JP2003230047A - Imaging apparatus, controller for the imaging apparatus, and control method for the imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus, a controller for the imaging apparatus, and a control method for the imaging apparatus, which are applied to e.g. a supervisory apparatus so as to perform panning and tilting at a remarkably higher speed than that of a conventional apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This invention employs panning and tilting by using a movable mechanism together with panning and tilting by using processing of an imaging result. <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 an image pickup apparatus, an image pickup apparatus control apparatus, and an image pickup apparatus control method, and can be applied to, for example, a monitoring apparatus. The present invention makes it possible to perform panning and tilting at a remarkably higher speed than in the past by using panning and tilting by a movable mechanism and panning and tilting by processing an imaging result.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image pickup device applied to a monitoring device or the like is constructed so that a movable mechanism can change the direction of the image pickup device to pick up an image of a desired portion, and an electric actuator is applied to this movable mechanism. It is designed to be done.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, in this type of image pickup apparatus, the movable mechanism is held by a movable mechanism via a platform, and the movable mechanism is driven by, for example, remote control from a monitoring room to change the direction vertically and horizontally. To do. As a result, in this type of monitoring device, for example, the direction can be changed as shown by the arrow a to perform the pan processing, and as shown in FIG. 8, the imaging target can be switched from the subject A to the subject B until then. It is made possible (FIGS. 8A and 8B). In this case, in the actuator of the movable mechanism (see FIG.
(C)) For example, by an operator's operation, after the operation is started from a predetermined time point as indicated by the symbol ON, the operation is stopped at the time point when the subject B is captured in the angle of view as indicated by the symbol OFF. Has been done.

[0004]

By the way, in such monitoring, there is a case where it is desired to immediately confirm a desired position. In such cases, pan the imaging device at high speed,
Tilt is desired.

However, in the conventional image pickup apparatus,
After all, it is difficult to pan and tilt at a speed higher than the moving speed of the moving mechanism by the electric actuator,
Due to this, there is a problem that it is not possible to meet the demand for high speed panning and tilting.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an image pickup apparatus capable of panning and tilting at a much higher speed than in the past, an image pickup apparatus control apparatus, and an image pickup apparatus control method. Is to propose.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, according to the invention of claim 1, in an image pickup device which is held by a movable mechanism so as to change its direction, an image formed on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element is used. A video signal output means for selectively processing an image in a partial area and outputting a video signal; a movable area means for moving the partial area; and a movable area means and a movable mechanism for controlling the movable area area. A control means for panning and / or tilting the video signal in combination with the movable mechanism is provided.

According to the invention of claim 6, the image pickup device is applied to a control device of the image pickup device, and the image pickup device selectively processes an image of a partial region from an image formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup element. A video signal is output, and a partial area is moved by a predetermined control signal, and the control device of the imaging device moves the partial area in response to the pan and / or tilt instruction in response to the pan and / or tilt instruction. , The direction of the image pickup device by the movable mechanism is changed so as to correspond to the instruction of pan and / or tilt.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the image pickup device is applied to a control method of an image pickup device which is held by a movable mechanism so as to change its orientation. The control method of the image pickup device is configured such that a video signal output unit that selectively processes an image in a partial region and outputs a video signal and a region moving unit that moves the partial region are provided. The video signal is panned and / or tilted in combination with the mechanism.

According to the structure of the first aspect, by providing the control means for panning and / or tilting the video signal by using the area moving means and the moving mechanism together, the area moving means and the moving mechanism are used together, and accordingly, simply. Panning and / or tilting can be performed at a remarkably high speed as compared with the case where the direction is changed by the movable mechanism to pan and / or tilt.

Thus, according to the configurations of claims 6 and 7, there is provided a control device of an image pickup device and a control method of the image pickup device capable of panning and tilting at a much higher speed than ever before. be able to.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

(1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The monitoring system 1 monitors the imaging result of the monitoring camera 2 in the monitoring room 3 to monitor the imaging target of the monitoring camera 2 in the monitoring room 3. Further, in monitoring in this manner, the monitoring camera 2 is panned, tilted, and zoomed by remote control from the monitoring room 3, and the monitoring target is switched as needed.

Therefore, in the monitoring room 3, there is provided a monitor 4 for monitoring the image pickup result, and an operator such as a joystick 5 for instructing pan, tilt and zoom, and an operation camera for detecting the operation of these operators. The controller 6 for notifying 2 is provided.

On the other hand, the surveillance camera 2 is held by a movable mechanism fixed to a wall or the like via a pan head, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 3, it is a pan electric actuator and a tilt electric actuator, respectively. By driving the motors 7 and 8, panning and tilting can be performed by changing the direction to the left and right and up and down.

In the surveillance camera 2, the lens 11 focuses incident light on the light receiving surface of the CCD solid-state image sensor (CCD) 12 that follows. In this process, the lens 11 changes the magnification under the control of the microcomputer 14, so that the monitoring camera 2 can execute the zoom process.

Under the control of the timing generator (TG) 13, the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 sequentially outputs the photoelectric conversion result by the light receiving portions arranged in a matrix on the light receiving surface in raster scanning order. CCD solid-state image sensor 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the image pickup area 2 in which the light receiving portion is arranged is formed larger than the effective image area M2 used for generating the video signal, as in the CCD solid-state image pickup device for so-called image stabilization. When the effective image area M2 is set at the center of the imageable area M1, a surplus area is formed around the effective image area M2. As a result, in the surveillance camera 2, the effective image area M2 can be varied within the range of the imageable area M1 and the panning and tilting processing can be executed by the processing of the imaging result.

The timing generator 13 generates various timing signals necessary for the operation of the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and the like and outputs them to the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and the like. In this process, the timing generator 13 causes the microcomputer 1
The line output from the CCD solid-state imaging device 12 is switched by switching the generation of the timing signal under the control of 4. As a result, in this surveillance camera 2, CC
By controlling the operation of the D solid-state image pickup device 12, the effective image area M2 can be changed in the vertical direction, and the tilt processing can be executed by processing the image pickup result.

Subsequent correlated double sampling circuit (CDS)
Reference numeral 15 correlates and double-samples the output signal of the CCD solid-state image sensor 12 and outputs it. The AGC circuit 16 amplifies the output signal of the correlated double sampling circuit 15 with a gain instructed by the microcomputer 14 and outputs it. The analog-digital conversion circuit (A / D) 17 performs analog-digital conversion processing on the output signal of the AGC circuit 16 and outputs it.

Digital signal processor (DSP)
A signal 18 processes the output signal of the analog-digital conversion circuit 17 to generate and output a video signal of a digital signal, and the subsequent digital-analog conversion circuit (D / A) 19 outputs the digital signal from the digital signal processor 18. A video signal based on the output digital signal is subjected to digital-analog conversion processing to generate a video signal based on the analog signal. The surveillance camera 2 transmits the video signal to the surveillance room 3 as a surveillance result.

In this processing, the digital signal processor 18 temporarily holds and records the output signal of the analog-digital conversion circuit 17 in the built-in memory 20, and thereafter,
In response to an instruction from the microcomputer 14, the output signal recorded in the memory 20 in the horizontal direction is selectively output and processed. As a result, in the surveillance camera 2, the tilt processing can be executed by the processing of the image pickup result in the digital signal processor 18.

Further, the digital signal processor 18
When the output signal thus held in the memory 20 is output, the size of the region to be cut out in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is changed by the instruction of the microcomputer 14, and the digital signal processor 18 changes the size. Corresponding to, the output signal of the memory 20 is interpolated. As a result, the surveillance camera 2 can execute a so-called electronic zoom process.

The digital signal processor 18
In addition to these processes, the AGC control unit executes various processes such as AGC control, gamma correction process, and knee process.

The interface (I / F) 22 is an interface between the controller 6 and the microcomputer 14, and notifies the microcomputer 14 of the operation of the operating element obtained from the controller 6 via the video signal transmission path.

The microcomputer 14 is a controller for controlling the operation of the surveillance camera 2, and secures a work area in the random access memory (RAM) 23 and centrally processes the processing program recorded in the read only memory (ROM) 24. The operation is executed by the unit (CPU) 25, and various commands are sent to the timing generator 13 and the like via the interface (I / F) 26 to control the entire operation.

In this processing, the microcomputer 14 changes the magnification of the lens 11 when the operation of a predetermined operator is notified from the controller 6 through the interface 22,
In addition, the magnification of the electronic zoom in the digital signal processor 18 is changed, whereby the imaging result at the magnification instructed by the controller 6 is output to the monitoring room 3.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 14 executes the processing procedure shown in FIG. 1 at regular time intervals, whereby
The pan / tilt process is executed in response to the operation of the joystick 5 in the controller 6.

That is, upon starting this processing procedure, the microcomputer 14 moves from step SP1 to step SP2 and detects the operating direction and operating amount of the joystick 5 by exchanging data with the controller 6. In the subsequent step SP3, it is determined from the detection result whether or not the joystick 5 is not operated, that is, whether or not the operation amount is 0.

Here, if the joystick 5 is tilted in either direction, a negative result is obtained, and the microcomputer 14 then proceeds from step SP3 to step SP.
4, the joystick 5 is instructed to move so as to change the direction in the direction corresponding to the tilted side.

Subsequently, the microcomputer 14 proceeds to step SP5 to determine the operation amount of the joystick 5 based on a predetermined value corresponding to the movable speed of the actuators 7 and 8, and the operation amount of the joystick 5 is the predetermined value. It is determined whether or not the above.

If a negative result is obtained here, in this case,
Since the operator tilts the joystick 5 slightly, and the operator gives a slow pan / tilt instruction, the microcomputer 14
The procedure moves from step SP5 to step SP6, and this processing procedure ends.

On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP5, in this case, the operator determines the joystick 5
Since it is in the case of instructing high-speed pan / tilt with a large tilt, the microcomputer 14 proceeds from step SP7 to step SP8. Here, the microcomputer 14 determines whether or not the pan / tilt instruction by the operation of the joystick 5 can be handled by moving the effective image area M2. Here, for example, as described above with reference to FIG. 4, the effective image area M2
Is located in the center of the imageable area M1, the effective image area M2 can be moved in any direction, so that even if the joystick 5 is operated in any direction, the joystick 5 can be moved. The effective image area M2 can be moved according to the operation of. However, for example, when the effective image area M2 is located at the right end of the imageable area M1 and the joystick 5 is tilted to the right and an instruction to pan to the right is obtained, in this case, the operation of the joystick 5 Correspondingly, it becomes difficult to move the effective image area M2.

From these, the microcomputer 14 determines whether or not the effective image area M2 can be moved in step SP7 based on the current position of the effective image area M2 with respect to the imageable area M1 and the operation direction of the joystick 5. If a negative result is obtained here, step SP7 to step S7
The process moves to P6, and this processing procedure ends.

On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP7, the microcomputer 14 moves from step SP7 to step SP8. Here, the microcomputer 14 controls the operation of each corresponding part so as to change the effective image area at a speed according to the operation amount of the joystick 5.

That is, when the joystick 5 is vertically tilted by the operator, the CCD solid-state image pickup device 1
The operation of the timing generator 13 is controlled so as to sequentially change the timing signal to be output to C2.
The lines of the imaging result selectively output from the CD solid-state imaging device 12 are sequentially changed. When the operator tilts the joystick 5 in the left-right direction, the digital signal processor 18 controls the operation of the digital signal processor 18 so that the image data cut out from the memory 20 and output is sequentially displaced in the horizontal direction.

As a result, the microcomputer 14 controls the timing of the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 so that the joystick 5 operates.
The tilt process is executed in response to the vertical operation of the pan, and the pan process is executed in response to the horizontal operation of the joystick 5 under the control of the memory 20.

When the pan and tilt are instructed in this way, the microcomputer 14 proceeds from step SP8 to step SP8.
The procedure moves to 6 to end this processing procedure.

On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP3, the microcomputer 14 proceeds from step SP3 to step SP9, and determines whether the effective image area is moving by the processing described above in step SP8. If a positive result is obtained here, the microcomputer 14 proceeds to step SP
After moving to step 10 and stopping the movement of the effective image area M2, the process proceeds to step SP11, whereas when a negative result is obtained in step SP9, the process directly proceeds to step SP11.

In step SP11, the microcomputer 14 sets the effective image area M2 to the imageable area M1.
Is offset vertically and horizontally, that is, whether the effective image area M2 is located at a position biased vertically and horizontally from the center of the imageable area M1. Here, when the effective image area M2 exists in the center of the imageable area M1, a negative result is obtained, so that the microcomputer 14
The process moves from step SP11 to step SP6, and this processing procedure ends. On the other hand, if the effective image area M2 does not exist in the center of the imageable area M1, a positive result is obtained, so that the microcomputer 14 causes the step SP1.
Move from 1 to step SP12.

Here, the microcomputer 14 controls the operation of the timing generator 13 and / or the digital signal processor 18 so as to correct such an offset. Further, the operations of the electric actuators 7 and 8 are controlled so that the pan and tilt due to such offset correction are not perceived on the monitor, and the process proceeds to step SP6 to end this processing procedure.

As a result, the microcomputer 14 pans and tilts by combining the panning and tilting by the processing of the image pickup result and the panning and tilting by the movable mechanism within the range where the combination is possible, and when the combination is difficult, the movable mechanism is selected. Only the pan and tilt can be performed and the pan and tilt can be performed at high speed. In addition, after panning and tilting, in subsequent panning and tilting, the panning and tilting by the processing of the imaging result and the panning and tilting by the moving mechanism can be used together so that the panning and tilting by the processing of the imaging result are in the original state. It is designed to be returned to.

As a result, for example, when the mandarin orange is imaged as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by comparison with FIG.
In the surveillance camera 2, the effective image area M2 is held in the center of the imageable area M1, and the effective image area M2 is held.
The actuators 7 and 8 are held so that the mandarin orange is held in the position 2 (FIGS. 5A1 and 5B1). In this state, at time t1 (FIGS. 6 (A) and (B)), when the operator tilts the joystick 5 largely and instructs switching of the imaging target from the mandarin orange to the apple, pan and tilt by the movable mechanism and the imaging result. When panning and tilting are performed at a high speed in combination with panning and tilting performed by the process of FIG. 5, and the effective image area M2 cannot be moved at time t2 (FIGS. 5A2 and 5B2, 6A and 6B). )), And later,
The pan / tilt process is executed only by the movable mechanism.

Further, the pan only by this movable mechanism,
By the tilting process, an apple is captured in the effective image area M2, and when the operation of the joystick 5 by the operator ends at time t3 (FIGS. 5A3 and 5B).
3), FIG. 6 (A) and (B)), pan by a movable mechanism,
When the tilt continues, the pan and tilt are executed by the processing of the imaging result in a complementary manner to the pan and tilt by the movable mechanism, and when the effective image area M2 is held at the center of the imageable area M1 at time t4, the movable area moves. Both the pan and tilt by the mechanism and the pan and tilt by the processing of the imaging result are stopped.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in the pan and tilt using only the movable mechanism, a period from time t1 to time t4 is required.
The process can be completed in the period from the time point t1 to the time point t2, and accordingly, the panning and tilting processing can be executed at a higher speed than before.

As a result, in the surveillance camera 2, the CC
The D solid-state image pickup device 12 and the digital signal processor 18 constitute a video signal output means for selectively processing an image of a partial area from the image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and outputting a video signal. On the other hand, the timing generator 13 and the digital signal processor 18 constitute an area moving means for moving the partial area. Further, the microcomputer 14 controls the area moving means and the moving mechanism by the electric actuators 7 and 8, and constitutes a control means for panning and / or tilting the video signal by using the area moving means and the moving mechanism together. ing.

Further, the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and the digital signal processor 18 which constitute the video signal output means.
Among them, the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and the timing generator 13 selectively output the image pickup result obtained by the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 from the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 to process the image pickup result. Among the timing generator 13 and the digital signal processor 18 which form an area moving means by selectively processing an image of a partial area from the image formed in the area, the timing generator 13 is the CC
The partial area is movable by controlling the timing of the D solid-state imaging device 12.

On the other hand, the digital signal processor 18 constituting the video signal output means temporarily records the image pickup result obtained from the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 in the memory 20 and selectively outputs the image pickup result to process it. The digital signal processor 18 which constitutes the area moving means by selectively processing an image of a partial area from the image formed on the light receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 12 and outputting a video signal,
A part of the area can be moved under the control of the memory 20.

(2) Operation of Embodiment With the above-described structure, in this surveillance camera 2, an image of a desired subject is formed on the image pickup surface of the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 by the lens 11, and the image pickup result by this image is obtained. The correlated double sampling circuit 15, the AGC circuit 16, the analog-digital conversion circuit 17, the digital signal processor 18, and the digital-analog conversion circuit 19 are sequentially processed to generate a video signal, and the video signal is transmitted to the monitor 4 in the monitoring room 3. To be done. As a result, in the surveillance system 1, a desired subject can be imaged by the surveillance camera 2 and monitored by the surveillance room 3.

In processing the image pickup result of the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 in this way,
The CCD line image pickup device 12 outputs the image pickup result of a predetermined line of the image pickup result by the solid-state image pickup device 12, and the digital signal processor 18 temporarily stores the image pickup result in the memory 20 and then selectively selects the memory 2.
0 is output to generate a video signal. As a result, in the surveillance camera 2, the image pickup result by the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 is cut out in the vertical direction in the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 and in the horizontal direction in the memory 20, so that the CCD solid-state image pickup device 12 can take an image. A video signal is generated from the effective image area M2 which is a partial area of the area M1.

In the surveillance camera 2, when the operator operates the joystick 5 in the surveillance room 3, the surveillance camera 2 is notified of this operation. In the surveillance camera 2, when the operation amount is small, the pan electric actuators 7 and 7 are respectively corresponding to the operation direction of the joystick 5.
The tilting electric actuator 8 is driven, whereby the moving mechanism of the panning electric actuator 7 and the tilting electric actuator 8 changes the orientation of the surveillance camera 2 to execute panning and tilting processing.

On the other hand, when the operation amount of the joystick 5 is large, in the surveillance camera 2, similarly, the pan electric actuator 7 and the tilt electric actuator 8 are driven in correspondence with the operation direction of the joystick 5. ,
As a result, the orientation of the surveillance camera 2 is changed by the movable mechanism of the pan electric actuator 7 and the tilt electric actuator 8, and the pan and tilt processing is executed. At the same time, when the operator's operation is a horizontal operation for instructing a pan, the operation of the memory 20 is performed via the timing generator 13 when the operator's operation is a vertical operation for instructing tilt. The effective image area M2 is moved in the horizontal and vertical directions by the control of the timing of the CCD solid-state image sensor 12 performed. As a result, in this case, the surveillance camera 2 executes the pan / tilt processing at a much higher speed than in the past by using the pan / tilt by the movable mechanism and the pan / tilt by the processing of the imaging result. Is made possible.

In the surveillance camera 2, when panning and tilting by the movable mechanism and panning and tilting by the processing of the imaged result are used together and it becomes difficult to pan and tilt by the processing of the imaged result, the movable mechanism is moved. The pan and tilt processing is executed only by. Further, when the instruction by the pan and tilt is stopped, the pan and tilt processing by the movable mechanism is continuously executed so that the effective image area M2 is at the center of the imageable area M1 of the CCD solid-state image sensor 12, and the processing of the imaging result is performed. The pan / tilt processing is executed so as to conflict with the pan / tilt processing by the movable mechanism.

As a result, the surveillance camera 2 can execute the pan / tilt processing at a high speed even if the operator gives a high-speed pan / tilt instruction again.

(3) Effects of the Embodiments According to the above configuration, the pan and tilt by the movable mechanism,
By using the pan and tilt in combination with the processing of the imaging result, it is possible to pan and tilt at a much higher speed than in the past.

That is, in response to the pan instruction from the controller, the operation of the digital signal processor 18 which is the area moving means is controlled so as to correspond to the pan instruction.
The effective image area M2, which is a partial area used for generation of a video signal, is moved, and the monitoring camera 2 using a movable mechanism is moved.
By changing the orientation of the so as to correspond to the pan instruction, the pan processing can be executed at high speed.

In response to the tilt instruction, the operation of the timing generator 13 which is the area moving means is controlled to move the effective image area M2 which is a partial area used for generating the video signal so as to correspond to the tilt instruction. With
By changing the direction of the monitoring camera 2 by the movable mechanism so as to correspond to the tilt instruction, the tilt processing can be executed at high speed.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above-mentioned embodiments, the case where the tilt process is executed by controlling the timing of the CCD solid-state image sensor and the pan process is executed by controlling the memory will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and conversely, pan and tilt processing may be executed by the CCD solid-state imaging device and the memory, respectively, and the imaging result from the CCD solid-state imaging device can be selectively selected. The pan and tilt processing may be executed by output, and the pan and tilt processing may be performed by selectively outputting the imaging result from the memory or by selectively recording and outputting the imaging result in the memory. May be executed.

In the above embodiment, bread,
Although the case where the effective image area is held in the center of the imageable area when not tilted has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and such processing may be omitted as necessary. Alternatively, the effective image area may be held with respect to the imageable area so as to predict the direction in which the operation will be performed subsequently and correspond thereto.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the pan / tilt by the processing of the image pickup result and the pan / tilt by the movable mechanism are used together by the processing on the surveillance camera side has been described. Without being limited to this, under the control of the controller, the processing of the image pickup result and the movable mechanism in the surveillance camera are simultaneously operated, and the pan and tilt by the processing of the image pickup result and the pan and tilt by the movable mechanism are used together. Good. Further, a control mechanism of the image pickup device is provided on the movable mechanism side, and the control mechanism simultaneously operates the movable mechanism and the processing of the image pickup result in the image pickup device
The pan and tilt by the processing of the imaging result and the pan and tilt by the movable mechanism may be used together.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case of panning and tilting by the operation of the joystick was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and when panning and tilting by the operation of various operating elements, further, the image. Depending on the processing result, it can be widely applied to pan and tilt according to various instructions, such as pan and tilt to a part that has moved.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pan / tilt by the movable mechanism and the pan / tilt by the processing of the imaging result are used in combination, so that the pan is remarkably faster than the conventional one. , Can be tilted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a microcomputer in a surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a movable mechanism of the surveillance camera in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a relationship between an imageable area and an effective image area.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining a pan / tilt process.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic curve diagram for explaining the processing of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining a pan / tilt process in a conventional image pickup apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram used for explaining the processing of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Monitoring system, 2 ... Monitoring camera, 3 ... Monitoring room, 4 ... Monitor, 5 ... Joystick, 6 ... Controller, 12 ... CCD solid-state image sensor, 14 ... Microcomputer, 18 ... Digital signal processor, 20 ...
…memory

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device, which is held by a movable mechanism so as to change its orientation, outputs a video signal by selectively processing an image of a partial area from an image formed on a light receiving surface of an image pickup device. Video signal output means, area moving means for moving the partial area, the area moving means and the moving mechanism are controlled, and the image signal is panned and / or panned by the combined use of the area moving means and the moving mechanism. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a tilting control unit. 2. The control means controls the operation of the area moving means by a pan instruction to move the partial area so as to correspond to the pan instruction, and the image pickup device by the moving mechanism. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of is changed so as to correspond to the pan instruction. 3. The control means controls the operation of the area moving means by a tilt instruction to move the partial area so as to correspond to the tilt instruction, and the image pickup device by the moving mechanism. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction of is changed so as to correspond to the tilt instruction. 4. The video signal output means selectively outputs an image pickup result obtained by the image pickup element from the image pickup element to process the image pickup result, thereby obtaining an image from an image formed on a light receiving surface of the image pickup element. The imaging according to claim 1, wherein the image of the partial area is selectively processed to output a video signal, and the area moving unit moves the partial area by controlling timing of the image sensor. apparatus. 5. The image signal output means extracts an image formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup device by temporarily recording the image pickup result obtained from the image pickup device in a memory, selectively outputting the image pickup result, and processing the image pickup result. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image of the partial area is selectively processed to output a video signal, and the area moving unit moves the partial area by controlling the memory. . 6. A control device of an image pickup device for controlling an image pickup device and a movable mechanism for changing a direction of the image pickup device, wherein the image pickup device is configured to detect an image formed on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element. The image of the partial area is selectively processed and a video signal is output, the partial area is moved by a predetermined control signal, and the control device of the imaging device receives the pan and / or the tilt by the pan and / or tilt instruction. Control of an image pickup device characterized in that the partial area is moved so as to correspond to a tilt instruction, and the orientation of the image pickup device by the movable mechanism is changed so as to correspond to the pan and / or tilt instruction. apparatus. 7. A method of controlling an image pickup device, which is held by a movable mechanism so as to change its orientation, wherein the image pickup device selectively selects an image of a partial region from an image formed on a light receiving surface of an image pickup element. A video signal output means for processing and outputting a video signal; and a region moving means for moving the partial region, wherein the control method of the image pickup device is the combination of the region moving means and the moving mechanism to A method for controlling an imaging device, which comprises panning and / or tilting a signal.