JPH04234293A - Video signal switching device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely perform every kind of setting of a video signal switching device. CONSTITUTION:When the setting for the switching state of the video signals supplied from the plural video signal input terminals 11-18 by a change-over switch 2 is performed in the video signal switching device which outputs the video signals supplied from plural video signal sources to the plural video signal input terminals 11-18 by switching with the change-over switch 2, the video signal input terminals 11-18 in accordance with set information are selected with the change-over switch 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video signal switching device, and more particularly to a video signal switching device suitable for application to a switching device for a surveillance video camera.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when video cameras for surveillance are installed at multiple locations, it is conceivable to provide as many monitor receivers as there are video cameras, and have each monitor receiver receive the image of each monitoring location. As the number of places to be monitored increases, the number of monitor receivers as well as video cameras increases, resulting in the inconvenience that the configuration of the monitoring system becomes complicated. In addition, when recording video signals captured by a surveillance video camera on a video tape recorder (VTR) instead of a monitor receiver, similarly, as the number of places to be monitored increases, the number of VTRs increases. This has the disadvantage of complicating the configuration of the monitoring system.

For this reason, a video signal switching device for surveillance cameras has been put into practical use that switches video signals supplied from surveillance video cameras installed at multiple locations and selectively supplies them to one monitor receiver. .

[0004] This video signal switching device for surveillance cameras is one in which video signals supplied from, for example, a plurality of connected surveillance video cameras are sequentially switched at predetermined intervals and supplied to a single monitor receiver. It is. By using this video signal switching device, supervisors can monitor all locations simply by viewing the video displayed on one monitor receiver, making it easy to configure the surveillance system. At the same time, the supervisor can easily perform monitoring. Furthermore, even when a video signal obtained by a surveillance video camera is recorded on a VTR, by using this video signal switching device, the video signal can be efficiently recorded on a single VTR.

On the other hand, in a surveillance system using this type of video signal switching device for surveillance cameras, there are cases where it is desired to change the setting state for each surveillance location. In other words, you can make settings that correspond to each monitoring location by changing the monitoring time for each monitoring camera, or by superimposing text indicating the monitoring location when images from each monitoring camera are displayed. It is conceivable to do this to enable better monitoring.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when making settings corresponding to each monitoring location in this way, if the setting status cannot be confirmed for each monitoring location on the image displayed on the monitor receiver, settings may be made incorrectly. There was a risk that it would happen. That is, for example, when setting superimposed characters for each surveillance camera, it is difficult to easily determine which input number corresponds to the video camera installed at which surveillance location, and it is difficult to easily determine which input number corresponds to the video camera installed at which surveillance location. I often ended up setting the wrong characters when I was supposed to.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a video signal switching device that can reliably set various settings for each video input without error.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a video signal switching device that switches and outputs video signals supplied from a plurality of video signal sources to a plurality of input terminals (11 to 18) using a changeover switch (2). , multiple video signal input terminals (1
A changeover switch (2) for the video signal supplied from (1 to 18)
), the video signal input terminal corresponding to the setting information is selected using the changeover switch (2).

[0009]

[Operation] By doing this, when setting the switching state with the changeover switch by a predetermined operation, the video signal selected by the changeover switch is received by the monitor receiver, and the settings are made using this received image. It is possible to determine which video signal sources are present, and to reliably perform settings corresponding to each video signal source.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a video signal switching device of this example. This video signal switching device is used for switching the output video of a surveillance video camera, and 1 in the figure is the video signal switching device. A central control unit (CPU) having a microcomputer configuration that controls each circuit of the central control unit 1 is shown.
Under the control of , the changeover switch 2 for video signal changeover is performed. That is, a memory device 7 connected to the central control device 1, which will be described later, stores in advance a program for executing switching, etc., and when various commands such as key operations are supplied, the changeover switch 2 is operated based on this program. Execute switching, etc. In addition, 11, 12, 13...1 in the figure
Reference numeral 9 indicates first to ninth video input terminals, and the respective input terminals 11, 12, 13, . . . 19 are terminals to which video signals captured and output by a monitoring video camera are supplied. In this case, the first to eighth input terminals 11 to 18 have a maximum of 8
A video camera is connected. Note that the ninth input terminal 19 is used when connecting a plurality of video signal switching devices, and is not normally used.

[0012] The video signals obtained from the video cameras and the like to the video input terminals 11, 12, 13, . Outputs video signals from cameras, etc. The switching of the changeover switch 2 under the control of the central control device 1 can be performed in two modes: an automatic switching mode in which switching is performed automatically at a predetermined period in a preset order, and a manual switching mode in which switching is performed based on the operation of an operation key, which will be described later. A forced switching mode is provided in which switching is performed by inputting an alarm signal or the like. In addition, in automatic switching mode,
The video input terminal to be switched can be selected, and the display time can be set for each video input terminal to be switched by a predetermined operation of a setting switch 6, which will be described later. For example, it can be set so that only the video signal obtained from a certain terminal is output for 3 seconds, and the video signals obtained from the remaining terminals are output for 1 second each.

In this case, in this example, the central control device 1
When the switching is performed under the control of the input terminals 11 to 19, the switching is performed within the vertical blanking period of the video signals obtained at the input terminals 11 to 19. That is, when it becomes necessary to switch the input video, the central control device 1 waits until the supplied video signal enters the vertical blanking period, and then outputs the switching signal. Note that the vertical blanking periods of the video signals obtained at each of the input terminals 11 to 19 are set to the same timing using a synchronization signal generator 52, which will be described later.

The video signal selected by the changeover switch 2 is supplied to an output terminal 4 via a superimpose circuit 3. By connecting a monitor receiver or a VTR to this output terminal 4, it is possible to display an image of the monitored place on the monitor receiver or to display an image of the monitored place on the VTR. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, eight monitoring video cameras 101 to 108 are connected to the video input terminals 11 to 18 of the video signal switching device 100, and the output video signals obtained at the output terminal 4 are transmitted to the monitor receiver. 51, the images taken by each of the video cameras 101 to 108 are displayed on the monitor receiver 51 in a predetermined order. Note that the same synchronizing signal is supplied from the synchronizing signal generator 52 to each of the video cameras 101 to 108, so that the vertical blanking periods of the output video signals are set to be the same.

Further, numeral 5 in the figure indicates a character generation circuit, and this character generation circuit 5 is equipped with a memory (not shown) for storing character data such as characters and symbols, and the stored character data is transmitted to the central control unit. 1 and supplies it to the superimpose circuit 3. Then, the character data supplied to the superimpose circuit 3 is superimposed on the video signal supplied from the changeover switch 2, and the video signal with this character superimposed is output to the output terminal 4.
supply to. The superimposed character data includes numbers indicating the selected camera number, date and time, characters indicating the setting status of various operation modes, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the camera number and date and time are superimposed on the output video. As shown in the figure, for example, when the video signal obtained from the first video input terminal 11 is output, At the bottom right of the screen, there is a display that shows the input (camera) number [CAMERA1], a display that shows the current time in [hours: minutes: seconds], and a display that shows the date in [year: month: day]. and these characters are displayed on the screen of the monitor receiver.

[0017] The display positions of these characters are as follows:
This can be changed by performing a predetermined operation as a display location selection mode by operating a setting switch 6, which will be described later. That is, as the display location selection mode, after displaying [DISPLAY LOCATION] (display location) on the screen as shown in FIG. You can change the display position of each character from the bottom right of the screen, top right, top left, bottom left, bottom right, etc. each time the character is displayed, and when the desired display position is reached, you can change the display position from the display location selection mode to normal. By returning to the mode, characters indicating the camera number, date and time, etc. will be displayed at the selected position. Note that FIG. 4 is an example in which the screen is displayed at the upper left.

Furthermore, the display of the camera number can be changed to characters such as alphabets by operating the setting switch 6, which will be described later, to enter the camera ID setting mode. That is, by setting the camera ID setting mode, a list of displayable characters such as numbers, alphabets, symbols, etc. is displayed as shown in FIG. By sequentially selecting the required characters, you can set a display character to replace the camera number. In the case of FIG. 5, a state is shown in which [ENTRANCE], which is an entrance, is set instead of [CAMERA2], which indicates camera number 2. This set camera ID is stored in the RAM 7b of the memory device 7, which will be described later.

In this case, in this example, this camera ID
While making the selection, under the control of the central controller 1,
The video signal obtained from this selected video input terminal is as shown in Figure 5.
The various character data shown in the figure are superimposed, and the characters are superimposed and displayed on an image taken by a video camera corresponding to the screen of a monitor receiver. Therefore, while selecting a camera ID, the image captured by the video camera that corresponds to the screen of the monitor receiver is
TRANCE], etc. are displayed in a superimposed manner.

[0020] In this way, the image corresponding to the character being set is displayed, so that the operator performing the settings can
Camera ID for images from surveillance cameras installed at any location
It can be immediately determined from the screen display of the monitor receiver whether the camera ID has been set, and accidents such as an operator erroneously memorizing the camera number and setting the wrong camera ID can be prevented. For example, assume that camera number 1 is a surveillance camera installed indoors, and camera number 2 is a surveillance camera installed at the entrance. At this time, camera number 2 is set to [ENTRANC].
E], but the operator mistakenly memorized the camera number and set camera number 1 to [ENTRANC].
E], while the camera ID is being set, an image taken by a monitoring camera with camera number 1 installed in the room is displayed on the monitor receiver. Therefore, the operator can determine that camera number 1 is not the surveillance camera at the entrance, and an accident in which the camera ID is set incorrectly can be prevented.

When this camera ID setting mode is performed, the set character is displayed in place of the camera number when switching to the set camera number is performed thereafter. For example, for camera number 2 mentioned above, [ENTRAN
CE], when the video input terminal 12 is selected, [ENTRANCE] is displayed superimposed on the output video as shown in FIG.

Further, in the figure, 20 indicates an input selection switch, and 30 indicates an active switch. Each of the switches 20 and 30 is composed of eight switches, numbered 1 to 8, corresponding to the eight video cameras connected to the video input terminals 11 to 18, and is configured on the front panel of this video signal switching device. The control unit 1 is arranged so that operation commands for the respective switches are supplied to the central control unit 1. In this case, each of the switches 20 and 30 can be individually turned on under the control of the central control device 1.

The input selection switch 20 can specify the video camera (input terminal) selected by the changeover switch 2, and can also specify the currently selected video by the above-mentioned lighting function under the control of the central control device 1. Turn on the switch number corresponding to the camera. Further, the active switch 30 can instruct the video camera to be selected in the automatic switching mode, and lights up the switch numbered corresponding to the selected video camera under the control of the central control device 1.

Data regarding the video camera selected in the automatic switching mode, set by the active switch 30, is stored in the RAM 7b of the memory device 7, which will be described later, under the control of the central controller 1. When the central control device 1 performs operation control in the automatic switching mode, the data stored in the RAM 7b is read out, the switch that is in the active state is determined, and the input terminal corresponding to the switch that is in the active state is Only the video signals obtained at the video input terminals 11 to 18 are sequentially selected by the changeover switch 2.

Further, reference numeral 6 in the figure indicates a setting switch, and this setting switch 6 is composed of a plurality of keys, etc., and the operation command of each key is supplied to the central control unit 1. There are some that are arranged on the front panel together with 30, and others that are composed of dip switches and the like and are arranged on the back. In this case, various modes controlled by the central controller 1 can be set by operating each key. When making these settings, the settings can be confirmed by displaying them on the screen of a monitor receiver connected to the video signal switching device. That is, when setting various modes, etc., the character data from the character generation circuit 5 is superimposed in the superimpose circuit 3, so that characters and numbers indicating the setting state etc. are added to the video signal output from the output terminal 4. Contains information such as.

The central control unit 1 also includes a memory device 7.
is connected. This memory device 7 is a ROM from which only data such as a main program stored in advance is read out.
7a and a RAM 7b in which stored data can be rewritten, the ROM 7a is replaceable, and the RAM 7b is provided with a backup power source (not shown) to prevent loss of stored data.

Furthermore, a clock device 8 is connected to the central control device 1, and current time data counted by the clock device 8 is supplied to the central control device 1 and the memory device 7. In this case, based on the current time data supplied to the central controller 1, the superimpose circuit 3 superimposes numerical character data indicating the date and time on the output video signal. Also, when executing a so-called timer operation that changes the operating state (switching state) depending on time, the central controller 1 controls the predetermined timer operation based on the current time data supplied to the central controller 1. will be held. Furthermore, the current time data supplied to the memory device 7 is
The RAM 7b is configured to be able to store information according to instructions from the central control device 1. That is, some data (
For example, when storing data related to the supply of an alarm signal (to be described later), it is possible to also store data on the time at which this data was stored.

In the figure, 41, 42, 43...48 indicate the first to eighth alarm input terminals, and the alarm input terminals 41 to 48 are connected to the first to eighth video input terminals 11 to 1.
It is compatible with 8 video cameras connected to 8.
An alarm signal is supplied from a sensor (infrared sensor, etc.) for detecting an intruder installed at the monitoring location of each video camera, and the alarm signal obtained at the input terminals 41 to 48 is supplied to the central control device 1. . When this alarm signal is supplied to the central control device 1, the changeover switch 2 selects and outputs the video signal from the video camera corresponding to the number of the supplied terminal, and also outputs the video signal from the video camera corresponding to the terminal number supplied with the alarm signal. RA number and time data
Store it in M7b. Further, an alarm circuit 9 is connected to the central control device 1, and this alarm circuit 9 is composed of a speaker and a warning lamp, and when an alarm signal is supplied, the speaker outputs a warning sound and the warning lamp flashes. let A mode in which the warning sound is output and the warning lamp flashes for a preset time (10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.) and a mode in which it continues until the alarm is canceled are provided.

Further, the video signal switching device of this example can switch in the automatic switching mode in which automatic switching is performed by performing a predetermined operation of the setting switch 6 as a switching time selection mode. The selected time can be set for each video input terminal switched by switch 2. That is, as a switching time selection mode, [DWELL] is displayed on the screen of the connected monitor receiver as shown in FIG.
TIME] (time selection) to display the selection time of each of the eight surveillance cameras, and then select the camera number corresponding to the surveillance camera for which you want to change the selection time by operating the setting switch 6 as specified. By selecting a desired time as the selection time of this camera number, the switching time can be selected for each surveillance camera. In the case of FIG. 7, an example is shown in which settings are made such that only the video signal obtained from the video input terminal of camera number 4 is output for 3 seconds, and the video signals obtained from the remaining terminals are output for 1 second each. That is, the table shown in FIG. 7 shows camera numbers (1 to 8) on the vertical axis and switching times (1 to 8) on the horizontal axis.
seconds, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute), and select one of the switching times using the arrows for each camera number. Note that the arrow corresponding to the camera number being selected changes its display mode by blinking or the like.

When selecting this switching time, the video signal obtained at the video input terminal corresponding to the camera number being selected (for example, the one with a blinking arrow) is transferred to the output terminal 4.
The changeover switch 2 is switched under the control of the central control device 1 so that the output is output from the central control device 1. Therefore, characters such as camera number, switching time, arrow, etc. are superimposed on the video signal from the surveillance camera whose switching time is being selected.
From this superimposed screen, it can be immediately determined which camera number is selecting the switching time and which video camera to monitor is selecting the switching time.

The video signal switching device of this example also has a timer function. That is, a data storage area for this timer function is set in the RAM 7b, and the time and various setting conditions are set by operating the setting switch 6, and the data storage area is set in the RAM 7b.
By storing the set contents in a predetermined area of 7b, when the time counted by the clock device 8 reaches the set time, the clock device 8 is operated in the set state under the control of the central control device 1.

Furthermore, the central control device 1 of this example has control data bus lines 1a and 1b for communicating control data with other video signal switching devices and computer devices. Control data is communicated with the device connected to the connection terminal 1b.

Next, to explain the operation of this video signal switching device, assume that a mode in which switching is automatically performed every second is selected by operating the setting switch 6, for example. At this time, the central control device 1 determines the state of the active switch 30, and the video input terminal (
(any one of the video input terminals 11 to 18) is determined. In addition,
In the following description, it will be assumed that eight monitoring video cameras are connected to the video input terminals 11 to 18, as shown in FIG.

For example, when all the video cameras are set to the active state, the images from the video cameras connected to all the video input terminals 11 to 18 are sequentially supplied to the monitor receiver from the output terminal 4. Control as follows. That is, first, the selector switch 2 is changed over so that the video signal from the video camera connected to the first video input terminal 11 is outputted from the output terminal 4. At this time, the input selection switch 20 corresponding to the input terminal 11 is turned on. When the video signal from the video camera is output for a predetermined period of time (hereinafter referred to as 1 second), the video signal from the video camera connected to the second video input terminal 12 is transferred to the output terminal. Switch to output from 4. At this time, the input selection switch 20 corresponding to the input terminal 12 is turned on. Thereafter, the video signals obtained from the video input terminals 13, 14...18 are similarly switched every second to be output from the output terminal 4, and the corresponding input selection switch 20 is lit for each switch. let Then, one second after selecting the video signal from the video input terminal 18, the video signal obtained from the video input terminal 11 is transferred to the output terminal 4 again.
8. Switch to output from 8.
output the video signal from the video camera. In this way, the video signals from the eight video cameras are switched and output from the output terminal 4 every second, and the video from each video camera is sequentially displayed on the monitor receiver every second.

Therefore, one monitor receiver (or VT
R) allows monitoring of up to 8 locations, and a monitoring system with a small number of devices can effectively monitor many locations.

When monitoring is performed by this switching device, the input selection switch 2 of each video signal switching device is
The lighting state of 0 indicates which video camera (input terminal) the video is being displayed from. In addition, this input number is also displayed in the corner of the image displayed on the monitor receiver by superimposing the character data of the input number in the superimpose circuit 3. You will be notified if it is being displayed. Therefore, for example, when the video switched by this video switching device is recorded on a VTR, and each monitoring location is in the same room with almost no changes and it is not possible to determine which location is from the video alone, the number display will be used to record the video. You can determine where the image is located. Note that since time character data is also superimposed on the display of this input number, it is possible to determine at what time the video was shot when it is recorded on a VTR.

When in this automatic switching mode, for example, if any input selection switch 20 is pressed, the video input terminal of the input number corresponding to the pressed input selection switch 20 is selected. Switch to the available image. When the same input selection switch 20 is pressed again, the mode is returned to the automatic switching mode in which switching is performed at predetermined time intervals. Therefore, when performing monitoring by automatic switching, it is possible to temporarily focus on monitoring a specific monitoring location.

Furthermore, when there is a place where there is no need to monitor, the active switch 30 corresponding to the video camera installed in the place where there is no need to monitor is set to an inactive state, thereby preventing the video camera from monitoring the place. No video is displayed, which is suitable when, for example, it is desired to change the monitoring location depending on the time. In this case, the timer function can be used to conveniently set the video camera to become inactive at a predetermined time.

Furthermore, when an alarm signal is supplied to the alarm input terminals 41 to 48 of any of the video signal switching devices during the automatic switching mode, the automatic switching is temporarily stopped and the alarm signal is The video signal from the video camera corresponding to the number of the terminal to which the alarm signal is supplied is selected by the changeover switch 2 and outputted, and the number of the terminal to which the alarm signal is supplied and time data are stored in the RAM 7b;
Further, depending on the set operation mode, a warning sound is output from the speaker for a predetermined period of time, and a warning lamp is made to blink for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, for example, by arranging an infrared sensor at each monitoring location and supplying an alarm signal from this infrared sensor to the alarm input terminals 41 to 48 of the video signal switching device, it is possible to detect an intruder at each monitoring location. , an image of the monitored location where the intruder was located will be automatically displayed on the monitor receiver, and this will also cause the alarm circuit 9 to be activated.
For example, even if there is an intruder while an image of another monitoring location is being displayed, the intruder will not be missed and surveillance can be performed reliably. In addition, when monitoring an area that is left unattended at night using a VTR instead of monitoring in real time with a monitor receiver, the stored data in the memory device 7 (intruder This can be determined from the location and time data. In this case, the VTR
Since the time and location (input number) of the recording are superimposed on the recorded video, it is easy to search for the video recorded when there was an intruder.

Note that by canceling the automatic switching mode, a manual switching operation corresponding to the operation of the input selection switch 20 is performed.

In the above-described embodiment, a video camera for monitoring is connected to all the video input terminals 11 to 18, but other video signal sources may be connected to the video input terminals. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can take various other configurations.

[0042]

According to the present invention, when setting the switching state for each video input terminal, such as setting the camera ID corresponding to each camera number and setting the switching time, it is possible to Since the video obtained is output to the video input terminal corresponding to can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connection diagram showing a usage state of an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state according to an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state according to an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state according to an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state according to an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display state according to an embodiment of the video signal switching device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Central control device 2 Selector switch 3. Superimpose circuit 4 Output terminal 5 Character generation circuit 6 Setting switch 7 Memory device 7a ROM 7b RAM 8 Clock device 9 Alarm circuit 11-19 Video input terminal 20 Input selection switch 30 Active switch 41-48 Alarm input terminal 51 Monitor receiver 52 Synchronous signal generator 100 Video signal switching device 101-108 Video camera

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1. A video signal switching device that uses a changeover switch to switch and output video signals supplied from a plurality of video signal sources to a plurality of video signal input terminals, wherein the video signals supplied from the plurality of video signal input terminals are A video signal switching device characterized in that, when setting a switching state of a signal with the changeover switch, the video signal input terminal corresponding to the setting information is selected with the changeover switch.