Camera device, liquid lens, and image pickup method

Abstract

A camera device is provided which has a compound eye structure only by a liquid lens unit and a control unit without requiring a plurality of lenses to be mounted in advance and is capable of taking a three-dimensional stereoscopic video image. In addition, a compact and lightweight three-dimensional stereoscopic camera is provided which can be switched to take a two-dimensional planar image or to take a three-dimensional stereoscopic image only by an electronic control with no need for a movable mechanism and can reduce the power consumption and improve the reliability. A camera device comprises a liquid lens ( 182 ) switchable to a single eye lens and a compound eye lens; and a switching unit for switching the liquid lens ( 182 ) to the single eye lens to take a planar image and switching the liquid lens ( 182 ) to the compound eye lens to take a stereoscopic image.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A liquid lens comprising:
 a dielectric insulating layer; and   a droplet formed of a transparent liquid located on the dielectric insulating layer; an electrode located below the dielectric insulating layer, wherein   the liquid lens performs an electromagnetic control by changing a voltage to be applied to the electrode to move the liquid, and switches a single eye lens and a compound eye lens generated by dividing the droplet into a plurality of droplets.   
     
     
         39 . The liquid lens according to  claim 38 , wherein
 the liquid lens performs the electromagnetic control by continuously and repeatedly turning on and off the voltage in a radial direction, and generates a wave in the liquid by the electromagnetic control to move the liquid.   
     
     
         40 . The liquid lens according to  claim 38 , wherein
 the liquid lens performs the electromagnetic control by continuously and repeatedly increasing and decreasing the voltage in a radial direction, and generates a wave in the liquid to move the liquid.   
     
     
         41 . The liquid lens according to  claim 38 , wherein
 the electrode is divided into a plurality of smaller electrodes, and the liquid lens performs the electromagnetic control by applying voltages different from each other to the smaller electrodes, and switches the single eye lens and the compound eye lens generated by dividing the droplet into the plurality of droplets.