JP2008131208A - Camera system, camera, battery unit and their control methods - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a system removing a dead angle and capable of monitoring a wide region without limiting a range in which a camera can move. <P>SOLUTION: In the camera system, a monitor camera 2 and a battery unit 20 supplying power to the monitor camera 2 are moved to a rail track 1. In the camera system, the monitor camera 2 decides the residual quantity of electricity accumulated in the battery unit connected to the camera, and controls the battery unit standing by on the rail track so as to be connected to a camera body when the residual accumulated quantity of electricity is a specified value or below. In the camera system, the battery unit 20 controls movement on the rail track 1 on the basis of a moving command received from the monitor camera 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique in which a surveillance camera and a battery unit that supplies power to the surveillance camera move in an orbit and shoot.

  In recent years, surveillance cameras are often installed in commercial facilities such as stores, offices, parking lots, and general residences for security reasons. Surveillance cameras are installed on the inside and outside of buildings and on fences surrounding buildings for the purpose of monitoring theft and illegal activities in commercial facilities and intrusion of suspicious persons into ordinary residences.

  In addition to fixed-point cameras that are fixedly installed, surveillance cameras include those that swing their heads or move on rails to widen their field of view (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In particular, a fixed-point camera has a drawback that many blind spots that cannot be photographed even if the head is swung, and thus surveillance cameras need to be installed at a plurality of locations. Therefore, a system that can monitor a wide area with a small number of monitoring cameras and a reduced blind spot is desired.
JP 2001-142138 A JP 2002-027441 A

  However, since the surveillance camera that moves on the rail is supplied with power by a power cable or the like, the range in which the cable can be moved on the rail is limited by the routing of the cable, resulting in problems such as blind spots.

  Furthermore, even if the camera body has a rechargeable battery and does not have a power cable, to recharge the battery, move to a charging device on the rail or its branch. It is necessary to let However, since it is not possible to take a picture with the camera while moving to the charging device or during charging, there is a possibility that troubles such as continuous monitoring cannot be performed and important things are overlooked.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a system that can monitor a wide area without a blind spot without limiting the range in which the camera can move, without requiring many cameras. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is a camera system in which a camera and a battery unit connected to the camera body and supplying power move on a predetermined trajectory, The camera has a moving means for moving on the orbit, a communication means for performing wireless communication with the battery unit, a connecting means for connecting the battery unit to the camera body, and a camera body. A determination unit that determines a remaining amount of electricity stored in the connected first battery unit; and a second battery that outputs a movement command by the communication unit and waits on the track when the remaining amount of storage is equal to or less than a specified value. Camera control means for controlling the unit to connect to the camera body, and the battery unit performs wireless communication between the camera and a moving means for moving on the track. Comprising a signal means, and a battery unit control means for moving controls the battery unit on the basis of the movement command received from the camera.

  The camera of the present invention includes a moving unit for moving on a predetermined track, a battery unit that moves on the track and is connected to a camera body and supplies power, and the battery unit. Communication means for performing wireless communication between, a connection means for connecting the battery unit to the camera body, a determination means for determining the remaining amount of charge of the first battery unit connected to the camera body, Control means for controlling the second battery unit waiting on the orbit to connect to the camera body by outputting a movement command by the communication means when the remaining amount of charge is equal to or less than a specified value; .

  The present invention also provides a battery unit that moves on a predetermined track and supplies power by being connected to the camera body, the moving unit for moving on the track between the camera body and the battery unit. Communication means for performing wireless communication, and control means for controlling movement of the battery unit based on position information received from the camera body.

  The present invention is also a method for controlling a camera system in which a camera and a battery unit connected to the camera and supplying power move on a predetermined trajectory, wherein the camera is connected to the camera body. Determining the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit, and if the remaining amount of electricity stored is less than or equal to a specified value, a second battery unit that outputs a movement command by communication means and stands by on the track And a step of controlling the movement of the battery unit based on a movement command received from the camera.

  In addition, the present invention provides a moving means for moving on a predetermined track, a battery unit that moves on the track and is connected to a camera body and supplies power, and the battery unit. A method for controlling a camera, comprising: a communication unit that performs wireless communication; and a connection unit that connects the battery unit to the camera body, wherein the remaining power level of the first battery unit connected to the camera body And a control to output a movement command by the communication means and connect the second battery unit waiting on the track to the camera body when the remaining amount of power storage is below a specified value. And a step of performing.

  The present invention also includes a battery for supplying power by being connected to the camera body, and comprising a moving means for moving on a predetermined orbit and a communication means for performing wireless communication with the camera body. A unit control method, comprising: a step of controlling movement of the battery unit based on position information received from the camera body.

  According to the present invention, since the power cable is eliminated, the moving range of the camera can be freely set on the trajectory without limiting the range in which the camera can move.

  In addition, since it is possible to shoot even during charging or during movement for charging, continuous shooting can be performed and oversights can be reduced.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a system that does not require a large number of cameras and that can monitor a wide area without a blind spot.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The embodiment described below is an example as means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed according to the configuration and various conditions of the apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is not limited to the embodiment.

  The present invention can also be realized by supplying a storage medium (or recording medium) that stores a program code of software that realizes the operation of an embodiment described later to a system or apparatus. In this case, it goes without saying that this can be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

[Configuration of surveillance camera]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a surveillance camera that implements the surveillance camera system of the present invention. 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a front view of the surveillance camera of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the surveillance camera system includes a rail track 1, a surveillance camera (camera body) 2, a battery unit 20, a charging station 30, and a monitor that displays images taken by the surveillance camera 2 on a display. And a system 40.

  The rail track 1 is installed on the ceiling or wall of a building. The surveillance camera 2 moves by itself to an arbitrary position on the rail track 1. The battery unit 20 is made of rechargeable lithium ions or the like that move to an arbitrary position on the rail track 1 and are connected to the camera body to supply electric power. The charging station 30 is installed on the rail track 1 and charges the battery unit 20. The monitor system 40 displays the video imaged by the monitoring camera 2 on the display.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the monitoring camera 2 can move to an arbitrary position on the rail track 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lens unit for photographing a subject. Reference numeral 4 denotes a dome portion that supports the lens portion 3 so as to be displaceable in a predetermined posture. The battery unit 20 is detachable from the camera body 2 and supplies power to the camera body 2. Reference numeral 6 denotes a communication unit that transmits video information captured by the monitoring camera 2 to the monitor system 40 via the antenna 7 by wireless communication and transmits / receives various signals to / from the battery unit 20.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a position detection unit that detects the position of the camera body 2 on the rail track 1 and is composed of, for example, a GPS sensor that receives GPS signals and detects position information of the camera body 2. In addition to detecting the GPS signal, for example, a mark provided on a drive shaft of a roller 24 described later may be detected using an encoder or the like, and the position on the rail track 1 may be calculated. The position information detected by the position detection unit 8 is transmitted to the battery unit 20, the charging station 30 and the like via the antenna 7.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes a unit detection unit that detects attachment / detachment and approach of the battery unit 20 to / from the camera body 2, and is configured by, for example, an infrared sensor. The unit detector 9 outputs a detection signal to the controller 17 when the battery unit 20 approaches the unit body 2 to a predetermined range. Reference numeral 10 denotes a power supply unit that receives power supply from the power supply terminal unit 22 of the battery unit 20 via the power supply terminal unit 11 and supplies power to the entire surveillance camera.

  A roller 12 moves the camera body 2 on the rail track 1 and moves it. Reference numeral 13 denotes a drive motor that rotationally drives the roller 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes an actuator for operating a lock unit 15 described later to connect (lock) or release (unlock) the battery unit 20 with respect to the camera body 2.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a controller that performs operation control of the entire surveillance camera and arithmetic processing such as a video signal and a detection signal, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like.

  The lock portion 15 is engaged with a plurality of engagement holes 21 formed in the battery unit 20, so that the battery unit 20 is mechanically attached to a side surface portion (attachment portion) 2 b or 2 c along the rail track 1 of the camera body 2. It consists of a pair of nail | claw part 15a, 15b couple | bonded with. The power supply terminal portion 11 includes a pair of contacts 11a and 11b that are electrically connected to the power supply terminal portion 22 of the battery unit 20 in a state where the battery unit 20 is mechanically coupled. The mechanical and electrical connection configuration described above is similarly provided on both side portions 2b and 2c of the camera body 2, and the battery unit 20 approaches the camera body 2 on the rail track 1 from opposite directions. Both side surfaces 2b and 2c are configured to be detachable.

  Further, the surveillance camera 2 can rotate the lens unit 3 around the a axis in FIG. 3 and rotate the tilt around the b axis by an actuator (not shown) provided on the dome unit 4.

  The camera body 2 to which the battery unit 20 is coupled and is supplied with power can be moved by the roller 12 in the direction of the arrow c or d in FIG. 3, and the camera body 2 is moved to any position along the rail track 1. Thus, it is possible to take a picture by panning and tilting the lens unit 3.

  The charging station 30 includes a lock unit 31 that engages with the engagement hole 21 of the battery unit 20, an actuator 32 that moves the lock unit 31 to the lock position or the unlock position, and unit detection that detects the approach of the battery unit 20. The part 33 is mounted. In addition, the charging station 30 is equipped with a power supply terminal portion 34 and a charging circuit 35 that are electrically connected to the power supply terminal portion 22 of the battery unit 20 for charging, and a controller that controls the operation of the entire charging station.

  4 and 5 show a sectional view and a side sectional view, respectively, of the internal structure of the camera body as seen from the front.

  4 and 5, reference numeral 2 d denotes an exterior of the camera body 2. Three rollers 12a, 12b, and 12c are arranged so as to sandwich the rail track 1 in the hollow interior of the exterior 2d. The roller 12a is connected to the drive motor 13 and is pivotally supported by the exterior 2d so as to be rotatable. The rollers 12b and 12c are urged so as to be crimped to the rail track 1 by a spring (not shown) or the like, and the rollers 12a to 12c travel with respect to the rail track 1 so that the camera body 2 moves along the rail track 1. Move.

  When the battery unit 20 is coupled, the claw portions 15a and 15b are moved in the direction of arrow e (closed direction) in FIG. 4 by the actuator 16 to lock the battery unit 20 to the side surface 2b (or 2c) of the camera body 2. To do. Further, the battery unit 20 is unlocked by moving in the direction of arrow f (opening direction) in FIG.

[Configuration of battery unit]
6A and 6B are perspective views of the battery unit according to the present embodiment as viewed from the front and the back.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of engagement holes 21 a and 21 b that engage with the claw portions 15 a and 15 b of the lock portion 15 of the camera body 2 are formed on the side surface portions 20 b and 20 c along the rail track 1 of the battery unit 20. Is formed. Further, a pair of contacts 22 a and 22 b that contact the contacts 11 a and 11 b of the power supply terminal portion 11 of the camera body 2 and an engagement hole 23 that penetrates the rail activation 1 are provided on the side surface portions 20 b and 20 c of the battery unit 20. Is formed.

  Although not shown, the battery unit 20 includes a battery body, a roller that moves on the rail track 1, a drive motor that rotationally drives the roller, a communication unit that performs wireless communication with a monitoring camera and a charging station, a battery A controller that controls the operation of the entire unit is installed.

[Lock / Unlock operation]
Next, a lock / unlock operation between the camera body 2 and the battery unit 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  7A shows a state in which the battery unit 20 moves on the rail track 1 and approaches the camera body 2, and FIG. 7B shows a state in which the battery unit 20 is coupled to the camera body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the unit detector 9 detects the approach of the battery unit 20, it transmits a deceleration command to the battery unit 20. Further, when the unit detection unit 9 detects that the battery unit 20 has decelerated and has come into contact with the camera body 2 according to the deceleration command, it outputs a detection signal to the controller 17 of the camera body 2. Upon receiving the detection signal, the controller 17 outputs a drive command to the actuator 16 so as to operate the claw portions 15a and 15b on the side surface portion (2c in the figure) on which the battery unit 20 is in contact in the direction of arrow e. In response to the drive command, the actuator 16 operates the claws 15 a and 15 b in the direction of arrow e to lock the battery unit 20 to the camera body 2. In this locked state, the power supply terminal portion 11 of the camera body 2 and the power supply terminal portion 22 of the battery unit 20 are electrically connected to start supplying power.

  Next, the controller 17 outputs a drive command to the actuator 16 so that the claw portions 15a and 15b are operated in the direction of the arrow f with respect to the battery unit 20 coupled to the opposite side surface portion 2b. Upon receipt of the drive command, the actuator 16 operates the claws 15a and 15b in the direction of the arrow f to release the connection with the battery unit 20. This corresponds to the operation from (b) to (a) of FIG.

  The battery unit 20 unlocked from the camera body 2 moves on the rail track 1 to the charging station 30 by itself, and is connected to the charging station 30 and recharged in the same procedure as the camera body 2. .

[Description of operation]
Next, the usefulness of the surveillance camera system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 illustrates a state in which a surveillance camera is installed in a building.

  In FIG. 8, the monitoring camera 2 to which the battery unit 20 is coupled is installed on the rail track 1. In addition, a charging station 30 is installed on the rail track 1, and a charged and standby battery unit 20 ′ is coupled to one side surface portion 30 c of the charging station 30 along the rail track 1.

  In addition, the controller 17 performs arithmetic processing on the video captured by the lens unit 3 of the camera body 2. The video signal transmitted from the communication unit 6 via the antenna 7 is received by the charging station 30 or transferred to the monitor system 40 in another building.

  Using the monitor system 40, the monitoring person can remotely control the imaging conditions such as zooming, panning and tilting of the monitoring camera 2, movement to an arbitrary position on the rail track 1, and the like.

  For example, it is assumed that when the suspicious person H enters the building from the direction of the arrow i, the surveillance camera 2 captures an image of the suspicious person H, but the battery unit 20 has been depleted. .

  In this case, the camera body 2 transmits a movement command to the charging station 30 or the standby battery unit 20 ′ via the communication unit 6 and the antenna 7. The charging station 30 or the battery unit 20 ′ that has received the movement command is unlocked from the charging station 30 and starts moving along the rail track 1 by a roller (not shown).

  Further, the camera body 2 transmits the position information detected by the position detector 8 to the battery unit 20 ′ simultaneously with the movement command. When the battery unit 20 ′ that has started moving approaches the camera body 2 to a predetermined range, and the unit detection unit 9 of the camera body 2 detects it, a deceleration command is transmitted from the camera body 2 to the battery unit 20 ′. . The battery unit 20 'that has received the deceleration command starts to decelerate.

  Next, when the unit detection unit 9 detects that the battery unit 20 ′ is in contact with the camera body 2, the controller 17 of the camera body 2 drives the actuator 16 to operate the claw portions 15a and 15b to the locked position. Command is output and battery unit 20 'is couple | bonded. As a result, power supply from the battery unit 20 ′ is started, while power supply from the battery unit 20 is stopped.

  Next, the controller 17 of the camera body 2 outputs a drive command for operating the claw portions 15 a and 15 b that couple the battery unit 20 to the unlock position with respect to the actuator 16 to release the lock of the battery unit 20.

  Thereafter, the battery unit 20 moves on the rail track 1 toward the charging station 30 by itself, and is coupled to the other side surface 30b of the charging station 30 in the same procedure, and recharging is started.

  During this time, even if the suspicious person H moves in the direction of the arrow j, the surveillance camera 2 can continue to send images to the remote monitor system 40 without interruption, and can continue monitoring.

  Here, a recording medium (for example, a memory, an HDD, etc.) is mounted on the battery unit, and video information captured while the battery unit is coupled to the camera body 2 is stored in the recording medium. Then, when the battery unit separated from the camera body 2 is coupled to the charging station 30, the video information stored in the recording medium is moved to an internal memory or the like mounted on the charging station 30. Thereafter, processing such as erasing data stored in the HDD of the battery unit is also possible.

  In addition, by incorporating a secondary battery in the camera body 2 as a backup power source, the battery unit can be replaced reliably without interrupting power supply.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the photographing operation by the surveillance camera will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, it is assumed that there are shelves 53, 54, and 55 in the building. In this case, the surveillance camera 2 is photographing the subject HA between the shelf 53 and the shelf 54. Next, assuming that the subject HA has moved between the shelf 54 and the shelf 55, the surveillance person operates the monitor system 40 to move the surveillance camera 2 from the A position to the B position on the rail track 1 to thereby subject HB. Can continue to monitor. Further, assuming that the subject HB has moved to the back side of the shelf 55, similarly, the monitoring person can continue to monitor the subject HC by operating the monitor system 40 and moving the monitoring camera 2 to the C position. Thus, if the position of the subject to be monitored is within the area where the rail track 1 is laid, the camera can be remotely operated to move to an appropriate position for monitoring.

  Here, even if battery consumption is detected when the monitoring camera 2 is at the C position, the monitoring at the C position can be continued by replacing the battery unit in the above-described procedure.

  Furthermore, a specific subject can be automatically tracked and monitored by performing signal processing on the subject image in the camera.

  In addition, the monitoring camera 2 can be automatically circulated over the entire rail track 1 to continuously move the monitoring position.

  FIG. 10 shows the operation (a) of the monitoring camera when the battery unit is replaced by the monitoring camera system of the present embodiment, the operation (b) of the charged battery unit, and the operation (c) of the battery unit that needs to be recharged. It is a flowchart shown respectively.

  Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the charged battery unit 20 will be described as a first battery unit, and the battery unit 20 ′ that needs to be recharged will be described as a second battery unit.

  In the monitoring camera 2, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), the controller 17 detects the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit 20 (S1). Next, the controller 17 determines whether or not the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit 20 exceeds a predetermined specified value (S2). And if it is below a predetermined regulation value, in order to exchange to 2nd battery unit 20 ', movement command and position information are performed with respect to 2nd battery unit 20' couple | bonded with charging station 30 or charging station 30 Is transmitted (S3).

  Next, the controller 17 determines whether the second battery unit 20 ′ that has started moving has approached the camera body 2 to a predetermined range based on the detection signal of the unit detector 9 (S4), and the approach is detected. Then, a deceleration command is transmitted to the second battery unit 20 ′ (S5).

  Next, the controller 17 moves the claw portions 15a and 15b for coupling the second battery unit 20 'by the actuator 16 to the unlock position (S6). When the contact of the second battery unit 20 'is detected (S7), the actuator 16 moves the claw portions 15a and 15b to the locked position (S8), and starts supplying power (S9).

  Further, the controller 17 stops the power supply from the first battery unit 20 simultaneously with the power supply (S9) (S10). And the nail | claw part 15a, 15b for connecting the 1st battery unit 20 by the actuator 16 is moved to an unlock position, and the movement command to the charging station 30 is transmitted (S11).

  In the charging station 30, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the second battery unit 20 ′ is being charged or in standby (S21, S22) and a movement command is received from the surveillance camera 2 (S23), The battery unit 20 ′ is disconnected from the charging station 30. Then, the second battery unit 20 'starts moving to the surveillance camera 2 (S24).

  Next, when the moving second battery unit 20 ′ receives a deceleration command from the monitoring camera 2 (S25), the second battery unit 20 ′ starts deceleration (S26), and starts to supply power after being coupled to the monitoring camera 2 (S27). ).

  As shown in FIG. 10C, when the first battery unit 20 separated from the monitoring camera 2 receives a movement command from the monitoring camera 2 (S31), the first battery unit 20 starts moving to the charging station 30 (S32). . Then, it couple | bonds with the charging station 30 and starts recharging (S33).

  Although this embodiment demonstrated the example which constructed | assembled the system with the monitoring camera and battery unit which self-propelled along a rail track, this invention is not limited to what runs on a rail track. For example, the present invention can be applied to a self-propelled cleaner, a self-supporting walking robot, an electric wheelchair, other self-propelled and self-supporting mobile devices that freely travel on the floor. That is, even if the device is not connected to an external mechanism for assisting movement, such as a rail, and can move freely in the space, the movement range of the device is limited to a predetermined track. As in the above embodiment, the present invention is applicable.

  According to the above embodiment, since the power cable is eliminated, the moving range of the monitoring camera can be freely set on the trajectory without limiting the range in which the monitoring camera can move.

  In addition, since it is possible to shoot even during charging or during movement for charging, continuous shooting can be performed and oversights can be reduced.

  Therefore, it is possible to realize a system that does not require a large number of surveillance cameras and can monitor a wide area without a blind spot.

It is a functional block diagram of the surveillance camera which implement | achieves the surveillance camera system of this invention. It is a perspective view of the surveillance camera of this embodiment. It is a front view of the surveillance camera of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which looked at the internal structure of the camera main body from the front. It is a sectional side view of the internal structure of a camera main body. (A) And (b) is the perspective view seen from the front and back of the battery unit of this embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows the state which the battery unit moved on the rail track | orbit, and approached the camera main body, (b) is the figure which respectively shown the state with which the battery unit was couple | bonded with the camera main body. It is a figure explaining the usefulness of the surveillance camera system of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the imaging | photography operation | movement by the surveillance camera of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement (a) of the monitoring camera at the time of replacement | exchange of the battery unit by the monitoring camera system of this embodiment, the operation | movement (b) of the charged battery unit, and the operation | movement (c) of the battery unit which needs recharge, respectively. is there.

Explanation of symbols

1 Rail track 2 Surveillance camera (camera body)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Lens part 4 Dome part 6 Communication part 7 Antenna 8 Position detection part 9 Unit detection part 10 Power supply part 11 Power supply terminal part 12 Roller 13 Drive motor 15 Lock part 16 Actuator 17 Controller 20 Battery unit 30 Charging station 40 Monitor system

Claims (14)

A camera system in which a camera and a battery unit that is connected to the camera body and supplies power move on a predetermined orbit,
The camera
Moving means for moving on the trajectory;
A communication means for performing wireless communication with the battery unit;
Connection means for connecting the battery unit to the camera body;
Determining means for determining the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit connected to the camera body;
Camera control means for controlling the second battery unit, which outputs a movement command by the communication means and stands by on the track when the remaining amount of storage is less than a specified value, to connect to the camera body; ,
The battery unit is
Moving means for moving on the trajectory;
Communication means for performing wireless communication with the camera;
And a battery unit control means for controlling movement of the battery unit based on a movement command received from the camera. A charging device disposed on the track and charging the battery unit;
The charging device is:
Communication means for performing wireless communication between the camera and the battery unit;
Connection means for connecting the battery unit to the charging device;
The camera system according to claim 1, further comprising: a charging unit that charges a battery unit connected to the charging device. The camera
It further comprises detection means for detecting the approach of the battery unit,
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera control unit outputs a deceleration command to the battery unit when detecting the approach of the battery unit. The camera
Further comprising detection means for detecting a position of the camera on the orbit,
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera control unit outputs position information detected by the detection unit together with the movement command to the battery unit.   The camera control means releases the connection of the first battery unit to the camera body, and controls the communication means to output a movement command to move the first battery unit to the charging device. The camera system according to claim 2.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein a contact point that is electrically connected to the battery unit is provided at an attachment portion of the battery unit in the camera body.   2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein an attachment portion of the battery unit in the camera body includes first and second attachment portions in directions opposite to each other along the track. The camera
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein video information is transmitted to the monitor device by the communication unit, and photographing conditions can be set in the monitor device.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the battery unit includes a recording medium that stores the video information. Moving means for moving on a predetermined orbit,
A battery unit that moves on the orbit and is connected to the camera body to supply electric power;
A communication means for performing wireless communication with the battery unit;
Connection means for connecting the battery unit to the camera body;
Determining means for determining the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit connected to the camera body;
Control means for controlling the second battery unit waiting on the track by outputting a movement command by the communication means to connect to the camera body when the remaining amount of power storage is less than a specified value; A camera characterized by comprising. A battery unit that moves on a predetermined orbit and is connected to the camera body to supply power,
Moving means for moving on the trajectory;
Communication means for performing wireless communication with the camera body;
Control means for controlling movement of the battery unit based on position information received from the camera body. A camera system control method in which a camera and a battery unit connected to the camera and supplying power move on a predetermined trajectory,
The camera
Determining the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit connected to the camera body;
When the remaining amount of power storage is less than or equal to a specified value, a step of controlling to connect a second battery unit that outputs a movement command by communication means and waits on the orbit to the camera body,
The battery unit is
Performing the movement control of the battery unit based on a movement command received from the camera. Moving means for moving on a predetermined orbit,
A battery unit that moves on the orbit and is connected to the camera body to supply electric power;
A communication means for performing wireless communication with the battery unit;
A connection means for connecting the battery unit to the camera body, and a camera control method comprising:
Determining the remaining amount of electricity stored in the first battery unit connected to the camera body;
A step of outputting a movement command by the communication means and controlling the second battery unit waiting on the track to be connected to the camera body when the remaining amount of electricity stored is not more than a prescribed value. A method characterized by that. Moving means for moving on a predetermined orbit,
Communication means for performing wireless communication with the camera body, and a battery unit control method for supplying power connected to the camera body,
A method comprising the step of controlling movement of the battery unit based on position information received from the camera body.

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