JP2008124823A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which can pick up multi-directional images, is hard to break down and can be inexpensively provided. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus 10 is equipped with a case main body 20 with a built-in imaging part 15 and a cover 30 which covers a lower part of the case main body 20 and attached to be slidable around the case main body 20, a plurality of hole parts 24 and 34 are evenly formed in the surrounding directions of the case main body 20 and the cover 30, and a lens 16a of the imaging part 15 is attached to the hole part 24 of the case main body 20, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present application relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly, to a multidirectional imaging apparatus capable of simultaneously capturing multidirectional images.

  Buildings and condominiums are prohibited from entering and leaving by residents for crime prevention reasons. In order to prevent crimes in condominiums, surveillance cameras are generally installed in common areas.

  The surveillance camera usually includes a camera and a drive device that drives the imaging direction of the camera up, down, left, and right. And the surveillance camera can image the surroundings by turning the camera unit with a driving device.

  However, in such a conventional surveillance camera, there is a problem that the surveillance direction is limited to one direction, and a blind spot is always formed, so that a suspicious person can easily escape from surveillance by the surveillance camera.

  In addition, since the conventional surveillance camera is configured to take an image of the surroundings by turning the camera unit with the driving device, the camera unit is fixed in one direction when the driving device fails. In addition, the drive device is likely to break down and is difficult to drive, and as a result is not useful as a surveillance camera. Further, the use of a driving device tends to increase the cost.

  Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide an imaging apparatus that can capture multi-directional images, is less likely to fail, and can be provided at low cost.

  The imaging device (10) according to claim 1 includes a case body (20) in which an imaging unit (15) is built, and a cover (30) attached slidably around the case body. A plurality of holes (24, 34) are formed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the case main body and the cover, and the lens (16a) of the imaging unit is attached to the hole of the case main body. It is characterized by that.

  The imaging device according to claim 2 is the imaging device according to claim 1, wherein any one of the plurality of lenses of the imaging unit has a field of view of the lens facing downward with respect to a horizontal axis. The field of view is attached so as to include the field of view of the lens adjacent to the lens, and the field of view captured by the plurality of lenses is the entire field of view around the imaging device.

  The imaging device according to claim 3 is the imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the case main body and the cover are axially directed from one of the case main body or the cover toward the other. And a projection (37) extending to the other, and an engagement portion (28) formed on the other side to engage with the projection, and the cover is moved by engaging the projection with the engagement portion. It is characterized by regulation.

  The imaging device according to claim 4 is the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover is slid with respect to a case main body, and the case main body on the wall surface of the cover. It is characterized in that all front surfaces of the hole portions of the first and second holes are shielded.

  The imaging device according to claim 5 is the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover is slid on the bottom surface of the cover with respect to the case body. A knob (35) is provided.

  The imaging device (10A) according to claim 6 includes a case main body in which an imaging unit is incorporated, and a cover that is slidably attached around the case main body. A plurality of holes are equally formed in the circumferential direction, the lenses of the imaging unit are respectively attached to the holes of the case body, and at least one of the plurality of lenses has a front surface thereof. And a reflector (50) for guiding light below the case body to the lens and receiving a video signal below the case body by the lens.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present application will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 3 is a top view of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5 (a) is an enlarged view of the stop mechanism, FIG. 5 (b) is an enlarged view of the stop mechanism on the case body side, FIG. 6 shows Embodiment 1 of the imaging apparatus, and FIG. 6 (a) is a schematic diagram. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the field of view of the imaging apparatus.

  This embodiment can be applied as, for example, an imaging apparatus that is installed in a shared unit such as a building or a condominium or a resident's own room and monitors a suspicious person or the like in the shared unit or the own room. The imaging device can also be applied as an imaging device for monitoring the trend of pets or children in the room.

  The imaging device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a resin case body 20 including an imaging unit 15 that captures surrounding images, and a resin cover 30 that covers a lower outer periphery of the case body 20. . As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging unit 15 includes a camera module 16 and a substrate 17 including a control circuit for controlling display of an image obtained by the camera module 16. .

  The case body 20 includes a main body 21 formed in a substantially dome shape and a circular lid 25 that closes an upper opening of the main body 21. Here, although not shown, an elastically deformable claw portion extending downward is provided on the outer periphery of the lid 25, and the distal end thereof is displaced in the radial direction of the lid with respect to the base end. ing. On the other hand, a groove is formed below the main body 21. And the main body 21 and the lid | cover 25 can be attached or detached by engaging the groove part, the front-end | tip of the said nail | claw part being elastically deformed. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cover 25 is formed with four holes 26 evenly in the circumferential direction from the center, and the cover 25 is fixed to a ceiling or the like through a hole 26 by a fixing member such as a screw. It can be installed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 21 includes a substantially circular end wall 22 and a side wall portion 23 erected around the end wall. The end portion of the side wall portion 23 is formed so as to spread radially upward, and around the periphery thereof, eight hole portions 24 that are in uniform communication with the outside are formed. Inside the hole 24, a lens 16a constituting the camera module 16 is attached.

  The camera module 16 includes a lens 16a and an image sensor such as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge coupled device (CCD).

  The lens 16a is, for example, a plastic lens generally used in mobile phones. In addition, other lenses or the like can be appropriately applied within a range in which the size and the like are allowed according to the performance desired by the imaging device.

  The lens 16a is fixed so that the field of view of the lens 16a is aimed downward with respect to the horizontal axis, and adjacent lenses are arranged so as to include a field of view in the horizontal direction.

  In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 6B, the field of view H captured by the plurality of camera modules 16 is the entire field of view around the imaging apparatus 1. ing. As a result, the imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment eliminates blind spots with respect to the surroundings and can obtain the entire field of view 360 degrees.

  On the other hand, the cover 30 includes a substantially circular end wall 31 and side walls 32 erected around the end wall 31, and a lower outer periphery of the case body 20 is formed on the cover 30. It comes to cover. In addition, eight holes 34 are formed around the cover 20 so as to evenly communicate with the outside. The hole 34 is formed so as to correspond to the hole 24 formed in the side wall 23 of the main body 21, and the size thereof is at least equal to or slightly larger than the hole 24 of the main body 21. Yes.

  A projecting portion 36 extending downward is provided at the center of the end wall 31, and the projecting portion 36 functions as a knob 35 for sliding the cover 30 with respect to the case body 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A, the end wall 22 forming the cover 30 has a hole portion 27 in which a female screw 27 a is formed at the center of the end wall 22 forming the case body 20. A through hole 39 is formed at the center of 31 (the center of the protruding portion 36), and the case body 20 and the cover 30 are screwed by a fixing member 38 such as a screw from the cover 30 side through the through hole 39. Yes. In this way, the cover 30 is attached below the outer periphery of the case body 20.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, on the cover 30 side, a protrusion 37 protruding toward the case body 20 side is provided in the vicinity of the center, and around the hole 27 of the end wall 22 on the case body 20 side. The concave and convex engaging portions 28 for engaging with the projections 37 are formed, and the projections 37 engage with the recessed portions of the engaging portions 28, so that the cover 30 slides on the lower outer periphery of the case body 20. When moving, the movement of the cover 30 is regulated.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the imaging apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a management terminal 40 that manages whether or not a suspicious person has entered a shared unit such as an apartment, and a communication network 45. Connected through. The video signal imaged by the imaging device 10 is transmitted to the management terminal 40. The communication network 45 includes a network constructed by a dedicated line, but is not limited to such a wired line, and may be wireless or the Internet.

  Moreover, although not shown, the management terminal 40 is configured by a computer including a control unit, a data processing unit, a storage unit, a communication unit, a display unit (display screen 40a), and the like. In addition to these components, an input unit (such as a keyboard and a mouse) for an operator to input instructions and a display unit (such as a monitor) for displaying various types of information are provided.

  The control unit includes a CPU having a calculation function, a working RAM, and a ROM that stores various programs and data. Then, the computer functions as a management terminal when the CPU executes a video analysis processing program stored in, for example, a ROM or a storage unit (starts a video analysis application). This video analysis processing program is a processing program executed by the management terminal 40 based on data (video signal) transmitted from the imaging device 10.

  The data processing unit controls display of the video around the imaging device based on the video signal transmitted from the imaging device 1 (video information around the imaging device 1 taken by each camera module 16). The display-controlled video information is displayed on the display screen of the management terminal.

  Next, an operation example of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The imaging device 10 is configured so that the cover 30 shields the entire surface of the hole 24 formed in the case main body 20 so that surrounding images cannot be captured. In such a case, the knob 35 provided at the bottom of the cover 30 is rotated until the front surface of the hole 24 of the case body 20 is shielded by the side wall 32 of the cover 30.

  On the other hand, by rotating the knob 35 until the positions of the holes 24 and 34 formed in the case main body 20 and the cover 30 coincide with each other, the surrounding image can be taken.

  In addition, the imaging apparatus 10 is driven by the management terminal 40 to start a predetermined program, and the imaging apparatus 10 includes the camera module 16 including the lenses 16 a corresponding to the eight holes 24 formed in the case body 20. Is transmitted to the management terminal 40 as a video signal. The management terminal 40 displays on the display screen 10a in a predetermined display format based on the video signal. For example, videos corresponding to each camera module 16 are displayed side by side on the display screen 10a. Moreover, you may make it display each image connected.

  As described above, the imaging apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes the case body 20 in which the imaging unit 15 is incorporated, and the cover 30 that is slidably attached around the case body 20. A plurality of holes 24 and 34 are formed uniformly in the circumferential direction of the case body 20 and the cover 30, and the lens 16 of the imaging unit 15 is attached to the hole 24 of the case body 20. In this way, it is possible to image a wide area around. In addition, since a drive device is not used as in the prior art, manufacturing costs can be reduced and maintenance is easy.

  In addition, any one of the plurality of lenses 16a of the imaging unit 15 is attached so that the field of view of the lens is downward with respect to the horizontal axis and includes the field of view of the lens adjacent to the lens. The field of view imaged by is the entire field of view around the imaging device 10. In this way, it is possible to image the area around the lower side of the imaging device 10.

  In addition, the case body 20 and the cover 30 are a protrusion that extends in the axial direction from one of the case body 20 or the cover 30 toward the other, and the other that is engaged with the protrusion 37. And a mating portion 27, and the projection 37 is engaged with the engaging portion 27 to restrict the movement of the cover 30. In this way, the user can easily position the cover 30 with respect to the case body 20.

  Further, the cover 30 is slid with respect to the case main body 20 so that the wall surface of the cover 30 shields all front surfaces of the hole portions 24 of the case main body 20. In this way, it is possible to easily switch whether to take an image.

  Further, a knob 35 for sliding the cover 30 with respect to the case body 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the cover 30. In this way, the cover 30 can be easily slid with respect to the case body 20.

  Next, a multidirectional imaging apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals are given to portions common to FIGS. 1 to 5, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 7 is an overall structural diagram of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the field of view of the imaging apparatus. 10 A of imaging devices of this embodiment are installed and used in the ceiling corner of shared parts, such as a building and a condominium, for example.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, the imaging device 10 </ b> A is attached to the case body 20 including the cover 30 and the rear of the reference imaging direction (for example, the front side in the drawing) and the hole 24 of the case body 20. And a reflector 50 provided on the outer front surface of the lens 16a. The imaging apparatus 10A receives the image reflected by the reflector 50 as a video signal by the camera module 16 of the imaging apparatus 10A, thereby causing a blind spot around the imaging apparatus 10A (especially a blind spot in a lower portion of the imaging apparatus 10A). ) Can be eliminated.

  For example, the reflector 50 receives at least the light below the imaging device 10A among the plurality of lenses so that the camera module 16 receives a video signal of a lower portion that becomes a blind spot when the surroundings are imaged by the imaging device 10A. It is guided to one lens 16a. The reflector 50 includes a planar mirror 50 a that reflects light incident from below the imaging device 10 </ b> A, and the mirror 50 a is detachably attached to the case body 20 by a predetermined arm 51. The arm 51 is provided integrally with the rear end of the arm part 51b and an arm part 51b formed by bending with an angle adjusting mechanism that adjusts the angle of the mirror 50a vertically and horizontally at the tip, and the case body 20. And a ring portion 51b held between the main body 21 and the lid 25. The mirror 50a is not limited to a planar shape, and may be a curved surface. By adopting the curved surface shape, the video obtained from the video signal received by the camera module 16 is distorted, but a video with a wider field of view (video signal) can be obtained.

  According to the imaging apparatus 10A configured as described above, it is possible to display the visual fields H1 and H2 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B as images. That is, the field of view H1 around the front of the imaging device 10A is covered by the camera module 16 including the four lenses 16a installed in front of the case body 30, and the field of view H2 below the imaging device 10A is behind the case body 30. The camera module 16 including the four lenses 16a installed is covered. Further, the mirror 50a is disposed so that the horizontal field of view of the image obtained by the lens 16a receiving light by the reflection includes the horizontal field of view of the adjacent lens 16a. More preferably, the tilt of the mirror 50a is adjusted so that the entire field of view around the imaging device 10A (including the lower side) is covered by the lens 16a.

  In this embodiment, the field of view H2 below the image pickup apparatus 10A is covered by the camera module 16 including the reflector 50a and the four lenses 16a. However, the installation position and the shared unit of the image pickup apparatus 10A are monitored. Depending on the shape of the room that needs to be, the field of view H <b> 2 below the imaging device 10 </ b> A may be covered with one camera module 16 installed in the case body 30.

  Further, the imaging apparatus 10A only needs to be configured so that no blind spots are formed in the area where the person passes around the imaging apparatus 10A, and may not necessarily cover the entire field of view around the imaging apparatus 10A.

  In addition, this application is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above, It can implement with a various form. For example, since the number of lenses is appropriately designed based on the range to be imaged, it does not necessarily have to be eight. In addition, holes formed around the case main body and the cover are appropriately designed in accordance with the number of lenses. Further, the protrusion 37 and the engaging portion 28 that function as a stopper for restricting the movement of the cover may be provided with a protrusion on the case body side and an engaging portion on the cover side.

It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of an imaging device. It is a bottom view of an imaging device. It is a top view of an imaging device. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the stop mechanism, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of the stop mechanism on the case body side. FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a field of view captured by the imaging device. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the imaging device in other embodiment. FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram, and FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating a field of view captured by the imaging device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 10A Image pick-up device 15 Image pick-up part 16 Camera module 16a Lens 20 Case main body 24, 34 Hole part 28 Engagement part 30 Cover 35 Knob 37 Projection 50 Reflector

Claims (6)

A case body with a built-in imaging unit;
A cover slidably mounted around the case body;
Comprising
In the circumferential direction of the case body and the cover, a plurality of holes are uniformly formed,
An imaging apparatus, wherein a lens of the imaging unit is attached to each hole of the case body. Any one of the plurality of lenses of the imaging unit is attached so that the field of view of the lens is downward with respect to the horizontal axis and includes the field of view of the lens adjacent to the lens,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a field of view captured by the plurality of lenses is an entire field of view around the imaging apparatus. The case main body and the cover include a protrusion extending in the axial direction from one of the case main body or the cover toward the other, and an engaging portion formed on the other and engaged with the protrusion. Configured,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is engaged with an engaging portion to restrict movement of the cover.   The imaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover is slid with respect to the case body, and all front surfaces of the holes of the case body are shielded by a wall surface of the cover. apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a knob for sliding the cover with respect to the case body is provided on a bottom surface of the cover. A case body with a built-in imaging unit;
A cover slidably mounted around the case body;
Comprising
In the circumferential direction of the case body and the cover, a plurality of holes are uniformly formed,
The lens of the imaging unit is attached to each hole of the case body,
At least one of the plurality of lenses further includes a reflector on the front surface thereof that guides light below the case body to the lens and receives a video signal below the case body by the lens. An imaging device characterized by comprising:

Images