JP2000171878A - Camera protecting housing and protecting method for monitoring camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a camera protecting housing equipped with a function for preventing the soiling of a glass surface and a protecting method for a monitoring camera. SOLUTION: A rainfall detector 12 detects whether or not it rains, and a fan 5 is rotated according to a detection signal so as to take in air from an air take-in port 7 and cause the current of air. A duct 3 guides the current of air to the surface on the external side of the front glass 2 through which the camera 8 picks up an image, so that the current of air 19 on the front glass is formed to remove waterdrops adhering to the glass 2 because of the rainfall. Furthermore, a waterdrop sensor 13 detects the waterdrops and detects whether or not the waterdrops adhere to the glass 2. The temperature of the current of air is raised by a heater as necessary, thereby enhancing accuracy in the detection and the removal of the waterdrops, freezing and snow and the like. Thus, the rainfall is automatically detected, the waterdrops adhering to the glass 2 are automatically removed, excellent image pickup is realized, the quality and the accuracy of monitoring are enhanced and further maintenance care is lightened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera protective housing and a method for protecting a surveillance camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a surveillance camera is used outdoors, the camera is generally housed in a protective housing in order to prevent the occurrence and deterioration of functions due to outside rain, snow and other weather. use. The camera is housed in the protective case, and the camera images are taken through the front glass of the case.

In order to protect a camera installed outdoors,
Many of the housings that house the cameras are installed in high places or places that are not easily accessible by people. During rainfall and snowfall, water drops etc. reach the front glass. If water droplets hit or adhere to the front glass during rainfall, the imaging conditions of the camera deteriorate.
For this reason, it becomes impossible to obtain a good image for monitoring purposes. A wiper or the like for cleaning the glass surface is provided for the purpose of preventing the sharpness of imaging from lowering and the monitoring capability from lowering, thereby maintaining imaging conditions.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has a structure similar to that of a wiper of an automobile. For this reason, the water droplets are effectively removed when they reach the front glass, but after a long time, the rubber deteriorates due to the weather conditions, and the effect as the wiper gradually decreases. When the effect of the wiper is deteriorated, there is a problem in maintenance such as a person having to replace the rubber of the wiper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a camera protective housing having a function of preventing contamination of a glass surface and a method of protecting a surveillance camera.

[0006]

The present invention adopts the following constitution in order to solve the above problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera protective housing,
Detects the presence or absence of rainfall, generates a wind by this detection signal,
Wind is guided to the outside surface of the front glass for the camera to capture images, and water droplets that have reached the front glass due to rainfall can be removed.

With this configuration, it is possible to automatically detect the occurrence of rainfall, generate a wind, guide the wind to the surface of the front glass, and automatically remove water droplets and the like that have reached the glass surface.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera protection housing having a hermetically sealed structure for housing a camera therein and protecting the camera from outdoor environmental conditions; And a fan that generates wind by the detection signal of the rain detector, and induces wind to the outer surface of the front glass for imaging by the camera, and adheres to the surface of the front glass by rain. And a duct for removing water droplets.

With this configuration, it is possible to automatically detect the occurrence of rainfall, rotate the fan, generate wind, guide the wind to the outer surface of the front glass, and automatically remove water droplets that have reached the front glass. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the camera protective case according to the first aspect, the duct guides the wind from above to below the outer surface of the front glass, and It is configured to remove water droplets attached to the surface. With this configuration, water droplets can be guided and removed in the direction of natural fall.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first or second aspect is provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing described in 1, the duct guides wind to the entire outer surface of the front glass in parallel with the front glass surface, and removes water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass. . With this configuration, water droplets can be removed over the entire surface of the front glass.

According to the invention described in claim 4, claim 1 or 2
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing described in the above, the duct guides the wind to the external surface of the windshield in a wide direction parallel to the front glass surface, and removes water droplets attached to the surface of the windshield. I do. With this configuration, water droplets can be guided to the edge of the entire glass.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first or second aspect is provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing described in the above, the duct is provided with a bulging portion in the vicinity of the outlet of this duct, to guide the wind in the direction of blowing against the external surface of the windshield, the surface of the windshield It is configured to remove water droplets adhering to. With this configuration, water droplets can be removed more efficiently.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first to fifth aspects are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing according to any one of the above, the rain detector is a microphone, and the rain detector that detects the presence or absence of rain by the rain sound detected by the microphone is a microphone, which is detected by this microphone A configuration is employed in which the presence or absence of rain is detected based on the rain sound.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first to sixth aspects are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing described in any one of the above, a heater for heating the wind is further provided. With this configuration, it is possible to more effectively remove water droplets and the like.

In the invention described in claim 8, claims 1 to 7 are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing described in any one of the above, the configuration further includes a water droplet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a water droplet attached to the surface of the front glass. With this configuration, the adhesion of the water droplet can be detected more accurately, and the removal can be performed with high accuracy.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the first to eighth aspects are provided.
In addition to the configuration of the camera protective housing according to any of the above, a heat dissipating fin attached to the surface of the duct inside the camera housing, and the temperature inside the camera housing is detected, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature And a temperature sensor for rotating the fan. With this configuration, a function of suppressing the internal temperature can be configured by using a mechanism for removing water droplets or the like.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the camera protective case according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, vibration is added to the front glass in response to a detection signal of a rain detector. The structure further includes a vibrator for removing water droplets and foreign substances attached to the surface of the front glass. With this configuration, it is possible to more effectively remove deposits such as ice, in addition to water droplets.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for protecting a surveillance camera, wherein the surveillance camera is housed in a camera protection housing having a closed structure and protects the surveillance camera from outdoor environmental conditions. A rain detection process for detecting the presence or absence of rain, a fan process for generating wind by a detection signal obtained in the rain detection process, and guiding wind to an external surface of a front glass for imaging by the camera; A water droplet removing step of removing water droplets attached to the front glass due to rainfall.

With this configuration, it is possible to automatically detect the occurrence of rainfall, rotate the fan, generate wind, guide the wind to the external surface of the front glass, and automatically remove water droplets that have reached the front glass. it can.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the method of protecting a surveillance camera according to the eleventh aspect, a bulge is provided near an outlet of a duct for guiding wind obtained from a fan stroke. The wind was guided to the outside surface of the glass in a widening direction parallel to the front glass surface to remove water droplets attached to the front glass surface. (Embodiment) Referring to the drawings, a method for protecting a camera protective housing and a surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of a camera protection housing and a protection method device for a monitoring camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual longitudinal sectional structural view showing an example of the configuration of a camera protective housing and a method of protecting a surveillance camera according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, a camera protective housing and a method of protecting a surveillance camera according to the present embodiment include a camera protective housing 1, a front glass 2, a duct 3, a cooling fin 4, a fan 5, a heater 6, a wind intake 7, It comprises a signal output section 9, a fan drive section 10, a temperature sensor 11, a microphone 12, and a water drop sensor 13.

Camera protection housing 1 for housing and protecting the camera
Needs to house the entire camera 8, protect the camera 8 from all weather conditions when installed outdoors, and retain the initial surveillance function. In order to satisfy these specifications, each part constituting the camera protection housing 1 has the following functions.

The front glass 2 forms a see-through window for the camera to take an image.

The duct 3 is a passage for sending air to prevent foreign substances from adhering to the surface of the front glass 2. Note that the wind output from the duct 3 is blown out from the outside of the front glass 2, and becomes the front glass wind 19.

The cooling fins 4 are heat conductors for suppressing a rise in temperature inside the camera protective housing 1, that is, cooling fins.

The fan 5 is a blower fan for sending air to the duct 3. The wind blown by this fan 5
It is taken in from the wind inlet 7. The wind accelerated and blown by the fan 5 is heated by the heater 6 as necessary, and is discharged from the duct 3 to the surface of the front glass 2 as front glass wind 19.

The heater 6 is a heating element for warming the wind. The purpose of warming the wind is mainly to melt foreign matter, snow, frost, ice and the like attached to the front glass 2 and to promote evaporation of water droplets.

The wind inlet 7 is an inlet for the wind sent to the duct 3.

The video output section 9 is a section for taking out a video signal picked up by the camera 8 from the camera protective housing 1.

The fan drive unit 10 includes a fan 5 and a heater 6
This is a control unit for controlling the driving of. This fan drive unit 10
Are information for controlling the driving of the fan 5 and the heater 6 as temperature sensor 11, microphone 12, water droplet sensor 1
The output signal from No. 3 is an input signal.

The temperature sensor 11 is a temperature detecting section for detecting the temperature inside the camera protective housing 1.

The microphone 12 is attached to the surface of the camera protective housing 1 and constitutes a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of rain by detecting rain sound.

The water drop sensor 13 is a detection section for detecting the presence or absence of water drops on the surface of the front glass 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the fan drive unit 10 together with sensors and the like connected to the fan drive unit 10. In FIG. 2,
The fan driver 10 includes a fan controller 15 and three amplifiers 16, 17, and 18.

The fan control unit 15 includes three amplifiers 16,
The control section controls the driving of the fan 5 and the heater 6 based on the output signals 17 and 18 as input signals. .

The amplifiers 16, 17, and 18 are connected to the temperature sensor 1
1, an amplifier that is individually connected to the microphone 12 and the water drop sensor 13 and that amplifies the signal by using an output signal from each sensor as an input signal. The amplified output signals of the amplifiers 16, 17, 18 for each signal are connected to the fan control unit 15.

The above-described camera protection housing 1 cannot cope with a change in weather occurring outdoors just by covering the camera 8. That is, the water droplets that have arrived on the front glass 2 during rainfall deteriorate the imaging conditions of the camera 8 and reduce the monitoring function. Further, the camera 8 also generates heat, and the internal temperature of the camera protective housing 1 which is sealed against the heat radiation rises due to the temperature generated by the camera itself. Camera protective case 1
The high internal environmental temperature causes the camera failure rate to rise,
It does not shorten the life of the device or bring favorable conditions to the camera. The camera protection housing 1 has a structure and configuration corresponding to such various requirements.

The camera protection housing 1 houses the camera 8 and protects the camera from outside air. In such a state, when water drops arrive on the front glass 2 due to rainfall, the rainfall is sensed by the microphone 12 attached to the camera protective housing 1 and the signal is amplified (microphone amplifier) in order to lower the imaging state of the camera 8. The signal is amplified at 17 and input to the fan control unit 15 as an electric signal.
To rotate.

Alternatively, a state in which water droplets adhere to the front glass 2 is provided by assembling a water droplet sensor 13 in a housing and using a signal of the water droplet sensor 13 to assume a state in which water droplets adhere to the front glass 2.
The fan 5 is activated to remove water droplets on the front glass 2.

The fan 5 of the camera protective housing 1 is activated by a signal from the fan control unit 15, sucks outside air from the wind input 7, constitutes the windshield 19 from the duct 3, and hits the surface of the windshield 2. .

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining examples of the configuration of various types of glass wind 19. FIG.

In FIG. 3, a duct 3a having a full width relative to the width of the front glass 2 is provided, and a windshield 19 is evenly applied to the entire surface of the front glass to remove water droplets and the like. FIG.
Shows examples of different types and forms of the windshield style 19. In contrast to the method of removing a wide area by the full-width duct 3a of FIG. 3, the diffusion-type duct 3b of FIG. 4 forms a diffused front glass wind and strongly applies the front glass wind 19 to a portion where water droplets are to be removed. And

While FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of the windshield style 19 in which the front glass 2 has a different planar direction, FIG. 5 shows a unique example of the windshield 19 in the facing direction. In FIG. 5, a duct 3 having a bulging portion on the front surface is shown.
c to form a rotational force on the front glass 2 with respect to the front glass wind 19. In order to cause the front glass wind 19 to generate a rotational force with respect to the front glass 2, a bulge protruding forward of the camera protective housing 1 is provided near the outlet of the duct 3 c. These front glass winds 19
Are selected depending on the purpose or used in combination.

Since the camera 8 generates heat in the operating state, a temperature sensor 11 is provided in the camera protection housing 1 in order to prevent the temperature of the camera protection housing 1 from rising and changing the characteristics of the components of the camera 8. Equipped. This temperature sensor 11
Is amplified by a temperature signal amplifier 16 to detect that the temperature has reached a predetermined temperature. When the temperature rises more than necessary, the fan 5 is operated, and the duct 3 is installed with high thermal conductivity. The cooling fins 4 cool the internal temperature by wind. With this structure, the internal temperature of the camera protection housing 1 can be reduced.

In a cold region, the front glass may affect the imaging performance due to morning dew, snow, dew, icing, and the like. When the temperature is automatically detected, the heater 6
Apply current to The heater 6 is provided near the fan 5. For example, if the heater 6 is installed on the output side of the fan 5, hot air is blown from the duct 3 to the front glass 2,
The frozen ice adhering to the front glass 2 can be thawed. By thawing the frozen ice, the camera 8 can take an image of the external situation in a favorable state without impairing the imaging effect.

When the wind is blown by the duct 3,
In order to apply the wind energy without waste, the wind energy can be effectively utilized by operating the wind control structure of FIG.
The duct 3c having a peculiar control structure of the wind includes a method of applying a rotational force to the wind and effectively controlling the wind.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show an example of the structure of a camera protective housing 1 according to another embodiment. These figures are
Two types of structural examples are shown in which a vibration is applied to the front glass 2 to shake off foreign substances such as water droplets and ice adhered to the front glass surface.

In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a microphone 12 is provided in the camera protective housing 1 and the state of rain
When the signal 2 is detected, the signal of the microphone 12 is input to the amplifier 17, and the output circuit 27 drives and vibrates the vibrator 24 to generate large vibration energy. The vibration energy is transmitted to the front glass 2, and the vibrator 24 is configured to apply vibration to the front glass 2. As a result, the front glass 2 is vibrated, and water droplets and the like attached to the front glass 2 can be washed off and removed. Note that, regardless of whether the vibration is performed intermittently or continuously, the vibration frequency is high, so that the imaging conditions are not deteriorated.

8 and 9, when rain is detected by the microphone 5 mounted on the camera protective housing 1, the signal of the microphone 12 is input to the amplifier 17, and the output circuit 37 drives and vibrates the vibrator 33. Generates large vibration energy. The vibration energy is transmitted to the front glass 2, and the vibrator 33 is configured to apply vibration to the front glass 2. As a result, the front glass 2 is vibrated, and water droplets and the like attached to the front glass 2 can be washed off and removed. Note that a ceramic vibrator, an impact electrode, or the like may be used as the vibrator. Also, even if the vibration is performed intermittently,
Even if the operation is performed continuously, the imaging condition is not deteriorated because the vibration frequency is high.

In the two types of structures shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, in response to freezing, control is detected by the temperature sensor 5 and a power supply such as a heater is activated on the front glass 2 to defrost ice. Accordingly, it is also possible to add a procedure for effectively removing a specific foreign substance. For example, the front glass 2 of the camera protective housing 1 is made of conductive glass, and an electric current is applied to the conductive glass to generate heat. Due to this heat generation, water droplets, icing, snow and the like are evaporated or thawed.

The above embodiment is a preferred example of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the camera protective housing of the present invention, the presence or absence of rainfall is automatically detected, wind is generated by this detection signal, and this wind is guided to the front glass surface. However, water droplets and the like attached to the front glass due to rainfall can be automatically removed. In addition, the quality and accuracy of monitoring are improved by good imaging, and maintenance is further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration example of a camera protective housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit configuration of each sensor and a fan driving unit.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration example 1 of the outlet of the duct.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example 2 of the outlet of the duct.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration example 2 of the outlet of the duct.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example 1 in which vibration is applied to a front glass by a vibrator.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example 1 of the vibrator.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example 2 in which vibration is applied to a front glass by a vibrator.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example 2 of the vibrator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera protective housing 2 Front glass 3 Duct 4 Cooling fin 5 Fan 6 Heater 7 Wind intake 8 Camera 9 Image signal output unit 10 Fan drive unit 11 Temperature sensor 12 Microphone 13 Water drop sensor 15 Fan control unit 16, 17, 18 Amplifier 19 Front glass style 27, 37 Output circuit 24, 33 Transducer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hayato Miyawaki 3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, 4-chome, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term in Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (Reference) 2H101 CC01 2H105 DD07 DD08 EE06 EE35 5C084 AA01 AA06 BB16 BB34 DD02 DD12 DD84 DD86 EE02 GG17 GG21

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A sealed camera protection housing for housing a camera inside and protecting the camera from outdoor environmental conditions, a rain detector for detecting the presence or absence of rain, and a detection signal of the rain detector. And a duct that guides the wind to the external surface of the front glass for the camera to take an image and removes water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass by rainfall. Characteristic camera protection housing. 2. The camera protective housing according to claim 1, wherein the duct guides wind from an upper side to a lower side of an outer surface of the front glass to remove water droplets attached to a surface of the front glass. . 3. The duct according to claim 1, wherein the duct guides wind to the entire outer surface of the front glass in parallel with the front glass surface to remove water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass. Camera protective enclosure as described. 4. The duct according to claim 1, wherein the duct guides the wind to the outer surface of the front glass in a wide direction in parallel with the front glass surface to remove water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass. A camera protective housing according to the item. 5. A duct having a bulging portion near an outlet of the duct, for guiding wind in a direction of blowing against an external surface of the front glass, and removing water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass. The camera protective housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 6. The camera protective case according to claim 1, wherein the rainfall detector is a microphone, and the presence or absence of rainfall is detected by a rain sound detected by the microphone. 7. The camera protective housing according to claim 1, further comprising a heater for warming the wind. 8. The camera protective housing according to claim 1, further comprising a water droplet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a water droplet attached to the surface of the front glass. 9. A radiating fin mounted on a surface of a duct inside the camera housing, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the camera housing and rotating the fan when the temperature becomes higher than a predetermined temperature. The camera protective housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: 10. A vibrator for applying vibration to a front glass in response to a detection signal of a rainfall detector and removing water droplets and foreign substances attached to a surface of the front glass. The camera protection housing according to claim 1. 11. A method of protecting a surveillance camera, wherein the surveillance camera is housed in a camera protection enclosure having a sealed structure and protects the surveillance camera from outdoor environmental conditions, wherein: a rainfall detection step of detecting the presence or absence of rainfall; A fan process that generates wind by a detection signal obtained in the rain detection process, and guides the wind to an external surface of the front glass for imaging by the camera, and removes water droplets attached to the front glass by rainfall. A method for protecting a surveillance camera, comprising: a step of removing water droplets. 12. A bulge is provided in the vicinity of an outlet of a duct for guiding wind obtained from a fan stroke, and the duct guides the wind in a widening direction to the outer surface of the front glass parallel to the front glass surface. The method for protecting a surveillance camera according to claim 11, wherein water droplets attached to the surface of the front glass are removed.