JP2005064906A - Imaging device, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of keeping the image quality of a photographed image while eliminating a dead area and acquiring a desired arbitrary visual field without adopting a driving mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device is provided with: a device main body, which has a three-dimensional curved surface or a polyhedron and is fixable in a space where photographing is required; a plurality of digital camera modules to be arranged and fixed to the device main body, so as to eliminate the dead area and to acquire the desired arbitrary visual field with respect to the space where photographing is required; and an image processing means for image-processing photographing data to be photographed by the digital camera modules. The device may be provided also with: a transmitting means for transmitting the stored photographing data to another physically separated apparatus; and a transmission control means for controlling the priority order of transmission data to be transmitted by the transmitting means and the amount of the data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for photographing a so-called compound eye camera by remote control using communication network technology and information processing technology.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-280004 was extracted as a prior art related to the present application. This document describes the following techniques. That is, a vertically movable support structure, a pivotable TV camera, a monitor TV that reproduces an image sent from the TV camera, and the operation of the TV camera and the vertical movement of the support structure are remotely controlled. A construction site monitoring communication device including a remote control device. This technology can accurately monitor the situation according to the progress status of the construction site, and can immediately respond to movement and expansion.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-280004

(About information terminal equipment with camera)
Incidentally, as a prior art related to the present application, there is a CCD camera used for an information terminal device with a camera (a mobile phone, a PDA, etc.). The CCD camera used for these is achieving 1 million pixels (so-called megapixels) as of 2003, and has been priced with mass production. That is, it has reached a level that can be used for a surveillance camera in terms of performance.

(Monitoring cameras and their problems)
Imaging systems used for the purpose of monitoring a specific space as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-280004 are roughly classified into four as follows. The first is a single fixed camera, the second is a single camera with a drive mechanism, the third is a plurality of fixed cameras, and the fourth is a camera with multiple drive mechanisms.
First, a single fixed camera has many blind spots. Or, when a wide-angle lens is used to reduce the blind spot, there is a problem that the image quality is lowered.

A camera with a single drive mechanism or a plurality of drive mechanisms has a problem because it employs a drive mechanism. That is, a mechanism such as a pan / tilt mechanism is adopted as the drive mechanism, but all have problems in reliability and durability, and it is difficult to avoid a failure. If a high-performance mechanism is used to reduce the probability of failure, the equipment becomes expensive and large. Moreover, since a large current and voltage are required for the driving mechanism, it is difficult to drive the battery, and wiring facilities are also required. Furthermore, there is an unavoidable presence of an instantaneous blind spot as the reverse of driving.
In a plurality of fixed cameras or a plurality of cameras with a drive mechanism, wiring work becomes complicated as the cameras are installed at a plurality of locations.

Accordingly, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to perform functions such as shooting and monitoring that do not employ a driving mechanism and maintain the image quality of the shot image while eliminating the blind spot or obtaining the desired field of view. It is to provide a possible imaging technique.
The object of the invention described in claims 1 to 6 is to provide an imaging device that does not employ a drive mechanism and that can maintain the image quality of a captured image while eliminating a blind spot or obtaining a desired field of view. There is to do.
Further, an object of the invention described in claims 7 to 9 is to use an imaging apparatus that does not employ a drive mechanism and can maintain the image quality of a captured image while eliminating a blind spot or obtaining a desired field of view. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing technique that can be remotely operated and can obtain photographing data with high convenience.

  The present invention uses communication information processing technology such as a digital camera module and the Internet in order to solve the above-described problems.

(Claim 1)
The invention according to claim 1 is a device body that includes a three-dimensional curved surface or a polyhedron and can be fixed to a space that needs to be photographed, and the device body so that there is no blind spot in the space that needs to be photographed. The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including a plurality of digital camera modules arranged and fixed to the digital camera module, and an image processing unit that processes image data captured by the plurality of digital camera modules.

(Glossary)
The “apparatus main body” includes a three-dimensional curved surface or a polyhedron, for example, a sphere. This is intended to include both the case where the appearance is formed with only a three-dimensional curved surface, the case where the appearance is formed with only a polyhedron, and the case where the appearance is formed with a combination of a three-dimensional curved surface and a polyhedron.
“Because there is no blind spot for the space that needs to be photographed”, it means that there is no blind spot physically for the digital camera modules that are arranged and fixed. Does not prevent the existence of blind spots.
In addition, when it is formed so that it can be fixed to the ceiling in a space that requires photographing (hereinafter simply referred to as “photographing space”), a substantially spherical body (see FIG. 1) or a ridge line cut off from the ceiling side. Is substantially a truncated cone (see FIG. 5). By arranging and fixing a plurality of digital cameras along a three-dimensional curved surface or polyhedron, photographing data can be obtained so that there is no theoretical blind spot in the photographing space.

The “digital camera module” is an electronic device (imaging device) that can convert a captured image into digital data, and is typically a small-sized one mounted on a mobile phone. Each digital camera can shoot both moving images and still images, and has about 1 million pixels. From the viewpoint of image quality, the larger the number of pixels, the better. However, it is difficult to handle even if the capacity of the imaging data becomes too large, so at the time of filing of the present application, 1 to 2 million pixels are realistic at the time of still image shooting. For example, a moving image is shot at about 100,000 to 300,000 pixels, and a still image is shot at about 300 to 1,000,000 pixels.
In order to maintain image quality, extreme wide-angle lenses are not used.
The “image processing means”, for example, connects the shooting data of a plurality of digital camera modules to process panoramic video data without a boundary, and manages data storage and transmission.

(Function)
Fix the device body to the shooting space. The apparatus main body is provided with a three-dimensional curved surface or polyhedron, and a plurality of digital camera modules are arranged and fixed so that no blind spot exists using the three-dimensional curved surface or polyhedron. The image processing means performs image processing on the image data captured by the plurality of digital camera modules in the space.
Since the imaging apparatus according to the present invention does not employ a drive mechanism, it is possible to avoid troubles such as a failure associated with the drive mechanism and to reduce power consumption. In addition, wiring facilities and wiring work are simplified as compared with the case where cameras are installed at a plurality of locations in the imaging space.

(Claim 2)
Invention of Claim 2 limited the imaging device of Claim 1,
An imaging apparatus comprising: a control signal receiving unit capable of receiving a shooting control signal for each digital camera module; and a shooting control unit for controlling each digital camera module according to a control signal received by the control signal receiving unit .

(Glossary)
As the “shooting control signal”, for example, infrared rays are used. In this case, the remote control device that transmits the imaging control signal is a data transmission device using infrared rays, and the “control signal receiving means” is an infrared light receiving sensor.
“Shooting control means” means that, for example, when any one of the control signals for shooting is received, a command to shoot with all the digital camera modules is transmitted, or continuous by several digital camera modules based on an abnormality detection algorithm A command to shoot only with a digital camera module related to the control signal receiving means that has received a photographic control signal. The control signal received by the control signal receiving means may include control data.

(Function)
A control signal for photographing is transmitted, and control signal receiving means capable of receiving the control signal receives the control signal. Then, the photographing control means controls each digital camera module by the control signal received by the control signal receiving means. By providing such a configuration, so-called remote control becomes possible.

(Claim 3)
The imaging device according to claim 1 or claim 2 according to claim 3 is limited,
The storage means for storing the shooting data photographed by each digital camera module, and the transmission means for transmitting the shooting data stored in the storage means to other physically distant devices. The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus provided with a transmission control means for controlling the priority order and amount of data to be transmitted.

(Glossary)
The “storage means” is a storage device provided with a random access memory for temporarily storing, a recording medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory. A random access memory may suffice if it is an imaging device that immediately sends captured image data to another device, but it usually includes other storage devices.
“Transmission means” includes both wired transmission and wireless transmission. The transmission destination is a server for storing and managing shooting data, a personal computer close to the shooting space, a portable information terminal, a mobile phone, and the like.

  The “transmission control means” is preliminarily provided with an algorithm for compressing the photographing data to be transmitted or determining the priority order according to the transmission speed of transmission, the performance of the transmission destination, and the like. In addition, conditions necessary for executing the algorithm are input in advance or set as initial values.

(Function)
The storage means stores shooting data shot by each digital camera module. The stored photographing data is transmitted to other devices that are physically separated by the transmission means, but the transmission control means controls the priority order and the data amount of the transmission data.

(Claim 4)
The invention according to claim 4 limits the imaging device according to claim 3,
The control signal receiving means is provided close to all the digital camera modules, and can grasp the strength of the received control signal, and the transmission control means is connected to the control signal receiving means that has received the strongest control signal. The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that prioritizes transmission of shooting data by a corresponding digital camera module.

(Function)
The control signal receiving means is provided close to all the digital camera modules and grasps the strength of the received control signal. Then, the transmission control unit gives priority to the photographing data by the digital camera module corresponding to the control signal receiving unit that has received the strongest control signal. This contributes to improving the efficiency of transmission of photographing data and improving emergency response.

(Claim 5)
The invention according to claim 5 limits the image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
That is, a trigger data transmitting means for transmitting shooting command data for the digital camera module under a predetermined condition, and a trigger data receiving means for receiving shooting command data transmitted by the trigger data transmitting means, the shooting control means includes: The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that controls each digital camera module according to trigger data received by the trigger data receiving means.

(Glossary)
The “trigger data sending means” is for catching certain trigger information and sending shooting command data based on the trigger information. For example, an infrared transmitter that transmits imaging command data every time the entrance door opens and closes by being installed at the entrance door of the imaging space as the trigger information that changes the environment. Further, for example, trigger data transmission means including a microphone that transmits shooting command data when a predetermined volume or more is detected. Further, it may be a sensor that transmits shooting command data when an impact is applied to the imaging apparatus itself, or a temperature sensor that catches an increase in room temperature. In addition, as a trigger information that changes the subject, for example, a sensor that transmits shooting command data when the subject changes suddenly may be used.

(Function)
First, under predetermined conditions, trigger data transmission means transmits photographing command data for the digital camera module. The trigger data receiving unit receives the photographing command data transmitted by the trigger data transmitting unit. The photographing control means controls each digital camera module according to the trigger data received by the trigger data receiving means.
With the above operation, when the predetermined condition is reached or the predetermined condition is satisfied, the imaging device performs photographing. Thereby, the imaging device of the present application can be used as an imaging device for security or crime prevention.

(Claim 6)
Invention of Claim 6 limited the imaging device in any one of Claims 3-5,
The image capturing data stored in the storage unit includes a transmission command receiving unit that receives transmission command data indicating that the shooting data should be transmitted, and the transmission control unit uses the transmission unit as a transmission source of the transmission command data. On the other hand, the present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that transmits imaging data related to transmission command data.

(Function)
Transmission command data for managing and controlling the imaging device according to the present application is transmitted from a terminal device related to the user, a computer related to a person who manages shooting of the imaging device, or the like. The outgoing command data is received by the outgoing command receiving means. Then, transmission data of the transmission command data is transmitted to a transmission source of transmission command data (a terminal device related to a user, a computer related to a person who manages shooting of the imaging device, etc.) using the transmission unit of the imaging device. To do.

(Claim 7)
The invention according to claim 7 is an apparatus main body that includes a three-dimensional curved surface or a polyhedron and that can be fixed to a space that needs to be photographed, and that the device body has no blind spot with respect to the space that needs to be photographed. A program for a terminal device related to a user who controls an imaging apparatus including a plurality of digital camera modules arranged and fixed to the digital camera module and image processing means for performing image processing on photographing data photographed by the plurality of digital camera modules.
The program includes a transmission data specifying procedure for specifying which of the plurality of digital camera modules is used to transmit photographing data to the terminal device related to the user based on an input of the terminal device related to the user, and the transmission data specifying procedure. Transmission command data transmission procedure for transmitting transmission command data to the imaging device so as to execute transmission of the specified imaging data, and imaging data reception for receiving the imaging data transmitted from the imaging device that received the transmission command data A computer program for causing a terminal device related to a user to execute a procedure and a screen output procedure for outputting received photographing data to a screen of the terminal device related to the user.

(Glossary)
The “terminal device related to the user” is typically a mobile phone capable of data communication. Data communication is generally a communication function that can be connected to the Internet. Other than the cellular phone, it is a PDA, a personal computer, or the like.
The above computer program can be provided by being stored in a recording medium. Here, the “recording medium” is a medium that can carry a program that cannot occupy space by itself, such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO (magneto-optical disk), a DVD- ROM or the like.
Moreover, it is also possible to transmit from the computer storing the program according to the present invention to the portable terminal related to the user through the communication line. Specifically, in addition to the case where the program is installed in advance on a mobile phone or the like, a program can be prepared on a predetermined site and can be provided by being downloadable via the Internet.

(Function)
According to the terminal device relating to the user storing the program according to the present claims, it is possible to specify which of the plurality of digital camera modules wants to receive the photographing data by operating the terminal device. Then, it is possible to receive the shooting data transmitted from the imaging device that has received the transmission command data and output it to the screen of the terminal device.

(Claim 8)
The invention according to claim 8 limits the computer program according to claim 7,
The transmission data specifying procedure relates to a computer program that is based on a numeric keypad input by associating the arrangement of a plurality of digital camera modules in an imaging apparatus with the arrangement of a numeric keypad of a terminal device related to a user in advance.

(Glossary)
A mobile phone as a typical numeric keypad has “1,2,3” on the upper side, “7,8,9” on the lower side, and “4,6” on both sides. ing. Therefore, the directionality is specified in a plane centering on one of the digital camera modules. For example, “7” is the left front, “3” is the right rear, “2” is the rear, and “4” is the left. If determined in this way, operation is possible visually and intuitively. The numeric keypad of a general personal computer has “1, 2, 3” on the lower side and “7, 8, 9” on the upper side with “5” as the center. The setting may be the reverse of that for mobile phones.

(Claim 9)
The invention according to claim 9 limits the computer program according to claim 7,
The transmission data specifying procedure relates to a computer program in which the transmission data specifying procedure is based on numeric keypad input by associating the arrangement of a plurality of digital camera modules with the division and arrangement of a shooting space in the imaging apparatus in advance. .

(Glossary)
Structures or furniture used as a reference in the shooting space are grouped or grouped into shooting spaces, and the correspondence relationship with the arrangement of a plurality of digital camera modules is specified in advance. For example, when the shooting space is a living room, the entrance is “1”, the window is “2”, the TV is “3”, the sofa and the TV are “4”, etc. Register. By setting in such a manner, it is possible to reasonably obtain the desired shooting data.

According to the imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that does not employ a drive mechanism and can maintain the image quality of a captured image while eliminating a blind spot or obtaining a desired field of view. I was able to.
Further, according to the computer program according to any one of claims 7 to 9, an image pickup apparatus that does not employ a drive mechanism and that can maintain the image quality of a photographed image while eliminating a blind spot or obtaining a desired field of view is used. As a result, it was possible to provide information processing technology that can be remotely operated and that can obtain shooting data conveniently.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments and drawings. The drawings used here are FIGS. 1 to 12.

(Figure 1)
FIG. 1 shows a compound eye camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is formed so that it can be fixed to the ceiling in the space where shooting is required, and the device body is formed in a roughly spherical shape with the ceiling side cut off, and multiple digital camera lenses are positioned so that shooting can be performed from the outer surface of the device body A digital camera module. As a result, the apparatus main body is fixed to a space that requires photographing. The apparatus main body has a three-dimensional curved surface, and a plurality of digital camera modules are arranged and fixed so that there is no blind spot using the three-dimensional curved surface. Image data captured by a plurality of digital camera modules is subjected to image processing on the space by an image processing device built in the apparatus body.

(Figure 2)
FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram of the imaging apparatus.
An imaging device is a part of a digital camera module mounted on a mobile phone. An image processing apparatus is an apparatus that performs image processing on image data captured by a plurality of digital camera modules.
The arithmetic device is connected to a sensor, a sound collection device, a communication device, or the like. The sensor is, for example, a sensor that detects an impact applied to the imaging apparatus itself. The sound collection device is a sensor that captures sound generated in the shooting space, and is a sensor for starting shooting using, for example, an abnormal sound or a sound volume of a predetermined level or more as a trigger. With what kind of apparatus the communication device is communicating will be described later together with the description of FIG.
The auxiliary light source is used when the amount of light necessary for photographing is insufficient. For example, an LED is employed. The auxiliary power supply is a battery that enables photographing in the event of a power failure. Usually, it is supplied from an external power source.

(Figure 3)
FIG. 3 shows what kind of device the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment can be connected to via the Internet.
For a security service provider who has undertaken security related to a shooting space, the device is connected to a device related to the provider. The connection to the recording server is such that photographing data can be left even if a failure or destruction of the imaging apparatus occurs.
The PC, PDA, and mobile phone are shown to enable two-way communication with a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile phone designated by the user related to the shooting space. Here, “two-way communication” refers to transmission of shooting data from the imaging device to a mobile phone, etc., transmission command of shooting data from the mobile phone, reception of data in the imaging device for commands related to shooting operations, and the like. It means that it is possible.

(Fig. 4)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The electricity supplied from the external power supply is supplied to the imaging device via the power supply controller and also supplied to the battery serving as an emergency power supply.
The plurality of mobile phone camera modules are controlled by camera control signals from a microprocessor. Further, the camera module is connected to a multiplexer, and control is performed such that any camera module is caused to function or stop based on a selection signal from the microprocessor to the multiplexer.

The aforementioned camera control signal is transmitted from the microprocessor with the sound collected by the microphone as a trigger. For example, when the microphone detects a sound volume higher than a predetermined level, it is determined that an abnormality such as an intruder or vandalism has occurred, and a camera control signal for starting shooting by the camera is transmitted. In addition, by providing a plurality of microphones, it is possible to perform advanced settings such as specifying the direction of the source of abnormal sound or ignoring the sound source that always emits sound.
The microprocessor is also connected to an LED used as an auxiliary power source or the like, and supplies electricity to illuminate the imaging space when the imaging space is a predetermined light amount or less.

  Shooting data from each camera module is stored as a YUV signal on a hard disk via a multiplexer, or via PCMCIA or a network card (for Ethernet (registered trademark), wireless LAN, PHS, mobile phone, etc.) Sent to other devices. The ROM stores in advance a basic operation program for the camera, an operating system, and the like. The RAM fulfills a function of temporarily storing photographing data sent as a YUV signal and photographing data to be transmitted to other devices.

(Fig. 5)
FIG. 5 shows variations in the external shape of the imaging apparatus. A variation in which a substantially truncated cone with a ridge line protruding inward is inverted and installed on the ceiling of the imaging space, and a variation of an approximately spherical body installed in a lower space such as a floor or a table in the imaging space are shown.
By appropriately arranging the digital camera module with respect to the apparatus body having such an external shape, the blind spot with respect to the imaging space can be eliminated.

(Fig. 6)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the imaging device main body having a hemispherical shape. By adopting a digital camera module used in a mobile phone, it has become possible to accommodate the image pickup apparatus main body with a diameter of around 100 mm, more specifically 80 to 150 mm.
The imaging sensor element has an imageable angle of 30 to 60 degrees, and seven digital camera modules are arranged in a certain section. Each digital camera module includes an LED, an infrared sensor, and a microphone in proximity to each imaging sensor element. This is because it is used as auxiliary lighting during a power failure.
In the vicinity of the center, a battery for ensuring continuous operation even during a power failure (or during an intentional power failure) and a control device including an image processing device are arranged.

(Fig. 7)
FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually illustrating data and the like exchanged between the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment and a portable terminal related to a user who remotely operates the imaging apparatus. Two-way communication is performed between the portable terminal and the imaging device via the Internet.
First, a login screen is requested from the portable terminal to the imaging apparatus using HTTP. In response to the request, a login screen based on the HTML page is transmitted from the imaging device to the portable terminal. When this is completed, SSL authentication for ensuring security is exchanged, and after login, the imaging apparatus is requested to transmit image data in the imaging space.
As a result of receiving and outputting image data in the shooting space, it is assumed that the image does not have the desired angle. In that case, as a request for acquiring image data from a desired angle, data including a camera viewpoint change is transmitted, and image data is transmitted again from the imaging apparatus. After data transmission / reception as described above, the user logs out.
In this embodiment, the security ensuring by SSL authentication has been described, but it is naturally possible to secure a higher level of security by securing a dedicated line or the like.

  By the way, transmission / reception of data as described above can be executed by a program downloaded in advance to the mobile terminal of the user. The program includes a transmission data specifying procedure for specifying which one of a plurality of digital camera modules to transmit photographing data to the terminal device related to the user based on an input of the terminal device related to the user, and the transmission data specifying procedure. Transmission command data transmission procedure for transmitting transmission command data to the imaging device so as to execute transmission of the specified imaging data, and imaging data reception for receiving the imaging data transmitted from the imaging device that received the transmission command data It is a program that allows a terminal device related to a user to execute a procedure and a screen output procedure for outputting received photographing data to a screen of the terminal device related to the user.

In addition, this program may be sold in a state of being installed in advance on the mobile terminal of the user. Also, there are cases where the user obtains and installs what is recorded and distributed on the recording medium.
In addition, this program may be charged according to the usage period, usage time, amount of transmitted / received data, and the like. In this case, for data related to billing, the server that manages billing downloads necessary data and uses it for billing execution.

(Fig. 8)
FIG. 8 is an example of an operation flow based on a user's remote operation.
In response to a photographing request from the user, the user selects a desired camera. Then, the brightness of the shooting space in the camera direction is confirmed. When the brightness required for photographing cannot be secured, the auxiliary power supply LED is turned on to perform photographing. If the brightness required for shooting is secured, shooting is performed without turning on the LED. When shooting is finished, the LED is turned off, and the series of operations ends.

(Fig. 9)
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a shooting instruction and execution by a user in the shooting space.
A user operates a remote control device for shooting instructions, which is prepared separately from a portable terminal related to the user, and performs necessary shooting. The remote control device transmits imaging instruction data by infrared rays to the imaging device. The imaging instruction data is received by the infrared receiving means provided for each digital camera module in the imaging apparatus. Then, the digital camera module corresponding to the received infrared receiving means performs photographing.

  The combination of the imaging device and the remote control device for photographing instruction as described above is, for example, that a user who is receiving medical treatment or care at home informs his / her medical condition to a partner hospital or a distant family. You can use it. That is, the transmission destination of the photographing data is a terminal device of a partner hospital or a mobile phone of a family member, so that it is used as a regular report of the condition, an emergency notification notifying the sudden change of the condition, or the like.

(Fig. 10)
FIG. 10 conceptually shows an embodiment in which a shooting instruction is automatically transmitted in response to opening / closing of a door or window provided in the shooting space.
The door or window is attached with a device that is turned off when the door is closed, and that transmits the imaging instruction data to the imaging device when the door or the window is opened. For this reason, every time a door or window is opened, the door or window is photographed. The imaging device in this case is often used as a system for meeting needs such as ensuring security such as checking for illegal intruders. Therefore, after receiving the shooting instruction data transmitted by opening the door or window, the necessary data for crime prevention can be obtained by taking video continuously or taking intermittent photos every 1-2 seconds. Secure.

(Fig. 11)
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a switch portion employed in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.
Along with the transmission of the shooting instruction data, it is transmitted together with infrared and LED operation command data installed for each digital camera module in the imaging apparatus. The photographing direction can be irradiated with infrared rays or an auxiliary light source, and the amount of light necessary for photographing can be secured.

(Fig. 12)
FIG. 12 conceptually illustrates the interface of the user who operates the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, simulating the screen of a mobile phone.
Since the above-described imaging apparatus performs imaging with a plurality of cameras, switching of the imaging element may be complicated during remote operation. Especially when the terminal device for remote operation is a mobile phone, there are many restrictions such as few input buttons and narrow output screen, and when the communication bandwidth for image transfer is narrow, the user is stressed on the operation I can feel it. Therefore, the user interface has several modes to improve usability.

The prepared modes include a manual display mode, a group display mode, a direction display mode, and a scan display mode. A user interface is prepared so that these mode switching settings and image sensor validation / invalidation can be performed remotely.
Besides improving usability by mode, the number of times of switching can be reduced by disabling an image sensor that does not need to be displayed other than. For example, it is possible to designate invalidation for each digital camera module, or to group several digital camera modules and invalidate them for each group.

The manual display mode is a mode in which only a single camera is displayed and manually switched in order of camera ID. Registration and deletion of image sensors to the group are performed from this mode.
The group display mode is a mode in which several appropriate digital camera modules can be assigned in groups. The user can name the assigned group in an easy-to-understand manner, thereby obtaining a plurality of necessary images in an easy-to-understand manner.

  In the left diagram in FIG. 12, “group name” is the living area. An image belonging to the group is displayed, for example, by dividing the screen near the center of the mobile phone into four. Note that only the group name is displayed at the bottom of the display screen of the mobile phone so that it can be specified when other registered groups are to be displayed.

  The direction display mode is a mode prepared as a function for switching the camera angle intuitively. In this mode, the imaging device according to the present embodiment is viewed from directly above, and is grouped into nine directions: left front, front, right front, right, right rear, rear, left rear, left, and top. The direction can be changed intuitively by pressing the corresponding telephone number key. On the terminal screen, a plurality of screens covering the directions of the respective groups are displayed simultaneously.

The scan mode is a mode in which images of the image sensor can be continuously transmitted to the terminal by a simple animation reproduction application (product name = Macromedia Flash) or the like. When the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is employed as a crime prevention system, a company or a user who is undertaking security guards is responsible for an image of a suspicious person or abnormality found in shooting data taken by the imaging apparatus. You can zoom in to see.
The user can scan not only images of all cameras but also groups. However, since continuous transmission of a large amount of image data has a problem in transmission speed, such as a long communication time, it is standardly set and operated to reduce the image quality of each image. .

  The right diagram in FIG. 12 shows a state where six items appearing as function menus are displayed when the function button of the cellular phone is pressed.

1 is an external view of an imaging apparatus (compound eye camera) according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a hardware block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a connection block diagram via the internet with the apparatus with which the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is related. It is a hardware block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the external view which showed the variation of the external shape of the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the imaging device main body which makes hemispherical shape. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the data etc. which are exchanged between the imaging device which concerns on this embodiment, and the portable terminal which operates it remotely. It is a flowchart which shows a motion of the imaging device based on a user's remote operation. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the imaging | photography instruction | indication by the user in imaging | photography space, and its execution. It is a conceptual diagram of an embodiment in which a photographing instruction is automatically transmitted according to opening and closing of a door and a window provided in a photographing space. It is a circuit diagram of the switch part employ | adopted as embodiment described in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the interface of the user who operates the imaging device which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Claims (9)

An apparatus body that has a three-dimensional curved surface or polyhedron and can be fixed to a space that needs to be shot;
A plurality of digital camera modules that are arranged and fixed with respect to the apparatus main body so that there is no blind spot with respect to the space that needs to be photographed,
An imaging apparatus comprising: image processing means for performing image processing on image data captured by the plurality of digital camera modules. Control signal receiving means capable of receiving a shooting control signal for each digital camera module;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging control unit that controls each digital camera module according to a control signal received by the control signal receiving unit. Storage means for storing shooting data shot by each digital camera module;
A transmission unit that transmits the shooting data stored in the storage unit to another physically distant device;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission control unit that controls a priority order and a data amount of transmission data transmitted by the transmission unit. The control signal receiving means is provided close to all digital camera modules, and can grasp the strength of the received control signal,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transmission control unit prioritizes transmission of photographing data by a digital camera module corresponding to the control signal receiving unit that has received the strongest control signal. Trigger data transmission means for transmitting photographing command data for the digital camera module under a predetermined condition;
Trigger data receiving means for receiving imaging command data transmitted by the trigger data transmitting means,
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the photographing control unit controls each digital camera module based on the trigger data received by the trigger data receiving unit. Including transmission command receiving means for receiving transmission command data indicating that shooting data stored in the storage means should be transmitted;
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the transmission control unit uses the transmission unit to transmit photographing data related to the transmission command data to a transmission source of the transmission command data. . A device body having a three-dimensional curved surface or a polyhedron and capable of being fixed to a space that needs to be photographed, and a plurality of devices that are arranged and fixed to the device body so as not to have a blind spot with respect to the space that requires photographing A program for a terminal device relating to a user who controls an imaging device including a digital camera module and image processing means for image processing image data captured by the plurality of digital camera modules,
The program includes a transmission data specifying procedure for specifying which of the plurality of digital camera modules is used to transmit photographing data to the terminal device related to the user based on an input of the terminal device related to the user;
A transmission command data transmission procedure for transmitting transmission command data to the imaging apparatus so as to execute transmission of imaging data specified in the transmission data identification procedure;
An imaging data reception procedure for receiving imaging data transmitted from the imaging device that has received the transmission command data;
A computer program for causing a terminal device related to a user to execute a screen output procedure for outputting received photographing data to a screen of the terminal device related to the user.   The computer program according to claim 7, wherein the transmission data specifying procedure is based on a numeric keypad input by associating an arrangement of a plurality of digital camera modules in an imaging apparatus with an arrangement of a numeric keypad of a terminal device related to a user in advance. The computer program according to claim 7, wherein the transmission data specifying procedure is based on numeric keypad input by associating in advance an arrangement of a plurality of digital camera modules in an imaging apparatus with a division and an arrangement of photographing spaces.

Images