JP2001013553A - Camera device capable of omnidirectional photographing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an omnidirectional video to be photographed by a compact device by providing the device with the rotation mechanism of an optical element and making an optical path refracted by the optical element incident on a camera main body. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a compact camera 101 mounted on a printed board 105 through a camera fixing base 120 and a cylindrical rotary cover 107 covering the camera 101. A prism 102 is fixed to the cover 107 at the front position of the camera. Besides, a camera rotation gear 103 making a round of the barrel part of the cover 107 is installed at the cover 107. When a motor 14 is rotated, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the gear 103 through a gear 106 and the cover 107 and the prism 102 fixed to the cover 107 are rotated. Then, a light beam 108 is refracted by 90 deg. by the prism 102 and made incident on the camera 101. When the prism 102 is rotated by 360 deg., the photographing area of the camera 101 reaches 360 deg. around the camera 101.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device for photographing images, and more particularly to a camera device capable of photographing in all directions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera device is usually configured to photograph a subject in front of the camera. However, a prism is mounted on the subject in front of the camera so that the subject can be photographed without noticing that the subject is being photographed. In addition, there has been manufactured an apparatus that enables the camera to take a picture by refracting the optical path by 90 degrees with the prism.

In recent years, cameras have been installed in various places, such as ceilings and walls of facilities, as detection devices for monitoring systems. Since the surveillance camera needs to monitor a large area with one unit, the entire camera is configured to rotate, and it is possible to shoot continuously or in a specified direction by remote control from the center. It is possible to change direction.

[0004] Recently, a miniaturized camera device is mounted on an automobile, and the front of the vehicle photographed by the miniature camera is used.
Controls the driving of the car based on the images of the side, rear, etc.
Systems to avoid accidents have also been developed.

[0005]

However, when the camera device is installed in a narrow place such as an automobile, it is necessary to reduce the size of the camera device itself so as to save space. On the other hand, since the places where the camera can be installed inside and outside the vehicle are limited, it may not be possible to fix the camera in the required shooting direction. It is necessary to have a wide degree of freedom in the monitoring area so that monitoring can be performed.

That is, in such a camera, it is necessary to secure a wide monitoring area without impairing miniaturization.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera apparatus which is capable of taking pictures in all directions with a miniaturized apparatus.

[0008]

Therefore, in the camera device of the present invention, a rotation mechanism of an optical element having a refraction function is provided, and the optical path refracted by the optical element is incident on the camera body. .

[0009] Therefore, by rotating the optical element by 360 degrees, it is possible to capture an image in the direction of 360 degrees.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a camera device provided with a rotation mechanism of an optical element having a refraction function, so that an optical path refracted by the optical element enters a camera body. By rotating the optical element, a wide area can be photographed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the optical element is fixed to a cover over the camera body, and the rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the cover by a transmission mechanism. , The optical element fixed to it rotates.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the motor is fixed to the bottom side of the camera body, so that the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the camera body is mounted on one surface of a printed circuit board, and a motor is mounted on the other surface of the printed circuit board.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the camera device includes a small camera 101 mounted on a printed circuit board 105 via a camera fixing stand 120, and a cylindrical cover (rotating cover) 107 covering the small camera 101. The rotating cover 107 has a prism 102 fixed at a position in front of the camera, and a camera rotating gear 103 that goes around the cover body. Motor 1 on the back of the printed circuit board 105
A gear 106 comprising a bevel gear and a cylindrical gear for transmitting the rotation of the motor 104 to the camera rotation gear 103 is mounted.
Is provided.

In this camera device, when the motor 104 is rotated by remote control, the rotation is transmitted to the camera rotating gear 103 through the gear 106, and therefore, the rotating cover 107 is rotated.
And the prism 102 fixed thereto rotates.

A light beam indicated by an arrow 108 enters the small camera 101 after being refracted by 90 degrees by the prism 102. for that reason,
When the prism 102 rotates 360 degrees, the shooting area of the small camera 101 is changed to the camera 101 as shown in FIG.
Around 360 degrees. Therefore, by rotating the rotating cover 107, the small camera 101 can acquire a 360-degree image.

In this camera device, a printed circuit board is provided.
Since each component is integrated via the 105, a small and durable camera can be realized.

In addition, a motor is used without using a printed circuit board.
A configuration in which 104 is arranged on the back surface of the camera fixing base 120 is also possible.

[0020]

As is apparent from the above description, the camera device of the present invention can acquire an image in a range of 360 degrees with a simple configuration suitable for a small camera.

Since this camera device can be downsized as a whole, it can be mounted in a small space and installed in a desired azimuth even when it is mounted on a vehicle or the like where there is not enough room for installation and there are many restrictions on the installation position. Video can be taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the structure of a camera device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a shooting area of the camera device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Small camera 102 Prism 103 Camera rotation gear 104 Motor 105 Printed circuit board 106 Gear 107 Rotation cover 108, 109 Light beam 112 Rotation 113, 114 Image area 120 Camera fixing stand

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masami Takahashi 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. No.3-1, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tamotsu Kaneko 4-3-1 Tsunashimahigashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term, Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera device comprising a rotation mechanism of an optical element having a refraction function, wherein an optical path refracted by the optical element enters a camera body. 2. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element is fixed to a cover that covers the camera body, and a rotational force of a motor is transmitted to the cover by a transmission mechanism. 3. The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the motor is fixed to a bottom side of the camera body. 4. The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the camera body is mounted on one surface of a printed circuit board, and the motor is mounted on the other surface of the printed circuit board.