JP5140752B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging system, an optical communication apparatus, and an imaging apparatus, and in particular, an imaging system and an optical communication apparatus that transmit a directional light beam from the optical communication apparatus and that control the imaging operation when the imaging apparatus receives the light. The present invention also relates to a photographing apparatus.

  In order to regulate the shooting of a predetermined area in an exhibition hall such as a sightseeing spot or an art museum, a transmitter transmits a control signal transmitted by radio waves with shooting restrictions to the vicinity of the subject to be shot restricted, while cameras and cameras A photographing system such as a mobile phone having a function is provided with a receiving unit that receives the control signal, and restricts photographing by the photographing device during reception of the control signal (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

JP-A-7-13225 JP 2004-153324 A

  However, the conventional photographing systems disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 perform control of photographing such as prohibition of photographing and strobe light emission by transmitting a control signal using radio waves to an area near the subject of photographing restriction. is there. Therefore, if there is a photographing device in the area, there is a problem that even if the photographing device is directed in a direction unrelated to the photographing restricted subject, the photographing device is subject to photographing restriction because it receives a control signal. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a photographing system, an optical communication device, and a photographing device that can reliably restrict photographing of a photographing restriction subject.

The present invention receives a light beam from an imaging lens and an optical communication device that transmits high-frequency modulated non-recognizable data to a visible light beam having directivity through the imaging lens as data. And an image pickup device capable of shooting a subject via the shooting lens and a recording unit for recording an image representing the subject shot by the image pickup device, the data output by the image pickup device. An imaging device is provided, comprising a control unit capable of setting an operation mode of the imaging device to a predetermined mode.
Further, the photographing lens, the light rays before Symbol optical communication equipment, which only is configured to receive light from the subject side.
The photographing device is a camera-equipped mobile phone having a camera function.
The optical communication device is arranged near the subject and modulates and transmits predetermined data to a light beam having directivity, and selectively transmits the data regarding the restriction or permission of photographing to a specific light receiving area. A transmission apparatus including means for receiving the light having directivity, receiving the data relating to the restriction or permission of photographing, and performing restriction / permission or warning of photographing / recording based on the received data And consist of

Disposed in the vicinity of the Utsushitai provided with a optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity, selectively said data regulatory or permission of shooting for a particular receiving area A transmission device having a means for transmitting, and receiving the light beam having directivity from a predetermined angle range, receiving the data relating to restriction or permission of photographing, and restricting photographing and recording based on the received data - and the imaging apparatus is used to enable or warning, Ru Tona.

IMAGING DEVICE is in the specific light receiving area, and, only when directed to imaging device in the subject direction, and receives a light beam having a directivity of a predetermined angle range, by performing the regulation and allow the shooting, Fine-grained shooting restrictions are possible. For example, it is possible to shoot the entire exhibition hall or take a commemorative photo with the exhibition hall in the background, but restrict the use of an up-shoot with the photographic device facing an exhibit with a portrait right. Can do.

A optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity, that sends by said light beam to said predetermined data toward the imaging regulation subject peripheral to a predetermined light receiving area.

The optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity is provided near the imaging regulation subject, transmits the predetermined data from the optical communication apparatus to a predetermined light receiving area by ray. Since the light beam has directivity, predetermined data is received only when the photographing apparatus is directed to the photographing restricted subject, and photographing is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to reliably restrict shooting of the shooting-restricted subject. On the other hand, even if there is an imaging device in the light receiving area, the imaging device is not subject to the regulation because the imaging device does not receive the prescribed data as the imaging restriction signal unless the imaging device is directed to the subject subject to photography. The photographing permission subject adjacent to the photographing restriction subject can be photographed.

  In addition, visible light can also be utilized as a light ray. Visible light means an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength that can be seen by human eyes. According to the definition of JIS Z8120, the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave corresponding to visible light is approximately 360 nm to 400 nm on the short wavelength side and 760 nm to 760 nm on the long wavelength side. 830 nm.

  Incidentally, in Patent Document 1, it is described that light may be emitted instead of radio waves transmitted by a transmitter, but this light means light irradiated to the entire area where radio waves are transmitted, It does not mean a single beam with directivity. Therefore, in the photographing restriction system of Patent Document 1 in which light is emitted instead of radio waves, if the photographing device is in the area, the photographing device is directed in a direction unrelated to the photographing restricted subject. Since the photographing apparatus always receives light, there is a drawback that it is subject to photographing restrictions. The present invention can eliminate the drawbacks of Patent Document 1 by using directional light.

Taking the oriented in the direction of the shadow regulatory subject, it receives the light beam from the optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity, reading the predetermined data from the optical line, a predetermined It regulates behavior.

IMAGING DEVICE, upon receiving the light beam from the optical communication apparatus, from the light beam reads the predetermined data to regulate a predetermined operation, regulated exerted on the captured regulatory object.

Wherein the predetermined operation to be regulated by pre-Symbol imaging apparatus, Ru photographing operation or flash emission operation der.

IMAGING DEVICE, upon receiving the light beam from the optical communication apparatus reads out the signal for restricting the photographing operation or strobe light emitting operation from the beam, restricting the photographing operation or flash emission operation. Therefore, voyeurism is prevented and flash photography is prohibited.

Before SL imaging apparatus, there Bei Ete display means for displaying that it has received the light beam.

When receiving the light from the optical communication apparatus, imaging apparatus displays that it has received the light to the display means. Regardless of the display format, by displaying the prohibited characters and prohibited symbols on the display means in a superimposed manner, the photographer can grasp at a glance that the subject is subject to shooting restrictions and the details of the restrictions. Can do.

The signal from the optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity, are Ete Bei a light receiving means for receiving via the taking lens.

The light beam from the optical communication apparatus and received by the light receiving means through the taking lens of the imaging device. Thus, if the photographing apparatus is directed to the photographing restriction subject, that is, if the photographing lens is directed to the photographing restriction subject, the light is surely received, so that the photographing apparatus is reliably subjected to photographing restriction included in the predetermined data. Incidentally, the imaging element of the imaging device, may be also used as the light receiving element.

The signal from the optical communication device which transmits by modulating predetermined data in beam having a directivity, are Ete Bei a light receiving means for receiving via the taking lens and a reflecting mirror.

The light beam from the optical communication apparatus and received by the light receiving means via the taking lens and the reflecting mirror of the imaging device. Thus, if the photographing apparatus is directed to the photographing restriction subject, that is, if the photographing lens is directed to the photographing restriction subject, the light is surely received, so that the photographing apparatus is reliably subjected to photographing restriction included in the predetermined data. In addition, since the light receiving element that receives the photographing restriction signal can be disposed in the dead space of the photographing apparatus by the reflection mirror, the photographing apparatus can be reduced in size.

  According to the imaging system, the optical communication apparatus, and the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, an optical communication apparatus that modulates and transmits predetermined data to a light beam having directivity is installed in the vicinity of the imaging restricted subject, and the light beam is transmitted from the optical communication apparatus. Transmitting to a predetermined light receiving area. Since the light beam has directivity, the photographing of the content included in the predetermined data is restricted only when the photographing device faces the photographing restricted subject. Therefore, it is possible to reliably restrict shooting of the shooting-restricted subject. On the other hand, even if there is an imaging device in the light receiving area, the imaging device does not receive the light unless the imaging device is directed to the shooting restricted subject, so the imaging device is not restricted and is adjacent to the shooting restricted subject in the light receiving area. It is possible to shoot a subject for which photographing is permitted.

Structure diagram of photographing restriction system to which digital camera and optical communication device of embodiment are applied The perspective view which looked at the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 from the front side The block diagram which showed the whole structure of the digital camera shown in FIG. Flowchart of the photographing restriction system shown in FIG. Block diagram showing the overall configuration of another digital camera Explanatory drawing which showed an example of the superimpose image displayed on the monitor of FIG. Block diagram showing the overall configuration of another digital camera

  Preferred embodiments of a photographing system, an optical communication device, and a photographing device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, an example in which the photographing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera, which is an electronic camera, will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and is applied to a camera-equipped mobile phone having a camera function. Applicable.

  FIG. 1 is an overall structural diagram of a photographing restriction system (photographing system) 14 to which the digital camera 10 and the optical communication device 12 according to the embodiment are applied. The optical communication device 12 is installed in the vicinity of a photography-restricted picture (photo-restricted subject) 16 in a museum, and is directed to a digital restriction 10 (predetermined for a light beam having directivity) toward the digital camera 10 that is going to shoot the restricted photography 16. Signal transmitted by modulating the data). The digital camera 10 is a camera carried by a viewer. In this museum, the camera carried at the time of admission is checked, and a camera that conforms to the photographing restriction system 14, that is, a camera that receives a photographing restriction signal and performs self-regulation. Only allowed to bring in.

Shooting restriction signal transmitters are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 18 and 18 installed on both sides of the shooting restriction picture 16, and these LEDs 18 and 18 blink directional visible light modulated by the modulator 20. Emits light. For example, the LEDs 18 and 18 are controlled by a light emission control unit (not shown) so as to be turned ON / OFF m times in one second when the photographing restriction picture 16 is a photographing prohibited subject. In this case, the light emission control unit is controlled to turn ON / OFF n times per second. Therefore, the photographing restriction signal is transmitted as a visible light blinking signal. The modulator 20 includes modulating the digital code to indicate that the subject is a photographing-prohibited subject and that strobe light emission is prohibited. Further, the light is not limited to visible light, and infrared light may be used as long as it has directivity.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, an example in which the optical communication device 12 is installed in an art museum will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to an art museum. For example, strobe photography for the purpose of protecting a work such as a historic spot in a tourist spot. It may be installed in the vicinity of a subject that is prohibited from being photographed or photographed itself. Further, the light receiving area of the shooting restriction signal includes an area where the digital camera 10 can take the shooting restriction picture 16. The projected shape of visible light may be formed in a circular shape including an area suitable for photographing. Further, the LEDs 18 and 18 are controlled to blink in a high-frequency region, that is, blinking is controlled as if they are visually lit so that the viewer does not have to worry about blinking. Further, by taking a longer irradiation distance of visible light, it is possible to regulate voyeurism using a telephoto lens.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the digital camera 10 viewed from the front side.

  In the digital camera 10 shown in the figure, a grip portion 24 bulging forward is formed on the left side of the front surface of the camera case 22, and a release button 26 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera case 22 where the grip portion 24 is located. In addition, a lens barrel 30 holding a photographing lens 28 is provided in a substantially central portion on the front surface of the camera case 22 so as to protrude forward. Furthermore, a strobe light emitting unit 32 is provided on the upper right side of the front surface of the camera case 22.

  A CCD 34 shown in FIG. 3 is provided at the imaging position of the taking lens 28. The subject image formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 34 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 34, and then its electrical signal is output to the imaging unit 36. The imaging unit 36 converts the electrical signal into a video signal and outputs it to a monitor (display means) 38, and records it as a JPEG file, for example, in a recording unit 40 such as a built-in RAM or an external memory card.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a control unit that performs overall control of the entire digital camera 10. The control unit 42 controls the imaging unit 34 and the CCD 34 based on the release signal from the release button 26, and controls the light emitting circuit 46 based on the ON operation of the strobe switch 44 to emit the xenon tube 48 of the strobe light emitting unit 32. Let

  Further, a photodiode (FD: light receiving means) 50 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 30 of the digital camera 10 as shown in FIG. The photodiode 50 is a light receiving element that receives a flashing signal of directional visible light emitted from the optical communication device 12 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the angle of view of the photographing lens 28 so as not to be photographed by the photographing lens 28. The light receiving axis P1 is set to be parallel to the optical axis P2 of the photographing lens 28. Therefore, when the photographing lens 28 is directed toward the photographing regulation picture 16, the photodiode 50 always receives the visible light blinking signal from the optical communication device 12. The mounting position of the photodiode 50 is not limited to the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel 30, and is close to the photographing lens 28, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel 30 or a position near the lens barrel 30. Any position is acceptable.

  The blinking signal of visible light received by the photodiode 50 is demodulated by the AM demodulator 52 shown in FIG. 3, and the ON signal of the pulse waveform is counted by the control unit 42. The control unit 42 controls the imaging unit 36 and / or the light emitting circuit unit 46 based on the counted number of ON signals.

  The monitor 38 is disposed on the left side of the back surface of the camera case 22 that is farthest from the grip portion 24 as shown in FIG. In addition to the monitor 38, a strobe switch 44, a power main switch 54, a shooting / image playback mode changeover switch 56, and other operation buttons are disposed at predetermined positions on the back of the camera case 22.

  Next, the operation of the photographing restriction system 14 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the mode of the digital camera 10 is reset to the shooting mode (step (S) 100) and the digital camera 10 is directed to the shooting restriction picture 16, the directivity transmitted from the LEDs 18 and 18 of the optical communication device 12 is changed. The photodiode 50 of the digital camera 10 receives a certain visible light photographing restriction signal (S110). Then, the control unit 42 of the digital camera 10 recognizes that it is in the photographing restriction mode, and counts the ON signal of the pulse waveform demodulated by the AM demodulator 52 (S120). If the count number is m times per second, the control unit 42 recognizes that the shooting restriction painting 16 is a shooting prohibited subject, sets the operation mode to the shooting prohibited mode, and thereafter Then, the imaging unit 36 is controlled to disable (prohibit) shooting (S130). Note that the release prohibition mode may be set by mechanically disengaging the release button 26 or, in the case of a digital camera equipped with a lens barrier, by mechanically closing the lens barrier.

  If the count number is n times per second, the control unit 42 recognizes that the photographing restriction picture 16 is a subject that is prohibited from flash emission, and sets the operation mode to the non-flash mode. Thereafter, the light emitting unit 46 is controlled to prohibit the flash emission (S140). Thereafter, when a release operation is performed (S150), the picture 16 is photographed in a state in which the strobe light emission is prohibited (S160). When no visible light is transmitted from the LEDs 18 and 18, the digital camera 10 is not restricted, so that the picture 16 can be normally photographed using a strobe.

  As described above, according to the photographing restriction system 14 of the embodiment, the optical communication device 12 that modulates visible light and transmits the visible light is installed in the vicinity of the photographing restriction painting 16, and the photographing restriction signal is transmitted from the optical communication device 12. Is transmitted toward the light receiving area of the digital camera 10 by visible light. Since visible light has directivity, photographing is restricted only when the digital camera 10 faces the photographing restriction picture 16. Therefore, the shooting of the shooting restriction picture 16 can be reliably restricted.

  On the other hand, even if the digital camera 10 is in the light receiving area, if the digital camera 10 is not directed to the photography restriction picture 16, the photography restriction signal is not received by the photodiode 50. Therefore, the digital camera 10 is restricted. For example, it is possible to photograph a photographing permitted subject adjacent to the photographing regulation picture 16 within the light receiving area.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the digital camera 100. The same or similar members as those in the configuration of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. .

The digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes a superimpose circuit 60 and a display circuit 62 for displaying characters and symbols on the monitor 38 in a superimposed manner. When the superimposing circuit 60 receives a photographing restriction signal from the LEDs 18 and 18, the superimposing circuit 60 informs the photographer by superimposing and displaying the prohibited characters, prohibited symbols and marks corresponding to the restriction contents on the monitor 38. This display content is obtained by superimposing characters 66 of “photographing prohibited” or “strobe light emission prohibited” (not shown) on the line diagram 64 of the subject as shown in FIG. 6A, or as shown in FIG. 6B. An example in which a photographing prohibition mark 68 of “×” is superimposed on the subject diagram 64 can be exemplified. As a result, the photographer can grasp at a glance that photographing restrictions are applied to the subject and the contents of the restrictions.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the digital camera 200. The same or similar members as those in the configuration of the digital camera 10 shown in FIG. .

  The digital camera 200 shown in FIG. 7 includes a photodiode 50 that receives visible light from the LEDs 18 and 18 in a camera case. That is, a half mirror (reflection mirror) 70 is disposed in the optical path of the photographic lens 28 so as to be inclined with respect to the optical axis P 2, and subject light including LED visible light transmitted through the half mirror 70 is received by the CCD 34. Further, the subject light including the LED visible light reflected by the half mirror 70 is received by the photodiode 50 by the lens 72. For example, the control unit 42 has a threshold value indicating the luminance around the photographing restricted subject, and acquires only the blinking signal of the LED 18 by counting the signal of the pulse waveform exceeding the threshold value. .

  According to the digital camera 200, if the digital camera 200 is pointed at the subject subject to photographing restriction, that is, if the photographing lens 28 is pointed at the subject subject to photographing, the photographing restriction signal from the LEDs 18 and 18 is always received, so that the photographing restriction is ensured. Will receive. Further, the photodiode 50 can be disposed in the dead space of the digital camera 200 by the half mirror 70, and the digital camera 200 can be downsized.

  Alternatively, the photodiode 50 may be directly disposed at a position for receiving subject light including LED visible light that has passed through the photographing lens 28 without being reflected by the half mirror 70.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, directivity from a predetermined angle range is obtained only when the digital camera 10 is in a specific light receiving area where light is received as shown in FIG. 1 and the digital camera 10 is directed toward the subject 16. By receiving a light beam having, and restricting / permitting photographing, fine photographing restrictions are possible. For example, it is possible to shoot the entire exhibition hall or take a commemorative photo with the exhibition hall in the background, but restrict the use of an up-shoot with the photographic device facing an exhibit with a portrait right. Can do.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 100, 200 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Optical communication apparatus, 14 ... Shooting control system, 16 ... Shooting control picture, 18 ... LED, 20 ... Modulator, 22 ... Camera case, 26 ... Release button, 28 ... Shooting lens , 30 ... Lens barrel, 32 ... Strobe light emitting unit, 34 ... CCD, 36 ... Imaging unit, 38 ... Monitor, 40 ... Recording unit, 42 ... Control unit, 44 ... Strobe switch, 46 ... Light emitting circuit, 50 ... Photodiode

Claims (3)

A taking lens,
Light from an optical communication device that transmits predetermined data to visible light having directivity by high-frequency modulation that is impossible for humans to recognize blinking is received via the photographing lens and output as data, and the photographing lens is An imaging device capable of photographing a subject via
In a photographing apparatus having a recording unit for recording an image representing a subject photographed by the imaging element,
An imaging apparatus comprising: a control unit capable of setting an operation mode of the imaging apparatus to a predetermined mode based on the data output from the imaging element. The photographing lens, the front Symbol optical communication with equipment of a light beam, imaging apparatus according only to claim 1 which is configured to receive light from the subject side. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing apparatus is a camera-equipped mobile phone having a camera function.

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