JP2009284452A - Hybrid video camera imaging apparatus and system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a universal head configuration for mounting a plurality of cameras and a multiple camera system apparatus for controlling and operating the cameras in which a plurality of cameras are accurately positioned and easily operated although it was conventionally difficult to accurately determine a positional relationship of a plurality of cameras and to effectively utilize the plurality of cameras, and operation is facilitated while accurately maintaining the positional relationship of the plurality of cameras at all the time, and to provide a camera system including much higher level functions, using a plurality of cameras, such as for utilizing a plurality of images captured by the plurality of cameras, speedily accurately capturing a target object, grasping a positional relationship of the object and performing high-speed zoom focusing by performing control operation while accurately maintaining the positional relationship of the plurality of cameras. <P>SOLUTION: In an electronic camera system composed of a plurality of cameras, the plurality of the cameras are mounted on a universal head controllable in a panning direction and a tilting direction, and the plurality of cameras are operable cooperatively with one another. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hybrid video camera imaging apparatus and system in which a plurality of video cameras including a wide video camera and a zoom video camera can be operated in conjunction with each other.

  Video camera systems have been used in various fields such as security cameras, broadcast cameras, and conference cameras as surveillance cameras and security cameras, and imaging systems, captured image quality, convenience, etc. according to the respective usage purposes are required. ing. In particular, recently, an imaging site and a monitor or display site are located away from each other, or remote control / control of a camera is required. Also, captured video signals can be transmitted to remote locations via various network lines such as LAN and WAN, as well as wired and wireless networks, and can be operated and controlled from remote locations via network lines. It has become like this.

  The imaging camera needs to accurately capture an object to be imaged and to capture the object with a desired angle frame. For this purpose, the imaging lens is first picked up with a zoom lens system, and the imaging display angle frame is variable and imaged with an accurate size. In this zoom lens camera system, the imaging angle frame can be varied. Therefore, in order to capture the object, the object is first aimed at a wide angle and zoomed in (narrow angle display, telephoto imaging).

  For the operation of these cameras, a pan head for performing pan (left / right) direction and tilt (up / down) direction operations is used. Mount the camera on the pan head, move the camera up and down, left and right, and monitor the zoom in and out of the camera lens on the monitor screen. In the surveillance camera and dome camera system, these zoom camera and pan head are integrated, and it is configured as a PTZ (PAN, TILT, ZOOM) camera that can be operated by panning, tilting, and zooming by remote operation by wire or wireless. ing.

  As a transmission means for remote operation, either a wired or wireless system can be used as long as video signals can be transmitted, but distance conditions (short-distance transmission or remote transmission), transmission speed and transmission image quality conditions, It is selected according to the purpose of broadcasting, security monitoring, conference, medical, etc. For security cameras and dome cameras, a PTZ camera integrated with this pan head is often used, and this PTZ camera with pan head (operating means) is installed at a predetermined location, and is a remote monitor And the output section are connected by a transmission means. This signal transmission means not only transmits video output signals and sound output signals from the camera to the monitor side, but also transmits pan / tilt control signals for pan head operation from the monitor side (control side) to the camera terminal side. The

  In such a video camera system, in order to operate the camera from a remote monitor screen, the target is first aimed at a wide-angle image on the monitor screen, and a pan / tilt head operation signal is sent to the target. The desired angle frame is determined by moving the camera in the vertical and horizontal directions and simultaneously using the camera zoom.

  However, it is difficult to determine the target for enlargement from the wide-angle video on the monitor screen and perform zoom-in in this way because it is difficult to operate because it is necessary to find the target from the wide-angle image screen. Then, the inconvenience such as returning to the wide-angle screen again, searching for the enlargement object, and enlarging occurs.

  Various methods have been proposed to solve these disadvantages, but one effective method is to provide an additional sub (or slave) camera. By using a plurality of camera systems of the sub camera and the main camera, it is possible to project a wide angle or all directions with one camera, specify an object to be enlarged, and enlarge (zoom in) the object with the other camera. Patent Document 1 discloses a method for calculating an object to be enlarged from a wide-angle or omnidirectional image as a position coordinate of a wide-angle image and specifying it with a zoom camera. Another method for enlarging the imaging target with the other camera while monitoring the imaging range with the wide-angle camera is also disclosed in Patent Document 2.

  In order to operate these video cameras in cooperation with each other, it is difficult to realize them because it is necessary to strictly perform the installation method, the installation interval, and the operation interlocking method. In particular, to calculate the position of the object to be magnified from the wide-angle screen or omnidirectional screen, and to obtain a magnified image with the other zoom camera or magnifier camera, set the distance / distance, target direction, position reference value of both cameras, etc. Is required. Therefore, a method has been proposed in which one is fixed as an omnidirectional or wide-angle camera and the other camera is zoomed as a PTZ camera (Patent Document 1).

  In a state where one of these video cameras is fixed, the fixed camera is composed of an omnidirectional camera or an ultra-wide-angle camera and is used mainly for grasping the entire image and measuring the position reference. In other words, the omnidirectional / super-wide-angle camera can be used only for checking the entire image and for determining the position of the object due to image quality degradation, video dynamic range degradation, image distortion, and the like. Even if two cameras are used, one is a sub (or slave) camera and the image output is not used as a main image. Take advantage of the two (multiple) cameras and use the video output of both (multiple) cameras, such as switching between images using the mutual image output in the same way, overlapping, two-screen display, image complementation, etc. Was difficult.

In addition, when shooting a high-speed moving object or taking a close-up, there is an operational problem such that it is difficult for the zoom camera to follow if the subject is out of the range of the wide-angle camera. In addition, if two or more video cameras are required, it is necessary to install a new camera in addition to the existing video camera and embed a new transmission circuit when the existing camera is already installed. There was a problem in terms of cost. In particular, surveillance cameras, CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras, and the like are difficult to install a plurality of cameras because cables or the like are embedded as existing camera facilities or camera installation areas are limited.
JP 2006-128932 A JP 2008-507229 A

  In the present invention, accurate positioning and camera operation of a plurality of cameras, which has been difficult in the past to accurately determine the positional relationship between a plurality of cameras and effectively using the plurality of cameras, are facilitated, and the positional relationship between the plurality of cameras is always maintained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plurality of camera mounting head configurations that are easy to operate while maintaining accuracy, and a plurality of camera system devices that control them.

  Further, in the present invention, the control operation is performed while maintaining the positional relationship of the multiple cameras accurately, so that the multiple images can be used by the multiple cameras, the target object can be quickly and accurately captured, the positional relationship of the target object can be measured, and the high speed zoom An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system apparatus having more advanced functions such as focusing and the like by a plurality of cameras.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a hybrid camera device and system that allow multiple cameras to be installed using an existing facility such as a single surveillance camera or CCTV camera that has already been installed.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a method that is excellent in a user interface that is highly convenient for performing zoom-in and zoom-out operations using a hybrid camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera system apparatus comprising a plurality of cameras, wherein the plurality of cameras are mounted on a pan / tilt head that can be controlled in a pan direction and a tilt direction. These cameras can be operated in cooperation with each other.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera system device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of cameras are configured to include a combination including at least a zoom camera.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, each of the plurality of cameras is integrally operated in a pan direction and a tilt direction by movement of a pan head, and at least one of the plurality of cameras is independently operated. It is configured to be mechanically, optically or electrically controllable.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus of the second aspect, the combination of a plurality of cameras including the zoom camera is actuated as a unit on the pan head in the pan direction and the tilt direction by movement of the pan head. In addition, at least one of the plurality of cameras is configured to be individually controllable in the pan direction and / or the tilt direction.

  According to the present invention based on claims 1 to 4 above, since a plurality of cameras are installed on a common pan head, they are linked together while maintaining an accurate positional relationship by being accurately installed and installed at the design and manufacturing stages. So that it can be operated. In addition, since a plurality of cameras can always be rotated in the same direction (or while maintaining a predetermined optical axis relationship) by operating the pan (left / right) direction and tilt (up / down) direction of the pan / tilt head, (Optical axis) can be easily adjusted, and it is possible to quickly zoom in and out on the subject.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the image outputs of the plurality of cameras are transmitted as the same stream signal.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus of the fifth aspect, the image output of the plurality of cameras is transmitted by changing the frame ratio of each image output.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the frame transmission ratio of the image output is transmitted by increasing the number of frames of the image output that is mainly used over the number of frames of the other image outputs. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention based on claims 5 to 7, since the image outputs of a plurality of cameras are transmitted as the same stream signal, a cable facility, a wireless transmission facility, etc. installed as an existing transmission facility even with a plurality of cameras. Can be used in common. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to configure a plurality of cameras to be mounted on a single camera platform, and existing facilities and locations can be used even at installation locations, which is simpler and more cost-effective. A system can be constructed. Further, by making the transmission frame ratio of the image output variable and increasing the frame ratio of the main screen output, higher-efficiency image transmission becomes possible.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that in the apparatus described in claim 2, voice microphone means capable of collecting sound in conjunction with the pan head operation is included.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the audio microphone means is constituted by a zoom microphone, and the zoom microphone performs an audio zoom in conjunction with an operation of the zoom camera. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 8.

  According to the present invention based on claim 8 and claim 9, since the microphone is installed in conjunction with the pan head, the microphone is always directed to the optical axis (or shooting direction) of the plurality of cameras. Sound source collection is easy. In addition, the subject sound source sound collection can be made more reliable and easy by interlocking the zoom microphone and the zoom lens.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the apparatus further comprises a screen means for monitoring or displaying the image signal of the image output or the transmitted image signal.

  The invention according to claim 11 is the apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising optical axis marker means for displaying an optical axis of another camera on a screen of the plurality of cameras. To do.

  A twelfth aspect of the invention is the apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, further comprising: split display means for displaying the image output of each of the plurality of cameras on the same screen means in a split screen or picture-in-picture display. Features.

  The invention according to claim 13 is the apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the screen means includes touch panel input means.

  According to this invention based on Claims 10-13, the video output of the several cameras arrange | positioned on a pan head is divided | segmented and displayed on a monitor, a multiple camera video output is recognized simultaneously, or an optical axis marker is displayed on the image. With this, the positional relationship of a plurality of cameras and the target direction aiming at the subject are recognized on the same screen, and a pan head control operation, a camera operation control operation, a zoom control operation, and the like can be easily performed. Further, by using a touch panel screen as a control signal input means for the camera platform and the camera, it is possible to construct a configuration with excellent image operability such that a target can be captured while monitoring an output image.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the electronic camera system device includes a measuring unit that measures a distance to a subject using the plurality of cameras, and an autofocus unit provided in the zoom camera. The autofocus means of the zoom camera performs autofocus using distance information measured by the measuring means.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, two of the plurality of cameras are on a pan head with a predetermined interval, the same focal length, and a parallel optical axis toward the subject. The distance to the subject is measured based on the deviation of the video output of the two cameras.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the fifteenth aspect, the video outputs of the two cameras are displayed on the same screen, and a deviation amount of the video outputs of the two cameras is displayed on the screen. It is characterized by being displayed.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the plurality of cameras has means for setting different brightness levels to different values, and a plurality of screens with the plurality of different brightness levels. And means for displaying.

  According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the white balance adjusting means of each of the plurality of cameras, means for setting the white balance setting to different values, and the plurality of different And means for displaying a plurality of screens based on white balance.

  According to the present invention based on claims 14 to 18, since a plurality of cameras can be operated in cooperation with each other while maintaining an accurate positional relationship, it is possible to measure the distance from the camera to the subject using the plurality of cameras. It becomes. Using the distance information obtained from the measurement for the focus control of the zoom camera, the auto focus of the video camera can be further accelerated, and the focus operation control from the monitor screen can also be performed. Can be configured. In addition, various functions such as ensuring a wide dynamic range and accurately setting auto white balance can be configured using a multi-screen monitor screen display.

  With such a configuration, in the multiple (hybrid) camera system using the present invention, it has been difficult to accurately determine the positional relationship of the multiple cameras in the past and to effectively use the multiple cameras. The camera can be operated easily, and the positional relationship between multiple cameras can be maintained easily, so that it can be operated easily, so one of the multiple cameras is composed of a wide-angle camera. There is an effect that it is possible to easily perform a subject capturing operation that zooms in (enlarges) or zooms out (widens) quickly and accurately with the above zoom camera.

  In addition, by controlling and maintaining the positional relationship of multiple cameras accurately, the use of multiple images by multiple cameras, speedy and accurate capture of target objects, distance to objects, measurement of positional relationships, and high-speed zoom focus , And so on, and so on.

  In addition, even if there are multiple cameras, the image output can be transmitted by the same stream, so it is possible to install multiple cameras using existing facilities such as one surveillance camera or CCTV camera already installed. There is an effect that a hybrid camera system with merit can be constructed.

  In addition, various user interfaces have been proposed for operating a plurality of cameras in a hybrid camera, but in the present invention, a user interface with a touch panel or a touch pen is highly convenient for performing zoom-in and zoom-out operations of a plurality of cameras. There are effects such as achieving an excellent method.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a multi-camera unit unit according to the present invention, and shows a front view, a side view, and a plan view of a camera unit unit 100 in which two video cameras are mounted on a pan / tilt head. The drawing is schematically drawn for convenience of explanation.

  In FIG. 1, the multi-camera unit unit 100 has two cameras A101 and B102 mounted on a platform. The carriage is composed of an outer frame 103 and an inner frame 104. The inner frame 104 is attached to the outer frame 103 on a horizontal axis (Y axis in FIG. 1) by a tilt shaft body 105 so as to rotate the camera about the tilt shaft body 105 in the tilt (up and down) direction. A pan head pan gear 106 is mounted on the outer frame 103 on a pan shaft body 107 having a vertical central axis (X axis in FIG. 1), and panning (left and right) is performed around the pan shaft body 107 by the rotation of the pan gear (or pan pulley) 106. Rotation control is possible in the direction. The tilt shaft body 105 is equipped with a pan head tilt gear (or tilt pulley) 108, and the tilt gear (or tilt pulley) 108 rotates to pivot the pan head inner frame 104 about the tilt shaft body 105 in the tilt (up and down) direction. Control is possible.

  Camera A 101 and camera B 102 are attached to the pan head inner frame 104. The camera A 101 and the camera B 102 are fixed to the camera platform inner frame 104. The lens centers of the cameras A101 and B102 are arranged on the same line in the vertical direction (X axis in FIG. 1) in FIG. 1, and are mounted in parallel in the horizontal direction (in Za and Zb in FIG. 1). The distance between the center of each lens is mounted precisely at a predetermined interval (d). The target lens direction of the camera is indicated by an arrow. The power transmission means for rotation may be a gear or a pulley / belt.

  The pan head 106 and pan head tilt gear 107 are controlled to rotate by a drive source (not shown) such as a motor. The camera A101 and the camera B102 on the camera platform can be controlled to rotate in the pan (left and right) direction and the tilt (up and down) direction by the combined operation of the pan gear 106 and the tilt gear 107 of the camera platform. Can be directed in the same direction. In the side view of FIG. 1, it is shown that the pan head inner frame 104 and the cameras A101 and B102 attached thereto can be controlled to rotate in the tilt direction by the tilt angle θt by the rotation of the tilt gear 108. 1 shows that the pan head outer frame 103, the pan head inner frame 104 attached thereto, and the cameras A101 and B102 can be controlled to rotate in the pan direction by the pan angle θp. ing.

  A sound collecting microphone 109 is attached to the outer frame 103 of the pan head, and the sound collecting target is directed in the same direction as the target direction of the camera. There are no particular restrictions on the type of microphone, but a super-directional microphone or zoom microphone can be used to effectively collect the target sound in conjunction with the camera. Camera A and camera B can be configured by either a wide camera or a zoom camera, but it is preferable that at least one of them be configured by a zoom camera. The zoom camera described in the present invention includes not only optical zoom but also a method of electronically zooming in using a pixel memory of a CCD. The zoom operation described below includes optical and electronic zoom operations.

  FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the pan head. In addition to pan / tilt rotation control of the pan / tilt head, the camera A 201 located at the upper side in FIG. 2 can be further controlled to rotate in the pan (left / right) direction. 2 includes an outer frame 203 and an inner frame 204, and the inner frame 204 is attached to the outer frame 203 by a tilt shaft body 205. The outer frame 203 is mounted so that it can be controlled to rotate in the pan (left / right) direction about the pan shaft body 207 by the pan gear 206, and the inner frame 204 is tilted (up / down) to the tilt gear 208 attached to the tilt shaft body 205. It is configured to be rotatable in the direction.

  The camera A 201 and the camera B 202 are attached to the inner frame 204 of the pan head at a distance d, and can be controlled to rotate together with the movement of the pan head. The difference from FIG. 1 is that the camera A 201 can be further controlled to rotate in the pan (left / right) direction by the camera A pan gear 209. In the plan view of FIG. 2, the camera A 201 is rotated by the camera A pan gear 209 with respect to the camera B 202 by the pan angle θap. As described above, various cameras can be applied by utilizing the pan (left / right) angle shift between the two cameras mounted on the camera platform.

  It is desirable to cover the wide range of the wide camera as much as possible in order to grasp the entire shooting site. However, as the wide angle becomes wider, the image becomes smaller and unclear and affected by distortion. The range is naturally limited. Therefore, two wide cameras or zoom cameras, camera A and camera B, are arranged on this camera platform, and each camera is shifted in the pan (left / right) direction to change the target angle of the wide-angle wide camera and cover it. Can be expanded.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the optical axes (target axes) of the two cameras, camera A and camera B, are set to be shifted, and monitoring is performed over a wide range if each camera covers the shooting range with a wide angle of view. Is possible. This means that a clearer and less distorted image can be obtained as compared with the case where one wide camera covers the same wide area. In addition, since the positional relationship between the two cameras is maintained in a predetermined relationship even when the camera platform is rotating, the subject can be easily captured even when a zoomed-in (enlarged) image of the subject is obtained. Become. For example, FIG. 3 shows a situation in which a wide camera and a zoom camera are used at a baseball stadium and the pan angle is shifted to set up the baseball stadium and the right side and the left side of the baseball studio are being shot wide. ing. In this situation, if you want to capture a home run hit in the right side at 2 o'clock (center at 12:00), the camera that covers the left side zooms in to the right side at 2 o'clock even if it is not covered by the angle of view Various operations such as capturing (enlarging) a home run hit ball can be easily performed.

  2 and 3, the pan (left / right) angle of one of the two cameras installed on the camera platform is arranged so as to be shifted, but the tilt (up / down) angle is set. It is also possible to rotate it so as to shift. In FIG. 4, the camera A 401 and the camera B 402 are mounted on the camera platform with a predetermined optical axis interval d. The pan head is composed of an outer frame 403 and an inner frame 404. The outer frame 403 is movable in the pan (left / right) direction by the pan gear 406, and the inner frame 404 is mounted inside the outer frame 403 so as to be rotatable in the tilt (up / down) direction by the tilt gear 408. The camera B402 is fixed to the inner frame 404. However, the camera A 401 is configured such that it can be independently controlled to rotate in the tilt (up and down) direction by the tilt shaft 410 of the camera A and the camera A tilt gear 411. The side view of FIG. 4 shows a state where the camera A 401 is rotated upward by θat.

  FIG. 5 further shows a front view of a configuration example in which the camera A of the two cameras on the pan head can be rotated in both the pan and tilt directions. In this embodiment, the camera B is mounted on a single camera platform, a further camera platform is mounted on the camera platform, and the camera A is mounted on the camera platform. In other words, the outer frame 503 of the pan head can be rotated in the pan (left and right) direction by the pan gear 506, and the inner frame 504 of the pan head can be rotated in the tilt (up and down) direction by the tilt gear 508. It has been. Camera B is fixed to the inner frame 504. Further, an upper pan head 510 that can be rotated in the pan (left / right) direction by the camera A pan gear 509 is mounted on the inner pan head. A camera A 501 is mounted in the upper head 510 so that the camera A tilt gear 511 can be controlled to rotate in the tilt (up and down) direction.

  With such a configuration, the camera A 501 and the camera B 502 can be moved in the pan (left and right) and tilt (up and down) directions by the pan gear 506 and the tilt gear 508, and only the camera A by the camera A pan gear 509 and the camera A tilt gear 511. Can be further moved in the pan / tilt direction. The pan / tilt rotation operation of each of these cameras is set according to the application and necessity.

  In this way, a plurality of cameras are mounted on the platform while maintaining a predetermined distance and positional relationship, and either one of the cameras is mechanically, optically, or electrically independent from the other camera. By enabling the operation, it becomes possible to effectively shoot scenes at different angles, and the range of use of a plurality of cameras is greatly expanded.

  Such a multi-camera configuration greatly improves camera operability such as zoom-in / zoom-out, and enables speedy object capture. In normal zoom camera operation, the aim of a subject location is determined from a wide-angle image, and a zoom-in operation is performed toward that location to obtain an enlarged image. Therefore, if the zoomed-in subject of the enlarged image does not come to the center of the image, the camera is moved to make fine adjustments so that the subject of the enlarged image is projected at the center position. The same applies to a case where a wide-angle image is obtained by zooming out from the enlarged image. In particular, when the subject is a moving object and the user follows the moving object while zooming in (enlarging), extremely skilled operation techniques are required. Also, even when tracking the moving subject with another zoom camera while viewing the wide-angle image while viewing the wide-angle image, if the high-speed moving object is at the end of the wide-angle image or is off the screen In the same way, it is difficult to operate with a zoom camera.

  According to the multiple cameras of the present invention, the wide-angle wide camera and the zoom camera are directed in the same direction on the pan head, and even if the subject is a moving subject, the entire subject always includes the subject in the wide-angle wide camera by tracking the subject by the pan head operation. The subject can be captured accurately and speedily by zooming in and out of the zoom camera.

  In particular, when zooming in on a moving object such as a ball that moves at high speed in sports such as baseball, golf, and soccer, check the movement of the ball with a wide-angle wide-camera image and move the pan head to capture it. If a fast-moving subject (ball) is secured at the center position in the wide-angle image, the zoom camera is also directed toward the subject on the pan head, and the subject can be reliably inspected simply by performing a zoom-in (enlargement) operation with the zoom camera. Can be captured.

  Similarly, when zooming out from a zoomed-in enlarged screen to obtain a wide-angle screen, the configuration of the present invention has many operational advantages. When a wide-angle screen is obtained by a zoom-out operation of the zoom camera, it is uncertain how far to zoom out and determine the wide-angle screen, and there is an operation in which it is unnecessarily pulled and restored by fine adjustment. According to the present invention, the entire image is grasped by the wide-angle camera, and if the pan head is operated so as to set the wide-angle camera image at the central position, the zoom camera is also positioned at the central position, and even when zoomed out, it is accurately returned to the central position. It is possible to set an appropriate wide-angle screen by zooming out while comparing the wide-angle image and the zoom-out image.

  Although the two cameras in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 are normally composed of a zoom camera and a wide camera, the wide camera referred to in the present invention indicates that a plurality of cameras have a wide angle of view compared to the other camera. This means that both cameras may be configured with a zoom camera, and depending on the purpose of use, as described with reference to FIGS. You may comprise with two wide cameras.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating video signal processing according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, two CCD (Charge Coupled Device) cameras, camera A and camera B, are mounted on a pan-camera camera unit 600 so that panning and tilting are possible. From each camera, a CCD output signal is taken out by a TG (Timing Generator) 602 for driving the CCD 601 and passes through a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit 603 for noise removal, and then a slip ring 604 and the like. To the signal transmission means. A slip ring 604 is used to transmit a signal from the rotating camera head unit 610 to the printed circuit board or the like of the signal processing unit 620 fixed. The output signals of the cameras A and B are sent to the video signal processing unit 620 by the slip ring 604.

  The video signal processing unit 620 supplies the signal extracted by the slip ring 604 to the video signal processing circuit 606 as an RGB composite digital signal by an AD converter (A / D Converter) circuit 605. Although details of the video signal processing circuit 606 are not shown, normally, an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit, a white clip circuit (white defect correction circuit), a wide dynamic range addition circuit, an RGB separation circuit, and a black level optical black are constant. It consists of a feedback clamp circuit for fixing to the reference, an auto white balance circuit for white balance, a gamma correction circuit for correcting the output of the CCD input and CRT, an image inversion circuit, a matrix circuit, etc. , Cb, Cr composite signal.

  The obtained composite signal from the outputs of the two cameras is input to a picture-in-picture (PIP) processing / encoding unit 630. In the PIP processing unit, the composite signal video output of the camera A and the camera B is synthesized by the image insertion circuit of the PIP circuit 631 and output as a picture-in-picture (small screen display in a large screen) screen or a split screen stream signal of two screens. Is done.

  The output selection circuit 632 selects the output of the PIP screen or split screen obtained by the picture-in-picture circuit 631, the screen of the camera A, or the screen of the camera B. The selected screen output is sent out as a transmission signal by the coaxial multiple transmission signal insertion circuit 633 and the NTSC encoder 634. Accordingly, the transmission signal is output as the same stream signal as the output of either the PIP screen or the divided screen output signal, the camera A output signal or the camera B output signal.

  Of course, the output signals of the camera A and the camera B can be separately transmitted by wired cables, or both output signals can be multiplexed and extracted and separately extracted. In this case, two cables are required, and it is necessary to provide a decoder on the receiver / monitor side in order to demodulate the multiplexed encoded signal.

  Depending on the purpose of use, it is also possible to send out RGB signals instead of NTSC composite signals. Although the detailed block of the audio output circuit is not clearly shown, the audio signal taken out from the sound collecting microphone installed on the camera platform is transmitted by being superimposed on the stream signal via the audio amplifier circuit. The camera head unit 610, the video signal processor 620, and the PIP processor / encoder 630 are housed in an integrated box or dome-shaped case as a camera unit, and are used for surveillance cameras, security cameras, remote cameras for broadcasting and photographing, etc. Depending on the location.

  FIG. 7 is an overall system configuration diagram including a camera unit 700 and a monitor unit 710. The video signal output photographed by the pan head camera unit 600 of the camera unit 700 is processed by the camera head unit unit 610, the video signal processing unit 620, and the PIP processing / encoding unit 630, and the same from the output terminal 701 through the coaxial cable 702. It is sent to the monitor unit 710 as a stream signal. In the monitor unit 710, a signal transmitted as an NTSC stream is input from a terminal 704, and the video output A of the camera A and the video output B of the camera B are displayed on the monitor screen in PIP display or divided into two screens.

  Control signals such as pan, tilt, zoom, and focus control signals for controlling the pan / tilt camera unit 600 are input from a monitor-side control board 705 and are supplied to the camera unit 700 side by a control signal cable 703 via a monitor terminal 704. Input as an external control signal. The camera unit 700 also includes a wireless port receiver 706 that supports wireless control such as infrared remote control, Bluetooth, IEEE802.11x, etc., and remote control by a remote controller 707 adapted to any one of the systems is possible. Yes. Control signals sent from the monitor side are controlled by the CPU 708 by the control signal control circuit 709. These control signals include pan (left / right) direction control, tilt (up / down) direction control, zoom camera iris control, camera focus control, zoom camera zoom control, and the like.

  The video transmission signal from the camera unit 700 is transmission by real-time baseband or image compression, and wired transmission by a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, or an optical cable is usually used. However, a LAN (Local Area Network), a telephone line, an ISDN line, and an ADSL line can also be used. Although not shown in the embodiments, wireless transmission by microwave, UHF, SS (spread spectrum) radio, light, laser, LED, etc. is also used by securing a communication band and providing transmission / reception facilities. I can do it.

  In the present invention, the video transmission signal is transmitted by outputting the video output signals of the camera A and the camera B in the same stream system. In normal NTSC real-time transmission, the number of frames of a video signal is compressed by 30 frames (baseband) per second and (10-20 frames) is transmitted as a stream signal. In this embodiment, the video signal processing unit 620 and the PIP / encoding unit 630 generate and output the image output of the camera A and the image output of the camera B as a PIP image or a two-divided image in the PIP generation unit. , B are configured to be variable in the number of video output frames.

  In the variable frame of the present invention, the number of image transmission frames of the camera A and the camera B is large as the main screen (or large screen), and the number of video output frames is large. Transmit with a reduced number of frames. For example, the frame number of the image output A of the camera A and the image output B of the camera B are set to the same number of frames, or when the image A is the main screen, the frame number ratio between the image A and the image B is 2 to 1, or It is configured so that it can be mixed at a ratio of 3: 1 and transmitted with time axis superposition. As a result, the number of frames of the image A on the main screen is larger than that of the sub-screen image B, and a high image quality can be obtained, so that it can be used according to its use and purpose.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a monitor image received from the camera unit 700 via a transmission path. The monitor 900 demodulates the stream signal transmitted from the camera unit through a coaxial cable and displays it on the screen. On the monitor screen, the video outputs of the camera A and the camera B are each displayed as a single, two-split screen, or PIP screen. The switching operation is performed from the monitor screen side.

  On the display screen 901, output images of the camera A and the camera B are displayed as a large screen B and a small screen A in two screens. A cross mark marker 902 is shown at the center of the large screen B901, and a cross mark marker 904 is shown at the center of the small screen A903. This cross marker indicates the center of the optical axis of each camera and represents the center direction of the camera. Further, in the camera B (wide camera) wide-angle screen A for grasping the whole, a x marker 905 indicating the relative position of the camera A (zoom camera) is shown. This x marker indicates the center of the optical axis of the camera A, and the direction in which the zoom camera A is aiming on the wide screen B can be grasped.

  When camera A and camera B are mounted on the camera platform shown in FIG. 1, and the optical axis directions of camera A and camera B are in the same direction, the center axis markers of the respective cameras coincide on the screen. ing. When the camera A and the camera B are displaced in the pan (left / right) direction by the pan / tilt head camera configuration shown in FIG. 2, the respective camera central axes are displaced in the horizontal direction. In addition, when the camera A is tilted in the tilt (up and down) direction according to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the respective camera center axes are shifted in the vertical direction. FIG. 8 shows a case where the pan / tilt camera arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is used, and the camera A and the camera B are shifted in both the pan and tilt directions.

  In FIG. 9, the center of the camera B is indicated by the cross marker 912 on the screen 911 of the display 910, and the output image of the camera A is shown on the small screen A913. Further, a central axis marker 914 indicating the current position of the camera A is shown on the output screen of the camera B. This state is the same as FIG. The display 910 in FIG. 9 can be interactively operated from the screen, or is configured by a display provided with a screen input device such as a touch panel. In FIG. 9, the target center 915 of the target to be aimed at is input with a touch pen or the like using a x marker and displayed. A target zoom-in (enlargement) frame 916 is also input and displayed with a touch pen. When the target marker 915 is input and the zoom button 917 on the screen is clicked, the camera A performs a zoom-in (enlargement) operation toward the set target 915. This input is input by an input unit such as a mouse or an input unit such as a touch panel, and the XY coordinate position of the X marker 915 is calculated by confirming the zoom button 917 and input as a pan head control signal and a zoom control signal of the camera A. The camera A captures the zoom target, and the camera A zooms from the current position 914 to the target position 915 to the size of the zoom-in (enlargement) frame 916.

  FIG. 10 shows another display example of output from two cameras. In FIG. 10, an output image 922 of camera A and an output image 923 of camera B are displayed on a screen 921 of display 920, and respective center axis markers 924 and 925 are displayed. The display frame 922 of the screen A is displayed so as to overlap the display frame 923 of the screen B, and the center axis marker 924 of the screen A is located at a position protruding from the display frame 923 of the camera B. That is, the center axis marker 924 and its vertical line 926 on the screen A and the center axis marker 923 and its vertical line 927 on the screen B recognize the degree of deviation of the target angle between the camera A and the camera B. By displaying even if the frame is removed, it is possible to know whether the camera A and the camera B overlap each other, or whether or not the image is captured while covering the non-overlapping range.

  The optical axis marker and image display on some of the monitors described above allow the user to visually grasp the positional relationship and zoom (enlargement) amount of each camera, and aim accurately by operating the pan head and zooming the camera. Can be used effectively for surveillance cameras, etc., and can recognize how much the display screens that are output from each camera overlap each other and whether there are areas that are not covered. Become.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of simply inputting a zoom control signal on the output image monitor 151 using a touch panel. Camera rotation and zoom operations are required to be performed quickly and accurately, but it is not easy to perform zooming by panning and tilting a plurality of cameras to capture a target subject. In particular, the zoom-in (enlargement) operation requires skill because a pan / tilt operation and a zoom-in (enlargement) operation for directing the zoom camera to the central portion of the desired enlargement are required at the same time.

  A screen B152 of the wide camera B and a screen A153 of the zoom camera A are displayed as PIP images on the touch panel display 151 of FIG. Screen B152 is displayed on a large screen, and screen A153 is displayed on a small screen. The user can confirm each image output on the touch panel and performs an input operation for a target supplement operation of the zoom camera.

  When the desired location on the screen B of the wide camera is touched with the touch pen 154 (one click), the display screen moves so that the point of the touch is centered. That is, the pan head is panned and tilted toward the one-touch position (coordinates) by the one-touch input operation, and the central axes of the wide camera and the zoom camera are directed in that direction. By this one-touch operation, the angle of view is maintained and is not enlarged or reduced.

  Further, when a desired place on the screen is double-touched (double-clicked) with the touch pen 154, an enlarged image is obtained at a predetermined magnification centering on the double-touched place. Further double-touching further obtains an enlarged image at a predetermined magnification. That is, the pan head 1 pans and tilts toward the double touch position (coordinates) by the double touch input operation, and the zoom camera works to obtain an enlarged image at a predetermined zoom rate.

  Zooming by the one-touch or double-touch method is a highly convenient method, but it takes time or is complicated to arbitrarily determine a desired enlarged region. In other words, a double-touch has a predetermined enlargement ratio, and an enlarged image can be obtained with a predetermined enlargement ratio every time the double touch is repeated, but zooming in of the zoom camera (enlargement, It is necessary to confirm the enlargement area by further performing a (reduction) operation.

  In the present invention, in order to zoom in on the target area more quickly and obtain an enlarged image using this touch pen input operation, the desired enlargement image is accurately obtained by simply enclosing the desired enlargement area with the touch pen and zooming the area. Obtainable. On the touch panel, the user circles the approximate area desired. A circled area 155 is marked as a locus on the touch panel. By this circled area designating operation, a horizontal maximum value h and a vertical maximum value v are calculated, and an image area 156 including the horizontal maximum value h and the vertical maximum value v is determined.

  FIG. 12 shows another method for determining the desired enlargement image area. A region 159 to be zoomed in (enlarged) is determined by continuously drawing 158 from the upper left of the desired region on the touch panel screen in the diagonally lower right direction. A square area is determined by a point (coordinate point) where the touch pen 154 is touched on the screen and a point (coordinate) where the touch pen is separated, and zooming is performed toward the square image area 159.

  When the image area 156 or 159 is determined in FIGS. 11 and 12, the camera platform pans and tilts toward the center coordinates, and the zoom camera zooms in (enlarges) corresponding to the image area 156 or 159 by zooming operation. ) Perform the operation. The image output of the image area 156 or 159 is determined at 4: 3 or 16: 9 which is a television screen ratio. According to this touch pen rounding operation or sliding operation, a desired image area is set with one touch, and it is possible to quickly and easily capture an enlarged image of the zoom camera.

  Also, to cancel these and return to the original wide (wide angle) image, if you press the re-release button or the release area 157 with a touch pen, the enlarged image enlarged by the zoom camera is zoomed out and returned to the original image or the default image. . At this time, only the zoom operation of the zoom camera is returned to the original image or the default image, and the camera platform itself does not rotate. If the reset button or reset area is double-clicked with the touch pen, not only the zoom operation of the zoom camera but also the pan head itself is returned to the original position or the default position.

  The zoom-in (enlargement) and zoom-out (reduction) operations by various operations of these touch pens 154 are merely visually operated on the touch panel screen, and the screen is monitored for a zoom operation of a commonly used zoom camera. However, it enables a zooming method with a user interface that is much easier to use than performing cross key operation, handle / lever operation, volume knob operation, etc. on a control console or control device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the speed of autofocus of a video camera. Some video zoom cameras use infrared or ultrasonic active autofocus, but in order to perform autofocus at a relatively far distance, the frequency component of the image captured by the camera lens is analyzed and Many passive frequency analysis methods that focus on high component parts are used.

  However, many of these frequency analysis methods focus on the image part with the highest frequency while moving the zoom lens back and forth to find the part with the highest frequency. During operation, it is always necessary to move slightly back and forth to find the focus point. Further, in the case of a dark part or low contrast, it is difficult to analyze the frequency component, and there is a problem in that the focus is not fixed and the zoom operation of the zoom camera is constantly moving, and the zoom lens constantly moves back and forth. When such a problem occurs, the distance is manually adjusted by switching to manual focus, but the time and effort for switching are complicated.

In the present invention, two cameras are accurately arranged at a fixed distance interval, and this configuration is used to increase the speed of autofocus. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining distance measurement and high-speed focusing by two cameras. FIG. 13 shows a situation in which the camera A and the camera B installed at a predetermined interval of the distance d are placed on the camera platform while being kept parallel in parallel. That is, the camera A optical axis and the camera B optical axis are kept in parallel at a distance d and face the same direction. The CCDs of the cameras A and B are respectively arranged at the focal position of the lens (f: focal length of the lens), and a subject (W: horizontal distance of the subject) located at a distance L from the lens (L: distance from the lens to the subject). Is projected on each CCD (w: horizontal dimension of CCD). The f values of the two cameras and the CCD dimensions w are the same. In this state, the following relationship holds as an approximate expression.
L = (f / w) W

In this state, a monitor image of the combined CCD video output of cameras A and B is displayed in FIG. 13 is displayed as a combined output of the cameras A and B on the monitor shown in FIG. When the subject is at an infinite distance (L = ∞), the subject center portion X point image is displayed so as to overlap with the approximate center portion on the monitor. As the subject approaches the camera, the subject center X point image captured by camera A and camera B moves in the left-right direction, reaches the left and right ends of the monitor at the time indicated by Lo (shortest display distance) in FIG. When approaching, the subject center X point image deviates from both ends of the monitor and is not displayed on the monitor. This Lo (shortest display distance) is expressed by the following approximate expression.
Lo = (f / w) d
In the case of a 1 / 4-type CCD, w = 3.6 mm. As an example, if the lens f is set at 6 mm and the distance between the cameras A and B is set at d = 60 mm, Lo = 100 mm.

ここで一例としてレンズｆ＝６ｍｍ、カメラＡ，Ｂの間隔ｄ＝６０ｍｍで設置したとすると、Ｘ点像のモニター画面上での中心位置からのずれ量は以下の通りとなる。

From the above, the distance from the camera to the subject is measured from the deviation amount of the combined output video subject of the cameras A and B displayed on the monitor. That is, since the subject center X point image is always deviated by d / 2 from the optical axis centers of the cameras A and B, the CCD of the X point image on the CCD is displayed.

As an example, assuming that the lens f is set to 6 mm and the distance between the cameras A and B is set to 60 mm, the amount of deviation of the X point image from the center position on the monitor screen is as follows.

  If a marker corresponding to this distance is displayed on a monitor screen equipped with a screen input such as a touch panel, the distance to the subject can be calculated simply by clicking the position of the subject on the monitor and the distance signal is output. Can be set as follows. By inputting this distance information output as the distance information of the zoom camera, it is possible to focus on a focus value or a place close to the focus. Further, if necessary, fine adjustment can be performed by autofocus means or manual focus means. According to this method, the approximate distance to the subject is calculated first, and the distance information output is used to move the approximate zoom amount of the zoom camera, enabling faster focusing compared to the normal autofocus method. It becomes. In addition, it is possible to input distance while recognizing the amount of deviation while recognizing the monitor image with a touch panel etc., so it is possible to input distance on a screen with low contrast, and focus in dark areas, which is a disadvantage of frequency analysis type autofocus, is easy. You can do it.

具体的利用法としては中心像部分のカメラＡおよびＢの合成画像上でそれぞれの画像のずれ量を画素数で算出し距離を画面上に表示することも可能である。また、別の応用としては常に２台のカメラの中心部分のずれ量を算出しながらフォーカス制御量として出力し、オートフォーカス制御を行うことも可能である。Furthermore, a 1/4 type CCD has a horizontal dimension w = 3.6 mm, and the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the CCD is normally 640 pixels, so that a more accurate distance can be calculated by calculating the number of pixels in the horizontal direction.

As a concrete usage method, it is possible to calculate the amount of shift of each image on the composite image of the cameras A and B in the central image portion and display the distance on the screen. As another application, it is also possible to perform autofocus control by always outputting the focus control amount while calculating the shift amount of the central portion of the two cameras.

  The dynamic range can be increased using a plurality of cameras according to the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for improving the dynamic range according to the present invention. In FIG. 15, the imaging screen includes a bright portion and a dark portion. In a video camera, the dynamic range means the range of brightness between “bright scenes” and “dark scenes”. If a bright scene and a dark scene are mixed as shown in this image, the brightness range Since the iris is narrowed down by the average value, the portion is crushed or the bright portion is skipped. As the brightness difference increases, the image details of the bright portion and the dark portion become difficult to understand. In particular, when shooting a backlight scene, the brightness of the follow light area (bright part) and the backlight area (dark part) is extremely high, so the brightness of the iris operation is adjusted to one of the bright or dark parts. One of these is shown in detail.

  In the present invention, a plurality of cameras are positioned in the same direction on the pan head, so that while capturing a similar image, one camera narrows down the iris of brightness in the front light scene, while the other camera focuses on the backlight (dark) part. The dynamic range of brightness can be improved by adjusting the iris of brightness. In FIG. 15, a wide image 252 by the camera A is shown on the display 251. In this image 252, a follow light area 254 and a backlight area 255 are mixed. The person image in the backlight area 255 remains crushed by the backlight, and details are not photographed. Therefore, the camera B is used to set the iris of brightness in the retrograde area portion 255 and take a picture. The image of the camera B is displayed on the small screen 253. In addition, the camera A sets the brightness iris in the follow light area 254, so that the image 252 can be displayed in more detail without the bright part of the follow light area flying.

  In FIG. 15, the image of camera A is displayed on the large screen with the iris aligned with the backlight area, and the image of camera B is displayed on the small screen with the iris aligned with the backlight area, depending on the shooting scene and shooting purpose. Thus, it can be effectively used by various displays such as upper and lower screen division, left and right screen division, and PIP small screen insertion by spot.

  In addition, it is possible to obtain an image in which white balance is appropriately corrected using a plurality of cameras according to the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of white balance optimization according to the present invention. The white balance employs an automatic white balance method that automatically follows changes in the color temperature of the light source in many cameras. This automatic white balance is adjusted so that white is displayed in white by performing an appropriate white balance adjustment corresponding to the color temperature of all illuminations.

  Phenomenon in which the white balance is gradually changed so as to bring the illusion that the screen is white when shooting a specific color with the automatic white balance method ATW (Auto-Tracking Wight Balance) turned on. Happens. The example illustrated in FIG. 16 is an evening scene, and when shooting with the ATW turned on in this state, the reddish portion of the sunset may gradually lose color. In such shooting, it is necessary to lock the ATW or switch to manual in order to capture the sunset scene as a reddish image.

  In FIG. 16, the camera A is photographed in the ATW on state, and the camera video output 352 is displayed on the large screen of the monitor 351. Due to the influence of the ATW, the evening scene is captured as an image like the daytime on the entire screen. The other camera B shoots with the ATW turned off or locked, captures the frame 354 in the screen, and the image output thereof is displayed on the small screen 353 by capturing the sunset as a sunset. The photographer can switch and use an image with automatic white balance ATW turned on and a locked image depending on the situation.

  In many situations, such as when shooting a picture where a person is in a single color (green) such as a lawn, in the case of a surveillance camera installed in a karaoke room illuminated by a red light, etc. Arise. Since two cameras (camera A and camera B) are mounted close to each other on the same camera platform, the video with the same angle of view is turned on or off (locked) by panning and tilting the camera platform. It can be obtained under different conditions. An appropriate image in consideration of the white balance can be obtained according to the purpose.

  FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 shows an example in which the above-described pan / tilt head configuration in which two cameras are mounted is further mounted as four camera units. Increasing the number of cameras expands the imaging range covered by each camera and reduces blind spots such as surveillance cameras. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a case where two of the four cameras are used as wide cameras to capture wide-angle images and the other two cameras are used as zoom cameras to track a moving body that moves over a wide range. For example, in a baseball stadium or a soccer field, the right side and the left side are each captured by two wide-angle cameras, while the other two zoom cameras capture the moving object such as a hit ball or a ball moving left and right. If applied to, subject supplementation is performed quickly, and effective shooting at various shooting angles becomes possible.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, two cameras are arranged in parallel, but four cameras are arranged vertically on the camera platform according to the present invention, and the camera optical axis angle is changed to cover a wider angle range. It can also be configured as a wide-angle camera. The plurality of cameras can be used in various forms in accordance with various shooting / monitoring purposes such as vertical or horizontal direction, ceiling installation, side arrangement of the room, shooting / monitoring range, and the like.

It is explanatory drawing of the camera unit by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other Example by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the application example of the camera unit by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other Example by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other Example by this invention. It is a circuit block diagram of the camera unit by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the video camera system by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the camera center axis marker by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the Example of the target marker by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an image display of the several camera by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the touch panel input application example by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other touch panel input application example by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the Example of the distance measurement by this invention, and a zoom focus. It is another explanatory view showing an example of distance measurement and zoom focus according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of application to the wide dynamic range by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of application to the auto white balance adjustment by this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other Example by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 pan head camera unit 101 camera A
102 Camera B
103 pan head outer frame 104 pan head inner frame 105 pan head tilt shaft body 106 pan head pan gear 107 pan head pan shaft body 108 pan head tilt gear 109 microphone 600 pan head camera unit 601 CCD
602 Timing generator 604 Slip ring 605 AD converter 606 Video signal processing circuit 610 Camera head unit 620 Video signal processing unit 630 PIP processing / encoding unit 631 PIP circuit 632 Output selection circuit 634 NTSC encoder 700 Camera unit 701 Output terminal 702 Coaxial cable 703 Control signal cable 704 Monitor unit terminal 705 Control board 706 Wireless port receiver 707 Control signal remote control 708 CPU
709 Control signal control circuit 710 Monitor 902 Large screen camera B center position marker 904 Small screen camera A center position marker 905 Camera A center position marker 914 Camera A current position marker 915 Camera A target marker 924 Camera A center marker 925 Camera B center marker 926 Camera A center vertical line 927 Camera B center vertical line

Claims (21)

  In the electronic camera system apparatus including a plurality of cameras, the plurality of cameras are mounted on a pan head that can be controlled in a pan direction and a tilt direction, and the plurality of cameras can be operated in cooperation with each other. Equipment.   The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras are configured to include a combination including at least a zoom camera.   Each of the plurality of cameras is integrally operated in a pan direction and a tilt direction by movement of a pan head, and at least one of the cameras is independently configured to be mechanically, optically, or electrically controllable. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   The combination of the plurality of cameras including the zoom camera is operated in the pan direction and the tilt direction by the movement of the pan head as a unit on the pan head, and at least one of the plurality of cameras is individually operated in the pan direction and The electronic camera system device according to claim 2, wherein the electronic camera system device is configured to be capable of rotating in a tilt direction.   The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 2, wherein image outputs of the plurality of cameras are transmitted as the same stream signal.   6. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image output of the plurality of cameras is transmitted with each image output being changed in a frame ratio.   7. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a frame transmission ratio of the image output is transmitted by increasing the number of image output frames that are mainly used more than the number of other image output frames.   3. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising voice microphone means capable of collecting sound in conjunction with the pan head operation.   9. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the audio microphone unit includes a zoom microphone, and the zoom microphone performs audio zoom in conjunction with an operation of the zoom camera.   6. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising screen means for monitoring or displaying the image signal of the image output or the transmitted image signal.   11. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising optical axis marker means for displaying an optical axis of another camera on a screen of the plurality of cameras.   12. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising split display means for split display or picture-in-picture display of image outputs of the plurality of cameras on the same screen means in a plurality of screens.   The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the screen unit includes a touch panel input unit.   The electronic camera system apparatus includes a measuring unit that measures a distance to a subject using the plurality of cameras, and an autofocus unit provided in the zoom camera, and the autofocus unit of the zoom camera is measured by the measuring unit. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 2, wherein autofocus is performed using the obtained distance information.   Two of the plurality of cameras are arranged on a camera platform with a predetermined interval, the same focal length, and a parallel optical axis relationship toward the subject, and the subject can be detected by the amount of deviation of the video output of the two cameras. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the distance measurement is performed.   16. The electronic camera system apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the video outputs of the two cameras are displayed on the same screen, and the shift amount of the video outputs of the two cameras is displayed on the screen. .   3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of cameras includes means for setting each brightness level to a different value, and means for displaying a plurality of screens with the plurality of different brightness levels. Camera system device.   The apparatus includes: white balance adjusting means for each of the plurality of cameras; means for setting the white balance setting to a different value; and means for displaying a plurality of screens with the plurality of different white balances. Item 3. The electronic camera system device according to Item 2.   A method of displaying an image output of an electronic camera system in which a plurality of cameras including a wide camera and a zoom camera having zoom control means are attached to a pan head, wherein the wide camera and the zoom camera are A step of enabling operation in the pan direction and a tilt direction in conjunction with an operation by the control means, a step of transmitting image outputs of the plurality of cameras as the same stream signal, and an image output of the plurality of respective cameras or Displaying on the screen the image signal transmitted as the same stream signal.   The method according to claim 19, further comprising a step of switching the screen display of a plurality of cameras by the touch panel input, wherein the screen is configured by touch panel input means.   A step of enclosing a desired range of image output displayed on the screen with the touch panel input means, a step of determining an enlarged image frame of the enclosed region, and capturing the enlarged image frame 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: transmitting a pan head control signal and a zoom control signal for the pan head control means and the zoom camera control means.

Images