JP2002077888A - Monitoring method and device using itv camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device of monitoring using an ITV camera by which monitoring of at least two directions can be performed simultaneously by using one ITV camera. SOLUTION: Two plane mirrors 7a and 7b forming a specified angle are provided within a field of vision of an ITV camera 2, and images of two directions reflected by the two plane mirrors 7a and 7b are simultaneously shot by the ITV camera 2. The images of two directions shot by the ITV camera 2 are displayed simultaneously on a monitor screen 12a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera for monitoring a monitoring target such as a road by photographing an object to be monitored such as a road with an ITV camera and displaying the photographed result on a monitor screen. , Especially one ITV
The present invention relates to a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera that enables simultaneous monitoring in a plurality of directions with a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a surveillance system using an ITV camera for monitoring a road or the like, a dedicated pole for ITV is installed in a space such as a sidewalk beside a road, and an ITV monitoring camera is mounted on the dedicated pole for ITV camera. Is installed via a camera platform, and an image captured by the ITV monitoring camera is displayed on a monitor screen of a monitor device to monitor a state of a road or the like.

In a surveillance system using an ITV camera of this type, it is usual to monitor an image in a specific direction while fixing a camera platform.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring system using a conventional ITV camera.

In FIG. 6, a monitoring system using an ITV camera monitors a road condition.
An ITV camera 2 is attached to a dedicated pole 1 via a fixed camera platform 3, and the ITV camera 2 monitors the state of a road in a specific direction.

[0006] Here, a car 6a indicates a car coming toward the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1, and a car 6b.
Indicates a car moving away from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1. It is assumed that the traveling directions of the vehicles 6a and 6b are from left to right on the paper of FIG.

In this case, in the conventional monitoring system using the ITV camera 2, since the direction of the field of view of the ITV camera 2 is fixed to the right side from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1, the ITV dedicated pole 1 is used. Although the situation of the car 6b moving away from the installation position of the ITV can be monitored, the car 6a coming toward the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 cannot
Since it is located outside the shooting angle range of the TV monitoring camera 2, the situation cannot be monitored.

[0008] Therefore, two I poles for the ITV dedicated pole 1
A TV camera is attached, and the two ITV cameras use the image on the right side and the IT
By photographing the image on the left side from the installation position of the V pole 1, it is possible to monitor not only the right side from the installation position of the ITV 1 but also the left side from the installation position of the ITV 1. Although a configuration and a configuration are conceivable, in this case, two ITV cameras are required, which is not preferable in terms of installation cost.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another monitoring system using a conventional ITV camera.

The surveillance system shown in FIG. 7 is configured to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantage of the conventional surveillance system, that is, the disadvantage that one ITV camera can monitor only a specific direction set in advance. In the surveillance system shown in FIG. 7, an ITV camera 2 is attached to an ITV dedicated pole 1 via a turning device 4 and the ITV camera 2 is turned by the turning device 4 so that the condition of a road in an arbitrary direction can be changed. It is configured to be monitored.

According to such a configuration, the ITV camera 2 is turned by the turning device 4 so that the ITV dedicated pole 1 is turned.
Not only the right side image but also the left side image from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 can be taken from the installation position, so that not only the right side monitoring from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 but also the installation of the ITV dedicated pole 1 can be performed. Monitoring on the left side from the position is also possible.

[0012]

However, the configuration using the above-described turning device 4 not only increases the cost due to the installation of the turning device 4, but also causes a problem that the control of the turning device 4 becomes complicated. Further, in the configuration using the turning device 4, there is a problem that the right side monitoring from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 and the left side monitoring from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 cannot be performed simultaneously. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera which enables simultaneous monitoring in at least two directions using one ITV camera.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an object to be monitored is photographed with an ITV camera, and the image photographed by the ITV camera is displayed on a monitor screen. In a surveillance method using an ITV camera for monitoring an object, at least two mirrors arranged at a predetermined angle in a field of view of the ITV camera are arranged, and images in at least two directions reflected by the mirrors are arranged. The apparatus is characterized in that images are simultaneously taken by the ITV camera, and images in at least two directions taken by the ITV camera are simultaneously displayed on the monitor screen.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the ITV camera captures an image reflected by the mirror, the scanning direction of the ITV camera is reversed from a normal scanning direction. By doing so, the image displayed on the monitor screen is converted into an image in a normal direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an imaging range of the ITV camera is changed by adjusting an angle of the mirror with respect to the ITV camera.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the angles of the at least two mirrors with respect to the ITV camera are independently adjusted so that the ITV camera can adjust the angles of the at least two directions. The imaging range is independently variable.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a monitoring target is photographed by an ITV camera, and an image photographed by the ITV camera is displayed on a monitor screen to monitor the monitoring target using an ITV camera. In the apparatus, the I
At least two mirrors arranged at a predetermined angle in a field of view of a TV camera, and a monitor display device for simultaneously displaying images in at least two directions reflected by the mirrors, which are taken by the ITV camera. Features.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the ITV camera comprises a reverse scanning camera for reversing a scanning direction of an image reflected by the mirror from a normal scanning direction. The monitor device simultaneously displays images in at least two directions taken by the reverse scanning camera on a monitor screen.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an adjusting means for adjusting an angle of the mirror with respect to the ITV camera, thereby changing a shooting range of the ITV camera. It is characterized by the following.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, the angles of the at least two mirrors with respect to the ITV camera are independently adjusted, so that the angles of the at least two directions by the ITV camera are adjusted. It is characterized by further comprising adjusting means for independently changing the photographing range.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a monitoring system to which a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera according to the present invention are applied.

In FIG. 1, this monitoring system is an IT system.
In the field of view of the V camera 2, two plane mirrors 7a and 7b arranged at a predetermined angle are arranged, and the two plane mirrors 7a and 7b are arranged.
The two-directional images reflected by a and 7b are simultaneously captured by the ITV camera 2, and the two-directional images captured by the ITV camera 2 are simultaneously displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12. .

Here, the ITV camera 2 and the two plane mirrors 7a and 7b are accommodated in an ITV camera case 13, and the monitor device 12 is, for example, a center (not shown) that is remotely located in the ITV camera case 13. Installed in the device.

The ITV camera case 13 includes, for example,
Attached to the ITV dedicated pole 1 shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the plane mirror 7a of the two plane mirrors 7a and 7b
Are arranged in the direction of the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1, and the plane mirror 7b is arranged in the direction of the car 6b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1.

In such a configuration, an image including the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1 is represented by a plane mirror 7a.
And is imaged by the ITV camera 2.

An image including the car 6b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1 is reflected by the plane mirror 7b and taken by the ITV camera 2.

The photographing of the image including the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1 reflected by the plane mirror 7a and the photographing of the image including the car 6b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1 reflected by the plane mirror 7b are as follows. Simultaneously performed by the ITV camera 2, the images captured by the ITV camera 2 include an image including the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1 reflected by the plane mirror 7a, and an ITV reflected by the plane mirror 7b. It becomes a composite image of an image including the car 6b moving away from the dedicated pole 1.

According to such a configuration, two images, one image including the car 6a approaching the ITV dedicated pole 1 and the other including the car 6b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1, by one ITV camera 2. Can be simultaneously photographed, and as a result, monitoring in the left direction from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 and monitoring in the right direction from the installation position of the ITV dedicated pole 1 can be performed simultaneously.

Here, the monitorable range 8 in which an image can be captured by the ITV camera 2 by arranging the plane mirror 7a is indicated by a monitorable range 8, and the image can be captured by the ITV camera 2 by arranging the plane mirror 7b. The monitorable range in which is possible is indicated by a monitorable range 9.

In the surveillance system shown in FIG. 1, two flat mirrors 7a and 7
ITV camera 2 by adjusting the angle of b
Can change the monitorable range in each direction.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the monitoring range when the angle of the plane mirror 7b is changed in the monitoring system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, when the angle between the shooting direction of the ITV camera 2 and the plane mirror 7b is set to the angle A, the range that can be monitored by the ITV camera 2 is as shown in FIG.

Considering the case where the angle between the shooting direction of the ITV camera 2 and the plane mirror 7b is set to the angle B,
The monitorable range of the ITV camera 2 is the monitorable range 1
It looks like 2.

That is, by changing the angles of the plane mirrors 7a and 7b accommodated in the ITV camera case 13 with respect to the photographing direction of the ITV camera 2, the vertical (vertical) direction of the ITV camera equipped with the conventional turning device is moved. The same operation as that described above can be performed, whereby the range that can be monitored in the vertical direction can be changed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the control system of the monitoring system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, an ITV camera 2, a plane mirror 7a and a plane mirror 7b are disposed in an ITV camera case 13, and the plane mirror 7a and the plane mirror 7b are
An angle adjusting motor 14a and an angle adjusting motor 14b for adjusting the angles of the plane mirror 7a and the plane mirror 7b, respectively, are provided.

This ITV camera case 13 is, for example,
It is attached to the ITV dedicated pole 1 that is built in a space such as a sidewalk beside a roadway as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The angle adjusting motor 14a and the angle adjusting motor 14b in the ITV camera case 13 include:
A plane mirror angle controller 131 that controls the angle adjustment motor 14a and the angle adjustment motor 14b to adjust the angles of the plane mirrors 7a and 7b is connected.
The ITV camera 2 is connected to an ITV camera control unit 132 that controls the shooting operation of the ITV camera 2.

The plane mirror angle controllers 131 and I
The TV camera control unit 132 controls the ITV camera case 1
3 is controlled by a center control unit 101 in a center device 100 arranged remotely.

An image signal picked up by the ITV camera 2 is transmitted to the center control unit 101 of the center device and displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12 connected to the center control unit 101.

Here, the control signals transmitted from the center device 101 to the plane mirror angle control unit 131 and the ITV camera control unit 132 and the control signals transmitted from the ITV camera 2 to the center device 101
The image signal transmitted to is transmitted, for example, by converting it into an optical signal using an optical fiber cable.

The ITV camera 2 uses a reverse scanning camera configured to be able to control the scanning direction in reverse to the normal operation direction by a control signal from the ITV camera control unit 132 when capturing an image. Can be.

Here, the reason for using the reverse scanning camera is as follows.
Since the image input to the TV camera 2 is an image reflected by the plane mirror 7a and the plane mirror 7b, if the image is taken with the ITV camera 2 as it is, the image becomes a left-right inverted image with respect to a normal image. This is to correct this because it may cause trouble.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12 in the monitoring system shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a case where a normal ITV camera that performs scanning in a normal direction is used as the ITV camera 2.

In this case, the monitor screen 1 of the monitor device 12
The image displayed on the monitor 2a is a composite image of the image reflected by the plane mirror 7a and input to the ITV camera 2 and the image reflected by the plane mirror 7b and input to the ITV camera 2, and is displayed below the monitor screen 12a. , The image reflected by the plane mirror 7a and input to the ITV camera 2, ie,
An image including the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1 is displayed, and a plane mirror 7b is displayed above the monitor screen 12a.
And the image input to the ITV camera 2, that is, the image including the car 6 b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1 is displayed.

However, in this case, since the images displayed on the lower side and the upper side of the monitor screen 12a are both images reflected by the plane mirror 7a or the plane mirror 7b, the left and right sides of the image to be monitored are reversed. .

That is, the images displayed on the lower side and the upper side of the monitor screen 12a both appear to be on the right side even though the car is actually on the left side. There is.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of another image displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12 in the monitoring system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a case where a reverse scanning camera that performs scanning in a direction opposite to the normal direction is used as the ITV camera 2.

Also in this case, the image displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12 includes an image reflected by the plane mirror 7a and input to the ITV camera 2, and an image reflected by the plane mirror 7b and input to the ITV camera 2. Is displayed on the lower side of the monitor screen 12a. The image reflected by the plane mirror 7a and input to the ITV camera 2, that is, the image including the car 6a coming toward the ITV dedicated pole 1, is displayed on the monitor screen 12a. Above 12a, an image reflected by the plane mirror 7b and input to the ITV camera 2;
That is, an image including the car 6b moving away from the ITV dedicated pole 1 is displayed.

However, in this case, since the ITV camera 2 is a reverse scanning camera that performs scanning in a direction opposite to the normal direction, the images displayed on the lower side and the upper side of the monitor screen 12a are both actual monitoring targets. And left and right are not reversed. .

As a result, the images displayed on the lower side and the upper side of the monitor screen 12a both appear to be on the left side as in the case of the actual vehicle, which may cause a feeling of strangeness or incorrect confirmation. Reduce.

In the above embodiment, the ITV
Although the two plane mirrors 7a and 7b arranged at a predetermined angle are arranged in the field of view of the camera 2, the present invention is not limited to the plane mirror. For example, a mirror of another shape such as a concave mirror or a convex mirror is arranged. It may be configured as follows.

Further, the number of mirrors is not limited to two, and the same configuration can be adopted even when three or more mirrors are used in accordance with the direction requiring monitoring.

In the above embodiment, the above-mentioned 2
Angle adjusting motor 1 for adjusting the angle of the plane mirrors 7a and 7b
Although 4a and 14b are used, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and other well-known adjusting means may be used.

[0059]

As explained above, according to the present invention,
At least two mirrors arranged at a predetermined angle are arranged in the field of view of the ITV camera, and images in at least two directions reflected by the mirrors are simultaneously taken by the ITV camera, and at least the images taken by the ITV camera are taken. Since it was configured to display images in two directions simultaneously on the monitor screen,
Monitoring can be performed in at least two directions at the same time using one ITV camera, and since it has a simple configuration in which at least two mirrors are arranged within the field of view of the ITV camera, cost is low and versatility is achieved. There is an effect that there is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a monitoring system to which a monitoring method and apparatus using an ITV camera according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 shows a plane mirror 7b in the monitoring system shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a monitorable range when the angle of the image is changed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the monitoring system illustrated in FIG. 1;

4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a monitor screen 12a of a monitor device 12 in the monitoring system shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of another image displayed on the monitor screen 12a of the monitor device 12 in the monitoring system shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring system using a conventional ITV camera.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another monitoring system using a conventional ITV camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ITV dedicated pole 2 ITV surveillance camera 3 Fixed pan head 4 Swivel device 6a Car heading toward ITV dedicated pole 6b Car moving away from ITV dedicated pole 7a, 7b Plane mirror. 13 Camera Case 14a, 14b Angle Adjustment Motor 12 Monitor 12a Monitor Screen 100 Center Device 101 Center Control Unit 131 Plane Mirror Angle Control Unit 132 ITV Camera Control Unit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G08B 21/00 G08B 21/00 H G08G 1/04 G08G 1/04 D H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 C (72) Inventor Yasunobu Ishii 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo F-term in Toshiba Communication Systems Construction Co., Ltd. 5C022 AA04 AB62 AC51 5C054 CA04 CC03 CE12 CH01 FA00 FE18 HA30 5C086 AA52 BA22 CA25 CB36 DA01 DA02 DA33 EA50 FA18 5H180 AA01 CC04 DD02

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An object to be monitored is photographed by an ITV camera.
In a monitoring method using an ITV camera for monitoring an object to be monitored by displaying an image captured by a TV camera on a monitor screen, at least two mirrors arranged at a predetermined angle in a field of view of the ITV camera are arranged. And at least two directions of the image reflected by the mirror are
An ITV, wherein images are taken simultaneously by a TV camera, and images in at least two directions taken by the ITV camera are simultaneously displayed on the monitor screen.
Surveillance method using camera. 2. When the ITV camera captures an image reflected by the mirror, an image displayed on the monitor screen is oriented in a normal direction by reversing a scanning direction of the ITV camera from a normal scanning direction. 2. A monitoring method using a camera according to claim 1, wherein the method is converted into an image. 3. The surveillance method using an ITV camera according to claim 1, wherein an imaging range of the ITV camera is varied by adjusting an angle of the mirror with respect to the ITV camera. 4. The ITV by independently adjusting the angles of the at least two mirrors with respect to the ITV camera.
The surveillance method using an ITV camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographing ranges in at least two directions by the TV camera are independently changed. 5. An object to be monitored is photographed by an ITV camera, and
In a monitoring device using an ITV camera that monitors the monitoring target by displaying an image captured by a TV camera on a monitor screen, at least two mirrors arranged at a predetermined angle in a field of view of the ITV camera; A monitor display device for simultaneously displaying images in at least two directions reflected by the mirror, the images being taken by the ITV camera, and a monitor using the ITV camera. 6. The ITV camera comprises a reverse scanning camera for reversing a scanning direction of an image reflected by the mirror from a normal scanning direction, and the monitor device comprises at least two images captured by the reverse scanning camera. 6. The monitoring device using an ITV camera according to claim 5, wherein images in the directions are simultaneously displayed on a monitor screen. 7. The surveillance using an ITV camera according to claim 5, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting an angle of the mirror with respect to the ITV camera to change a photographing range of the ITV camera. apparatus. 8. The ITV by independently adjusting the angles of the at least two mirrors with respect to the ITV camera.
The surveillance device using an ITV camera according to claim 5, further comprising an adjustment unit that independently changes a photographing range of the TV camera in at least two directions.