JPH0767013A - Camera controller for image input - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a camera controller for image input which can prevent the opposite side from hardly hearing voices because of noise containing the driving sounds of a camera and a camera control part. CONSTITUTION:Corresponding to a control signal inputted from a host computer or a pictorial communication terminal equipment to an interface 18, a camera 10 is controlled by a universal head 13. While the camera 10 and the universal head 13 are operated, a microphone 20 for noise gathering is turned on, and the noise containing the driving sounds of the camera 10 and the universal head 13 is gathered. While this microphone 20 for noise gathering is turned on, the noise containing the driving sounds of the camera 10 and the universal head 13 is removed from an input signal inputted from a microphone 14 for voice input by a noise removing part inside a voice/noise signal processing part 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input camera control device, and more specifically, to a video conference system using a highly sensitive information communication service network such as ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network) or a dedicated line. The present invention relates to an image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera used in the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video conference system for conducting a conference by bidirectionally communicating video, voice, data signals, etc. between a plurality of remote locations using a highly sensitive information communication service network such as ISDN or a dedicated line. It has been known. In recent years, host computers have become smaller and more sophisticated, and workstations with practically excellent real-time image processing have emerged, and are often used as one image communication terminal of a video conference system. It's starting.

An example of an image communication terminal in such a workstation is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the image communication terminal includes a workstation main body 1 and a monitor 2
And a small image input camera 3 and a microphone 4 integrated with the camera 3 are installed.
Then, the received image G transmitted from a remote place and received by the receiving unit of the workstation body 1 is displayed on a part of the screen 2a of the monitor 2 at the same time as other signals D, etc., and is input from the camera 3. The image and the voice input from the microphone 4 are transmitted to a remote place to hold a conference.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a conventional image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera used in a video conference system using such an image communication terminal. In the figure, 10 is a CCD (solid-state image sensor) camera (image input camera), which inputs an image signal. 11 is CC
An image signal processing unit that converts an image signal input from a D camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 10 into a video signal that can be output. Reference numeral 12 is a camera controller that controls the camera 10, 13 is a platform (camera control means) that sets the direction of the lens of the camera 10, 14 is a voice input microphone for inputting voice, and 15 is a voice signal input from the microphone 14. Is an audio signal processing unit for amplifying and converting into a signal that can be output. 16 is a C for controlling the entire apparatus
PU (central processing unit), 17 is an image signal processing unit 11
And an output unit for outputting the image signal and the audio signal respectively processed by the audio signal processing unit 15 to an external transfer unit (not shown), and 18 receives a control signal of the camera 10 and notifies the state of this device. It is a communication interface (I / F) for transmitting a signal to perform.

Actually, in a portion not shown in FIG. 6, an image input from the camera 10 or a voice input from the microphone 14 is transferred to a remote place or an image or voice is received from the remote place. A video conference is performed together with a circuit block to be processed and a block called a codec that handles data processing other than these.

The operation of the image input camera control device having the above configuration will be described. First, the image input from the camera 10 is converted into a video signal that can be output by the image signal processing unit 11, and then sent to the output unit 17. The voice input from the microphone 14 is amplified and converted into a signal that can be output by the voice signal processing unit 15, and then output to the output unit 17. In this way, the output unit 1
The image signal and the audio signal sent to the
Is transmitted from the device to a communication device (not shown) connected to the outside of the device, and then converted into transmission data to another point through the communication line and transmitted.

In addition, the camera 10 and the microphone 14
Are controlled by a control signal of a predetermined format input from a host computer (not shown) via the interface 18. That is, the control signal from the external device such as the host computer is transmitted to the interface 1
When it is input to the control signal 8, the control signal is sent to the CPU 16, and the CPU 16 interprets what the control content of the control signal is. And this CPU
16 sends a signal corresponding to the interpreted control signal to the camera controller 12. The camera controller 12 sends a pan / tilt signal to the pan / tilt head 13 if the control signal is, for example, a pan / tilt signal, and the camera controller 12 sends the signal. If the direction of the lens is changed and the control signal is, for example, a zoom adjustment or iris adjustment signal, a zoom adjustment or iris adjustment signal is sent to the camera 10 to perform zoom adjustment or iris adjustment of the camera 10. Further, if the control signal is, for example, the volume adjustment signal of the microphone 14, the volume adjustment signal is sent to the audio signal processing unit 15 to adjust the output of the audio signal.

[0008]

By the way, as described above, in the workstation of the simple form of the video conference, the workstation main body 1 as shown in FIG.
In addition, a configuration in which a small camera 3 and a microphone 4 are integrated is installed in recent years. However, in this type,
Since the camera 3 and the microphone 4 are adjacent to each other, the microphone 4 picks up noise including the driving sound of the camera 3 and the camera control unit (such as a platform), and the camera 3
There is a problem that it becomes difficult for the other party to hear the voice due to the noise including the driving sound when the direction of is changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the microphone from picking up noise including driving sound of a camera and a camera control unit so that the other party can hear a voice. An object of the present invention is to provide an image input camera control device that can prevent difficulty.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present invention is to provide a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal device connected to a plurality of terminals through communication lines. An image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera, comprising: communication means for inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device; and input to the communication means. The camera control means for controlling the camera according to the control signal, and the noise for collecting noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means, which is turned on during the operation of the camera and the camera control means. A sound collecting microphone and a voice input from the voice input microphone while the noise collecting microphone is on. Is characterized in that it has and a noise removing means for removing the noise including a driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit from items.

In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect of the present invention is an image inputting apparatus having a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal apparatus connected to a plurality of terminals via communication lines. An image input camera control device for controlling a camera for communication, the communication means inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device,
A camera control means for controlling the camera according to the control signal inputted to the communication means, and a camera for controlling the camera from the voice input microphone when the power of the camera is turned on or when the initial operation of the camera and the camera control means is checked. It is characterized by further comprising: a noise accumulating means for inputting noise including a driving sound of the camera control means and accumulating the noise, and a noise removing means for eliminating the noise accumulated in the noise accumulating means. is there.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a third invention of the present invention is for image input having a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal device connected to a plurality of terminals through communication lines. An image input camera control device for controlling a camera, comprising: communication means for inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device; and the control signal input to the communication means. A camera control means for controlling the camera according to the above; and noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means from the voice input microphone when the power of the camera is turned on or when the initial operation of the camera and the camera control means is checked. And a noise accumulating means for accumulating the noise, and storing the noise in the noise accumulating means. It is characterized in that the outputted noise to the noise removal means provided on the outside from the communicating means.

[0013]

In the image input camera control device of the first invention, the camera is controlled by the camera control device in accordance with a control signal input from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication device, and the camera and the camera control device are controlled. A noise collecting microphone is turned on during operation to collect noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means, and an input input from the voice input microphone while the noise collecting microphone is on. Noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means is removed from the signal by the noise removing means. As a result, it is possible to prevent the microphone from picking up noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means, and prevent the other party from having difficulty hearing the voice.

In the image input camera control device of the second invention, the camera control device controls the camera according to a control signal input from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication device, and when the power of the camera is turned on. Alternatively, at the time of checking the initial operation of the camera and the camera control unit, noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit is input from the voice input microphone, and the noise is stored in the noise storage unit, and the noise storage unit stores the noise. The accumulated noise is removed by the noise removing means. This prevents the microphone from picking up noise including the driving sound of the camera and camera control unit,
It is possible to prevent the other party from having difficulty hearing the voice due to noise.

Further, in the image input camera control device of the third invention, the camera is controlled by the camera control device in response to a control signal input from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication device, and when the power of the camera is turned on or At the time of checking the initial operation of the camera and the camera control means, noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means is input from the voice input microphone and the noise is accumulated by the noise accumulating means. The accumulated noise is output from the communication means to a noise removing means provided outside, and the noise removing means removes the noise. As a result, it is possible to prevent the microphone from picking up noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit, and to prevent the other party from having difficulty hearing the voice due to the noise.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that, in the present embodiment, the same parts as those of the conventional device described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input camera control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the difference from the above-described conventional example of FIG. 6 is that the audio signal processing of FIG. A sound / noise signal processing unit is provided instead of the unit 15, and a noise collecting microphone and a noise processing unit (noise removing unit) are added to the configuration of FIG.

That is, in FIG. 1, 19 is a voice / noise signal processing unit, 20 is a camera 10 and a platform (camera control means) 1.
3 is a noise collecting microphone for collecting noise including the driving sound of FIG. Voice / noise signal processing unit 19
As shown in FIG. 2, has a noise processing unit 21, a voice processing unit 22, and a noise removal unit (noise removal means) 23.

The noise processing section 21 amplifies the noise including the drive sound of the camera 10 and the platform 13 which is input from the noise collecting microphone 20 into a level signal that can be output and sends it to the output section 17. , The noise processing unit 2
The output side of the noise collecting microphone 20 is connected to the input side of 1 through the switch 24. The switch 24 is on / off controlled by a control signal from the CPU 16. The voice processing unit 22 amplifies the voice input from the voice input microphone 14 into a level signal that can be output and outputs the level signal to the output unit 17. The voice processing unit 22 has an input side to which the voice input microphone 14 is attached. The output side of is connected.

The output sides of the noise processing section 21 and the voice processing section 22 are connected to the input side of the noise removing section 23.
The noise removing unit 23 outputs a signal for removing or reducing the signal input from the noise processing unit 21 from the signal input from the audio processing unit 22, and the output unit 17
To be sent to.

Next, the operation of the image input camera control device of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, in FIG. 1, for example, a control signal (command) is input to the interface 18 from an external device such as a host computer in order to change the direction of the camera 10. The interface 18
Converts the command into data that can be read by the CPU 16 and sends the data to the CPU 16. When the CPU 16 determines that a command for changing the direction of the camera 10 is received, it sends a signal for controlling the camera platform 13 to the camera controller 12, and the camera controller 12 causes the camera platform 1 to move.
3, the control signal is sent.

Between the camera controller 12 and the CPU 16, corresponding to the control numbers of the camera 10 and the platform 13,
A plurality of signal lines are interposed. The signal through one of the signal lines is sent from the camera controller 12 to the platform 13
The platform 13 continues to move while being sent to. Further, the CPU 16 transmits a control signal to the audio / noise signal processing unit 19 while receiving the command and transmitting a signal to the camera controller 12. This control signal is sent in correspondence with any control signal sent to the camera controller 12.

Next, the operation of the voice / noise signal processing section 19, which is the subject matter of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. CPU
The control signal input from 16 to the audio / noise signal processing unit 19 first turns the switch 24 on. When the switch 24 is turned on, the camera 1
Noise including 0 and the driving sound of the platform 13 is input from the noise collecting microphone 20. The input noise is input to the noise processing unit 21 via the switch 24, amplified by the noise processing unit 21 into a level signal that can be output, and then output to the noise removal unit 23.
Further, the voice input from the voice input microphone 14 is input to the voice processing unit 22, amplified by the voice processing unit 22 into a level signal that can be output, and then transmitted to the noise removing unit 23.

In the noise removing unit 23, the voice processing unit 22
A signal for removing or reducing the signal sent from the noise processing unit 21 is output with respect to the signal sent from the output unit 17 and sent to the output unit 17. While the camera 10 and the platform 13 are driven, this circuit continues to operate, and when the command is not input from the interface 18, the transmission of the control signal from the CPU 16 to the camera controller 12 is stopped, At the same time voice from CPU16
The transmission of the control signal to the noise signal processing unit 19 is also stopped.
As a result, the switch 24 is returned to the initial OFF state, so that the input of noise including the driving sound to the noise processing unit 21 is stopped, and the voice / noise signal processing unit 19 is stopped.
The signal transmitted from the audio processing unit 22 to the output unit 17 via the noise removal unit 23 is only the signal from the audio processing unit 22.

Therefore, only the audio signal from which the noise including the driving sound is removed is transmitted from the output unit 17 to the other party through the communication device, and the noise makes it difficult for the other party to hear the voice. Absent.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those of the conventional example described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings. In this embodiment, when the power of the camera 10 is turned on or the initial operation of the camera 10 and the platform 13 is checked, the camera 10 input from the voice input microphone 14 is input.
And noise including the driving sound of the platform 13 is accumulated by the noise accumulating means, the noise accumulated in the noise accumulating means is removed by the noise removing means, and only the audio signal from which the noise is eliminated is output from the output means to the other side. It is something that is done.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera control device according to the present embodiment. The difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 in FIG. 3 is that the configuration shown in FIG. Means) 25 and a noise removing unit (noise removing means) 26.

The noise accumulating section 25 accumulates noise including the driving sound of the camera 10 and the platform 13 which is input from the voice input microphone 14 when the power of the camera 10 is turned on or the initial operation of the camera 10 and the platform 13 is checked. It is a thing. A control signal from the CPU 16 is sent to the noise accumulating unit 25, and the noise accumulating unit 25 removes the noise removing unit 26.
A frequency signal, which is a noise component, is transmitted. The noise removing unit 26 removes the noise from the voice input from the voice signal processing unit 15.

Next, the operation of the image input camera control device of the present invention having the above configuration will be described. When the power is turned on, the CPU 16 performs the initialization operation of the camera 10. That is, it is confirmed whether the zoom, iris, and focus of the camera 10 operate normally, and whether the pan and tilt of the camera platform 13 operate normally, and the up, down, left, and right to obtain the drive angle position coordinates of pan and tilt. The zero point position of is memorized. These operations are executed by sending a control signal from the CPU 16 to the camera controller 12.

While performing this series of operations, the CPU 1
Reference numeral 6 sends a control signal to the noise storage section 25, and during this series of initialization processing, the signal input from the voice input microphone 14 is input to the voice processing section 15. The audio processing unit 15 extracts a frequency signal, which is a noise component including the driving sounds of the camera 10 and the platform 13 from the signal input from the audio input microphone 14, and sends the frequency signal to the noise storage unit 25. The noise accumulating unit 25 receives the control signal from the CPU 16 so that the sound processing unit 1
The noise component input from 5 is accumulated.

When the normalizing operation is completed and the normal camera image and voice are input, the same operation as the above-mentioned conventional example is performed. Then, when the zoom, iris, focus of the camera 10 and the pan / tilt operation of the camera platform 13 are performed, the control signal is sent from the CPU 16 to the camera controller 12 and at the same time to the noise accumulating section 25, and the noise accumulating section. A frequency signal, which is a noise component, is transmitted from 25 to the noise removing unit 26. Noise removal unit 26
Then, the noise component sent from the noise accumulation unit 25 is removed from the audio signal sent from the audio processing unit 15, and only the audio signal is sent to the output unit 17.

While the camera 10 and the platform 13 are driven, this circuit continues to operate, and when the command is not input to the interface 18, the transmission of the control signal from the CPU 16 to the camera controller 12 is stopped. At the same time, the transmission of the control signal from the CPU 16 to the noise storage unit 25 is also stopped. As a result, the signal transmitted from the audio signal processing unit 15 to the output unit 17 via the noise removing unit 26 is only the audio signal from the audio processing unit 15.

If there is a problem in the normal audio output due to the removal of the noise, the initialization operation is repeated or the removal level of the noise component is adjusted by a command input from the interface 18, The noise component output level of the audio signal processing unit 15 may be adjusted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, only the audio signal from which the noise including the driving sound has been removed is output from the output unit 17.
Is transmitted to the other party via the communication device, the other party does not have difficulty in hearing the voice due to the noise.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those of the conventional example described above will be described with the same reference numerals in the drawings. In this embodiment, when the power of the camera 10 is turned on or the initial operation of the camera 10 and the platform 13 is checked, noise including the driving sound of the camera 10 and the platform 13 input from the voice input microphone 14 is accumulated by the noise accumulating means. The noise accumulated in the noise accumulating means is output from the communication means to a noise eliminating means provided outside, and the noise eliminating means eliminates the noise.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera control apparatus according to this embodiment. The difference from the conventional example shown in FIG. 6 in FIG. 4 is that the second embodiment described in the configuration in FIG. That is, the same noise accumulation unit 27 as the noise accumulation unit 25 in FIG.

In the camera control device having the above-mentioned configuration, when the power is turned on, the CPU 16 performs the initialization operation of the camera 10. Since the initialization operation is the same as that of the second embodiment described above, its explanation is omitted. To do.

While the initialization operation is being performed, C
The PU 16 sends a control signal to the noise accumulation unit 27, and during this series of initialization processing, the signal input from the voice input microphone 14 is input to the voice processing unit 15. In the voice processing unit 15, a frequency signal, which is a noise component including the driving sound of the camera 10 and the platform 13 is extracted from the signal input from the voice input microphone 14 and sent to the noise storage unit 27. The noise accumulation unit 27 accumulates the noise component input from the audio processing unit 15 according to the control signal from the CPU 16.

When the initialization operation is completed, the CPU
The input of the control signal from 16 to the noise storage unit 27 is stopped. The noise accumulated in the noise accumulator 27 is sent to the host computer via the interface 18 by a command from a host computer (not shown). The noise component sent to the host computer is sent to a noise removing unit (processing circuit, software, etc.) (not shown) provided outside through the host computer or the communication control device, and is removed by the noise removing unit. After being processed, only the audio signal is sent to the other party.

As described above, according to this embodiment, only the audio signal from which the noise including the driving sound has been removed is transmitted to the other party, so that the noise makes it difficult for the other party to hear the voice. Absent.

[0041]

As described above, according to the image input camera control device of the first aspect of the present invention, the camera is controlled by the camera control means in response to the control signal input from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication means. Is controlled,
The noise collecting microphone is turned on during the operation of the camera and the camera control means, noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means is collected, and the noise collecting microphone is turned on while the noise collecting microphone is on. Since noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means is removed from the input signal input from the voice input microphone by the noise removing means, the noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control means causes the other party to hear the voice. It can prevent it from becoming difficult to hear.

According to the image input camera control device of the second aspect of the present invention, the camera control device controls the camera according to the control signal input from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication device. When the power of the camera is turned on or when the initial operation of the camera and the camera control unit is checked, noise including driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit is input from the voice input microphone, and the noise is accumulated by the noise accumulation unit. Since the noise accumulated in the noise accumulating unit is removed by the noise removing unit, it is possible to prevent the other party from having difficulty in hearing the voice due to the noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit.

Further, according to the image input camera control device of the third aspect of the present invention, the camera is controlled by the camera control means in accordance with the control signal inputted from the host computer or the image communication terminal device to the communication means. When the power of the camera is turned on or when the initial operation of the camera and the camera control unit is checked, noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit is input from the voice input microphone, and the noise is stored by the noise storage unit. And the noise accumulated in the noise accumulating means is output from the communication means to a noise removing means provided outside,
Since the noise is removed by the noise removing means,
It is possible to prevent the other party from having difficulty hearing the voice due to noise including the driving sound of the camera and the camera control unit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input camera control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a voice / noise signal processing unit in the same apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input camera control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input camera control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image communication terminal in a conventional TV conference system for workstations.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input camera control device in the image communication terminal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 CCD camera (camera for image input) 13 Head (camera control means) 14 Microphone for voice input 18 Interface (communication means) 19 Voice / noise signal processing section 23 Noise removal section (noise removal section) 25 Noise accumulation section (noise Storage unit 26 Noise removal unit (noise removal unit) 27 Noise storage unit (noise storage unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera having a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal device connected to a plurality of terminals via communication lines, Communication means for inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device, camera control means for controlling the camera according to the control signal input to the communication means, and the camera And a noise sound collecting microphone that is turned on during operation of the camera control means to collect noise including a driving sound of the camera and the camera control means, and the voice input while the noise sound collecting microphone is on. Noise including driving sound of the camera and the camera control means from the audio signal input from the microphone An image input camera control device, comprising: 2. An image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera having a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal device connected to a plurality of terminals via communication lines, Communication means for inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device, camera control means for controlling the camera according to the control signal input to the communication means, and the camera Noise accumulation means for inputting noise including driving sound of the camera and the camera control means from the voice input microphone and accumulating the noise when the power is turned on or when the initial operation of the camera and the camera control means is checked, And a noise removing means for removing noise accumulated in the noise accumulating means. Characteristic image input camera control device. 3. An image input camera control device for controlling an image input camera having a voice input microphone connected to a host computer or an image communication terminal device connected to a plurality of terminals via communication lines, Communication means for inputting a control signal for controlling the camera from the host computer or the image communication terminal device, camera control means for controlling the camera according to the control signal input to the communication means, and the camera When the power of the camera is turned on or the initial operation of the camera and the camera control means is checked, noise including driving sound of the camera and the camera control means is input from the voice input microphone, and noise accumulation means for accumulating the noise is provided. Noise provided in the noise accumulating means externally from the communication means. A camera control device for image input, characterized in that the image is output to a defect removing means.