by arranging a time division mechanism using a reflecting optical element in an optical system and moving the time division mechanism so that the input image may be photographed in a time-division manner. CONSTITUTION:This image pickup device is constituted by arranging the time division mechanism 10 using the reflecting optical elements 11 to 14 behind a lens system 2. All the reflection surfaces 11 to 13 and 14 are integrated by centering the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2, so that the mechanism 10 can be rotated. All the reflection surfaces are inclined at about 45 deg. to the optical axis 4, and the reflection surfaces 11 and 12, and the reflection surfaces 13 and 14 are relatively positioned in parallel with each other. By rotating the mechanism 10 centering around the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2, time division photographing is attained. The resolving power of the optical system including the lens system 2 and an imaging device 3 is set to a desirable value by selecting the rotational angle and the shape of the mechanism 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup system for taking a high definition output image from a high definition input image having relatively little motion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image pickup device such as a video camera or a still video camera using an image pickup device such as a CCD, for example, when a character or a landscape written on a blackboard is taken, a high resolution is required in order to take clear details. It is necessary to use the optical system of. Usually, in order to achieve high resolution capable of capturing a high-definition image with an image pickup apparatus, it is necessary to use a high-performance lens system and an image pickup element having a sufficiently large number of pixels. However, in an image pickup device having a large number of pixels, it is necessary to arrange the pixels at a high density, which increases the manufacturing cost. Therefore, an image pickup apparatus using an image pickup element having a large number of pixels becomes expensive,
There was a problem in terms of economy.

[0003]

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram related to the above. That is, this is a case where an input image 1 which is a high-definition image is photographed by an optical system including a lens system 2 having a high resolution and an image sensor 3 having p pixels. When the number of pixels of the image sensor 3 is small, even if the lens system 2 has a sufficient resolving power to capture the input image 1 which is a high-definition image, the number of pixels p of the image sensor 3 is p in this optical system. Only the resolving power corresponding to is obtained. In such an image pickup device using an image pickup element having a small number of pixels, an optical image with high resolution capable of shooting a high-definition output image from a high-definition input image with relatively few movements such as characters and scenery on a blackboard. In order to realize the system, it is desirable that the high-definition input image is time-divided and photographed, and the divided images are combined.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. Even though an image pickup device having a small number of pixels is used, by incorporating a time-division mechanism having a simple structure, high-definition input can be achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive imaging device having high resolution capable of capturing a high-definition output image from an image.

[0005]

In the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a time division mechanism using a reflective optical element is arranged in an optical system, and a part or all of the time division mechanism is moved so that an input image is displayed. The feature is that it is time-divided into at least two or more.

[0006]

In FIG. 18, if the input image 1 is divided into at least two or more images and time-divided images are taken, and the divided images are combined, (the number of divisions) × (the number of pixels p) in the optical system of FIG.
It is possible to obtain a resolution corresponding to. In FIG. 18, the input image 1 is divided into four, and each divided image 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d.
It is schematically shown that it is possible to obtain four times the resolving power as compared with the case of the related art shown in FIG. In FIG. 18, the input image 1 is divided into four, but it goes without saying that an optical system with higher resolution can be achieved by increasing the number of divisions.

In order to divide the input image and photograph each divided image in order, a mechanism for aligning each optical axis of the divided image and the optical axis of the lens system in order is installed in the optical system. It is desirable to use. This will be described again with reference to FIG. First, the optical axis 4a of the divided image 1a is made to coincide with the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 by the time division mechanism used in the optical system, and the divided image 1a is photographed by the image sensor 3. next,
Similarly, the optical axis 4b of the divided image 1b and the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 are aligned, and the divided image 1b is photographed, so that the divided images 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are photographed in order. A high-definition image can be obtained by capturing all the divided images and then combining them.

The time division mechanism for sequentially aligning the optical axis of the divided image and the optical axis of the lens system described above may be constructed by using a reflective optical element such as a prism or a mirror. If a reflective optical element is used for the time division mechanism, the light flux from the divided image can be reflected and guided to the image pickup element. In order to facilitate understanding of the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, a time division mechanism using a reflective optical element is schematically shown in FIG.
It is shown at 9. That is, FIG. 19 shows the reflection surfaces 11 and 1.
The time division mechanism 10 using the reflective optical element having 2 is arranged in the optical system, and the optical axis 4a of the divided image 1a and the optical axis 4 of the lens system (not shown in FIG. 19) are aligned with each other to divide the divided image 1a.
2 shows a state in which the image pickup device 3 takes an image. Reflective surface 12
Has a function of guiding the light flux from the divided image 1a to the reflecting surface 11, and the reflecting surface 11 has a function of guiding the light flux from the reflecting surface 12 to the image sensor 3.

As is apparent from FIG. 19, in a time division mechanism using a reflective optical element, in order to make the optical axis of the divided image and the optical axis of the lens system coincide with each other, the time division mechanism has at least two reflection surfaces. It is necessary to have a face. If the reflecting surface of the time division mechanism is one, the optical axis of the divided image and the optical axis of the lens system are tilted, and the output image obtained by combining the tilted divided images is distorted. Therefore, if the time division mechanism has at least two reflection surfaces, it is possible to cancel the inclination between the optical axis of the divided image and the optical axis of the lens system, and the optical axis of the divided image with respect to the optical axis of the lens system. , Can be shifted in parallel. With this configuration, no distortion occurs in the output image obtained by combining the divided images.

FIG. 19 shows a case where the divided image 1a is photographed by using the time division mechanism 10. However, in order to photograph the divided images 1b to 1d other than the divided image 1a, a reflective optical element is used. Part or all of the time division mechanism 10
It must be movable. That is, in FIG. 19, in order to photograph the divided images 1b to 1d other than the divided image 1a,
The reflecting surface 1 of the time division mechanism 10 is located at a position where the optical axis of the divided image captured next to the divided image 1a and the optical axis of the lens system can coincide with each other.
It is necessary to move 1 and 12. For this purpose, it is desirable that part or all of the time division mechanism 10 be movable.

FIG. 20 schematically shows a state in which the time division mechanism 10 is moved from the state of FIG. 19 to capture another divided image. FIG. 20 shows the reflecting surfaces 11 and 12 as shown in FIG.
In this state, the divided image 1c can be photographed by rotating the optical axis 4 of the lens system (not shown in FIG. 20) about 180 ° from the state. In this way, by moving a part or all of the time division mechanism 10, it becomes possible to capture other divided images. Furthermore, the reflecting surfaces 11, 12
If the rotation angle of each is rotated by 90 °, the divided images 1a, 1
All of b, 1c and 1d can be photographed. If part or all of the time division mechanism 10 is not movable, it is difficult to match the optical axis of each divided image with the optical axis of the lens system in order.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 4 are explanatory views relating to a first embodiment of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 2 is a lens system, 3 is an image sensor, 4 is the optical axis of the lens system 2, 10 is a time division mechanism, 11, 12, 1
Reference numerals 3 and 14 are reflection surfaces of the reflection optical element. The input image is not shown in any of the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual side view of the essential parts of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment. An image pickup apparatus is configured by arranging the time division mechanism 10 using the reflective optical elements 11 to 14 behind the lens system 2. All the reflecting surfaces 11, 12, 13 and 14 are integrated around the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 (see FIG. 2C), that is, the time division mechanism 10 is rotatable. Further, all the reflecting surfaces have an inclination of about 45 ° with respect to the optical axis 4, and the reflecting surface 1
1, 1 and 12 and the reflecting surfaces 13 and 14 are in a parallel positional relationship. Then, when the time division mechanism 10 rotates, time division photography becomes possible.

2 (a) to 2 (c) are shown for easier understanding of the operation of the time division mechanism 10.
2A is a plan view of the time division mechanism 10, FIG. 2B is a front view of the time division mechanism 10 seen from the input image side, FIG.
(C) is a side view of the time division mechanism 10. Reflective surface 11
Means that the light beam from the input image side is on the optical axis 4 side, that is, the reflecting surface 1
The reflecting surface 12 has a function of guiding the light flux from the reflecting surface 11 to the reflecting surface 14, and the reflecting surface 14 has a function of guiding the light flux from the reflecting surface 12 to the reflecting surface 13. The reflecting surface 13 has a function of guiding the light flux from the reflecting surface 14 toward the image pickup element 3. FIG. 1 shows the optical axis 4 of one divided image.
Although the case where a is aligned with the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 is shown, if the time division mechanism 10 is rotated about the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 from the state of FIG. Optical axis 4
i (i = b, c ...) And the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 can be matched.

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of FIG. 1 taken along the line AA, but it is possible to clearly show the change in the photographable range due to the rotation of the time division mechanism 10. The parallel horizontal line portion is the image capturing range when the time division mechanism 10 is in the state of FIG. 1, and the portion surrounded by the chain line is from the state of FIG.
The time division mechanism 10 with the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 as the center
The figure shows the range that can be photographed when rotated by 0 °. Since FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of FIG. 1, these photographable ranges are represented by reflecting surfaces, but they are also divided images corresponding to the photographable ranges.

As described above, in the image pickup apparatus of the first embodiment, time-division photography can be performed by rotating the time-division mechanism 10 about the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2. Moreover, if the rotation angle and the shape of the time division mechanism 10 are appropriately selected, it is possible to have a photographable range as shown in FIG. Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows the change of the image-capturing range due to the rotation of the time-sharing mechanism 10. The parallel-hatched portion is the image-capturing range, and the fan-shaped portion partitioned by the chain line is the lens system 2.
5 shows a photographable range when the time division mechanism 10 is rotated by 30 ° about the optical axis 4 of FIG. Further, if the number of divided images is increased, it is possible to obtain higher resolution. That is, by appropriately selecting the rotation angle and the shape of the time division mechanism 10, the resolving power of the optical system including the lens system 2 and the image sensor 3 can be set to a desired value. In the first embodiment, the time division mechanism is arranged closer to the image sensor than the lens system. However, if the time division mechanism is arranged inside the lens system or closer to the input image side than the lens system,
The same effect can be obtained.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory views relating to a second embodiment of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a conceptual side view of the essential portions of the image pickup apparatus. The point in which the time division mechanism 10 using a reflective optical element is arranged behind the lens system 2 is similar to the first embodiment,
The time division mechanism 10 includes a reflective optical element 11 rotatable about an optical axis 4 of the lens system 2, a right-angled roof type reflective optical element 12 symmetrically arranged about the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2,
It is composed of 13. Right angle roof type reflective optical element 1
The reflecting surfaces 2 and 13 are the surfaces on the optical axis 4 side of the lens system 2 and are 12a and 12b and 13a and 13b, respectively. In addition,
Also in FIGS. 5 and 6, the illustration of the input image is omitted.

The reflective optical element 11 has a shaft portion 11a which is offset from the optical axis 4 by an axial radius, and a reflecting portion which is inclined by about 45 ° with respect to the optical axis 4 and which is projected from one end of the shaft portion 11a. 11b and a reflecting portion 11c which is also inclined at 45 ° with respect to the optical axis 4 and protrudes from the other end of the shaft portion 11a to both sides of the optical axis 4. The reflecting portion 11b has a reflecting surface on the input image side, and the reflecting portion 11c has a reflecting surface only on the opposite side to the shaft portion 11a side.

The time division mechanism 10 having the above-described structure operates as follows. As shown in FIG. 5, the reflecting portion 11b
Guides the light beam from the input image side to the reflecting surface 13a, the reflecting surface 13a guides the light beam from the reflecting portion 11b to the reflecting surface 13b, and the reflecting surface 13b further guides the light beam from the reflecting surface 13a to the reflecting surface 11c. Lead to. Finally, the reflecting surface 11c acts so as to guide the light flux from the reflecting surface 13b toward the image pickup element 3. The operation of the time division mechanism 10 is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained, except that only the reflective optical element 11 of the time division mechanism 10 is movable. That is, in the second embodiment, since only the reflective optical element 11 of the time division mechanism 10 rotates about the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2, the drive mechanism of the drive mechanism is not moved as a whole. The burden can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the optical axis 4a of one divided image and the optical axis 4 of the lens system are aligned with each other, but the reflective optical element 11 is centered on the optical axis 4 of the lens system 180.
If rotated by a degree, the optical axis 4b of the other divided image and the optical axis 4 of the lens system can be aligned with each other as shown in FIG. Needless to say, similar to the first embodiment, the resolution obtained by the image pickup apparatus can be set to a preferable value by appropriately selecting the rotation angle and the shape of the time division mechanism 10.

In FIG. 5, the reflective optical element 11 is shown in a state of being floated in space, and the transmission mechanism of the power required for rotation is omitted, but the same figure shows the operation of the time division mechanism of the second embodiment. Is a conceptual representation for easy comparison with the first embodiment. A specific method of rotating the reflective optical element 11 will be described next. The reflective optical element 11 is attached to the lens system 2
In order to rotate the optical axis 4 as the center, it is necessary to hold the reflection optical element 11 and transmit the power required for rotation without blocking the light flux from the input image. For example, a structure as shown in FIG. do it. The hatched portion is the reflective optical element 11, and the arrangement of the right-angled roof-shaped reflective optical elements 12 and 13 is the same as in FIG. The reflective optical element 11 is made of an optical element capable of transmitting the light flux from the input image side, and the reflecting surfaces 11b and 11c are made of thin film vapor deposition. The vertical plate portion 11d orthogonal to the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2 blocks the light flux in the time division mechanism 10 by holding the outer portion sufficiently far from the optical axis 4 so that the holding portion does not block the light flux. It is possible to rotate only the reflective optical element 11 without doing so. The second embodiment is an example in which the time division mechanism is arranged closer to the image pickup device 3 than the lens system. However, as in the first embodiment, the time division mechanism 10 is input in the lens system or more than the lens system. Even if it is arranged on the image side, the same effect can be obtained.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 8 to 11 are explanatory views relating to a third embodiment of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is an image sensor, 4 is an optical axis of a lens system, 5 is a diaphragm position of the lens system, 10 is a time division mechanism using a reflective optical element, and 11 and 12 are reflective surfaces of the reflective optical element. The lens system and the input image are not shown. FIG. 8 is a conceptual side view of the essential parts of the image pickup apparatus according to the third embodiment. The time division mechanism 10 is arranged at the diaphragm position 5 of the lens system, and the reflecting surfaces 11 and 12 are substantially parallel. The time division mechanism 10 is centered on the optical axis 4 of the lens system,
It has a rotatable structure.

9 (a) to 9 (c) are shown for easier understanding of the operation of the time division mechanism 10. FIG. 9 (a) is a plan view of the time division mechanism 10 and FIG. 9 (b) is. FIG. 9C is a side view of the time division mechanism 10 when the time division mechanism 10 is viewed from the input image side. The light flux from the input image side is reflected by the reflection surface 11 toward the reflection surface 12 side, and the reflection surface 12 has a function of reflecting the light flux from the reflection surface 11 toward the image pickup element 3. 8 shows the time division mechanism 1
The case where the optical axis 4a of one divided image and the optical axis 4 of the lens system are matched with each other by using 0 is shown, but from the state of FIG.
If the time division mechanism 10 is rotated around the optical axis 4 of the lens system, the optical axes 4i (i = b, c ...) Of the other divided images
And the optical axis 4 of the lens system can be matched.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of FIG. 8 taken along the line BB. It is possible to clearly show the change in the photographable range due to the rotation of the time division mechanism 10 in the third embodiment. . The parallel straight line portion 1a is an image-capable range when the time division mechanism 10 is in the state of FIG. 1, and the portion surrounded by the chain line is from the state of FIG. Represents the state of change in the image captureable range when rotated by 45 °. For example, when the time division mechanism 10 is rotated 90 ° from the state of FIG. 8, the range of the portion 1b surrounded by the chain line can be photographed. As can be seen from FIG. 10, the time division mechanism 10 is centered on the optical axis 4 of the lens system.
By rotating, the divided images can be taken in a time-division manner, and by combining these, a high-definition image can be obtained.

FIG. 10 shows the change of the photographable range when the time division mechanism 10 is rotated by 45 °.
If the shape of the time division mechanism 10 is changed, for example, the photographable range shown by the parallel straight line portion 1a in FIG. 11 can be obtained for one divided image. FIG. 11 shows a case where the time-division mechanism having an imaging range such as the parallel straight line portion 1a is rotated by 30 ° for time-division imaging. The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that the aperture position 5 of the lens system is different.
Although the light flux is blocked by the time-sharing mechanism arranged at, the brightness obtained by the entire imaging device becomes darker than the F value of the lens system, but the structure of the time-sharing mechanism is simple and There is an advantage that the optical path length of the light flux passing through the mechanism is short.

Fourth Embodiment FIGS. 12 to 17 are explanatory views relating to a fourth embodiment of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is an image sensor, 4 is the optical axis of the lens system, 5 is the aperture position of the lens system, and 10 is the reflective optical element 1.
1 and 12 are time division mechanisms. Reflective optical element 1
1 and 12 each have a reflecting surface described later,
The reflective optical elements 12 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the optical axis 4. The lens system and the input image are not shown. FIG. 12 is a conceptual side view of the essential parts of the image pickup apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. The time division mechanism 10 is arranged at the diaphragm position 5 of the lens system, and the time division mechanism 10 is rotatable about the optical axis 4 of the lens system.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show the time division mechanism 10.
13A and 13B are shown for easier understanding of the operation of the reflective optical element 12 constituting FIG. 13, FIG. 13A is a front view when the reflective optical element 12 is viewed from the input image side, and FIG. 13B is a reflective optical element. 12 is a side view of FIG. Reference numeral 12a is a reflection optical element 12
The reflecting surface 12a has a function of guiding the light flux from the input image side to the optical axis 4 side of the lens system, that is, the reflecting optical element 11.

Further, FIGS. 14A to 14C are shown for easier understanding of the action of the reflective optical element 11 which also constitutes the time division mechanism 10. FIG. 14A shows the reflective optical element 11. 14B is a front view when the reflective optical element 11 is viewed from the input image side, and FIG. 14C is a side view of the reflective optical element 11. 1 in FIG. 14 (b)
Reference numerals 1b and 11c are reflection surfaces of the reflection optical element 11, which are shown in FIG.
4 (c) corresponds to the hatched portion. Reflective surface 1
The radii of curvature of 1b and 11c are respectively the reflection optical element 12
13, which are substantially equal to the radii of curvature of the outer and inner circles.

FIG. 12 shows a case where the optical axis 4a of one divided image and the optical axis 4 of the lens system are aligned with each other. The reflective optical element 11 is rotated about the optical axis 4 of the lens system 2. By doing so, the optical axes of the other divided images and the optical axis 4 of the lens system can be matched. In this way, the reflective optical element 1
When 1 is rotated about the optical axis 4, time-divisional imaging can be performed, and high-definition images can be captured. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the resolution of the optical system can be set to a desired value by appropriately selecting the rotation angle of the reflective optical element 11 and the shapes of the reflective optical elements 11 and 12.

FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 5 according to the second embodiment.
The operation of the time division mechanism of the fourth embodiment is conceptually represented so as to be easily compared with the other embodiments. Specifically, the method of rotating the reflective optical element 11 is described in the second embodiment. Similar to the structure shown in FIG. 7, the reflective optical element 1
1 may have a structure as shown in FIG. That is, if the hatched portion is the reflective optical element 11 and the vertical plate portion 11d orthogonal to the optical axis 4 of the lens system holds the outer portion sufficiently far from the optical axis 4 so that the holding portion does not block the light flux, In the time division mechanism 10, only the reflective optical element 11 can be rotated without blocking the light flux.

In the fourth embodiment, the reflecting surfaces of the reflecting optical elements 11 and 12 of the time division mechanism 10 are curved surfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. It is also possible to arrange and continuously arrange around the axis. 16 and 17 are views corresponding to FIGS. 13 and 14 of this embodiment, respectively.

[0032]

As described above, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention can realize an optical system having a high resolution capable of capturing a high-definition image with a relatively small amount of movement by using an image pickup element having a small number of pixels.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual side view of a first embodiment of an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the time division mechanism in the first embodiment. (B) It is a front view of the time division mechanism from the input image side. (C) It is a side view of the time division mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in a photographable range due to rotation of the time division mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a change in a photographable range due to rotation of the time division mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual side view of a second embodiment of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a change in a photographable range due to 180 ° rotation of the time division mechanism in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a specific structural example of the time division mechanism in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual side view of an image pickup apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a time division mechanism according to the third embodiment. (B) It is a front view of the time division mechanism from the input image side. (C) It is a side view of the time division mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change in a photographable range associated with rotation of the time division mechanism of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a change in a photographable range due to a modification of the shape of the time division mechanism of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual side view of an image pickup apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13A is a front view from the input image side of the fixed reflecting optical element of the time division mechanism in the fourth example. (B)
It is a side view of the said fixed reflection optical element.

FIG. 14A is a plan view of a rotary reflecting optical element of the time division mechanism in the fourth embodiment. (B) It is a front view from the input image side of the said rotary reflection optical element. (C) It is a side view of the said rotary reflection optical element.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a specific structural example of the time division mechanism in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16A is a front view from the input image side of a fixed reflection optical element of another structural example of the time division mechanism in the fourth example. (B) It is a side view of the said fixed reflective optical element.

FIG. 17A is a plan view of a rotary reflective optical element of another structural example of the time division mechanism in the fourth example. (B) It is a front view from the input image side of the said rotary reflection optical element.
(C) It is a side view of the said rotary reflection optical element.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram related to the operation of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram related to the operation of the time division mechanism of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram related to the operation of the time division mechanism of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 input image 1i divided image (i = a, b ...) 2 lens system 3 image sensor 4 optical axis of lens system 4i optical axis of divided image (i = a, b ...) 5 lens system Position of diaphragm 10 Time division mechanism 11 Reflective optical element 12 Reflective optical element

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A time-sharing mechanism using a reflective optical element is arranged in an optical system, and part or all of the time-sharing mechanism is moved so that an input image is time-divided into at least two or more images. Imaging device.