JPH08317268A - Video input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To image plural image pickup portions by a single image pickup means in a video input device. CONSTITUTION: The CRT display 12 in a video input device 10 is provided with a CCD camera 15. The CCD camera 15 is mounted so that the camera may rotate to the one end of a supporting body 20 and is possible to move to the center location of the upper part of the surface of the CRT display 12 and the location where the whole of the supporting body 20 is drawn to the side of an operator. When the CCD camera 15 is located on the surface of the CRT display 12, the CCD camera 15 faces on the side of the operator and an image pickup portion is the location of the operator. When the CCD camera 15 is drawn to the side of the operator and is rotated by 90 deg. in the lower direction for the supporting body 20, the image pickup portion becomes the desk on which the video input device is installed. At the time, the other end of the supporting body 20 operates the changeover switch 22 and the change of the image pickup portion is transmitted to a computer main body 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video input device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a video input device including an image capturing unit that captures an image of a subject and a storage unit that stores the captured image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video input device of this type takes in an image picked up by an image pickup means such as a video camera installed outside, and stores this image in a computer as an image memory as a storage means. It has a configuration for storing in. As the image pickup means, a video camera, a scanner, a VTR or the like is arbitrarily selected according to the image information to be input, and a necessary capacity of the image memory is also selected according to the image information to be input.

In a system including such a video input device, if the purpose of processing the input image information is limited and the system is a dedicated machine for inputting or processing specific image information, a CPU or The entire system including the memory and the input / output circuit can be integrated with the video input device. In the case of a dedicated machine, the structure can be made compact and the operability can be improved.

On the other hand, recently, with the development of communication technology using a computer, information exchange using a personal computer or the like has become widespread, and by connecting an appropriate video input device to the computer, various information can be exchanged. It has also been attempted to exchange image information of. For example, by connecting a video input device to which a video camera or the like is connected and an audio input device to which a microphone or the like is connected to a local area LAN or a communication line and transmitting and receiving the input image information and audio information to and from each other, computer communication is performed. It is also known that a videophone can be easily realized by using. Just connect the video input device to the computer, connect the computers to each other,
You can hold a video conference while you are in a remote place.

[0005]

However, even in the usage such as the videophone, the image information to be transmitted and received is not limited to the images showing the mutual appearance input by the video camera or the like. For example, in the case of a videophone using the above-mentioned computer communication, there is a case where, in addition to the images showing each other's appearance, images such as documents and drawings necessary for explaining and persuading the other party are desired to be transmitted. . In this way, when it is desired to input and transmit an image such as a document or a drawing, it is necessary to separately connect a scanner or the like in the image input device instead of the image pickup means such as the video camera to switch the input circuit. Therefore, not only a plurality of image pickup means are required, but also a switching circuit therefor is required, and there is a problem in that it is necessary to switch the image pickup means in actual use.

The video input device of the present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above problems and providing a video input device capable of easily switching the input of a plurality of types of video without complicating the interface. The composition was adopted.

[0007]

A video input device of the present invention is a video input device provided with an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting the picked-up image, and a storage means for storing the picked-up image. The image pickup means is provided on the main body of the computer or a monitor for image display, and the image pickup portion of the image pickup means is at least on the surface on which the computer is installed and the position of the operator in front of the computer. The gist is that a switching means for switching is provided.

In the video input device having the above-mentioned structure, when the switching means switches the surface on which the computer is installed so as to be capable of capturing an image, a display means is provided for displaying an image captured by the imaging means on a monitor. You can also

[0009]

In the video input device of the present invention configured as described above, the image pickup means picks up an image of a subject and the storage means stores the image output by the image pickup means. The image pickup means is provided in the main body of the computer or the monitor for image display, and since the image pickup portion of the image pickup means is switched by the switching means, at least the surface on which the computer is installed and the position of the operator in front of the computer. And can be imaged.

Here, the image pickup means is a video camera or a CCD.
It is only necessary to be able to capture an image of a computer operator such as a camera or an image of a document, and the storage means can be built in the computer as an external device as long as it has a capacity capable of storing the captured image. It doesn't matter. Further, the above-mentioned surface on which the computer is installed is not limited to a desk on which the computer is installed, and a subject such as a document, drawing, painting or stereo model to be imaged can be placed in an imageable state. If so, it does not matter in any space around the computer. It is also possible to prepare a dedicated image pickup base for preparing an image pickup of a subject in a good state, install it at a specific place around the computer, and match the switching position of the image pickup place with this image pickup base.

If the switching means of the video input device is provided with a display means for displaying an image captured by the image capturing means on the image display monitor when the surface on which the computer is installed is switched to be capable of capturing an image, It is extremely easy to confirm the image pickup state of the image being picked up.

[0012]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in order to further clarify the structure and operation of the present invention described above. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the external appearance of the video input device 10 of the first embodiment as viewed from the front. The video input device 10 is mainly composed of a computer main body 11 and a CRT display 12, and also has a function similar to that of an ordinary personal computer. The CRT display 12 has a monitor screen 13 and is installed on the computer main body 11. On the CRT display 12,
A CCD camera 15 having a lens 16, a microphone 17 and a speaker 18 are mounted. Therefore, by the CRT display 12, it is possible to use the CCD camera 15 and the microphone 17 to capture external video and audio, and use the monitor 13 and the speaker 18 to output video and audio. In FIG. 1, the CCD camera 15
The lens 16 of is oriented toward the front of the computer and is ready to capture the image of the operator of the computer.

The CCD camera 15 is provided at the center of the front surface of the CRT display 12 and directly above the monitor screen 13 so that it can be pulled out to the front. This structure will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an external appearance of the image input device 10 of the present embodiment with the CCD camera 15 pulled out, as viewed from the side. In this embodiment, the CCD camera 15 is rotatably attached to one end of the support 20, and the support 20 and the CCD camera 15 are C
The position stored in the RT display 12 and the support 20
It can be manually moved to the position where it is pulled out to the user side (see FIG. 2). When the support 20 is pulled out to the front, the CCD camera 15 is rotated downward by its own weight. When only the CCD camera 15 is present on the surface of the CRT display 12 and the support 20 is housed in the CRT display 12, the video input device 1
0 can capture the image of the operator of the computer. C
When the CD camera 15 is pulled out to the operator side of the computer and rotated 90 degrees downward with respect to the support 20, the video input device can capture an image of the desk on which the computer is installed. When the support body 20 is pulled out together with the CCD camera 15, a protrusion provided on the other end of the support body 20 contacts the changeover switch 22 in the CRT display 12, and the change of the input image is transmitted to the computer main body 11 side. Has become.

The computer main body 11 includes a power switch 1
4 and a flexible disk drive 42, and various circuits including the control unit 30 are provided therein. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the video input device 10 in blocks. The control unit 30 of the video input device 10 is composed of a logical operation circuit centering on a microcomputer and circuits related to input / output. The microcomputer includes a CPU 31, which executes various arithmetic processes for controlling input / output of images, sounds, etc., according to a preset control program.
A ROM 32 in which programs and data necessary for executing various arithmetic processes in the CPU 31 are stored in advance, and also C
It comprises a RAM 33 in which various data necessary for executing various arithmetic processes in the PU 31 are temporarily read and written.

As circuits related to input / output, there are video signal output circuits 35 and C for sending images to the CRT display 12.
A video signal input circuit 37 for receiving video information from the outside through the CD camera 15 and the video terminal 36, a microphone 17
Also, there are a voice input / output circuit 38 connected to the speaker 18 and a keyboard interface 45 for receiving an input from a keyboard 44. Furthermore, the flexible disk drive 42, the hard disk 41, and the changeover switch 22.
There is an input / output port 43 connected to the computer, a high speed modem 34 for connecting a computer and a communication line to perform computer communication, and a timer 39, which are interconnected by a bus 46. Further, the control unit 30 of the video input device 10 is provided with a stabilized DC power supply 48. The stabilized DC power supply 48 is connected to the power switch 14 on the computer main body and the sensor 47 installed outside, and starts power supply to start the computer according to any one of the instructions.

Next, the video input device 1 thus constructed
The operation at the time of switching the image pickup location in 0 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a video processing routine executed at the time of switching the image capturing location. When an image is input from the CCD camera 15, the control unit 30 of the video input device 10 executes the video processing routine shown in FIG. When this routine is executed, first, the CPU 31
Determines whether the switch 22 of the camera is on or off (step S100). If the switch of the camera is on, it is assumed that the imaging location has been switched to the desk with the computer installed,
The CCD camera 15 is focused on the desk on which the computer is installed (step S110). Actually, the document 24 to be imaged is placed on the desk (see FIG. 2).
Then, the document 24 on the desk is imaged, the image is input (step S120), and the input image is displayed on the monitor (step S130). Here, the input status from the keyboard 34 by the operator is determined (step S14).
0). The operator can perform operations relating to focusing and image saving from the keyboard while looking at the image of the document 24 displayed on the monitor. That is, the "↑" key indicates that the focus position of the camera is finely adjusted upward (step S150), and the "↓" key indicates that the focus position of the camera is finely adjusted downward (step S150).
160). Further, the return key instructs execution of a process of saving the input image in the hard disk 31 (step S170). The processing according to the instruction from the keyboard 34 is executed, and the present routine ends.

On the other hand, if the camera changeover switch 22 is off in step S100, the CPU 3
In No. 1, the image pickup location is determined to be the position of the computer operator, and the CCD camera 15 is focused on the computer operator (step S180). Then, it is determined whether or not to set the videophone (step S19).
0) If the setting of the videophone is instructed in advance from the keyboard 44 or the like, a process of calling the instructed partner is performed (step S200). Specifically, the dial command and the telephone number of the other party are output to the high-speed modem 34. Then, it is determined whether or not the connection is established with the other party (step S210). If the connection is not established, the process returns to step S200 to continue the calling operation. Step S21
After it is determined that the connection is made to the other party at 0, video / audio communication is performed by the videophone (step S220), and after the image transmitted from the other party through the communication line is displayed on the monitor (step S230). This routine ends. Note that the video displayed on the monitor screen during use as a videophone is not limited to the video of the communication partner transmitted from the other party, and the video of itself being transmitted may be displayed as a sub-screen. On the other hand, in step S190, when the videophone is not set, the process is terminated and the normal computer mode is set.

According to the video input device of the above-described embodiment, when the computer communication using the communication line is used as the videophone, the CCD camera 15 is normally CR.
It is positioned on the T display 12 to capture the image of the user. On the other hand, when used as a scanner, CC
The D camera 15 can be pulled out to the front to capture a document on the desk. Therefore, even when importing documents and drawings,
There is no need to prepare a video input device separately. As a result, the interface is not complicated by connecting a plurality of video input devices, and the operation is not complicated by switching a plurality of video input devices. Further, in the video input device of the present embodiment, when the image pickup location is switched to the desk where the computer is installed, the imaged image is displayed on the monitor, and the operator corrects the image pickup state such as focusing the image on the spot. Therefore, it is possible to easily input a good image.

Further, in this embodiment, the high speed modem 34
If a device having a FAX function is used as, the image input using the video input device 10 as a scanner can be FAX-transferred by an instruction by key input (step S140). That is, if you want to send an image that has been captured by a video input device and edited, you can output the image to a printer, print it, and print it.
It is not necessary to perform a complicated operation such as transmission by a separately prepared FAX device, and the image can be transmitted by simply inputting the FAX number of the other party or an instruction for calling with the key operation. In addition, high quality images can be transmitted.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 4, the case where the CCD camera 15 is pulled out and the camera switch 22 is switched during use as a videophone is not mentioned, but during communication of video / audio (step S
220) when the CCD camera 15 is pulled out,
Naturally, the subject on the desk will be imaged. In this case, the user can edit the document or drawing while looking at the image displayed on the monitor and send the edited image, so that the user can easily understand the document. It is possible to send.

Although not described with reference to a flowchart in particular, when it becomes the receiving side, the video input device of the present embodiment receives the call by the high speed modem and displays the video of the calling side on the monitor screen 13. When the video input device is used as an ordinary computer and a call is received from the other party having the videophone function, the video from the other party is received as a background process, and the sub screen is displayed on the monitor screen 13. It is also possible to display the image of the other party as the image.

In the above-described first embodiment, the operation of the video input device 10 when the image pickup location is switched between the desk on which the computer main body is installed and the position of the operator of the computer has been described. Since the video input device connected to such a communication line can be easily used as a surveillance device for crime prevention, the operation when the device of the first embodiment is utilized as a surveillance device will be described in the second embodiment. Will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the video input device of this embodiment can be activated by both the power switch 14 on the computer main body and the sensor 47 installed outside. Here, the sensor 47 is installed in a room where the computer is installed, for example, at a position where it can detect an arbitrary place such as a doorway, and can detect the presence of an intruder in the room where the computer is installed. When the power is turned on by either the power switch 14 or the sensor 47, C
The PU 31 executes the power-on process routine shown in FIG. When this routine is executed, first, the CPU 31
Checks whether the computer activation factor is due to the sensor 47 or the power switch 14 (step S300). If the activation factor is due to the sensor 47, it is determined that an intruder is present, so the power of the monitor remains off (step S310) and the high speed modem 34
And a call is made to the crime prevention center or the like via the communication line (step S320). Then, the video from the CCD camera 15 and the voice from the microphone 17 are captured and the information about the intruder is input (step S330), and the input video and voice are transmitted to the crime prevention center or the like (step S34).
0).

When it is determined in step S300 that the activation factor is the power-on by the power switch 14, it is determined that the action is performed by the operator of the computer, and thereafter, it is used as a normal personal computer. (Step S350).

As described above, in the second embodiment in which the video input device is used as a surveillance device for crime prevention, a special video input device is installed as a surveillance device or a line for contacting the crime prevention center is provided. No new connection required. Also,
The external appearance of the video input device of the present embodiment is a normal computer, and when the sensor is activated, the monitor power is off and the video and audio are input. This has the effect of not being noticed by an intruder.

In addition, in the method of using the video input device as a monitoring device, in addition to the configuration in which the sensor detects an intruder and activates it as described above, the security center calls the video input device for monitoring. The configuration is also preferable. That is, at night when the room where the video input device is installed becomes unmanned, the video input device is called from the crime prevention center or the like via the communication line at regular intervals, and the video and audio are input and transmitted to the crime prevention center or the like. It is possible to check if there is any abnormality.

In the above embodiment, the camera 15 and the microphone 17 are provided at the center of the upper part of the CRT display 12 as shown in FIG. 1, but the structure for attaching the camera and the microphone to the main body is also good. As a third embodiment, FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which a camera and a microphone are provided in a computer main body. In FIG. 6, only the computer main body part and the installation surface of the video input device of this embodiment are shown, and the CRT display shows only its legs. Further, the common numbers 11 and 17 are attached to the main body and the microphone common to FIG. In the third embodiment, the spacer 62 is attached to the main body to provide a space between the main body and the installation surface. FIG. 6 shows a camera 6
4 shows a state in which it is moved so as to face the space under the main body. By switching the imaging location to the desk under the main body, it is possible to capture images such as documents placed on the desk under the main body. . Here, it is desirable that the lens 60 is a wide-angle lens.

In the third embodiment as described above, in addition to the effects seen in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to separately secure a space for placing a document or a drawing to be imaged on the desk, and the installation surface under the main body is It has the advantage of being available.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, a dedicated imaging stand for placing a document or a drawing to be picked up is provided and the imaging stand and the image input device are integrated with each other. Needless to say, the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the above.

In the video input device of the embodiment described above,
Although the CRT display 12 is installed on the computer main body 11, the CRT display and the computer main body may be integrated.

Further, the switching of the position of the CCD camera 15 can be automated by a device having a motor or the like as a drive source. In this case, change the position selector switch to CRT.
It may be provided on the display 12 or the computer main body 11, or the position of the CCD camera 15 may be switched by displaying a button on the monitor screen 13 and operating this with a mouse or the like.

Further, in the use as the security device, the position of the CCD camera 15 is automatically switched by a device having a motor or the like as a drive source so that the camera can be operated by an instruction from a security center or the like through a line. It is possible to control the imaging location. That is, pull out the CCD camera 15 according to an instruction from the crime prevention center,
Tilt and pan are performed to change the orientation of the CCD camera 15 up, down, left and right. This allows a much wider range of surveillance to be performed than when the CCD camera 15 is merely stationary on the CRT display 12.

In the first embodiment, the CCD camera 15 has a structure in which it is pulled out to the front and rotated downward, but in this case, the top and bottom of the imaged image are opposite to the top and bottom at the time of normal image pickup ( The front side is up). Therefore, when the CCD camera 15 is pulled out to the front, the top and bottom of the captured images may be swapped on the memory. Also, CR
As shown in FIG. 7, which is a perspective view of the T display 82,
When the CCD camera 85 is mounted on an arm 90 whose one end is rotatably attached to the right end of the CRT display 82 and an image is taken on a desk, the arm 90 is set to 180.
It is also possible to rotate the CCD camera 85 by 90 degrees and take out the CCD camera, and further rotate the CCD camera 85 downward by 90 degrees with the longitudinal direction of the arm 90 as a rotation axis. In this embodiment, since the image pickup position by the CCD camera 85 is on the right side of the computer, there is an advantage that it is easy to secure a space for taking an image of the document 24 or the like. Furthermore, in this case, the CCD
Since the upper and lower sides of the image captured by the camera 85 are not interchanged, there is no need to process the image on the memory.

When the video input device of the present invention is used as a videophone, it can be configured as an answering machine videophone. That is, the user's video and audio are input as an answering message and stored in the memory of the video input device. When the videophone is called while the user is absent, the stored message (video or audio ) To be sent to the other party beforehand. Then, in response to the transmitted message, if the image and voice transmitted from the other party are stored in the memory again, the answering machine videophone can be realized.

When transmitting an image by the above-described video input device of the present invention, it is preferable to compress the image data to be transmitted.

On the other hand, when an image is picked up by the image input device of the present invention, in order to pick up different image pickup targets such as an operator's image and a document on a desk, the optimum lens is selected according to the image pickup target, A configuration in which the CCD camera is replaced each time and the CCD camera is replaced is also suitable. Also, attach a versatile lens to the CCD camera of the video input device,
When a special function such as a wide-angle lens is required, an attachment including a corresponding lens may be further attached to the camera. Note that CC is used as the image pickup means.
It is not necessary to limit to the D camera.

[0037]

As described above, in the video input apparatus of the present invention, by providing the switching means for switching the image pick-up portion of the image pick-up means, at least the computer can be operated without complicating the interface and complicating the operation. This has an excellent effect that it is possible to image a plurality of image pickup locations on the installed surface and the operator's position in front of the computer by a single image pickup means.

Further, according to the display means of the present invention, since the imaged image can be confirmed on the display device in real time, it is very easy to correct the imaged state. Further, by displaying the captured image on the monitor, it is possible to perform an arbitrary editing operation on the captured image through an input unit connected to a computer such as a keyboard.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance of a video input device according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance of a video input device according to an embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing at the time of image capturing in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process when power is turned on in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a part of the external appearance of the video input device of the third embodiment as viewed from the front.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified example of attachment of a CCD camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Image input device 11 ... Computer main body 12 ... CRT display 13 ... Monitor screen 14 ... Power switch 15 ... CCD camera 16 ... Lens 17 ... Microphone 18 ... Speaker 20 ... Support 22 ... Changeover switch 24 ... Document 30 ... Control unit 31 ... CPU 32 ... ROM 33 ... RAM 34 ... High-speed modem 35 ... Video signal output circuit 36 ... Video terminal 37 ... Video signal input circuit 38 ... Audio input / output circuit 39 ... Timer 41 ... Hard disk 42 ... Flexible disk drive 43 ... Input / output port 44 ... Keyboard 45 ... Keyboard Interface 46 ... Bus 47 ... Sensor 48 ... DC Stabilized Power Supply 60 ... Lens 62 ... Spacer 64 ... Camera

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video input device comprising: an image pickup means for picking up a subject and outputting the picked-up image; and a storage means for storing the picked-up image, wherein the image pickup means is a computer main body or an image. A video input device provided on a monitor for display and provided with switching means for switching the imaging location of the imaging means to at least the surface on which the computer is installed and the position of the operator in front of the computer. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein when the switching unit switches to a surface on which a computer is installed so as to be capable of capturing an image, an image captured by the imaging unit is displayed.
A video input device comprising display means for displaying on the monitor.