JP2001339705A - Camera control system and camera control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera control system and a camera control method by which any remote control command is not defeated and it is unnecessary to memorize and ID number attached to each of cameras in advance. SOLUTION: In a video conference system which is provided with multiple cameras 1 to 4 containing cameras 1 and 2 having light receiving parts 202 and 212 for infrared remote control and the video conference equipment 400 connected to this multiple cameras 1 to 4, for example, when the camera 1 is controlled, the interface with the camera in the equipment 400 is made active and the camera 1 is controlled through the light receiving part 202 of the camera 1 for remote control system. Next, for example, when the camera 3 is controlled, the interface with the camera 3 is made active further and the camera 3 is controlled through both the interface with the camera 1 and the interface with the camera 3 depending on the control signal received from the light receiving part 202 of the camera 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a camera control system and a camera control method for controlling a plurality of cameras with one remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a system of this type, when a system is composed of a plurality of cameras and each camera is to be operated using a remote controller, a control signal received by each camera is sent to a controller of the system. Will come
There is a problem that the controller receives one control signal a plurality of times. Therefore, when the controller receives one control signal, it ignores the control signal received for a predetermined time thereafter, or sets an ID number in advance for each camera and transmits the corresponding control signal before transmitting the control data. By transmitting an ID number assigned to a camera to be controlled in advance to the controller 1, a control signal is transmitted from only one camera to the controller.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, since the control signal is ignored for a predetermined time, a command may be lost or, for example, the camera may be panned to the right. There is a problem in that if you accidentally press the left button and press the right button in a hurry, it will not be accepted immediately. In addition, since it is necessary to remember the ID number assigned to each camera in advance, there is a problem that the actual operation is complicated, and there are many erroneous operations.

[0004] The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and there is no need to remember the remote controller command and to remember the ID number assigned to each camera in advance. It is an object to provide a control method.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a camera control system is configured as in the following (1) to (6), and a camera control method is described in the following (7).
Configure as follows.

(1) A camera control system including a plurality of cameras including a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller, and a control device connected to the plurality of cameras, wherein the control device includes: An interface that can be individually turned on and off individually for each of a plurality of cameras, and controls the on and off of the interface so that the camera can always be controlled via the receiver of one wireless remote control A camera control system having a control unit that performs the control.

(2) In the camera control system according to (1), when the camera to be controlled is a camera having a wireless remote control receiving unit, only the interface corresponding to the camera among the interfaces is controlled. If the camera to be controlled is a camera having no wireless remote control receiving unit, the interface corresponding to one camera having the wireless remote control receiving unit and the interface corresponding to the controlling camera are turned on. Camera control system.

(3) In the camera control system according to (1), when the newly selected camera is a camera having a wireless remote control receiving unit, the control means corresponds to the camera in the interface. If only the interface is turned on and the newly selected camera is a camera having no wireless remote control receiving unit, the interface corresponding to the camera having the wireless remote control receiving unit currently used and the newly selected camera Camera control system to turn on the corresponding interface.

(4) In the camera control system according to (1), the control unit turns on an interface corresponding to the camera having the receiving unit of the wireless remote controller, which is first recognized when the control device starts up. Camera control system used preferentially.

(5) The camera control system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the wireless remote controller is an infrared remote controller.

(6) In the camera system according to any one of (1) to (4), the plurality of cameras include a camera with a zoom lens and a camera with a drivable pan head, and the wireless remote controller Is a camera control system that controls this zoom lens and camera platform.

(7) A camera control method in a camera control system including a plurality of cameras including a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller, and a control device connected to the plurality of cameras. Selecting a signal path from the receiving unit of the two wireless remote controllers, and controlling one of the plurality of cameras via the signal path from the receiving unit of the wireless remote controller selected in this step A camera control method comprising:

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an example of a video conference system.

The present invention can be implemented in the form of a camera control method supported by the description of the embodiment.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a "teleconference system" as an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation panel of a remote control device, and FIG. 3 is a camera (called an image pickup device). FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video conference apparatus.

First, in FIG. 1, 100, 110, 1
Reference numerals 20 and 130 denote camera units of the cameras 1 to 4, and 200 and 21.
Reference numerals 0 and 220 denote heads of the cameras 1 to 4, 300, 301, and
302 and 303 are composite cables for connecting the cameras 1 to 4 and the video conference device, 400 is a video conference device, 500
Is a line connected to a remote video conference system (not shown).

Reference numerals 103, 113, 123 and 133 denote camera controllers of the camera units 100, 110, 120 and 130, and reference numerals 201, 211 and 221 denote head units 200 and 2.
10, 220, a pan head controller; 202, 212, a remote control light receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal from the remote control;
Reference numerals 4, 214, and 224 denote movable parts of the pan heads 200, 210, and 220.

The camera section and the camera platform constitute a camera. In this example, the camera 1 and the camera 2 have the same configuration, and the camera 3 does not have a remote control light receiving function and has a camera platform function. Reference numeral 4 denotes a camera having neither a remote control light receiving function nor a pan head function.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation panel of a remote control device for operating and controlling a camera and the like in the video conference system of the present embodiment. In the figure, 600 is a remote controller, 601 is a switch for connecting, interrupting or disconnecting a line with a remote video conference system, 602 is a switch for controlling brightness, zooming and focus of a camera unit, and 603 is a pan head The switches 604 for controlling the units are numeric keys for inputting a preset number of the camera, a connection destination number of the other party, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the camera section 100 and the camera platform section 200 of the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 used in the present video conference system. In the figure, 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a CCD device (also referred to as an image pickup device) that converts an optical signal into an electric signal; 102, a signal processing unit that processes a signal converted by the CCD device 101 into an electric signal to generate a video signal; A camera controller for controlling the camera unit 100 while communicating with the camera 400, a zoom lens 104 controlled by the camera controller 103, 201 a pan head controller, 2
02 is a remote control light receiving unit, 203 is a pan head drive unit, 204 is a pan head movable unit, 101a is a CCD signal sent from the CCD element 101 to the signal processing circuit 102, 102a is sent from the signal processing circuit 102 to the camera controller 103, A bidirectional control signal 103 a sent from the camera controller 103 to the signal processing circuit 102,
A control signal for controlling the zoom lens 104 attached to the camera controller 103 from the camera controller 103; a bidirectional control signal 104a exchanged between the camera controller 103 and the camera platform controller 201; The video signal 106a sent to the conference device 400 is a two-way control signal exchanged between the camera controller 103 and the video conference device 400.
1a is a control signal which the remote control light receiving unit 202 receives control data from the remote control 600 (not shown) as an infrared light signal, converts it into an electric signal, and sends it to the pan head controller 201.
A camera head drive signal 02a is transmitted from the camera platform controller 201 to the camera head drive unit 203 and changes the direction and angle of the camera unit 100 by rotating or tilting the camera platform movable unit 204.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video conference apparatus 400. In the figure, reference numeral 401 denotes a video S to be described later.
The video signal selected in W403 is compressed at a ratio set by a video conference device controller 402 described later,
At the same time as converting to a signal to be output to the communication line, the video signal obtained by decompressing the compressed image signal sent from the communication line and the video signal selected by SW 403 are combined, or one of them is selected and output to the video output stage. It is a signal processing circuit for outputting.

A video conference 402 performs communication with each of the cameras 1 to 4 and simultaneously controls the signal processing circuit 401 to output a data signal to be multiplexed to the communication signal to the communication interface circuit 405 and control line connection. The device controller 403 is a connection cable 3 for the cameras 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Video SWs 404 for switching video signals transmitted from 00, 301, 302, and 303 in accordance with a selection signal from the video conference controller 402, and video signals 404 for outputting image signals output from the signal processing circuit 401 to a monitor or the like. An output circuit, 405 is a communication interface circuit for communicating with a remote video conference system, 406 is an inter-camera communication interface circuit for communicating with camera 1, and 407 is inter-camera communication for communicating with camera 2. 408 is a camera 3
Communication interface circuit for communication with the camera
Reference numeral 09 denotes an inter-camera communication interface circuit for communicating with the camera 4, reference numeral 410 denotes a video output terminal connected to a monitor or the like, and reference numeral 411 denotes a line connected to a remote video conference system or the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a signal at the time of initialization sent from the cameras 1, 2, 3, and 4. FIG.
Is an example of camera information stored in an internal register of the video conference device controller 402. (A) is a head address of a memory in which information of each camera is stored, and (b) is a relative address table indicating an order of data in which information of each camera is stored.

Next, the operation will be described. First, when the power is turned on, the video conference device controller 402 starts up and initializes the video conference device 400.

At the same time, each camera unit 10
0, 110, 120, 130 and head section 200, 21
Power supply is started at 0,220. Cameras 1, 2, 3,
When the power is supplied, each of the devices 4 starts initialization and starts up.

When the initialization of the video conference device controller 402 is completed, the video conference device controller 402 sets the respective interface circuits 406 and 40
7, 408, and 409 are connected to the cameras 1, 2, 3, and 4 and whether or not the status of each camera is determined via the control signal lines in the composite cables 300, 301, 302, and 303. The status request signals are sequentially output to obtain information.

If the camera is not connected, the status signal does not return. Therefore, a timeout occurs after a predetermined time elapses, and it is determined that the camera is not connected, and the processing shifts to the next interface.

As a supplement, in this case, the power supply of the cameras 1 to 4 may be supplied from the video conference device 400 or may be a separate power supply. In the case of another power supply, the video conference device 400
The order of turning on the power of the cameras 1 to 4 is not determined. However, even if the camera is started up later, the camera outputs the initialization end signal when the camera is initialized, so that the video conference controller 400 The states of all the cameras 1 to 4 can be grasped.

In the case of this embodiment, the camera 1 is capable of receiving light by remote control with a zoom camera with a camera platform, and the camera 2 is similarly capable of receiving light by remote control with a zoom camera with a camera platform. The camera 3 is a zoom camera with a camera platform, but cannot receive light from a remote controller.
Although it is a zoom camera from, it can grasp the information of the camera state that there is no head and remote control light reception is not possible.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a signal relating to the information input from each camera to the video conference apparatus 400 via the control signal line. First, a synchronization signal is input, followed by data indicating a data output source, for example, data indicating a camera unit, a pan head unit, a remote controller, and the like. Next, there are signals indicating the type of data, for example, status, error, control, and the like. Next, in the case of status, the ROM version of the camera, the signal format, the presence or absence of the camera platform, the RO of the camera platform
The M version, the presence / absence of a zoom lens, the lens identification code,..., Etc. are input in a predetermined order.

The videoconferencing device controller 402 writes the received status information into predetermined internal registers with the address arrangement shown in FIG. In other words, the data from the camera 1 is 1 since the camera 1 is connected to the register address 30000H, and 130001H has the camera 1 with a camera platform, and 30002H is the zoom lens. Since 30003H has a remote control light receiving function,
Since the camera system is NTSC in 30005H, 0,
The information is stored in sequence according to the signal sent from the camera. Similarly, with respect to the camera 2, 30100H is stored at the head as 111101...
110001 with 200H at the top, 30 from camera 4
300H at the top is recorded as 01000....

FIG. 7 shows a part of a register extracted for the description below. Control is advanced based on this information. More specifically, first, a video signal from the camera 1 is selected, and the control signal interface circuit 406 is activated. This is a state where the camera 1 is selected. Here, since the video conference device controller 402 knows from the register 30003 that the camera 1 has a remote control light receiving function, the remote control signal is received from the camera 1 via the interface circuit 406.

The camera 2 also receives a control signal from the remote controller in the same manner, but the control signal is not notified (off) by the interface circuit 407 and is not input to the video conference controller 402.

At this time, when the user shakes the camera platform to the right using the remote controller 600. That is, when the user presses the button marked with the mark → on the remote controller, the control signal of the remote controller becomes
After being received and photoelectrically converted by the remote control light receiving unit 202 of the camera platform 200 of the camera 1, the control signal is transmitted to the camera controller 2.
01 to the camera controller 103 from the camera platform controller 201 and the camera controller 103.
Is transmitted to the video conferencing apparatus controller 402 through the composite cable 300 and the interface circuit 406. The controller 402 interprets that the camera of the own station is rotated to the right, and outputs a signal “rotate the camera platform to the right” to the interface. The camera controller 10 via the circuit 406
3 and sent from the camera controller 103 to the camera platform controller 201.

The head controller 201 interprets the control signal, sends a control signal for right rotation to the head driving unit 203, drives the head driving unit 204, and rotates the head right.

Next, when the user switches from the camera 1 to the camera 2 using the remote controller, the camera 2 receives the remote control signal from the camera information register (such as the register 30103) recorded in the camera information register of the video conference controller 402. The video conferencing apparatus controller 402 switches the video signal from the camera 1 to the camera 2 by the video switch 403 and has an interface circuit 406.
Is not notified, and 407 is activated (turned on) to switch to the camera 2. That is, the remote control light receiving interface is also switched to the camera 2.

When the interface circuit 407 becomes active, the current setting information (the angle at which the camera platform is facing, the position of the zoom lens, etc.) is sent from the newly selected camera 2 to the video conference device controller 402, and The conference device controller 402 performs control based on this (it is also possible to perform control based on data held from the status signal at the time of startup).

Thus, when the image of the camera 2 selected and output on the monitor is zoomed or panned by the operation of the remote controller 600,
A signal from the remote controller 600 is received by the remote controller light receiving unit 212, and only a signal passed through the camera platform controller 211, the camera controller 113, and the composite cable 301 is input to the video conference device controller 402 via the activated interface circuit 407, The control signal interpreted and generated by the video conference device controller 402 reaches the camera 2 by following the reverse route and controls the camera 2.

Next, a case where the camera 2 is switched to the camera 3 will be described. The camera selection signal from the remote controller 600 is received by the remote controller light receiving unit 212 and is input to the video conference device controller 402 via the camera platform controller 211, the camera controller 113, the composite cable 301, and the interface circuit 407. The video conference device controller 402 determines that the camera 3 does not have the remote control light receiving function from the data in the register, and passes the signal received by the remote control light receiving unit 212 of the camera 2 through the interface circuit 407. That is, the video conference device controller 402 activates the interface circuit 408 while keeping the interface circuit 407 active, and switches the video switch 403 to the camera 3. Therefore, from the remote controller 600, for example,
When a signal for panning the camera to the right is issued, the signal is input to the video conference device controller 402 via the remote control light receiving unit 212, the pan head controller 211, the camera controller 113, and the interface circuit 407, and the signal “pan right” is generated. Interface circuit 40
8, camera controller 123, pan head controller 22
1 and the pan head 220 pans right.

Basically, information from the camera is generally returned as a response when the camera is controlled, and in addition, there are other illegal cases such as when a partial malfunction of the camera occurs. Therefore, although the serial control signal may be input to the video conference device controller 402 from two directions, the information is different from each other, and therefore the same information is not redundantly input.

Next, switching the camera to the camera 4 will be described. Since the camera 4 also has no remote control light receiving unit, the remote control light receiving unit uses the remote control light receiving unit 212 of the camera 2 as it is, and the operation target of the camera is changed to the camera 4.

In the above description, the video conference controller and the inter-camera communication interface circuit are described in separate blocks. However, physically the same chip can be used, and the interruption requires a burden on the processing of the microcomputer. However, since there is no need to provide time for ignoring the received signal, the load on the microcomputer is reduced.

The control signal from the remote controller is configured so that only the control signal from the recently selected camera capable of receiving light from the remote controller is validated, so that the video conference device controller 402 selects a path to which the control signal is input. did.

At the same time, the camera to be controlled is the currently selected camera, especially in the case of a camera that can freely change the shooting angle using a camera platform or the like. As in the case above, select a camera that has not selected an image, pan the pan head attached to the camera that has not selected an image signal, and the image on the screen does not change, so shake the pan head It is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as accidental operation.

In particular, when a newly selected camera has a limited control function, by deleting it from the menu, it is possible to prevent mistaken operation of a camera having no function.

In this embodiment, an infrared remote controller is used as a remote controller. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an appropriate wireless remote controller such as an ultrasonic wave or a radio can be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
By operating the microcomputer of the video conference device by selecting the remote control reception signal from the selected camera, multiple cameras can be connected without increasing the load on the microcomputer, and the remote control signal can be prevented from being missed. . In addition, even if you add a general camera that cannot receive remote control, you can always select a camera that can receive remote control and receive a remote control reception signal, so you can always shoot with a relatively inexpensive fixed camera and zoom each person with a pan head Even if various cameras are connected according to the installation purpose, such as taking a picture with a camera, it is possible to construct an optimum system without becoming inoperable from the remote control.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is no missing remote control command, and there is no need to remember the ID number assigned to each camera in advance, so that the operation does not become complicated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation panel of a remote control;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a video conference device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of camera information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an initialization signal sent from a camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a recording example of a register;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 100 camera unit 103 camera controller 201 pan head controller 202 remote control light receiving unit 402 video conference device controller 406, 407, 408, 409 camera communication interface circuit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301E 321 321B

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A camera control system comprising: a plurality of cameras including a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller; and a control device connected to the plurality of cameras, wherein the control device includes the plurality of cameras. An interface that can be individually turned on and off corresponding to each of the cameras, and controls the on and off of the interface so that the camera can always be controlled via a receiving unit of one wireless remote controller. A camera control system, comprising: a control unit. 2. The camera control system according to claim 1, wherein when the camera to be controlled is a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller, only the interface corresponding to the camera is turned on among the interfaces. If the camera to be controlled is a camera that does not have a wireless remote control receiving unit, turn on an interface corresponding to one camera having a wireless remote control receiving unit and an interface corresponding to the controlling camera. Characteristic camera control system. 3. The camera control system according to claim 1, wherein, when the newly selected camera is a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller, only the interface corresponding to the camera is selected from among the interfaces. On, if the newly selected camera is a camera without a wireless remote control receiving unit, the interface corresponding to the camera having the wireless remote control receiving unit currently being used and the interface corresponding to the newly selected camera A camera control system characterized by turning on an interface to be turned on. 4. The camera control system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns on an interface corresponding to a camera having a wireless remote control receiving unit, which is first recognized when the control device starts up, and gives priority to the interface. A camera control system characterized by being used for: 5. The camera control system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless remote controller is an infrared remote controller. 6. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras include a camera with a zoom lens and a drivable camera with a pan head, and the wireless remote controller includes the zoom. A camera control system for controlling a lens and a camera platform. 7. A method of controlling a camera in a camera control system including a plurality of cameras, including a camera having a receiving unit of a wireless remote controller, and a control device connected to the plurality of cameras. Selecting a signal path from the receiving unit of the wireless remote controller; andcontrolling one of the plurality of cameras via the signal path from the receiving unit of the wireless remote controller selected in this step. A camera control method comprising: