JP3215154B2 - Camera remote control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera remote control device for controlling a camera installed at a remote place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a conventional camera remote control apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera, 2 denotes a camera platform for controlling the horizontal angle and vertical angle of the camera 1, and 3 denotes a camera. A signal line for outputting an image, 4 is a control signal line for controlling the camera platform 2 and the camera 1, 5 is a monitor television for displaying a camera image from the signal line 3, and 6 is a control signal line 4
Computer for controlling the camera 1 and the camera platform 2 via
Is a computer-dedicated monitor connected to the computer 6, and 8 is an operation input unit connected to the computer 6.

Next, the operation will be described. In general, the camera 1 and the camera platform 2 are integrated and installed on the roof of a building, on a high street, or the like. The camera platform 2 adjusts the horizontal and vertical angles of the camera 1 according to a command from the computer 6. An image captured by the camera 1 is displayed on the monitor television 5 via the signal line 3. The operator uses both the operation input unit 8 connected to the computer 6 and the monitor 7 to perform operation input of items necessary for control. The result of the operation input is processed by the computer 6 and transmitted to the camera platform 2 via the control signal line 4. The camera 1 and the camera platform 2 execute control in accordance with the command, and return the execution state to the computer 6 via the control signal line 4. The returned information is processed in the computer 6, and the result is displayed on the screen of the monitor 7 as needed, so that the operator can confirm the content.
In addition, the image captured by the camera 1 is always displayed on the monitor television 5, and the operator can check the camera image of a desired area corresponding to the operation input.

[0004]

Since the conventional camera remote control device is configured as described above, it is necessary for the operator to perform operation input and image confirmation while simultaneously viewing two monitor screens. When installing
If the two monitor bodies are relatively close to each other, it is difficult to operate them, so that there is a problem that a large installation space is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a camera remote control device which can be remotely operated with only one monitor screen and has a small installation space.

[0006]

A camera remote control device according to the present invention comprises a camera, a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of the camera.
Head for controlling the angle, and control signals for the head and camera
A computer controlled through the
Camera image sent through the highway as the foreground
And a computer image for controlling the computer.
A video compositing device for compositing to be displayed as
Based on the composite output of the video compositing device, the camera
The display frame is positioned within the display frame of the control computer image.
And a monitor for displaying the information in a state in which it is displayed .

[0007]

The camera remote control device according to the present invention is excellent in operability by combining and displaying the control computer image and the camera photographed image on one monitor, and can save the installation space of the control device itself.

[0008]

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, portions corresponding to those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 1, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a video synthesizing device for synthesizing and displaying a control computer image output from the computer 6 and a camera photographed video from the signal line 3, 11 denotes a computer image output signal line, and 12 denotes a video synthesizing device 10. This is a control signal line for controlling.

Next, the operation will be described. The camera 1 is fixedly installed integrally with the camera platform 2, and the following various items can be controlled by an external command. Camera horizontal angle (pan), camera vertical angle (tilt), zoom, focus, aperture, magnification extender, condensation prevention heater, wiper washer fluid, chroma cut filter,
Color temperature filter. On the other hand, the video synthesizing device 10
Has a function of constantly synthesizing and displaying and outputting a photographed image from the camera 1 input via the computer 1 and a computer image input from the computer 6 via the signal line 11. This composite output video is displayed and confirmed on the monitor 7. Synthesis control processed inside the video synthesis device 10,
That the size of the display window for each image, the position and the adjustment of a display priority via the control signal line 12, and is configured to perform from the computer 6.

The operator operates using the operation input unit 8 and the monitor 7 connected to the computer 6. Each operation command input from the operation input unit 8 is processed by the computer 6, converted into a control command corresponding to the input, and transmitted to the camera platform 2 via the control signal line 4. The camera 1 and the camera platform 2 execute a process corresponding to the item of the received control command, and return information on the control state to the computer 6 via the control signal line 4. The returned status information is processed inside the computer 6, and the result is reflected on a part of the computer screen corresponding to the item that was previously operated and input, sent to the video synthesizing apparatus 10 as an image output signal, and finally Is output and displayed on the screen of the monitor 7. Further, the image synthesizing apparatus 10 always synthesizes the control computer image from the computer 6 and the camera photographed image, and the synthesized output is displayed on the monitor 7 in real time.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a composite screen on the monitor 7 for confirming these operations. In the example of FIG. 2, the control computer image is expressed as a background (priority = low), and the image captured by the camera is expressed as a foreground (priority = high). In FIG. 2, reference numeral 71 denotes a display frame of a control computer image, and reference numeral 72 denotes a display frame of an image captured by a camera. The content of each image and video is displayed in the area inside the display frames 71 and 72. Reference numeral 73 denotes a cursor. In addition, the size and position of the display frames 71 and 72,
The priority and the like can be externally controlled from the computer 6. A video moving image output from the camera 1 is always displayed inside the display frame 72 of the camera captured image.
The various items necessary for camera control are displayed inside the computer image display frame 71 outside the display frame 72 area.

Referring to FIG. 2, a specific procedure for operation and confirmation will be described below. The cursor 73 shown in the figure is
The inside of the display frame 71 can be moved by operating the operation input unit 8 connected to the computer 6. The operator
First, after moving the cursor 73 into the area where the item to be controlled is displayed, an operation input for giving an instruction is performed. For example, to operate the wiper of the camera 1, the user moves the cursor 73 to the "wiper" or "ON" area of the screen shown in FIG. Click). As a result of this operation,
The instruction is transmitted to the camera platform 2 in a predetermined procedure, and the wiper (not shown) attached to the camera 1 operates.
The status information is returned from the camera platform 2 and processed by the computer 6, and the color of the "wiper" and "ON" areas on the screen of FIG. 2 changes and is confirmed by the operator.

Similarly, when controlling the horizontal angle of the camera 1, the “right” and “right” of the “pan” area on the screen of FIG.
The cursor 73 is moved to any of the "left" areas to perform an input operation. As a result of this operation, the instruction is transmitted to the camera platform 2 in a predetermined procedure, the horizontal angle of the camera platform 2 changes, and the positional information is sequentially returned from the camera platform 2 to the computer 6.
At this time, an arrow of a camera position display inside an area for displaying the current horizontal angle position of the camera 1 is displayed on the screen of FIG.
The display is rotated and displayed to the right or left in accordance with the returned position information, and is confirmed by the operator. In any of the above cases, since the camera image taken by the camera 1 is always displayed in the display frame 72, the operator can check the image on the same screen.

In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that the display frame 72 is always displayed. However, if the display of the camera image is not required for the operation confirmation work, the entire display frame 72 is displayed. Can be eliminated (close the window), and the entire screen can be made only the display frame 71, which can be controlled from the computer 6 via the control signal line 12. Further, the arrangement of each control item area in FIG. 2 can be easily changed by software of the computer 6 to other than the illustrated one. Further, regarding the position display of the horizontal and vertical angles, in addition to the method shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to easily display the position itself directly as a numerical value by software, and to change the color of the operation screen inside the display frame 71. The same applies to the method and the like.

Embodiment 2 FIG. The embodiment shown in FIG.
As an alternative to the external video synthesizing device 10 shown in FIG. 1, a video synthesizing board 20 having a similar video synthesizing function is built in the computer 6 as a video synthesizing device. In FIG. 3, a control signal line (12 in FIG. 1) for externally controlling the synthesizing processing is eliminated with the incorporation of the video synthesizing board 20, and instead, a signal line (not shown) inside the computer 6 is connected. External designation such as the size, position, and display priority of the display frames 71 and 72 is possible. The basic operation / confirmation procedure is the same as in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the function is improved so that a plurality of video input units of the video synthesizing apparatus 10 can be connected.
The selection of the video input is also configured to be externally controlled from the computer main body 6. The basic behavior is
This is similar to the first embodiment. However, in addition to the function of the first embodiment, an operation of selecting a plurality of input video images is added. This is an example that is effective when a single control device controls a plurality of remote cameras. Further, as the internal functions of the image synthesis apparatus 10, if there is a capability to process a plurality of video windows at the same time, it is also possible to more instead of one to be one screen display frame 72 in FIG. 2 . At this time, a plurality of video images captured by the cameras can be simultaneously confirmed on one monitor. By optimizing the arrangement of the control items in the display frame 71 by software of the computer 6, it is possible to control and confirm a plurality of remote cameras. become.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, a control computer image including information for remotely controlling a camera and a video image shot by the camera body are synthesized by an image synthesizing device to form one unit. The monitor is configured to display on multiple monitors, so the operator does not need to check multiple monitors at the same time, and can perform control intensively on one monitor, providing an environment with excellent operability. Also, by reducing the number of monitors, there is an effect that space can be saved in terms of installation of the apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a screen showing a display example of an output of a video synthesizing device in the device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a camera remote control device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a camera remote control device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional camera remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 camera 2 pan head 3 signal line 4 control signal line 6 computer 7 monitor 10 video synthesizing device 20 video synthesizing board (video synthesizing device) 71, 72 display frame

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera, a camera platform for controlling a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of the camera, a computer for controlling the camera platform and the camera via a control signal line, and a camera imaging transmitted from the camera via a signal line Image as foreground
And a computer image for controlling the computer.
A video synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing to appear, the camera captured image based on the combined output of the video synthesizer As
The display frame is positioned within the display frame of the control computer image.
Camera remote control device and a table Shimesuru monitor that state.