JP2000106639A - Video inverter and turning image-pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a turning image-pickup device that can receive a video image over the entire circumference of 360 degrees limitlessly, without turning a television camera and without the need for rotating a picked-up image. SOLUTION: This turning image-pickup device reflects a video image light emitted from a side in the direction of a turning axial line 50, by using an objective lens 18 and causes in inverting unit 27 which consists of three reflecting mirrors 21, 22, 23 to invert the video image light. The turning angular velocity ratio of the objective lens 18 to that of the invertion unit 27, consisting of the three reflection mirrors 21, 22, 23, is selected to be 2:1 thereby forming an image that is not rotated onto an image-forming surface 48.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reversing device and a turning image pickup device, and more particularly to an image reversing device having a function of stopping rotation of a captured image while rotating, and utilizing such an image reversing device. The present invention relates to a turning imaging device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A monitoring device using a television camera is widely used. FIG. 17 shows the mounting of such a television camera. For example, the mounting base 1 is provided below the ceiling.
, And the television camera 2 is mounted on the mounting base 1. A cable 3 is drawn from the television camera 2.

FIG. 18 shows an example in which a television camera 2 is mounted on a pole 4. Here, the television camera 2 is attached to the upper end of the pole 4 via the turntable 5 and is covered with the case 6. According to such a structure, the television camera 2 can be turned at a predetermined angle.

[0004]

In order to capture the surrounding image widely, the television camera 2 may be turned around the mounting table 1 or the turntable 5 at a large turning angle. However, since the cable 3 connected to the television camera 2 is twisted, the turning angle is limited,
There is a problem in that the television camera 2 cannot be rotated at an arbitrary rotation angle in an arbitrary direction.

As described above, it is possible to use a slip ring or the like without using the connection cable 3 for restricting the turning of the television camera 2, but in the case of the slip ring, noise enters from the sliding contact. There is a problem that it is easy and miniaturization is hindered. In addition, a method of transmitting and receiving signals using wireless communication is also considered, but such a method can reduce battery life, leak information by wireless, reduce image quality due to wireless bandwidth limitation, and introduce wireless noise. There are many disadvantages.

The method of directly turning the television camera 2 without using a connection cable as described above has a disadvantage that a large space is required. That is, when monitoring is usually performed by a television camera, the television camera is mounted with the axis of the television camera oriented substantially horizontally. Therefore, when the television camera 2 is rotated in such a state, a large space is required to rotate the television camera 2, and the television camera 2 is not suitable for photographing in a narrow place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and even if an image is taken while rotating, the image inverting apparatus does not rotate the image and the image pickup means itself is rotated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a turning imaging device capable of taking a turning image without limitation and without limitation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an objective mirror for reflecting image light incident from a side to a rotation axis along a rotation axis in the direction of the rotation axis, and an objective mirror for reflecting the image light by the objective mirror. The inverted image light is incident, the image light is reflected so as to rotate about the rotation axis by its own rotation, and the reversing unit emits the image light in the direction of the rotation axis, The present invention relates to a video reversing device comprising: a rotation driving means for driving the objective mirror and the reversing unit to rotate so as to have a predetermined relationship with each other.

Here, the objective mirror and the reversing unit may be driven to rotate in the same direction at an angular velocity ratio of 2: 1 around the rotation axis. Further, the reversing unit may be formed by combining an odd number of reflecting mirrors. Further, the reversing unit may comprise an optical block having an odd number of reflecting surfaces. Further, the reversing unit may be composed of a dove prism.

Further, the objective mirror may be constituted by a combination of a pentaprism and a turning mirror, and the pentaprism and the turning mirror may be rotated in a fixed positional relationship. Further, the rotation driving means may be constituted by a planetary gear mechanism, and the differential movement may rotate the objective mirror and the reversing unit in the same direction at an angle ratio of 2: 1. Further, the rotation driving means comprises first and second gear trains driven by a common motor, and the objective mirror and the reversing unit move in the same direction at an angular velocity ratio of 2: 1 by the first and second gear trains. May be driven.

Still another aspect of the present invention comprises the image reversing device, and imaging means arranged so that a rotation axis of the image reversing device coincides with an optical axis, and for taking in image light emitted from the reversing unit. The present invention relates to a turning imaging device.

[0012] The imaging means may be a television camera or a video camera. A focus lens that forms an image of video light emitted from the reversing unit; and a focus lens that is disposed at a focal position of the focus lens and extends in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the optical image moves when the objective mirror rotates. The imaging means may be constituted by the linear imaging means arranged as described above. The reading from the linear imaging means may be performed in synchronization with the rotation of the objective mirror.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a turning imaging apparatus to which an image reversing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and in particular, a case 10 for accommodating the image reversing device.
It has. A rotating sleeve 11 is rotatably mounted on the upper part of the case 10. This rotating sleeve 11 is a circular window 1 for taking in image light from the side.
2 is provided. A cap 13 is attached to the upper part of the rotating sleeve 11. A camera case 14 is provided below the case 10.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of such a rotary imaging device. An objective mirror 18 is mounted on the circular sleeve 11 via an arm 19, and the objective mirror 18 has a circular shape. The image captured through the window 12 is reflected.

On the other hand, a rotating frame 20 is rotatably arranged concentrically with the case 10 in the case 10, and three reflecting mirrors 21, 22, 2 and 2 are provided in the rotating frame 20.
3 are mounted via mounting brackets 24, 25, 26, respectively. And three reflecting mirrors 21, 22,
23 forms a reversing unit 27.

At the upper end of the case 10, the rotating frame 2
The motor 30 is arranged in a portion above the zero. The motor 30 is constituted by a hollow ring-shaped motor,
The stator coil 31 includes a stator coil 31 mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the case 10 and a rotor magnet 33 mounted on an outer peripheral portion of a rotor 32 formed of a cylindrical body mounted on the rotating sleeve 11. The structure is such that the rotor 31 and the rotor magnet 33 face each other via an air gap in the radial direction.

Therefore, when the stator coil 31 is energized, the rotor magnet 33 receives a circumferential force, which causes the rotor 32 to rotate.
The rotation of the rotor 32 causes the rotation sleeve 11 to rotate.

Next, the differential gear mechanism disposed below the motor 30 will be described. A plurality of support shafts 36 are implanted on the upper end side of the rotating frame 20 along the circumferential direction, and a planetary gear 37 is rotatably mounted by such support shafts 36. The planetary gear 37 meshes with a sun gear 38 attached to the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 32 and meshes with a ring-shaped fixed gear 39 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case 10. .

Accordingly, when the motor 30 is driven, the case 11 having the rotor 32 and the objective mirror 18 is thereby driven.
Is rotated, and the rotating frame 20 is rotated at half the angular velocity of the rotor 32 by the differential mechanism having the planetary gear 37.

Next, a television camera 42 is arranged in the case 14. The television camera 42 is arranged so that its optical axis coincides with the rotation center of the rotation frame 20, that is, the rotation axis, and the lens barrel 43 attached to the front end side faces upward.

FIG. 3 shows in principle a part of such a rotary imaging device, particularly a video reversing device, in which video light incident from the side of the rotation axis 50 is reflected downward by the objective mirror 18. Is done. And after this, the reversing unit 2
7, the image is inverted, and an image that does not rotate is formed on the image plane 48. Note that such an image plane 48
A focus lens 45 is disposed below the reversing unit 27 to form an image for the image. In addition, such a lens 4
When the television camera 42 is used, the reference numeral 5 includes an optical lens used in a lens barrel of the television camera 42.

The principle of forming a still image on the image plane 48 by the optical system shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Such an optical system includes an objective mirror 18 that reflects image light incident from the side with respect to the rotation axis 50 in the direction of the rotation axis 50.
And a reversing unit 27 that rotates the emitted light by the same angle in the opposite direction about the rotation axis when the image light rotates about the rotation axis 50. Then, the reflected light of the objective mirror 18 is disposed so as to be incident on the reversing unit 27, and the objective mirror 18 and the reversing unit 27 are rotated in the same direction so that the angular velocity ratio between the two becomes 2: 1. I try to make it. The rotation having the above-mentioned angular velocity ratio is achieved by the motor 30 shown in FIG. 2 and a planetary gear mechanism arranged below the motor 30.

Here, in particular, the three reflecting mirrors 21, 22, and 23 constituting the reversing unit 27 are fixed to each other, and their positional relationship is determined. Further, the reflecting mirrors 21 and 2
The reversing unit 27 composed of 2 and 23 is arranged such that the incident light and the outgoing light are on the same straight line. Here, the reversing unit 27 may have an odd number of reflecting surfaces. Here, three mirrors 21, 22, and 23 are used, but the number is not necessarily limited to such a number.
Or seven mirrors may be combined.

When the clock is copied to the mirror, the rotation direction of the hands is reversed. This is called reversal of the optical axis rotation. Therefore, when such a phenomenon is applied to the three reflecting mirrors 21, 22, and 23, and the incident light is rotated by θ about the rotation axis 50, the reflecting mirror 21 makes −θ rotation and the second reflecting mirror 22. Makes the rotation θ, and the third reflection mirror 23 makes the rotation −θ.

Here, the three reflecting mirrors 21, 22, and 23 whose positions are mutually determined are defined as one system, and this system is defined as an inversion unit 27. Assuming that the reversing unit 27 is rotated by ω in the same direction as the incident light that rotates θ about the rotation axis 50 about one straight line on which the incident light and the output light are riding, the rotation of each light is as follows. become.

Incident light: θ Reflected light from reflecting mirror 21: −θ + ω Reflected light from reflecting mirror 22: − (− θ + ω) = θ−ω Reflected light from reflecting mirror 23: − (− (− θ + ω)) + ω = − θ + 2ω Note that the second reflecting mirror 22 reflects the reflected light from the first reflecting mirror 21 and guides the reflected light to the reflecting mirror 23. not exist. That is, the second reflecting mirror 22 is
It is not necessary to consider the influence of ω on the reflecting mirror 22 because the positional relationship or posture between the reflecting mirrors 21 and 23 does not change at any rotational position with respect to 0.

If ω = θ / 2, the reflection mirror 2
The rotation of the outgoing light emitted from 3 is −θ + 2ω = −θ +
2 (θ / 2) = 0. That is, when the reversing unit 27 is rotated at half the angular velocity of the rotation of the incident light, the emitted light does not rotate. This is the principle of imaging a non-rotating image on the image plane 48.

Although the above description has been made on the assumption that the optical axis also rotates by ω when the reversing unit 27 rotates by ω, the principle is the same as the principle of rotation of the optical axis by the objective mirror 18. That is, when the objective mirror 18 is rotated about the rotation axis 50 in FIG. 3, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the objective mirror 18 correspond to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the subject, respectively. Regardless, it is always the same. However, the images A ′ and B ′ in which the image reflected by the objective mirror 18 is projected on the projection surface 47 rotate on the projection surface 47 by the same angle about the rotation axis 50 as the objective mirror 18 rotates. Also in this case, the image on the projection plane 47 is not relatively rotated in relation to the objective mirror 18.

Therefore, the reflected light from the objective mirror 18 is directly incident on the reversing unit 27 and
Is rotated θ / 2, the light emitted from the reversing unit 27 is imaged on the image plane 48 by the focusing lens 45. At this time, the image on the image plane 48 always faces a fixed direction without rotating.

Therefore, if the television camera 42 is installed below the reversing unit 27 as shown in FIG. 2, the television camera 42 remains fixed, and only by rotating the objective mirror 18 and the reversing unit 27, 360. ° Shooting of the entire circumference will be performed. Therefore, the turning imaging device is realized by the structure as shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows an image picked up by such a turning image pickup device. That is, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, an image is obtained in which the horizontal direction is always horizontal at any turning position. On the other hand, an image composed of a combination of the video camera 42 and the objective mirror 18 is shown in the upper part of FIG. In the case of this image, the horizon rotates on the monitor, making the image very difficult to see.

As described above, according to the turning imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, a turning angle of 360 ° can be performed as shown in the lower part of FIG. Moreover, at this time, the television camera 42 can be fixed together with the case 14 shown in FIG. 2 without rotating about the rotation axis 50, so that the cable is not twisted or cut. Moreover, since the optical axis of the television camera 42 is arranged upward in the case 14, the space can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art.

In the optical system shown in FIG. 3, when the objective mirror 18 is rotated about the rotation axis 50, the image formed on the image plane 48 does not rotate about the rotation axis 50. It moves on the image plane 48 so as to flow in the X-axis direction. Therefore, it is possible to perform a linear scan using the linear imaging element 49 using such characteristics.

That is, the linear imaging elements 49 are arranged so that their light receiving surfaces are parallel to the Y-axis direction of the imaging plane 48. Then, at a speed synchronized with the rotation speed of the objective mirror 18, the image pickup device 49
Is read, an image sensor on a plane, for example, area C
A two-dimensional image can be captured without using a CD. In general, the function of a signal reading portion by a linear CCD constituting a linear image pickup device is based on the same principle as that of a general scanner. What is important is that a scan, which is a general scanner, is performed by the rotation of the above-described swivel imaging device 70, that is, the combination of the objective mirror 18 and the reversing unit 27, and the scan speed is synchronized with this rotation speed. .

In the case of such a configuration, a focusing lens 45 for forming an image on the image sensor 49 is required in the optical path from the subject to the image sensor 49. Therefore, such a focus lens 45 may be provided between the reversing unit 27 and the image sensor 49, but need not always be provided at this position.

According to the configuration in which the focus lens 45 is disposed below the reversing unit 27, the focus lens 45 can be separated from the rotating system, and the configuration of the imaging portion can be made very compact. Will be possible. When a linear CCD is used as the linear imaging element 49, 1
Since the number of pixels in the column is larger than that in the area CCD, a clearer image can be obtained.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, an isosceles right angle 3
A rectangular glass block 53 is used, and the light is reflected by the reflection surface 54. The reversing unit 27
And a glass block 55, and an oblique reflection surface 56,
The image light is reflected by the vertical reflecting surface 57 and the oblique reflecting surface 58.

According to such a configuration, particularly when the reversing unit 27 is constituted by the glass block 55, 3
Since the mutual positional relationship of the two reflecting surfaces 56, 57, 58 is in a predetermined state, they do not shift later, and the function of the reversing unit 27 is accurately maintained.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment.
In this embodiment, a dove prism 59 is used as the reversing unit 27. That is, the image light reflected by the reflecting mirror 18 is incident while being refracted on the upper inclined surface of the dove prism 59, reflected on the vertical surface of the dove prism 59, and refracted on the oblique surface below the dove prism 59. The light is emitted.

FIG. 7 shows the objective 18 and the reversing unit 2 in particular.
7 shows another configuration for rotation of the motor 7, in which the motor 30
Is arranged. That is, the rotor 32 is attached to the lower portion of the rotating frame 20, and the rotor magnet 33 is fixed to the rotor 32. The stator coil 31 is provided so as to face the rotor magnet 33. That is, here, the rotating frame 20 also serves as the rotor of the motor. Here, an ultrasonic motor may be used instead of the electromagnetic motor.

A support shaft 36 is provided at the upper end of the rotary frame 20.
And a planetary gear 37 is rotatably mounted on the support shaft 36, and the planetary gear 37 is attached to the rotating sleeve 11.
Are respectively engaged with a sun gear 38 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the case 10 and a fixed gear 39 mounted on the inner peripheral surface of the case 10, thereby rotating the rotating sleeve 11 at twice the speed of the rotating frame 20. I am trying to do it. Therefore, in this case, the rotation speed of the motor 30 is reduced to half that of the structure shown in FIG.

Next, still another embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a motor 62 is mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the case 10 and the motor 62
Gears 63, 64 are attached to the output shaft of the motor, and these gears 63, 64 are engaged with a gear 65 for driving the rotary sleeve 11 and a gear 66 for driving the rotary frame 20, respectively. Here, the gears 63, 64, 6
The numbers of teeth of 5, 66 are a, c, b, d, and a /
When the relationship b = 2c / d, the rotating sleeve 11 rotates in the same direction at twice the speed of the rotating frame 20.

Next, an example of use of such a turning imaging device will be described. FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example used for inspection of the assembly of the stator 68 of the three-phase induction motor,
In a state where the image reversing device 70 is inserted into the inside of the cylindrical stator 68, the winding status of the stator coil provided on the inner peripheral surface thereof is inspected. FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an image taken by such a device.

FIG. 12 shows a monitoring device using such a device.
TV camera 42 on ceiling 71 so that 0 is inserted.
Install. The image reversing device 70 is covered by a transparent dome 72. According to such a structure, the image pickup device can be attached to the ceiling 71 almost inconspicuously, and it is possible to surely obtain a 360-degree image around the entire circumference.

In FIG. 13, the television camera 42 is mounted on a pole 73 via a bracket 74, and an image reversing device 70 is further mounted on the lens barrel. Here, the video reversing device 70 is housed in the sleeve 75. The sleeve 75 is a transparent sleeve, so that an image of the entire circumference in the circumferential direction is captured.

FIG. 14 shows an example in which an object is viewed three-dimensionally when a small object is imaged by an optical device such as a microscope. A pentaprism 80 is provided at the tip end of the reversing unit 27. And the turning mirror 8
1 is arranged. Here, the pentaprism 80 and the revolving mirror 81 are rotated in a state where their mutual relation is fixed.

The lower part of FIG. 16 shows an image of an object captured by such a device. The image shown in the upper part of FIG. 16 is an image captured by the device shown in FIG. That is, the reflecting mirror 7 is arranged on the tip side of the television camera 2 and another reflecting mirror 7 which turns integrally with the reflecting mirror 7 is combined to obtain an image of the object. . In this case, the image is rotated and becomes very difficult to see, but if the reversing unit 27 is attached as shown in FIG.

[0048]

According to the invention relating to the image reversing device, the objective mirror for reflecting the image light incident from the side with respect to the rotation axis toward the rotation axis in the direction of the rotation axis, and the object mirror reflected by the objective mirror A reversing unit, which receives the image light and reflects the image light so as to rotate about the rotation axis by its own rotation, and emits the image light in the direction of the rotation axis, an objective mirror and a reversing unit. And rotation driving means for driving each of them so as to have a predetermined relationship with each other.

Therefore, according to such an apparatus, it becomes possible to stop the rotation of the image and obtain an image which does not rotate.

[0050] The invention relating to the turning image pickup device comprises the above-mentioned image reversing device and image pickup means which is arranged so that the rotation axis and the optical axis of the image reversing device coincide with each other and takes in the image light emitted from the reversing unit. It is composed. Therefore, it is possible to perform 360 ° turning imaging without rotating the imaging unit, and the image does not rotate at this time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a turning imaging device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the main part.

FIG. 3 is a principle diagram showing an optical system of the rotation imaging device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a captured image.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an optical system according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an optical system according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a main part of a turning imaging device showing another driving mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part showing a turning imaging apparatus according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a meshing relationship of the gear.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the stator of the induction motor is being inspected.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the inspection image.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a monitoring device attached to a ceiling.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a monitoring device mounted on a pole.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing an example applied to the orbital observation device.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a conventional orbital observation device.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing an image obtained by the orbital observation device.

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a conventional surveillance camera mounted on a ceiling.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a conventional surveillance camera mounted on a pole.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mounting stand 2 TV camera 3 Cable 4 Pole 5 Turntable 6 Case 7 Reflector 10 Case 11 Rotation sleeve 12 Circular window 13 Cap 14 Camera case 18 Objective mirror 19 Arm 20 Rotating frame 21-23 Reflector 24-26 Mounting bracket 27 Inverting unit 30 Motor 31 Stator coil 32 Rotor (cylindrical body) 33 Rotor magnet 36 Support shaft 37 Planetary gear 38 Sun gear 39 Fixed gear 42 Television camera 43 Lens tube 45 Focus lens 47 Projection surface 48 Image plane 49 Linear imaging element Reference Signs List 50 rotation axis 53 glass block 54 reflection surface (object image) 55 glass block 56-58 reflection surface 59 dove prism 62 motor 63 gear 64 gear 65 gear 66 gear 66 gear 68 motor stator 70 image reversing device 71 ceiling 72 transparent glass Arm 73 Pole 74 bracket 75 sleeve 80 pentagonal prism 81 turning mirror

Claims (12)

[Claims] An objective mirror for reflecting image light incident from the side of the rotation axis toward the rotation axis in the direction of the rotation axis; and an image light reflected by the objective mirror being incident thereon. In addition, an inversion unit that reflects the image light so as to rotate about the rotation axis by its own rotation, and emits the image light in the direction of the rotation axis, and the objective mirror and the inversion unit A video inverting device, comprising: a rotary drive unit that drives each of the rotary drive units to have a predetermined relationship with each other. 2. The image reversing device according to claim 1, wherein the objective mirror and the reversing unit are respectively driven to rotate in the same direction at an angular velocity ratio of 2: 1 about the rotation axis. 3. The image reversing device according to claim 1, wherein said reversing unit is constituted by combining an odd number of reflecting mirrors. 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said inverting unit comprises an optical block having an odd number of reflecting surfaces. 5. An image reversing device according to claim 1, wherein said reversing unit comprises a dove prism. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the objective mirror comprises a combination of a pentaprism and a revolving mirror, and rotates while the mutual positional relationship between the pentaprism and the revolving mirror is fixed. Video reversing device. 7. The rotary drive means comprises a planetary gear mechanism, and the differential movement thereof drives the objective mirror and the reversing unit to rotate in the same direction at an angle ratio of 2: 1. 5. The image reversing device according to item 1. 8. A rotary drive means comprising first and second gear trains driven by a common motor, wherein the objective and the reversing unit are driven by the first and second gear trains at an angular velocity ratio of 2: 1. Are driven in the same direction, respectively. 9. An image reversing device according to claim 1, wherein said image reversing device is arranged so that a rotation axis and an optical axis thereof coincide with each other, and an image emitted from said reversing unit. A turning imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that captures light; 10. The turning imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said imaging means is a television camera or a video camera. 11. A focus lens which forms an image light emitted from the reversing unit, and which is arranged at a focal position of the focus lens, and which is orthogonal to a direction in which the optical image moves when the objective mirror rotates. The rotation imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the imaging means is configured by: a linear imaging means that is arranged to extend in a direction in which the rotation is performed. 12. The turning imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein reading from said linear imaging means is performed in synchronization with rotation of said objective mirror.