JP2003289466A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with a vertical turning mechanism for electrically inverting an image in horizontal and vertical directions at every time when the visual field of the camera passes through a directly above side or a directly below side. <P>SOLUTION: An analog/digital converter 2 digitizes a video signal of an imaging section 1 under the control of a microcomputer 6, temporarily stored in a frame memory 3 and read, a digital/analog converter 7 converts the digital signal into an analog signal, and a signal processing circuit 8 processes the analog signal into a regular video signal and provides an output. The turning mechanism 4 changes a direction of the camera according to the operation by an operation section 9. A detection circuit 5 detects the turning angle of the camera in the vertical direction and transmits the angle to the microcomputer 6. When the angle in the vertical direction reaches 90-degrees or over, the microcomputer 6 controls a reading method of the digital video signal from the frame memory 3 to invert the top and bottom and the left and right thereby obtaining a video output with a normal top and bottom relation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device having a rotating mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a side view showing an installation state of a conventional television camera device. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 51 denotes a camera, which includes an image pickup unit, and which picks up an image with, for example, a CCD and converts it into a video signal. Reference numeral 52 denotes a vertical turntable which rotates the camera 51 in the vertical direction. 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes a horizontal turntable for rotating the camera 51 in the horizontal direction, which is attached to, for example, a ceiling surface.

Next, the operation of the above conventional example will be described. In FIG. 5, when the camera 51 is rotated by 90 ° or more in the vertical direction with respect to the horizontal line, the screen is turned upside down on the monitor. To avoid this, when the vertical rotation angle becomes 90 °. It is necessary to rotate 180 ° in the horizontal direction and then perform vertical rotation again. There is also a method as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-278970, in which a prism is used to divide an optical input into two, and image pickup elements are attached to both sides so that output images are inverted upside down, and a switch is used.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional television camera device, it takes a wasteful time to rotate 180 ° in the horizontal direction. Further, the teaching material presenting camera has a problem that an originally unnecessary horizontal rotation mechanism has to be provided for photographing the teacher's face and the blackboard.

In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-278970, the cost is high because two image pickup elements are required, and it is difficult to downsize the camera because a prism and two image pickup elements are used. Since the prism is used, there is a problem that the optical signal is deteriorated.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera device capable of rotating the screen quickly while maintaining the vertical rotation of the screen normally.

[0007]

The camera device of the present invention comprises:
A means for changing the direction of the camera and a detecting means for detecting the direction of the camera are provided, and when the detecting means detects a direction in which the image picked up by the camera is upside down, It has been inverted.

With the above arrangement, even when the image output from the camera is turned upside down, an image having a normal vertical relationship can be obtained.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an output signal of an image pickup section 1 included in a camera is stored in a frame memory 3 via an A / D converter 2. The rotation angle of the rotation mechanism 4 is the detection circuit 5
Is detected by and input to the microcomputer 6. Frame memory 3
Is output via the D / A converter 7 and the signal processing circuit 8. The signal from the operation unit 9 is input to the microcomputer 6. The signal from the microcomputer 6 is input to the A / D converter 2, the frame memory 3, the rotating mechanism 4 and the D / A converter 7.

In the above structure, the video signal of the image pickup section 1 is digitally converted by the A / D converter 2 under the control of the microcomputer 6, written in the frame memory 3 and temporarily stored and read out, and D / The A converter 7 converts the signal into an analog signal, and the signal processing circuit 8 converts the signal into a regular video signal and outputs it. On the other hand, the rotation mechanism 4 supports the camera and changes the direction of the camera manually or in the direction operated by the operation unit 9 by power. The detection circuit 5 detects the vertical rotation angle of the camera and sends it to the microcomputer 6. Here, when the rotation angle in the vertical direction becomes 90 ° or more (the angle at which the image is turned upside down), the method of reading the digital video signal from the frame memory 3 is changed by the control of the microcomputer 6, and the image is flipped vertically and horizontally. Such readout is performed, and a normal vertical image output is obtained even when the rotation angle in the vertical direction becomes 90 ° or more.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the vertical rotation angle is 90 ° or more, it is detected by the detection circuit 5, and the microcomputer 6 controls the reading order of the digital video signals from the frame memory 3. Can be changed and the video signal can be inverted up and down by signal processing, and 90 ° can be swiftly
It is possible to carry out vertical rotation exceeding.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same names and functions, and the description thereof will be omitted. The output signal of the image pickup unit 1 is output via the A / D converter 2, the frame memory 3, the D / A converter 7, and the signal processing circuit 8. The signal of the operation unit 21 is input to the A / D converter 2, the frame memory 3 and the D / A converter 7 via the control unit 22.

In this structure, the operation unit 21 has a "normal / inverted" switching between the upper and lower sides of the image and a "normal / reversed" right and left of the image.
A switching operation unit is provided, and the control unit 22 is operated by the operation.
Controls the reading method of the frame memory 3 and can immediately change the vertical inversion or the horizontal inversion.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, for example, when the image once reflected by the mirror is desired to be corrected normally, or when the camera is used as a rearview mirror of a vehicle or the like, the operation is immediately performed with one operation. Can be reached. Further, even when it is attached to the vertical rotation mechanism and the angle is changed, the vertical and horizontal inversion can be immediately performed by a simple operation as needed.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 have the same names and functions, and the description thereof will be omitted. A CCD (solid-state image sensor) 30 is input from a CCD drive circuit 31, and its output is output via a signal processing circuit 32. The rotation angle of the rotation mechanism 4 is detected by the detection circuit 5 and input to the microcomputer 33. The output signal of the operation unit 9 is input to the microcomputer 33. The output signal of the microcomputer 33 is input to the CCD drive circuit 31 and the rotation mechanism 4.

In this structure, the CCD 30 is driven by the drive pulse of the CCD drive circuit 31, and the signal processing circuit 3 is driven.
The signal is output to 2. Then, after being sample-held and converted into an analog signal, it becomes a normal video signal and is output. On the other hand, the rotation mechanism 4 supports the camera and changes the direction of the camera manually or by a power in a direction operated by the operation unit 9. The detection circuit 5 detects the vertical rotation angle of the camera and sends it to the microcomputer 33. Here, when the vertical rotation angle becomes 90 ° or more (the angle at which the image is turned upside down), the microcomputer 33 controls the CCD driving circuit 31 to operate the method of reading the output signal from the CCD 30 to operate the vertical and horizontal directions of the imaging screen. Both are reversed and the vertical rotation angle is 9
Even when the angle exceeds 0 °, a normal vertical image output is obtained.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the rotation angle in the vertical direction becomes 90 ° or more, it is detected by the detection circuit 5, and the microcomputer 33 controls the method of reading the signal from the CCD 30. The video signal can be vertically inverted by electronic means, and vertical rotation exceeding 90 ° can be swiftly performed.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 have the same names and functions, and the description thereof will be omitted. A CCD (solid-state image sensor) 30 is input from a CCD drive circuit 31, and its output is output via a signal processing circuit 32. The output signal of the operation unit 21 is input to the control unit 40. The output signal of the control unit 40 is input to the CCD drive circuit 31.

In this structure, the operation unit 21 has a "normal / inverted" switching between the upper and lower sides of the image and a "normal / reversed" right and left of the image.
It has a switching operation unit, and the control unit 40 is operated by the operation.
The CCD driving circuit 31 is controlled so that the reading order of the CCD 30 is changed, and the vertical inversion or the horizontal inversion can be immediately changed.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the same application as that of the second embodiment is possible.

[0025]

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an excellent camera device in which the image of the camera is not turned upside down even when the direction of the camera passes directly above or below.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an installation state of a conventional camera device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Imaging unit 2 A / D converter 3 frame memory 4 rotation mechanism 5 Detection circuit (detection means) 6 Microcomputer (control means) 7 D / A converter 8 Signal processing circuit 9 Operation part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means for changing the direction of a camera, and a detecting means for detecting the direction of the camera, wherein when the detecting means detects a direction in which an image picked up by the camera is turned upside down, A camera device that reverses the image vertically and horizontally. 2. An image when a means for changing the direction of the camera and a detecting means for detecting the angle of the camera are detected, and when the detecting means detects an angle at which an image picked up by the camera is turned upside down. A camera device characterized by reversing the top, bottom, left and right of the camera. 3. A means for changing the orientation of the camera, and a detection means for detecting the orientation of the camera, wherein when the detection means detects the orientation in which the left and right of the image captured by the camera are reversed. A camera device characterized by reversing the left and right of an image.