JP2003189162A - Panning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply and inexpensively provide a correction mechanism that optically detects an actual position of a camera (panning device) when the camera (panning device) is deviated from a control position so as to correct control position information in matching with the actual position. <P>SOLUTION: The panning device swings a camera section 1 for picking up an image of an object in a horizontal direction, and the panning device includes: a control section 3 for supplying a drive (control) signal to a motor 2 for swinging the camera section 1; and a luminous quantity detection section (optical position detector) 4 for detecting an actual swing position of the camera section 1. The camera 1 is moved at a desired position (in a desired direction) on the basis of the control signal supplied from the control section 3 to the motor, but when the camera 1 is manually moved, the camera position information in the control section 3 is dissident with the actual camera position. In this case, the control section 3 activates the luminous quantity detection section to detect the actual camera position to match the camera position information in the control section with the detected actual camera position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a panning device, and more particularly to a panning device for moving a camera horizontally (left and right) in order to photograph a subject with panning (a panoramic effect). Intentionally or accidentally hitting the camera,
The position of the camera (pan device) is controlled (driven) by the control unit
Camera position information correction means when the position deviates from the control position determined by the signal, in other words, means for matching the control position of the camera based on the control (drive) signal for controlling the camera position with the actual camera position. Relates to a bread device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a video conference or the like, a camera is attached to a panning device which makes a turning movement in a horizontal direction so that the object can be followed, and the image of the object captured by the camera is converted into an electric signal. After being stored, it is transmitted to the other party through the communication interface.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic configuration diagram for explaining an example of a video conference system to which the pan device according to the present invention is applied. As is well known, the pan device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. Although the present invention is applied to the video input device 127 of No. 1, first, an outline of the video conference system will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, a video input device 1 such as a camera
The video captured by 27 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 123, and is temporarily stored in the image buffer in the memory 120. On the other hand, the voice captured by the voice input device 125 such as a microphone is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 121 and temporarily stored in the voice buffer in the memory unit 120. Control unit 11
9, the image data stored in the memory unit 120 is sent to the video encoding unit 118, and the audio data is stored in the audio encoding unit 1.
16 respectively. These image data and audio data are converted into a video encoding unit 118 and an audio encoding unit 116.
, The data is compressed to a size suitable for transmission using the communication line 111, then multiplexed by the multiplexing unit 114, and transmitted through the communication interface unit 112.
11 is sent.

On the other hand, the data transmitted from the other party of communication is transmitted through the communication line 111 to the communication interface section 11
2 and is sent to the separation unit 113, and the separation unit 11
In 3, the image data and the audio data are separated from the received data. The separated image data is sent to the video decoding unit 117, and the audio data is sent to the audio decoding unit 115, and is stored in the memory unit 120 by the control unit 119. The image data stored in the memory unit 120 is D / A
After being converted into an analog signal by the conversion unit 124, it is output by the video output device 128, and the audio data is converted by the D / A conversion unit 122 into an analog signal and then output by the audio output device 126.

As described above, the video conference system connects remote points via a communication line and transmits and receives video and audio in real time. The video captured by the camera and the audio input from the microphone are connected. The data is encoded and sent to a communication line, and the data sent from the other party is divided into video and audio, decoded, and output to a monitor or speaker.

The cameras used in the video camera conference include
I usually take a picture of all the members who are attending the meeting,
It is necessary to have a function of capturing an image of only the speaker.
Therefore, many of them basically have a panning operation (horizontal turning operation), a tilting operation (vertical operation), and a zooming operation (zooming operation for an object). Pan operation, tilt operation and zoom operation are performed by operating the controller. In addition, there are many devices that are provided with a function of memorizing the position information to be imaged in advance so that the operator can move to a desired position without much trouble.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part for explaining the operation principle of a conventional pan device. In the figure, 1 is a camera for picking up an image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, 2 is a motor, and 3 is control. In part, the camera 1 is attached to the pan device and rotates (moves) integrally with the pan device. In the pan operation (rotation operation) of the camera 1, a control (drive) signal is sent from the control unit 3 to the motor 2, and the rotation (movement) of the motor 2 is controlled by the control signal to move the camera 1 in a desired direction ( Position). Therefore, the control unit 3 can know the current turning (moving) position of the motor 2 based on the control signal supplied to the motor 2, and by storing this current position, the next stored position can be stored. The pan device is controlled as a starting point during the turning (moving) operation.

However, in the conventional panning device as described above, the position of the camera (panning device) is deviated from the current position stored in the control unit due to the external force being erroneously applied to the camera 1 (panning device). If it happens, the camera position stored in the control unit will be different from the actual camera position, causing problems such as subsequent movement of the camera or the camera not moving to the planned position. It was

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, for example, in a pan / tilt device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-266547, a controller (control) circuit sends a predetermined signal to a motor for driving the pan device and a step-out detection circuit. Drive (control)
A signal is output, the camera position corresponding to the movement of the pan device driven by the motor is detected by a potentiometer, and the actual camera position signal corresponding to the output signal of the potentiometer and the drive supplied to the step-out detection circuit are detected. Camera position signal (memory signal) determined by (control) signal
When the two position signals are different, the camera (panning device) warns that the camera is out of step from the camera position determined by the drive (control).

[0011]

However, the bread apparatus having the potentiometer and the out-of-step detecting circuit as described above has a complicated structure, and in particular, the potentiometer is expensive, and thus the cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and the camera (pan device) is manually controlled (driven).
The actual position signal of the camera (panning device) and the control position information when the position deviates from the control position (position stored in the control section) determined by the control (drive) signal by some external means other than the signal. A camera position correction device capable of easily and inexpensively providing a correction mechanism for correcting camera position information stored in a control unit so as to match (stored information) with an actual camera position. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bread device equipped with the bread device.

[0013]

A first technical means is a pan device for horizontally rotating a camera unit for picking up an image, and the pan device is driven by a motor for rotating the camera unit ( A control device for sending a control signal, an optical position detection device for detecting an actual turning position of the camera unit, and a storage device for storing the current position of the camera unit based on the motor drive (control) signal. And a comparison device for comparing an actual camera position signal detected by the optical position detection device with a storage position signal stored in the storage device, the optical position detection device rotating the camera unit. When the detection level of is reached to a predetermined level, the storage position information stored in the storage device is corrected to a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined level. Than it is.

According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the optical position detecting device for detecting the turning position of the camera section includes a slit plate or an optical sensor which moves integrally with the camera section, and It consists of a fixed optical sensor that detects the amount of light that has passed through the slits of the slit plate or a fixed slit plate that controls the amount of incident light of the optical sensor, and moves the slit plate or optical sensor integrally with the camera unit, and moves it. It is characterized in that an electric output corresponding to a position is obtained by the optical sensor.

According to a third technical means, in the first technical means, an optical position detecting device for detecting a turning position of the camera section includes a shield plate or an optical sensor which moves integrally with the camera section, and It consists of a fixed light sensor that detects the amount of light corresponding to the amount of light shielded by the shield plate or a fixed shield plate that controls the incident light amount of the optical sensor, and moves the shield plate or the optical sensor integrally with the camera unit. ,
It is characterized in that an electric output corresponding to the moving position is obtained from the optical sensor.

A fourth technical means is the stepping motor of the first technical means, wherein the motor for rotating the camera section is a stepping motor which rotates in response to a pulse signal sent from the control section. An up / down counter for counting the pulse signals, which supplies the pulse signals to the motor to rotate the camera unit to reach a predetermined detection level of the optical position detecting device, It is characterized in that the up / down counter is set to zero.

[0017]

1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation principle of a pan device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a camera for picking up an image of a subject and converting it into an electric signal, 2 is a motor, Reference numeral 3 is a control unit, and as described in FIG. 7, the motor 2 is rotated by a drive (control) signal output from the control unit 3, and the camera (panning device) 1 is horizontally swung (panning). Let At this time, the motor 2 has a control unit 3
A control (drive) signal that determines the rotation direction is input,
The control unit 3 controls the rotation direction and rotation position of the camera (panning device). Therefore, the control unit 3 can know the direction and the amount of rotation of the motor 2 based on the motor drive (control) signal supplied to the motor 2, and by this, the camera (panning device) is now The position can be known, or the position of the camera (panning device) can be determined by controlling the drive signal supplied to the motor. Reference numeral 4 denotes a light amount detection unit (optical position detection device) added by the present invention. In the light amount detection unit 4, as will be described later, the direction in which the camera (panning device) 1 actually faces (the position of the camera). To detect.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light amount detecting section 4. In the following description, the turning operation (pan operation) of the camera 1 is -90 ° as shown in FIG. 2 (A). The range from + 90 ° to + 90 ° will be described. Camera (pan device)
Is provided with an optical sensor 11 for detecting the position (rotational direction) of the camera 1.
1 detects the actual rotational position of the camera 1 (panning device). Specifically, in FIG. 2, the camera 1 is rotated by the pan device in the range of −90 ° to + 90 ° (the direction of the camera can be changed). However, the camera 1 includes the camera 1 (pan device). It has an optical sensor 11 which rotates integrally with the rotation. In this optical sensor 11, a light source 11a and a light amount sensor 11b are arranged to face each other, and a slit plate 12 or a light shielding plate 1 is provided between the light source 11a and the light amount sensor 11b.
3 is fixedly arranged over a range of −90 ° to + 90 °, and these optical sensor 11 and slit plate 12 are provided.
Alternatively, the light shielding plate 13 constitutes an optical position detecting device. In response to the rotation of the camera 1 (panning device), the light amount sensor 11b continuously and proportionally changes its output level (amount of received light) as shown in FIG. 2B. The actual rotation position of the pan device) is known. The optical sensor 11 and the slit plate 12
Alternatively, the relationship with the light shielding plate 13 may be reversed. That is, the slit plate 12 or the light shielding plate 13 may be rotated integrally with the camera 1 (pan device) to fix the optical sensor 11.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a specific example of the optical position detecting device used for implementing the present invention.
In the figure, 10 is a panning device, which is rotated between -90 ° and + 90 °, at which time the camera 1 and the optical sensor 11 are also rotated integrally. As described with reference to FIG. 2, in the optical sensor 11, the light source 11a and the light amount sensor 11b are arranged opposite to each other, and the slit plate 12 or the shield plate 13 is fixedly arranged between the light source and the light amount sensor.

FIG. 3A shows an example in which the slit plate 12 is used. The slit plate 12 has a slit width of -9.
Slit 12a gradually widening from 0 ° to + 90 °
2 is provided, and accordingly, as the pan device 10 (camera) moves toward −90 ° to + 90 °, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), the output level of the light amount sensor 11b increases. In FIG. 3B, instead of the slit plate 12,
A shield plate 13 is provided. In this case, the shield plate 1
The width of 3 is gradually narrowed toward −90 ° to + 90 °, which allows the pan device 10 (camera) to be −90 °.
Light amount sensor 1 when turned from + 90 ° to + 90 °
The output level of 1b gradually increases as the panning device 10 (camera) turns.

3A and 3B, the slit plate 12 is shown.
Alternatively, although an example in which the shield plate 13 is horizontally arranged is shown, these slit plates or shield plates may be vertically arranged as shown in FIG. () Shows a schematic arrangement configuration when the shield plate 13 is arranged vertically. 3 (A) to 3 (C) show an example in which the optical sensor 11 is rotated together with the pan device and the slit plate or the shield plate is fixed. Alternatively, the slit plate or the shielding plate may be rotated together with the pan device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the camera (pan device) is artificially or accidentally moved in the pan device. FIG. 4 (A) shows the current camera (pan device). ), That is, the camera 1 is at a position of -60 °, this camera position is the position where the camera (pan) is moved by the drive (control) signal from the control unit, The control unit stores that the camera has been moved to this position based on a drive (control) signal applied to a motor for driving the pan device. In this state, for example, intentionally or accidentally, the camera (panning device)
4B to the position of + 70 ° shown in FIG. 4B, the control unit cannot recognize that the camera (pan device) has been moved by hand, so that the camera ( The position information of the pan device) remains at −60 °. In this state, the control unit controls the camera 1 (panning device)
When a driving (control) signal for moving in the direction of 90 ° is supplied to the camera (panning device) drive motor, the control unit causes the camera (panning device) to move −90 ° when moving the camera (panning device) 30 ° in the − direction. It is judged that the position has been reached, and the supply of the drive (control) signal is stopped. However, in reality, as shown in FIG. 4 (C), the camera 1 only moved 30 ° in the − direction from the position of + 70 °, and stopped at the position of + 40 °, so that it was −90 °. Does not move in the direction.

The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and more specifically, it is provided with an optical sensor for obtaining an electric signal corresponding to the rotational position of the pan device (camera). Then, the actual turning position signal of the camera (panning device) detected by the optical sensor and the motor drive supplied to the motor for turning the camera (panning device) from the control unit for turning the camera (panning device). When the camera (pan device) position stored information signal based on the (control) signal is compared and the camera position stored information signal is different from the actual camera (pan device) position signal (that is,
When the camera (pan device) is intentionally or accidentally moved), the stored position information is corrected so as to match the actual position of the camera (pan device).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.
In the low diagram, first, the control unit pushes the button in the + 90 ° direction.
It is detected whether it has been performed (S1). If pressed
(S1-Yes), adjust the received light level by the optical sensor
Beer (S2). Light receiving level is L ₀If below level
(S2-Yes), camera (pan device) reached 0 °
Since it is not (it is between -90 ° and 0 °), the motor
Is not stopped. Light receiving level is L₀Below the level
If not (S2-No), the camera is at + 90 °
Check if it has reached (S3), reach the position of + 90 °
If yes (S3-Yes), the camera (pan device) drive mode
Stop processing is performed (S6).

After performing the above processing, the control unit outputs a control (motor drive) signal (pulse signal when the motor is a stepping motor) to the camera (panning device) drive motor to direct the motor in the + 90 ° direction. Rotate to. While the motor is rotating in the + 90 ° direction, the camera (panning device) always faces the 0 ° direction, so that the light quantity sensor generates the L ₀ level signal. When the output of the light quantity sensor becomes L ₀ level,
Since the camera (pan device) has passed the 0 ° position, at this time, the control unit stores position information (camera position storage information based on the camera drive signal for moving the camera) stored and stored internally. ) To 0 °. As a result, thereafter, the camera (panning device) matches the position information calculated based on the control (motor drive) signal supplied from the control unit, and the camera (panning device) drives (controls) from the control unit. ), The current position of the camera (panning device) can be known from the drive (control) signal supplied to the motor, and the current position is stored as control position information. When the pan drive motor is a stepping motor, the current control position can be known from the value of the counter by measuring the pulse supplied to the motor with an up / down counter.

If the + 90 ° direction button has not been pressed, the control unit detects whether the -90 ° direction button has been pressed (S7). If it is pressed (S7-Y
es), check the received light level with the light amount sensor (S
8). When the light receiving level is equal to or higher than the L ₀ level (S8
-Yes), since the camera (pan device) has not reached 0 ° (between + 90 ° and 0 °), the motor stop process is not performed. If the received light level is not equal to or higher than the L ₀ level (S8-No), it is checked whether the camera has reached the position of -90 ° (S9), and if it has reached the position of -90 ° (S9-Yes), the camera (Pan device) Stop processing of the drive motor is performed (S12).

After performing the above processing, the control unit outputs a motor drive signal to the camera (panning device) drive motor to rotate the motor in the -90 ° direction. Motor is -90
The camera (panning device) must be 0 during rotation in the ° direction.
Since it is oriented in the ° direction, the light amount sensor generates an L ₀ level signal. Since the camera (pan device) has passed the 0 ° position when the output of the light amount sensor reaches the L ₀ level,
At this time, the control unit sets the internally held and stored position information (camera position storage information based on the motor drive signal for moving the camera) to 0 °. Accordingly, thereafter, the camera (panning device) matches the position information calculated based on the control (motor driving) signal supplied from the control unit, and the camera (panning device) controls the control (motor driving) from the control unit. The control unit can know the current position of the camera (panning device) from the control (motor drive) signal supplied to the motor, or the control signal supplied to the motor The camera (pan device) can be moved (pointed) to a desired position. The control unit can know the current position of the camera (panning device) driven by this control signal, store the current position in advance, and start the next driving at the stored position as a starting point.

In the embodiment described above, the camera
L when (bread device) reaches 0 ° ₀In the control section at the level
I am trying to correct the camera position information stored in
However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, even if correction is performed at a desired point such as a 45 ° point,
Well, fine correction is performed at multiple locations instead of just one location.
By doing so, the camera (pan) will be more accurate.
You can move.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the pan device (or the camera mounted on the pan device) is intentionally or erroneously (in other words, driven (controlled) by the control unit). Even if the position of the camera (panning device) deviates from the position information stored in the control unit due to movement (without a signal), the positional deviation is automatically detected during the panning operation. Therefore, it is possible to solve such a problem that the movement of the camera stops on the way and the camera does not move to the set expected position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining an operation principle of a bread device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the light amount detection unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an actual example of a light amount detection unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation state when a pan device (camera) is manually moved.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an example of a video conference system as an example to which the pan device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a conventional camera position correction device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Camera, 2 ... Camera (pan device) drive motor, 3 ...
Control unit, 4 ... Light amount detection unit (optical position detection device), 10
... Pan device, 11 ... Optical sensor, 11a ... Light source, 11
b ... Light quantity sensor, 12 ... Slit plate, 12a ... Slit, 13 ... Shield plate.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pan device for horizontally rotating a camera unit for capturing an image, the pan device sending a drive (control) signal to a motor for rotating the camera unit, An optical position detection device that detects the actual turning position of the camera unit, a storage device that stores the current position of the camera unit based on the motor drive (control) signal, and an actual position that is detected by the optical position detection device. Of the camera position signal and a storage device for comparing the storage position signal stored in the storage device, the camera unit is swiveled to set the detection level of the optical position detection device to a predetermined level. A pan device, wherein the storage position information stored in the storage device is corrected to a predetermined value corresponding to the predetermined level when the storage device reaches the predetermined level. 2. An optical position detecting device for detecting a turning position of the camera unit, a slit plate or an optical sensor which moves integrally with the camera unit, and a fixed unit for detecting the amount of light passing through a slit of the slit plate. An optical sensor or a fixed slit plate for controlling the incident light amount of the optical sensor, the slit plate or the optical sensor is moved integrally with the camera unit, and an electric output corresponding to the moving position is obtained in the optical sensor. The bread apparatus according to claim 1, which is a thing. 3. An optical position detecting device for detecting a turning position of the camera unit, a shield plate or an optical sensor which moves integrally with the camera unit, and a light amount corresponding to a light amount shielded by the shield plate. A fixed light sensor for detection or a fixed shield plate for controlling the amount of incident light of the light sensor, the shield plate or the light sensor is moved integrally with the camera unit, and an electric output corresponding to the moving position is output by the light. The bread device according to claim 1, which is obtained by a sensor. 4. A motor for rotating the camera unit is a stepping motor that rotates in response to a pulse signal sent from the control unit, and the storage device is an up-down counter that counts the pulse signal, The up / down counter is set to 0 when a pulse signal is supplied to the motor to rotate the camera section and the detection level of the optical position detecting device reaches a predetermined level. The bread apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: