JP2007013632A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system with which washer liquid is prevented from being frozen so as to eliminate snow or the like deposited on housing glass, and an inside of a housing is warmed up even when a heater in the housing is out of order. <P>SOLUTION: A housing unit 300 includes: a photographing window 4; a washer tank 7; and the heater 30, the washer tank 7 stores the washer liquid for eliminating a foreign material deposited on the photographing window 4 for photographing, the heater 30 heats up inside the housing unit 300, and an in-tank heater 17 warms up inside the washer tank 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system, and more particularly to a camera system installed outdoors and having a camera and a lens covered with a housing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera system that is installed outdoors and in which a camera and a lens are covered with a housing is known. In such a camera system, as shown in FIG. 10, a glass (hereinafter referred to as “housing glass”) 102 is provided on the front surface of the housing 101 so that the camera can perform photographing. An operation unit 103 is connected via a communication cable 104 so that remote operation can be performed. Thereby, since operation from a remote place becomes possible, the camera system can be installed in various places.

  If the camera system is installed in a heavy snowfall area, snow or ice may adhere to the housing glass, making it impossible to take a picture. Therefore, the camera system includes the wiper 105 and the tank 106 for storing the washer liquid, and can remove snow or the like attached to the frozen housing glass using the wiper 105 and the washer liquid.

  However, when a snow mass adheres to the housing glass due to a large amount of snowfall, it may not be possible to remove the snow or the like attached to the housing glass using the wiper 105 and the washer liquid. In such a case, a camera system administrator or the like must go to the place where the camera system is installed and remove snow or the like attached to the housing glass.

In order to solve such problems, there has been proposed a camera system that can prevent the housing glass from freezing by using a heater glass (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-94545 A

  However, when a heater glass is used for the housing glass, it is necessary to wire the nichrome wire serving as the heater in the housing glass, and this nichrome wire is imaged, so that a clear image cannot be obtained.

  Further, in heavy snowfall areas and extremely cold areas, it is difficult to remove snow using a wiper or washer liquid, and the washer liquid may freeze.

  On the other hand, in heavy snow and cold regions, the heater inside the housing is used to warm the inside of the housing and protect the camera and lens from the cold, but if this heater stops working, the camera inside the housing will , May not work due to cold.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system that can prevent the washer fluid from freezing and efficiently remove snow or the like adhering to the housing glass, and can warm the housing even if the heater in the housing fails. There is to do.

  To achieve the above object, the camera system according to claim 1 includes an imaging device, a housing that houses the imaging device, a shooting window provided in the housing for shooting by the imaging device, and the shooting. Storage means for storing washer fluid for removing foreign matter adhering to the window, first heating means for heating the inside of the housing, and second heating means for heating the inside of the storage means It is characterized by providing.

  According to the camera system of the first aspect, the first heating means heats the inside of the housing that houses the imaging device, and the second heating means heats the inside of the storage means that stores the washer liquid. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the washer liquid from freezing and remove snow or the like adhering to the housing glass efficiently, and to warm the housing even when the heater in the housing fails.

  According to the camera system of claim 2, the second heating means increases the temperature for heating the storage means when the temperature of the first heating means is not more than a predetermined value. The housing can be warmed even when the heater inside fails.

  According to the camera system of the third aspect, the first heating means warms the washer liquid by heating the washer pipe piped in the housing, so that the washer liquid is prevented from freezing and efficiently. Snow or the like adhering to the housing glass can be removed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the camera system according to the first embodiment includes a camera device 100 that performs shooting, a lens device 200 connected to the camera device 100, a housing device 300 that covers the camera device 100 and the lens device 200, and The camera apparatus 100, the lens apparatus 200, and the operation part 9 (refer FIG. 2) for operating the housing apparatus 300 are provided.

  The housing device 300 includes a photographing window 4 for photographing, a temperature sensor 29, a heater 30, a wiper 5, and a heater temperature sensor 32.

  The camera system also includes a washer liquid tank 7, a motor 15, a washer pipe 14, a washer nozzle 8, and an in-tank heater 17.

  The photographing window 4 is designed so that the housing device 300 does not appear even if the mounted lens device 200 changes the angle of view due to zooming.

  The temperature sensor 29 measures the temperature in the housing device 300. When the temperature sensor becomes −10 ° C. or lower, the heater 30 is driven by the drive circuit 31 to warm the inside of the housing device 300. The heater temperature sensor 32 measures the temperature of the heater 30. The washer pipe 14 is piped through the heater 30.

  The wiper 5 is driven by the drive circuit 33 and removes rain and foreign matters attached to the photographing window 4 installed in the housing. The washer nozzle 8 discharges a washer liquid in order to remove rain and foreign matters adhering to the photographing window 4 installed in the housing. The washer liquid tank 7 is connected to the washer nozzle 8 via the washer pipe 14 and stores the washer liquid. The motor 15 feeds the washer liquid tank 7 into the washer pipe 14.

  The tank heater 17 warms the washer liquid tank 7.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the housing device 300 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the housing device 300 includes drive circuits 31 and 33 and a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “housing microcomputer”) 37.

  The camera system also includes drive circuits 16 and 18 that drive the motor 15 and the heater 17 in the tank, respectively, and an operation unit 9.

  The housing microcomputer 37 is a microcomputer that controls the entire housing device 300 such as the temperature sensor 29, the heater 30, the wiper 5, and the washer nozzle 8. The housing microcomputer 37 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

  The operation unit 9 remotely operates the camera device 100, the lens device 200, and the housing device 300 from a remote place. The operation unit 9 includes a gain and white balance adjustment of the camera device 100, zoom and focus control of the lens device 200, a switch for operating the wiper 5 and the washer nozzle 8 of the housing device 300, a volume, an operation lever, and the like. Yes. The operation unit 9 is connected to the housing microcomputer 37 via the communication cable 10.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the heater control process executed by the housing microcomputer 37 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the housing microcomputer 37 determines whether or not an end command for the operation unit 9 has been received (step S1001). As a result of this determination, when an end command for the operation unit 9 is received, the heater 30 in the housing is turned off (step S1011), and the tank heater 17 is turned off (step S1012). Thereafter, this process is terminated. On the other hand, when the end command of the operation unit 9 has not been received, the process proceeds to step S1002.

  In step S1002, the temperature sensor 29 detects the temperature in the housing device 300. Next, based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not the temperature in the housing device 300 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (step S1003). If the result of this determination is that the temperature in the housing device 300 is not below the predetermined temperature, processing returns to step S1001. On the other hand, when the temperature in the housing device 300 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the heater 30 and the tank heater 17 are heated (step S1004). At this time, the heater 30 and the heater 17 in the tank are heated at 50% of the rated maximum output.

  Next, it is determined whether 10 minutes have elapsed since the heater 30 and the heater 17 in the tank were heated at 50% of the rated maximum output (step S1005). If ten minutes have not elapsed as a result of this determination, the process returns to step S1004. On the other hand, when 10 minutes have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S1006.

  In step S <b> 1006, the heater temperature sensor 32 detects the temperature of the heater 30. Next, based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the heater 30 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (step S1007). If the result of this determination is that the temperature of the heater 30 is not below the predetermined temperature, processing returns to step S1001. On the other hand, when the temperature of the heater 30 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, it is determined that the heater 30 is not operating normally, and the process proceeds to step S1008.

  In step S1008, the tank heater 17 is heated. Here, the heater 17 in the tank is heated at 100% of the rated maximum output.

  Next, the temperature in the housing device 300 is detected again by the temperature sensor 29 (step S1009). Next, based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not the temperature in the housing device 300 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (step S1010). If the result of this determination is that the temperature in the housing device 300 is not below the predetermined temperature, processing returns to step S1001. On the other hand, when the temperature in the housing device 300 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the process returns to step S1008.

  According to the present embodiment, the washer liquid in the washer tank 7 is warmed by the in-tank heater 17, so that the washer liquid can be prevented from freezing.

  Further, when the heater 30 is not operating normally, the heater 17 in the tank is heated, and the interior of the housing device 300 is warmed by the heated washer liquid. Therefore, even if the heater in the housing fails, the housing 30 A camera system capable of warming the inside is provided.

  Furthermore, since the snow etc. which adhered to the imaging | photography window are easily removed by the washer liquid warmed by the heater 30, the snow etc. which adhered to the housing glass can be removed efficiently.

  Although the motor 15 is provided outside the washer liquid tank 7 in FIG. 1, the motor 15 may be provided inside the washer liquid tank 7 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the washer liquid can be reliably fed into the washer tube 14.

  Moreover, the piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 is not restricted to what is shown in FIG. As long as the washer pipe 14 is piped so as to pass through the inside of the heater 30, for example, it may be as shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first piping method of the washer pipe 14 in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the washer pipe 14 is piped so as to pass through the heater 30 in a straight line. According to this method, since the structure of the washer tube 14 is simple, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second piping method of the washer pipe 14 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the washer pipe 14 is folded and piped so as to pass through the entire heater 30. According to this method, since the length of the washer pipe 14 in the heater 30 is increased, the washer liquid can be efficiently heated.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a third piping method of the washer pipe 14 in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the washer pipe 14 is further finely folded and piped so as to pass through the entire heater 30. According to this method, the length of the washer pipe 14 in the heater 30 becomes longer, so that the washer liquid can be warmed more efficiently.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fourth piping method of the washer pipe 14 in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, the washer pipe 14 is piped in a spiral manner so as to pass through the entire heater 30. According to this method, the length of the washer pipe 14 in the heater 30 becomes longer, so that the washer liquid can be warmed more efficiently.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fifth piping method of the washer pipe 14 in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, a plurality of obstacles 20 are provided in the heater 30, and a portion without the obstacles is a flow path for the washer liquid. According to this method, the contact area between the heater 30 and the washer liquid is increased, so that the washer liquid can be warmed more efficiently.

It is a side view which shows the structure of the camera system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the housing apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the heater control process performed by the housing microcomputer in FIG. It is a side view which shows the modification of the camera system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 3rd piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 4th piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 5th piping method of the washer pipe | tube 14 in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the conventional camera system.

Explanation of symbols

4 Shooting Window 8 Washer Nozzle 17 Tank Heater 29 Temperature Sensor 30 Heater 32 Heater Temperature Sensor 300 Housing Device

Claims (3)

An imaging device;
A housing that houses the imaging device;
A photographing window provided in the housing for photographing by the imaging device;
Storage means for storing washer fluid for removing foreign matter adhering to the imaging window;
First heating means for heating the inside of the housing;
A camera system comprising: a second heating means for heating the inside of the storage means.   Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the first heating means, and the second heating means is detected by the temperature detection means so that the temperature of the first heating means is a predetermined value or less. 2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein a temperature at which the inside of the storage means is heated is increased at a certain time.   3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the first warming means warms the washer liquid by heating a washer pipe piped in the housing. 4.

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