JP2011015325A - Monitored image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus which enables a camera to photograph an object to be monitored corresponding to a moving direction and a moving speed of the object, thereby recording an image necessary for monitoring.SOLUTION: The apparatus includes a camera 2 rotatable for photographing an object to be monitored, an image recorder 7 for recording an image photographed by the camera 2, a plurality of sensors 9 for detecting the object to be monitored, and a signal processor 10 for controlling an operation including a rotating speed of the camera 2 according to a time difference in detection of the object by the sensors 9 and the order of the sensors 9 detecting the object.

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring image recording apparatus that selectively records a monitoring image in conjunction with a sensor, for example.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a monitoring image recording apparatus that captures a plurality of monitoring target areas with a camera and records the captured images (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the conventional monitoring image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, in order to record only an effective image, the sensor and the camera are interlocked, and this sensor is supported only for a certain period before and after the sensor detects the monitoring target. An image taken by a camera is recorded.

JP 2002-344950 A

  However, the conventional monitoring image recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 can selectively record an image captured by a camera corresponding to the sensor, but it does not depend on the moving direction or moving speed of the monitoring target. Since the recording frame interval for recording the camera to be recorded and the image is determined, there is a possibility of failing to record an effective image for monitoring, and the recording frame interval is set wide. When the monitoring object moves at a high speed, there is a problem that a sufficient number of frames cannot be recorded and an image necessary for monitoring may not be recorded.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The camera can take an image of the monitoring target in accordance with the moving direction and moving speed of the monitoring target, and is an image necessary for monitoring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring image recording apparatus capable of recording the image.

  A monitoring image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a pivotable camera for shooting a monitoring target, an image recording unit for recording an image shot by the camera, a plurality of sensors for detecting the monitoring target, and a plurality of sensors Includes a signal processing unit that controls the operation including the turning speed of the camera based on the time difference when the monitoring target is detected and the order of the plurality of sensors that detect the monitoring target.

  According to this invention, since it comprised as mentioned above, it controls the operation | movement including the turning speed of a camera based on the time difference in which the some sensor detected the monitoring target, and the order of the several sensor which detected the monitoring target. Thus, the camera can take an image of the monitoring object in accordance with the moving direction and moving speed of the monitoring object, and an image necessary for monitoring can be recorded.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring image recording device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the camera and sensor in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an operation | movement table of the signal processing part in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the camera control process of the signal processing part in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring image recording device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the camera control process of the signal processing part in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a time chart example which shows operation | movement of the buffer memory and image recording part which concern on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring image recording device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the camera and sensor in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an operation | movement table of the signal processing part in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the camera control process of the signal processing part in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 includes a plurality of swivel cameras 2 for photographing a monitoring target, and an image switching unit 3 that sequentially switches and outputs images photographed by the plurality of cameras 2. The signal preprocessing unit 4 for converting the image output by the image switching unit 3 into an image signal suitable for image compression, and the image signal converted by the signal preprocessing unit 4 into a digital compressed image suitable for recording An image compression unit 5 for conversion, a buffer memory 6 for temporarily storing the digital compressed image converted by the image compression unit 5, and an image recording for recording the digital compressed image read from the buffer memory 6 at a predetermined recording frame interval Unit 7, a control unit 8 for controlling the operation of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1, a plurality of sensors 9 for detecting a monitoring target, a time difference at which the plurality of sensors 9 detected the monitoring target, and this A signal processing unit 10 that determines control of the operation of the camera 2 based on the order of the plurality of sensors 9 that have detected the visual target, and a camera control unit that controls the operation of the camera 2 based on an instruction from the signal processing unit 10 11.

Next, an arrangement example of the camera 2 and the sensor 9 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of the camera 2 and the sensor 9 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the case where two cameras A and B and six sensors a to f are arranged.
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, in order to monitor a person entering and exiting a room as a monitoring target, a camera A and sensors a, c, and f are arranged in a passage having an entrance to one room, and the other room. A camera B and sensors b, d, e are arranged in a passage having an entrance to. The monitoring object detected by the sensors a, c, and f is photographed by the camera A, and the monitoring object detected by the sensors b, d, and e is photographed by the camera B.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an operation table of the signal processing unit 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 3A is a diagram showing an example of an operation table for the camera A shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of an operation table for the camera B shown in FIG.
The signal processing unit 10 holds an operation table as shown in FIG. The operation table shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the arrangement example of the cameras A and B and the sensors a to f shown in FIG. 2, and the time difference when the sensors a to f detect the monitoring target and the plurality of sensors that detect the monitoring target. Based on the order of a to f, the signal processing unit 10 determines (1) (hereinafter, the circled numbers in the figure are written in parentheses). (2) The turning direction of the cameras A and B corresponding to the moving direction of the monitoring target, the time for turning the cameras A and B, and (3) the camera A corresponding to the moving speed of the monitoring target. The turn speed of B and (4) state transition destinations expressing the detection states of the monitoring targets by the sensors a to f are summarized.

  For example, when the sensor processing unit 10 detects a sensor signal indicating that the sensor a has detected the monitoring target in the idle state in which the sensors a to f have not detected the monitoring target, as illustrated in FIG. In addition, the camera control unit 11 is instructed to (1) move the camera A in the direction of the sensor a, (2) perform a left turn for a time T1, (3) at a speed of 5, and within the operation table. This shows that the detection state of the monitoring target is transitioned from the idle state to the state after (4) sensor a detection. Further, when the signal processing unit 10 detects a sensor signal indicating that the sensor c has detected the monitoring target after the sensor a is detected, the signal processing unit 10 moves the camera A in the (1) sensor c direction with respect to the camera control unit 11. After moving, (2) instruct to turn left for time T2, (3) speed α (camera turning speed calculation coefficient) / ΔTac (detection time difference of monitoring target between sensor a and sensor c), It shows that the detection state of the monitoring target in the operation table is changed from the state after sensor a detection to the state after sensor c detection.

Next, camera control processing of the signal processing unit 10 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing camera control processing of the signal processing unit 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

First, as an initialization process before starting the camera control process, the signal processing unit 10 sets the detection target detection state in the operation table to be held to an idle state.
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, in the camera control process, the signal processing unit 10 determines whether a sensor signal has been detected (step ST101). That is, the signal processing unit 10 determines whether or not a sensor signal indicating that a monitoring target has been detected by any of the plurality of sensors 9 has been detected.

  In step ST101, when the signal processing unit 10 determines that the sensor signal is not detected, the process of step ST101 is repeated to enter a sensor signal detection standby state.

  On the other hand, if the signal processing unit 10 determines in step ST101 that a sensor signal has been detected, the signal processing unit 10 then starts a loop of the subsequent steps ST103 and 104 for the camera 2 (step ST102). First, the signal processing unit 10 determines the control content of the operation of the camera 2 (step ST103). That is, the signal processing unit 10 determines the preset position, turning direction / time, turning of the camera 2 from the operation table shown in FIG. 3 based on the sensor 9 that has output the sensor signal detected in step ST101 and the detection state of the monitoring target. The speed and the state transition destination are read, and the control content of the operation of the camera 2 is determined from the read preset position, turning direction / time and turning speed.

  Next, the signal processing unit 10 instructs control of the operation of the camera 2 (step ST104). That is, the signal processing unit 10 instructs the camera control unit 11 to control the operation of the camera 2 based on the preset position, turning direction / time, and turning speed of the camera 2 determined in step ST103.

  Next, the signal processing unit 10 determines whether or not the operation of all the cameras 2 has been controlled (step ST105). In step ST105, when the signal processing unit 10 determines that the operation control is not performed for all the cameras 2, the sequence returns to step ST103, and the camera 2 that has not performed the operation control is returned to step ST103. On the other hand, the processes of steps ST103 and ST104 described above are repeated.

  On the other hand, in step ST105, when the signal processing unit 10 determines that the operation control has been performed on all the cameras 2, the signal processing unit 10 stores in the operation table based on the state transition destination read from the operation table in step ST103. After the transition of the monitoring target detection state, the sequence returns to step ST101 and enters a sensor signal detection standby state.

  As described above, according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the signal processing unit 10 is based on the time difference when the plurality of sensors 9 detect the monitoring target and the order of the plurality of sensors 9 that detect the monitoring target. A preset position for moving the camera 2 in the direction of the sensor 9 detecting the monitoring target, a turning direction of the camera 2 corresponding to the moving direction of the monitoring target, a time for turning the camera 2, and a camera 2 corresponding to the moving speed of the monitoring target Since the camera 2 is configured to control the operation of the camera 2 by reading from the operation table holding the turning speed of the camera, the camera 2 can track and shoot the monitoring object in accordance with the moving direction and moving speed of the monitoring object. And an image necessary for monitoring can be recorded.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same or similar components as those in the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is replaced with the signal processing unit 10 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. The operation of the camera 2 is controlled based on the time difference when the plurality of sensors 9 detect the monitoring target and the order of the plurality of sensors 9 detecting the monitoring target, and the image recording unit 7 is controlled according to the turning speed of the camera 2. Is provided with a signal processing unit 12 for instructing the control unit 8 to change the recording frame interval indicating the cycle of reading and recording the image stored in the buffer memory 6.

Next, camera control processing of the signal processing unit 12 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing camera control processing of the signal processing unit 12 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  First, the signal processing unit 12 sets the monitoring target detection state in the held operation table to the idle state as an initialization process before starting the camera control process. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, in the camera control process, the signal processing unit 12 determines whether a sensor signal is detected (step ST201). In step ST201, when the signal processing unit 12 determines that the sensor signal is not detected, the process of step ST201 is repeated to enter a sensor signal detection standby state. On the other hand, if the signal processing unit 12 determines in step ST201 that a sensor signal has been detected, the signal processing unit 12 then starts a processing loop of steps ST203 to ST206 for the camera 2 (step ST202). First, the signal processing unit 12 determines the control content of the operation of the camera 2 (step ST203). Next, the signal processing unit 12 instructs the camera control unit 11 to control the operation of the camera 2 (step ST204).

  Next, the signal processing unit 12 determines whether the turning speed is greater than the threshold value β (step ST205). That is, the signal processing unit 12 determines whether or not the turning speed of the camera 2 determined in step ST203 is greater than a preset threshold value β.

  In step ST205, when the signal processing unit 12 determines that the turning speed of the camera 2 is greater than the threshold value β, the signal processing unit 12 then instructs to change the recording frame interval (step ST206). That is, the signal processing unit 12 instructs the control unit 8 to narrow the recording frame interval at which the image recording unit 7 reads and records images from the buffer memory 6. Thereafter, the sequence proceeds to step ST207.

  On the other hand, in step ST205, when the signal processing unit 12 determines that the turning speed of the camera 2 is equal to or less than the threshold value β, the process of step ST206 is skipped, and the sequence proceeds to step ST207.

  Next, the signal processing unit 12 determines whether or not the operation of all the cameras 2 has been controlled (step ST207). In step ST207, if the signal processing unit 12 determines that the operation control is not performed for all the cameras 2, the sequence returns to step ST203, and the camera 2 that has not performed the operation control is returned to step ST203. On the other hand, the processes of steps ST203 to ST206 described above are repeated. On the other hand, in step ST207, when the signal processing unit 12 determines that the operation of all the cameras 2 has been controlled, the signal processing unit 12 stores the information in the operation table based on the state transition destination read from the operation table in step ST203. After transitioning the detection state of the monitoring target, the sequence returns to step ST201 and enters a sensor signal detection standby state.

Here, the recording frame interval change instruction process in step ST206 of FIG. 6 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a time chart example showing operations of the buffer memory 6 and the image recording unit 7 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows a time chart example before the recording frame interval is changed. b) shows an example of a time chart after changing the recording frame interval. In FIG. 7, (1) A, (1) B, (1) C, 1A, 1B, 1C, etc. show images in units of frames, and subscripts A to D are taken by cameras A to D, respectively. In addition, (4) to (1) and 0 to 3 represent time order. The buffer memory 6 captures images captured by the four cameras A to D and converted by the signal preprocessing unit 4 and the image compression unit 5 as (4) A, (4) B, (4) C, (4 ) D, (3) A,..., (1) D, 0A,. The image recording unit 7 reads and records the image stored in the buffer memory 6 at a predetermined recording frame interval.

  In the state shown in FIG. 7A, the image recording unit 7 reads out images taken by the cameras A to D from the images stored in the buffer memory 6 at a recording frame interval of ¼ period, and displays the image (4 ) A to (4) D, 0A to 0D, ... are recorded. In this state, when a recording frame interval change instruction is received from the signal processing unit 12 via the control unit 8 to reduce the recording frame interval with respect to the image captured by the camera A from ¼ period to 1/1 period, FIG. As shown in (b), the image recording unit 7 reads an image taken by the camera A from the image stored in the buffer memory 6 at a recording frame interval of 1/1 cycle, and reads the image (4). A to (4) D, (3) A, (2) A, (1) A, 0A to 0D, 1A, 2A,.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing unit 12 controls the recording frame interval at which the image recording unit 7 reads and records an image from the buffer memory 6 in accordance with the turning speed of the camera 2. Thus, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment of the present invention, an image having a sufficient number of frames can be obtained by shortening the recording frame interval even when the camera 2 rotates at high speed. Can be recorded, and an image necessary for monitoring can be recorded.

  In the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the recording frame interval is narrowed when the turning speed of the camera 2 is larger than the preset threshold value β. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the recording frame interval may be specified in multiple values instead of binary, and the recording frame interval may be changed in proportion to the turning speed of the camera 2.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the same or similar components as those in the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is replaced with signal processing unit 10 of monitoring image recording apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. Based on the order of the plurality of sensors 9 that have detected the monitoring target, the camera 2 that captures the region corresponding to the moving direction of the monitoring target is selected as the recording target camera 2 from the plurality of cameras 2. A signal processing unit 13 that instructs the control unit 8 to record an image captured by the recording target camera 2 in the image recording unit 7 is provided, and the camera control unit 11 is omitted. Further, the plurality of cameras 2 are fixedly installed.

Next, an arrangement example of the camera 2 and the sensor 9 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of the camera 2 and the sensor 9 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a case where eight cameras C to J and six sensors g to l are arranged.
As shown in FIG. 9, for example, cameras C to J and sensors g to l are arranged in the passage to monitor a person passing through the passage as a monitoring target. Note that the cameras C to J are fixedly installed and photograph a predetermined direction as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation table of the signal processing unit 13 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
The signal processing unit 13 holds an operation table as shown in FIG. The operation table illustrated in FIG. 10 corresponds to the arrangement example of the cameras C to J and the sensors g to l illustrated in FIG. 9, and is based on the order of the plurality of sensors g to l that detect the monitoring target. (1) a recording camera that shows a camera 2 that is a recording target that captures an area corresponding to the moving direction of the monitoring target, and (2) a state transition that expresses the detection status of the monitoring target by the sensors g to l. This is a summary.

  For example, when the sensor processing unit 13 detects a sensor signal indicating that the sensor g detects the monitoring target in the idle state where the sensors g to l do not detect the monitoring target, as illustrated in FIG. The unit 8 is instructed to (1) record an image taken by the camera C in the image recording unit 7 and change the detection state of the monitoring target in the operation table from the idle state to (2) the state after detection of the sensor g It is shown that the transition is made. Further, when the signal processing unit 13 detects a sensor signal indicating that the sensor h has detected the monitoring target after detecting the sensor g, the signal processing unit 13 (1) is photographed by the camera D and the camera E with respect to the control unit 8. In addition to instructing the image recording unit 7 to record an image, the detection state of the monitoring target in the operation table is changed from the state after sensor g detection to the state (2) after sensor h detection.

Next, the camera control process of the signal processing unit 13 of the monitoring image recording apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing camera control processing of the signal processing unit 13 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  First, as an initialization process before starting the camera control process, the signal processing unit 13 sets the detection target detection state in the operation table to be held to an idle state. Next, as shown in FIG. 11, in the camera control process, the signal processing unit 13 determines whether a sensor signal is detected (step ST301). In step ST301, when the signal processing unit 13 determines that the sensor signal is not detected, the process of step ST301 is repeated to enter a sensor signal detection standby state. On the other hand, if it is determined in step ST301 that the sensor signal has been detected, the signal processing unit 13 then selects a recording camera (step ST302). That is, the signal processing unit 13 reads out the recording camera and the state transition destination from the operation table illustrated in FIG. 10 based on the sensor 9 that has output the sensor signal detected in step ST301 and the detection state of the monitoring target, and becomes a recording target. Camera 2 is determined.

  Next, the signal processing unit 13 instructs the recording camera to record an image (step ST303). That is, the signal processing unit 13 instructs the control unit 8 to cause the image recording unit 7 to record the image captured by the recording target camera 2 determined in step ST302. Further, the signal processing unit 13 changes the detection state of the monitoring target in the operation table based on the state transition destination read from the operation table in step ST302. Thereafter, the sequence returns to step ST301 to enter a sensor signal detection standby state.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the signal processing unit 13 corresponds to the traveling direction of the monitoring target from the plurality of cameras 2 based on the order of the plurality of sensors 9 that detected the monitoring target. Since the camera 2 that is shooting the area is selected as the camera 2 to be recorded, and the image recorded by the selected camera 2 to be recorded is recorded in the image recording unit 7, the selected recording target is selected. The camera 2 can take a picture of the monitoring target corresponding to the moving direction of the monitoring target, and can efficiently record an image necessary for monitoring.

  1 monitoring image recording device, 2 camera, 3 image switching unit, 4 signal preprocessing unit, 5 image compression unit, 6 buffer memory, 7 image recording unit, 8 control unit, 9 sensor, 10, 12, 13 signal processing unit, 11 Camera control unit.

Claims (3)

A swivel camera for photographing the object to be monitored;
An image recording unit for recording an image captured by the camera;
A plurality of sensors for detecting the monitoring target;
A monitoring image recording apparatus comprising: a signal processing unit that controls an operation including a turning speed of the camera based on a time difference when the plurality of sensors detect the monitoring target and an order of the plurality of sensors that detect the monitoring target. . The monitoring image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit controls a recording frame interval at which the image recording unit records an image according to a turning speed of the camera. A plurality of cameras for photographing the surveillance area;
A plurality of sensors for detecting the monitoring target;
Based on the order of the plurality of sensors that detected the monitoring target, a signal processing unit that selects a recording target camera from the plurality of cameras;
A monitoring image recording apparatus comprising: an image recording unit that records an image captured by a recording target camera selected by the signal processing unit.

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