JP2004129233A - Swing camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power-saved miniaturized swing camera in which driving power of a driving motor is reduced by minimizing resistance which occurs when bending a flexible cable or the like electrically wired from a fixed part to a movable part in the swing camera or the like whose photographing direction is changed by the driving motor. <P>SOLUTION: The flexible table electrically wired to the movable part is connected to the fixed part while being led out of at least two positions on both sides of a turning axial line of the movable part such that a planar portion of the flexible cable becomes parallel with the axial line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a camera such as a television camera or a digital still camera, which is capable of changing a shooting direction.

Conventionally, various swing cameras, such as a television camera and a digital still camera, capable of changing a shooting direction by remote control or the like are known. These swing cameras are used, for example, as surveillance cameras and the like, so that even in a large surveillance area, the direction of shooting can be changed to a vertical direction (tilt direction) or a horizontal direction (pan direction) by shaking the head so that monitoring can be performed. In addition, it is possible to cover the entire monitoring area with a small number of monitoring cameras.

In addition, recently, there is a swing camera used in a so-called video conference system that enables a conference between remote places using a high-speed communication line or the like. This swing camera is used for the purpose of, for example, optimizing the shooting direction for the speaker of the person participating in the conference.

In the above-described swing camera, the entire TV camera device is supported by a movable frame, and the movable frame is driven to rotate by a motor or the like to change a shooting direction in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. Since the entire apparatus must be driven to rotate in the vertical or horizontal direction, the entire swing camera becomes large.

Therefore, as a method of reducing the size of the entire swing camera, a swing of a method of rotating a vertical or horizontal rotation of an image pickup unit including a photographing lens and an image sensor, which is a minimum component necessary for photographing a subject, is used. Various cameras have been proposed.

In Patent Literature 1, a signal processing board is provided on a horizontally rotating camera platform, and an imaging unit that changes a shooting direction in a vertical direction is provided on a vertically rotating supporting means provided in the camera platform. In this way, a camera device that can change the shooting direction of the camera in the pan direction and the tilt direction as a whole device in this manner has been proposed, and here, the imaging camera is movable in the tilt direction with respect to the signal processing board. Therefore, it is possible to change the movement by connecting the connection of the electric signal during this time with a flexible cable.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-163, only a part of an image pickup unit including a photographing lens and an image pickup element, which is a minimum component necessary for photographing a subject, is configured so that its photographing direction can be changed to a pan direction or a tilt direction. It proposes a small-sized swiveling camera that has a small movable part and has a small driving force and low power consumption. An electric signal is connected from the movable imaging unit to the fixed signal processing board by using a flexible cable, so that the imaging unit can be moved.

JP-A-9-69986 JP-A-2002-131806

提案 In both of the proposals of Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, a flexible cable is used to connect electric signals between the movable part and the fixed part. The flexible cable can be bent with a low drag in the flat surface direction, but has some flexibility. The influence of the drag due to the flexibility contributes to the load on the drive unit for changing the photographing direction.

In the example of Patent Document 1, the connection from the imaging unit to the signal processing board by the flexible cable is set to be long to minimize the influence of the flexibility of the flexible cable. However, as the length of the flexible cable increases, the cost increases, and the installation space for the flexible cable is also large.

Further, in the example of Patent Document 2, the miniaturization is achieved by adopting a driving unit capable of driving the imaging portion having the minimum configuration in the pan direction and the tilt direction. However, since it is connected by one flexible cable, it is connected. In one of the pan direction and the tilt direction, the flexible cable is in a bending direction, but in the other direction, the flexible cable is twisted. For this reason, a drag force of the flexible cable torsion is generated in the driving unit, which causes a large load to be applied to the driving unit. Further, since the wiring of the flexible cable is short, the influence of the flexibility of the flexible cable is large, and the influence of the flexibility is increased in proportion to an increase in the rotation angle.

Generally, as the size of the camera device is reduced, the wiring of the flexible cable must be shortened. Therefore, the influence of the flexibility of the flexible cable is remarkable in forming a small swing camera.

An object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized camera with low power consumption and low power consumption by effectively reducing the drag of the flexible cable with respect to the space for arranging the flexible cable.

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, according to claim 1, an imaging unit that images a subject using an imaging element that performs photoelectric conversion, a support shaft that supports a change in the imaging direction of the imaging unit, A frame supporting the imaging unit via the support shaft, a driving unit fixed to the frame and rotating the imaging unit, and a flat plate electrically connected to the imaging element and led out of the imaging unit; A flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate is arranged such that a plane portion of the flexible substrate is parallel to the axis from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the support shaft. The head swing camera is derived and connected to the frame.

Thereby, when the photographing direction is changed, the flexible substrate is drawn out from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the support shaft, so that the drag directions of the flexible substrate cancel each other, and the driving force is reduced. Can be smaller. Also, the fluctuation of the drag of the flexible substrate due to the swing angle can be reduced.

Further, the flexible substrate is led out toward the photographing direction side from the image pickup device, and is disposed within a range of a rotating space of the image pickup unit, thereby being opposite to the photographing direction side of the image pickup device. The space on the side becomes empty, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the drive unit and the like increases, and the size of the swing camera can be reduced.

Still further, when the photographing direction is the predetermined direction, the flexible substrate is configured such that the bending elastic forces derived from the both sides are substantially the same, so that the most frequently used photographing direction is the predetermined direction. For example, when the direction is changed, the driving direction is not required, and the photographing direction can be maintained. In the case of a drive unit having no self-holding function, such as a pulse motor, a function of automatically returning to the predetermined direction when the power to the drive unit is turned off can be obtained.

Further, by setting the lead-out position of the flexible substrate to the target position with respect to the axis, the drag of the flexible substrate can be canceled most effectively.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject using an imaging element that performs photoelectric conversion, a first support shaft that supports a changeable imaging direction of the imaging unit, and the first support A first frame that supports the imaging unit via a shaft, a first driving unit that is fixed to the first frame and rotates the imaging unit, and enables the first frame to be movable. A second support shaft for supporting, a second frame for supporting the first frame via the second support shaft, and the first frame fixed to the second frame. A second driving unit for rotating, and a flat flexible substrate that is electrically connected to the imaging device and is derived from the imaging unit, placed on a swing camera including the flexible substrate, the flexible substrate, The plane portion of the flexible substrate is formed in the second position from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the first support shaft from the imaging section. Is connected to the first frame body so as to be parallel to the axis of the support shaft, and from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the second support shaft from the first frame body. The swing camera is characterized in that the plane portion is led out so as to be parallel to the axis of the second support shaft and is connected to the second frame.

Accordingly, for example, even in the case of a swing camera that can be changed in two directions, that is, a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, the drag directions of the flexible substrates derived in each of the swing directions become directions in which the directions cancel each other, and a small force is applied. The photographing direction can be changed. Also, the fluctuation of the drag due to the swing angle is reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Examples 1 and 2.

(1) Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view of a swiveling camera having the configuration of the present invention. The swing camera 1 includes a helmet-shaped exterior cover 2a that covers a camera unit body described later, and a hemispherical lens cover 2b that covers a front opening of the exterior cover 2a. The lens cover 2b is made of a material that can transmit light, such as a transparent material. For the exterior cover 2a, for example, a material such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) can be used, and for the lens cover 2b, for example, a material such as PC (polycarbonate) can be used.

カ メ ラ As shown in FIG. 2, the camera unit main body has a second frame 8 made of sheet metal that supports the camera unit main body and functions as a camera platform. The second frame 8 has a rectangular plate shape at the center, and has a projection bent upward at the center on the front side (as viewed from the photographing direction side) of the camera body. An infrared LED 14 that emits infrared light is fixed to the front side of the projection. On the other hand, a support member having an L-shaped cross section extends upward from a central portion of the second frame 8 on the opposite side (back side) from the protrusion.

At the center of the second frame 8 near the protrusion and on the front side of the support member, a second frame 7 that supports the first frame 7 made of resin so as to be rotatable in the pan direction (horizontal direction). The support shafts 11 protrude in the vertical direction, respectively, and the second support shaft 11 is supported by the center of the second frame 8 and a support member. When viewed from the front side, the first frame 7 has a substantially square shape centered on the center on the front side. In FIG. 2, a part of the first frame 7 is cut away to make it easier to understand the arrangement of the components.

撮 像 The imaging unit 9 is arranged inside the first frame 7. An image pickup device 4 such as a CCD for converting light into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal is fixed inside the center of the image pickup section 9, and is electrically connected to a flexible cable 50. As the photographing lens 3 for photographing a subject, a fixed focus lens excluding an IR (infrared) cut filter usually inserted in an optical system is used. Note that the imaging unit 9 in the present embodiment is a portion including the imaging element 4 and the imaging lens 3 and excluding the flexible cable 50.

Further, on both sides of the photographing lens 3 of the imaging unit 9, a columnar light emitting element 5 that emits an infrared spot light of about 3 mm directed in the same direction as the photographing direction, and reflected infrared light from the light emitting element 5 And a columnar light-receiving element 6 for receiving light. The light emitting element 5, the imaging element 4, and the light receiving element 6 are linearly arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. The light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 constitute an active type distance measuring unit, and are used for detecting a subject. The distance measurement distance of the distance measurement unit is set to be within about 5 m.

The image pickup device 4, the light emitting device 5, and the light receiving device 6 are mounted on a circuit section 50x of the flexible cable 50, and the circuit section 50x is mounted including a part of a control circuit. The flexible cable 50 is connected to a control board 60 provided with a CCD control circuit and an image processing circuit fixed to the second frame, and a control circuit of a drive unit described later, but in FIG. Parts are omitted.

A signal cable extending from the control board 60 to the outside of the swiveling camera is led out. A connector (not shown) arranged on the back side of the outer cover 2a to secure connection with a host unit such as a personal computer. It is connected to the.

From the imaging unit 9, first support shafts 10 that rotatably support the imaging unit 9 in the tilt direction (vertical direction) with respect to the first frame 7 are provided on both sides of the imaging device 4 in the substantially horizontal direction. It is protruding. These first support shafts 10 are on a coaxial line and are supported by the first frame 7. Further, from a position on the back surface side of the imaging unit 9, the link unit 9a protrudes toward the back surface of the camera unit body. An elongated hole is formed at the center of the link portion 9a.

モ ー タ From one side of the first frame 7, a motor fixing plate having a substantially L-shaped cross section extends in the rear direction. At the end of the motor fixing plate, a stepping motor (hereinafter, referred to as a tilt motor) 12 serving as a driving unit for tilting the imaging unit 9 in a substantially vertical direction has a columnar shape extending from the tilt motor 12. It is screwed and fixed via two columns 12b. A substantially L-shaped drive lever 12a is fitted on the motor shaft of the tilt motor 12. The tip of the drive lever 12a is inserted into the elongated hole of the link 9a described above.

On the other hand, a stepping motor (hereinafter, referred to as a pan motor) 13 serving as a driving unit for pan-driving the first frame 7 in a substantially horizontal direction is provided on a lower surface side of a central portion of the second frame 8. It is screwed and fixed via two columnar fixing arms (not shown) extending from 13. An approximately L-shaped drive lever 13a is fitted on the motor shaft of the pan motor 13. The tip of the drive lever 13a is inserted into a U-shaped notch formed at the center of the lower part of the first frame 7.

Although the electric wiring of the tilt motor 12 and the pan motor 13 is omitted in FIG. 2, the electric wiring is connected to the control board 60. In addition, although the stepping motor is used as the drive unit in this example, a meter that rotates the drive levers 12a and 13a by less than 180 ° may be used instead.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a portion where the flexible cable 50 is routed from the imaging unit 9 to the control board fixed to the second frame, and a driving unit and the like are provided for easy explanation. FIG.

フ レ キ シ ブ ル As shown in FIG. 3, the flexible cable 50 is led out of the imaging unit 9 and is connected to the first frame 7 by the right end wiring part 50a and the left end wiring part 50b. The first frame 7 is fixed at an upper fixing portion 50c and a lower fixing portion 50d. Further, the upper end wiring portion 50e and the lower end wiring portion 50f derived from the first frame 7 are connected and fixed to the second frame at the position of the second frame fixing portion 50g.

The position from which the imaging unit 9 is derived is from two target positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the first support shaft 10, and is derived such that the plane portion of the flexible cable 50 is parallel to the axis. I have. In addition, the position of the flexible cable 50 from the first frame 7 is from two target positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the second support shaft 11, and the flat portion of the flexible cable 50 is parallel to the axis as described above. It is derived to be.

The flexible cable 50 is provided with a connector connection portion 50h so that the wiring routed by the second frame fixing portion 50g along two paths becomes one and can be connected to the connection connector provided on the control board 60. I have. In this embodiment, an inexpensive method of continuously wiring with one flexible cable is adopted, but the upper fixing portion 50c, the lower fixing portion 50, and the second frame fixing portion 50g are not flexible. Each may be wired with a flexible cable using a printed wiring board.

Next, the operation of the swing camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

(4) The drive lever 12a of the tilt motor 12 fixed to the first frame 7 is rotated by a drive signal from the control board 60. Since the distal end of the drive lever 12a is inserted into the elongated hole of the link portion 9a of the imaging unit 9, the imaging unit 9 rotates in the tilt direction with respect to the first frame 7. Since the imaging unit 9 includes the imaging element 4 and the imaging lens 3, the imaging direction can be changed to the tilt direction by the above rotation.

On the other hand, the drive lever 13 a of the pan motor 13 fixed to the second frame 8 is rotated by a drive signal from the control board 60. As a result, the distal end of the drive lever 13a is inserted into the U-shaped notch formed below the first frame 7, so that the first frame 7 is To rotate in the pan direction. The driving of the pan motor 13 causes the imaging unit 9 to rotate in the pan direction, so that the imaging direction can be changed to the pan direction.

The light-emitting element 5 and the light-receiving element 6 are active distance measuring units. Since the light-emitting element 5 and the light-receiving element 6 are fixed to the imaging unit 9, they are integrally moved in the tilt direction and the pan direction. Can be changed. The light emitting element 5 and the light receiving element 6 detect the subject located within about 5 m from the camera within the range where the direction can be changed by changing the direction of the distance measurement to the tilt direction and the pan direction while performing the distance measurement. be able to. Since the shooting direction of the camera is oriented in the same direction as the distance measurement direction, the subject can be shot by stopping in the direction of the detected subject.

(4) The infrared LED 14 fixed to the second frame 8 emits infrared light toward the subject when the imaging unit 9 is in the shooting state. Since the IR cut filter is removed from the imaging unit 9, even a dark subject can be photographed by infrared light radiated and reflected on the subject.

Next, when the shooting direction of the imaging unit 9 is changed to the tilt direction or the pan direction according to FIG. 3, the flexible cable 50 derived from the imaging unit 9 is connected and fixed to the second frame 11. The effect of the flexibility of the flexible cable acting as a drag on the driving force and the effect of electric wiring connection that reduces the effect will be described.

The flexible cable 50 is led out from two positions of the imaging unit 9 and is connected and fixed to the first frame. At this time, since the right end wiring portion 50a and the left end wiring portion 50b are in a curved state, a resistance in the extension direction is generated due to the flexibility of the flexible cable. However, since the lead-out position is from two target positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the first support shaft 10, the drag of the right end wiring portion 50a and the drag of the left end wiring portion 50b are limited by the rotation of the first support shaft. The drags are opposite to each other with respect to the moving direction, and the mutual drags cancel each other.

Further, the derived positions are on both sides with respect to the axis of the first support shaft 10 and are derived from two target positions. 9 are given the same rotational torque, so that the mutual drags are canceled out most effectively. In addition, even if a plurality of wirings are provided from a plurality of positions on one side of the both sides, it is sufficient that the resultant force of the drag of the plurality of wirings is equal to the drag of the other wiring.

When a meter is used for the tilt motor described above, since the meter itself does not have a function of self-holding when no power is supplied, the right end wiring portion 50a and the left end wiring portion 50b have the same bending elastic force when no power is supplied. The imaging unit 9 is held at the position, and if the imaging direction at this position is set to the direction that makes the most use, power can be saved. Further, when the power supply to the meter is cut off, the photographing direction automatically returns to the photographing direction.

Further, the right end wiring portion 50a and the left end wiring portion 50b of the flexible cable 50 are led out such that their plane portions are parallel to the axis of the first support shaft 10, and are connected and fixed to the first frame 7. Therefore, the direction is the direction in which the drag against bending is the least, and no twisting occurs with respect to the rotation of the imaging unit 9.

The flexible cable 50 is fixed to the first frame at the upper fixing portion 50c and the lower fixing portion 50d. At this time, electric wiring of a tilt motor (not shown) may be connected to a flexible cable at this portion.

The flexible cable 50 is led out from two positions of the first frame and is connected and fixed to the second frame. At this time, the upper end wiring portion 50e and the lower end wiring portion 50f are in a curved state to electrically connect each other. Wired. Regarding the effect of the flexibility of the flexible cable at this part and the effect of the electric wiring connection that reduces the influence, the connection is derived from the two positions of the imaging unit 9 and connected to the first frame. Since it is the same as the fixed right end wiring portion 50a and left end wiring portion 50b, the description of the operation and effect thereof will be omitted.

(2) Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an internal structural diagram of a first frame body of another embodiment, in which a part of the first frame body is cut away, and electric wiring is omitted. The swing camera of the other embodiment is a swing camera in which an active distance measuring unit including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is not mounted.

(4) Wiring of the flexible cable in this case will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible cable 50 is led out from two positions of the image pickup unit 9 and is connected and fixed to the first frame 7, and the right end wiring unit 50 a and the left end wiring unit 50 b capture the image of the image pickup device 4. It is wired so as to be located on the direction side.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the internal structure of the wiring as viewed from above the swing camera. The positions of the two wirings are the positions of the photographing lens 3 which is a part of the imaging unit 9. It is located in the space within the rotation range R.

This space is necessary for the photographing lens 3 to rotate, but since the right end wiring portion 50a and the left end wiring portion 50b rotate integrally with the photographing lens 3, the rotation of the photographing lens 3 is hindered. It does not become. For this reason, a space on the side opposite to the imaging direction of the image sensor 4 is made vacant, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the driving unit and the like is increased. In particular, in a swing camera that changes the shooting direction in the tilt direction and the pan direction inside the exterior cover, it is necessary to wire a flexible cable in a limited space inside the exterior cover, so that the arrangement is optimal.

(5) The wiring of the flexible cable derived from the first frame and connected to the second frame has the same configuration as that described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the wiring of the flexible cable according to the present invention can effectively reduce the influence of the flexibility of the flexible cable even in a small space, so that the driving force of the driving unit is reduced when the imaging direction is changed. And a small, power-saving swing camera.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a swiveling camera according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an internal structural view of the swiveling camera according to the first embodiment, in which electric wiring is omitted. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of wiring of the flexible cable according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an internal structural diagram of a swiveling camera according to a second embodiment, in which electric wiring is omitted. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of wiring of a flexible cable according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure diagram of the swiveling camera according to the second embodiment as viewed from above.

Explanation of reference numerals

1 swing camera 3 shooting lens (part of the configuration of the imaging unit)
4 Imaging device (part of the configuration of the imaging unit)
7 first frame 8 second frame 9 imaging unit 10 first support shaft 11 second support shaft 12 tilt motor 13 pan motor 50 flexible cable 50a right end wiring unit 50b left end wiring unit 50e top wiring unit 50f bottom wiring Unit 50x circuit unit 60 control board

Claims (10)

An imaging unit that images a subject using an imaging element that performs photoelectric conversion,
A support shaft that supports the imaging direction of the imaging unit so as to be changeable,
A frame supporting the imaging unit via the support shaft;
A drive unit fixed to the frame body to rotate the imaging unit,
A flat flexible substrate that is electrically connected to the image sensor and is derived from the image capturing unit,
The flexible substrate is led out from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the support shaft such that a plane portion of the flexible substrate is parallel to the axis, and is connected to the frame. A swing camera characterized in that: The swing camera according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is led out in a shooting direction side of the imaging device, and is disposed within a range of a space in which the imaging unit rotates. The swing camera according to claim 2, wherein the flexible substrate has substantially the same bending elastic force derived from both sides when the photographing direction is a predetermined direction. The swing camera according to claim 1, wherein the lead-out position of the flexible substrate is a target position with respect to the axis. An imaging unit that images a subject using an imaging element that performs photoelectric conversion,
A first support shaft that supports the imaging direction of the imaging unit so as to be changeable,
A first frame supporting the imaging unit via the first support shaft,
A first drive unit fixed to the first frame body and rotating the imaging unit,
A second support shaft movably supporting the first frame,
A second frame supporting the first frame via the second support shaft,
A second drive unit fixed to the second frame and rotating the first frame,
A flat flexible substrate that is electrically connected to the imaging device and is led out of the imaging unit,
The flexible substrate has a plane portion of the flexible substrate parallel to the axis of the first support shaft from at least two positions on both sides of the axis of the first support shaft from the imaging unit. Is connected to the first frame, and the flat portion is formed from the first frame from at least two positions on both sides with respect to the axis of the second support shaft. A swinging camera which is led out so as to be parallel to the axis of the supporting shaft and is connected to the second frame. A flexible substrate connected to the first frame from the imaging unit is led out in the imaging direction from the imaging device, and is disposed in a range of a rotating space of the imaging unit. The swing camera according to claim 5, wherein The flexible substrate connected to the first frame from the imaging unit, when the imaging direction is a predetermined direction, each is derived from both sides with respect to the axis of the first support shaft The swing camera according to claim 5, wherein the bending elastic force of the camera is substantially the same. The flexible substrate connected from the first frame to the second frame is derived from both sides with respect to the axis of the second support shaft when the imaging direction is a predetermined direction. 6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the bending elastic forces are substantially the same. The swing camera according to claim 5, wherein a position where the flexible substrate is led out from the imaging unit is a target position with respect to an axis of the first support shaft. The swing camera according to claim 5, wherein a position where the flexible substrate is led out of the first frame is a target position with respect to an axis of the second support shaft.