JP2011023911A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of reducing the number of components, and preventing reflection of light to be generated by reflection of the light to be emitted from a display light in a cover to obtain a clear video image while improving work efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus 1 has: an imaging part 31; a control part 33 which controls photography of the imaging part 31; a power supply part 34 which supplies power to the imaging part 31 and the control part 33; the display light 332 which emits light by the power to be supplied from the power supply part 34; and a storage recessed part 2A, wherein the storage recessed part includes: an imaging apparatus casing 2 which stores the imaging part 31, the control part 33, the power supply part 34 and the display light 332; a cover 6 having optical transparency which attachably/detachably closes the storage recessed part; and an operation switch 335 connected to the control part 33 for performing setting of the photography of the imaging part 31, the setting of the photography of the imaging part 31 is executed, turning on and off of the display light 332 are performed by the operation of the operation switch 335. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device, and in particular, is used as a surveillance camera or a security camera, and a light-transmitting cover is detachably attached to a housing recess of an imaging device housing that houses an imaging unit and a power supply unit. The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  Surveillance cameras (or security cameras) are installed both indoors and outdoors for the purpose of safety measures to prevent accidents and disasters and security measures against illegal intruders. A dome-type surveillance camera is known as a surveillance camera, and this dome-type surveillance camera is generally a camera unit including a camera body and a device for storing the camera unit inside and installing it indoors or outdoors. A housing and a dome cover attached to a window on the camera body side of the device housing are provided. In addition to the camera body, the camera unit includes a control unit that controls the operation of the camera body, a power supply unit that supplies power to the camera body and the control unit, and the like. The dome cover is a hemispherical colorless transparent cover or a colored transparent cover including gray. The dome cover functions as a lens at the time of photographing and has a function like a cover of an apparatus housing that protects the camera unit.

  When newly installing a surveillance camera, or when performing maintenance work or repair work on an already installed surveillance camera, if the operator can confirm the normal operating state of the surveillance camera before and after the installation and work completion, Work efficiency can be improved. For example, after newly installing a surveillance camera, if you try to check the video from the surveillance camera using a remote monitor, if a failure of the power supply unit, inadequate power supply wiring, failure of the camera body itself, etc. occur, Since the power necessary for the operation of the camera body is not supplied, the surveillance camera does not operate normally and cannot be monitored. In such a case, either the new surveillance camera is installed again or the installed surveillance camera is repaired, and the work efficiency is lowered.

  In order to solve such a problem, a surveillance camera has been developed in which an indicator lamp is provided on the side surface or the like outside the dome cover of the apparatus housing. This indicator lamp is set to emit light when the power necessary for the operation of the camera body is normally supplied. The indicator lamp uses a light-emitting diode (LED) that consumes less power and is inexpensive. If this surveillance camera is used, it can be confirmed whether the operation of the surveillance camera is normal on the spot after installation or after maintenance work or repair work is completed, so that work efficiency can be improved. it can.

  However, since the indicator lamp is lit when the surveillance camera is in an operating state, the person to be monitored senses that the surveillance camera is being monitored and is aware of the presence of the surveillance camera. For example, if the monitored person is a trespasser, there is an effect that the trespassing can be prevented in advance, but conversely, the installation location of the surveillance camera is grasped and the surveillance camera installation location is bypassed. The possibility of doing cannot be denied.

  Such a problem can be solved by incorporating an indicator light in the dome cover of the surveillance camera. However, the light from the indicator lamp may be reflected on the inner surface of the dome cover, and the indicator lamp may be reflected in the image of the surveillance camera. In this case, the image becomes unclear. Therefore, it has been necessary to avoid incorporating an indicator lamp in the dome cover in the surveillance camera.

  In the following Patent Document 1, a circuit board on which a processing unit for a signal obtained from a camera head is provided is provided with a status display means capable of selectively controlling the lighting state and extinguishing state of a display device by operating a switch. A status display device for a monitoring dome camera is disclosed. If this status display device is adopted, the operating state of the camera head is confirmed from the lighting state of the display device during installation, maintenance work or repair work of the monitoring dome camera by selecting the display device to be in the lighting state by operating the switch. be able to. On the other hand, by selecting the indicator to be turned off by operating the switch, the person to be monitored is not made aware of the presence of the monitoring dome camera.

JP 2008-278253 A

  However, in the status display device for the monitoring dome camera disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the following points have not been considered. It is necessary to newly incorporate a switch that is directly operated by an operator on the circuit board of the aforementioned status display device of the monitoring dome camera, which increases the number of parts of the status display device. This increase in the number of parts is not limited to an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of parts, but causes an increase in the manufacturing cost of the entire state display device including the wiring of the switch.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the number of parts and improve work efficiency, and can prevent a reflection caused by reflection of light emitted from the indicator lamp on the inner surface of the cover and obtain a clear image. An imaging device that can be used is provided. Furthermore, this invention is providing the imaging device which can reduce manufacturing cost.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to a first feature of an embodiment of the present invention, in an imaging apparatus, an imaging unit, a control unit that controls photographing of the imaging unit, and power is supplied to the imaging unit and the control unit A power supply unit, an indicator lamp that emits light by power supplied from the power supply unit, and a storage recess, and an imaging device housing that houses the imaging unit, the control unit, the power supply unit, and the display lamp in the storage recess, are detachable A cover having a light-transmitting property for closing the storage recess, and an operation switch connected to the control unit for setting the shooting of the imaging unit, and the shooting setting of the imaging unit is executed by operating the operation switch. In addition, the indicator lamp is turned on and off.

  In the imaging device according to the first feature, one end of the indicator lamp is connected to the power supply unit, and the other end of the indicator lamp is connected to one end of the control unit and the operation switch through the first resistor. Is connected to a reference power source lower than the power source, and a second resistor having a higher resistance value than the first resistor is electrically in parallel with the first resistor between one end of the indicator lamp and one end of the operation switch. It is preferable that they are connected.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the first feature, the operation switch is preferably a menu switch for displaying a shooting setting menu of the imaging unit. In the imaging device according to the first feature, the operation switch is preferably a setting switch for confirming the content set according to the shooting setting menu of the imaging unit.

  In the imaging device according to the first feature, it is preferable that the control unit includes a timer function, and after the operation switch is turned on using the timer function, the power is supplied to the indicator lamp for a certain period of time to turn it on.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the first feature, it is preferable that the indicator lamp and the operation switch are mounted on a circuit board connected to the power supply unit, and the indicator lamp is a light emitting diode.

  A second feature according to the embodiment of the present invention is that the imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a power supply unit that supplies power to the imaging unit, a display lamp that emits light by power supplied from the power supply unit, and a storage recess. In this housing recess, an imaging device housing that houses the imaging unit, the power supply unit, and the indicator lamp, a cover having a property of detachably closing the housing recess, being transparent and reducing the amount of light, and a cover attached to the housing recess And an illuminance detection unit that turns off the indicator lamp when the cover is attached and turns on the indicator lamp when the cover is removed based on the difference in illuminance in the state and the cover removed.

  In the imaging device according to the second feature, it is preferable that the cover has a semi-transparency of smoke or a half mirror, and the illuminance detection unit has a photosensor that detects light and darkness in a state where the cover is attached or removed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and improve the working efficiency, and obtain a clear image by preventing the reflection of the light emitted from the indicator light on the inner surface of the cover. It is possible to provide an imaging device capable of Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus capable of reducing manufacturing costs.

1 is an overall external view of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of an imaging unit of the imaging device shown in FIG. 1. It is a partial circuit diagram containing the indicator lamp and operation switch of the imaging device shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining lighting operation and extinguishing operation of an indicator lamp of the imaging apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a circuit block diagram of the imaging unit of the imaging device which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a lighting operation and an extinguishing operation of an indicator lamp of the imaging apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5. It is a whole external view of the imaging device which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a circuit block diagram of the imaging unit of the imaging device shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an overall external view of an imaging apparatus according to a modification example of Example 3.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic and different from actual ones. In addition, there may be a case where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings.

  Further, the following embodiments exemplify apparatuses and methods for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention specifies the arrangement of each component as follows. Not what you want to do. The technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

Example 1
The first embodiment of the present invention describes an example in which the present invention is applied to a fixed monitoring dome camera (or a security dome camera) as an imaging device.

[Configuration of imaging device]
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment includes an imaging unit 31 that captures an image, a control unit 33 that controls imaging of the imaging unit 31, and the imaging unit 31 and the control unit 33. The power supply unit 34 that supplies power, the display lamp 332 that displays the operation state of the imaging unit 31 and the control unit 34, which emits light by the power supplied from the power supply unit 34, and the imaging unit 31 has an opening on the imaging side The housing recess 2A has an imaging device housing 2 that houses the imaging unit 31, the controller 33, the power supply unit 34, and the indicator lamp 332 in the housing recess 2A, and can be detachably attached to and removed from the housing recess 2A. The light-transmitting cover 6 that closes the housing recess 2 </ b> A and a first operation switch 335 that is connected to the control unit 34 and that is used to perform shooting settings of the imaging unit 31 are provided. Then, the shooting setting of the imaging unit 31 is executed by operating the first operation switch 335, and the indicator lamp 332 is turned on and off by the operation of the first operation switch 335.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging unit 31, the control unit 33, the power supply unit 34, and the indicator lamp 332 constitute the imaging unit 3 together with the signal processing unit 32 and the on-screen unit 35. The image pickup unit 3 is attached in the housing recess 2A of the image pickup apparatus housing 2. Further, an optical lens 36 is disposed on the distal end side of the imaging unit 31 of the imaging unit 3.

  The image pickup unit 31 is a camera, and a camera using a CCD (charge coupled device) as an image pickup element is used in the first embodiment. The imaging unit 31 captures, for example, an image of a monitored person or a monitored location that is projected through each of the optical lens 36 and the cover 6.

  The power unit 34 is connected to a power cable (not shown) through the power terminal 304 of the imaging unit 3, and power is supplied to the power unit 34 from the outside through this power cable. The power supply unit 34 is connected to a coaxial cable (not shown) through the video output terminal 303 of the imaging unit 3, and the power superimposed thereon is supplied to the power supply unit 34 through the coaxial cable. The power supply unit 34 generates a power source mainly used in the imaging apparatus 1 from a commercial power source, and is generated in each part of the imaging unit 31, the control unit 33, the signal processing unit 32, the on-screen unit 35, and the indicator lamp 341. Supply power.

  The signal processing unit 32 converts the analog video signal output from the imaging unit 31 into a digital video signal, and further performs various signal processing such as sharpness processing, contrast processing, gamma correction processing, white balance processing, and white scratch processing. The video signal subjected to this signal processing is output to the on-screen unit 35.

  The on-screen unit 35 has a function of displaying a setting screen as a screen on an external display (monitor) that displays an image captured using the imaging unit 31. The video signal from the on-screen unit 35 is displayed on the display, and various adjustments such as horizontal and vertical position adjustment, distortion correction, contrast adjustment, and brightness adjustment of the video displayed on the display can be performed. it can.

  The control unit 33 is connected to the imaging unit 31, the signal processing unit 32, the power supply unit 34, and the on-screen unit 35 of the imaging unit 3, and is connected to the first operation terminal 311 and the second operation terminal 321. ing. The control unit 33 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a readable / writable memory (RAM), a hard disk (HD), and the like, and controls the operation of the imaging apparatus 1.

  A first operation switch 335 is connected to the first operation terminal 311, and the first operation switch 335 is a menu switch in the first embodiment. When the menu switch is turned on, the setting menu of the imaging device 1 is displayed on the external display by the control unit 33 and the on-screen unit 35. In the setting menu displayed on the display, setting items such as the above-described image position adjustment are displayed. Further, when the menu switch is turned on again, the setting menu displayed on the display is released.

  A second operation switch 336 is connected to the second operation terminal 321, and the second operation switch 336 is a setting switch in the first embodiment. When the setting switch is turned on, the setting item of the setting menu displayed on the external display is selected by the control unit 33 and the on-screen unit 35.

  In the first embodiment, the indicator lamp 332 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 34 of the imaging unit 3, and is mounted on the opening-side surface of the housing recess 2 </ b> A of the circuit board 331 attached to the imaging unit 3. The circuit board 331 is formed in a disk shape having a larger planar area with the imaging unit 31 as the center, and the first operation switch 335 and the display lamp 332 are formed on the surface of the circuit board 331 on the opening side of the housing recess 2A. A second operation switch 336 is mounted. For the indicator lamp 332, for example, an inexpensive light emitting diode (LED) with low power consumption is used.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, one end (here, the anode electrode) of the indicator lamp 332 is connected to the power source 34, and the other end (here, the cathode electrode) of the indicator lamp 332 passes through the first resistor R1. The control unit 33 and the first operation switch 335 are connected to one end. The other end of the first operation switch 335 is connected to a reference power supply (here, ground power supply GND) lower than the power supply. Between one end of the indicator lamp 332 and one end of the first operation switch 335, a second resistor R2 having a resistance value higher than that of the first resistor R1 is electrically connected in parallel to the first resistor R1. Yes. In other words, the indicator lamp 332 according to the first embodiment is turned on when the first operation switch 335 is turned on (operated) and the power is supplied from the power supply unit 34 to the indicator lamp 332, and the first operation switch 335 is turned on. By canceling, the power flow is cut off and the light is turned off. The first operation switch 335 has a function as a menu switch as described above. However, in the first embodiment, the first operation switch 335 also has a function as a switch for turning on / off the indicator lamp 332.

  Here, the display lamp 332 is not limited to the LED, and any display that can confirm the operation of the imaging apparatus 1 may be used. For example, a laser, a liquid crystal (LC), and an electroluminescence (EL) An indicator lamp such as a light bulb or a fluorescent lamp may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device housing 2 is formed of a concave container having an opening on one upper side in FIG. 1 and a bottom surface on the other lower side although not clearly shown in FIG. 1. A housing recess 2A is provided. A cover 6 that detachably closes the opening is attached to the storage recess 2 </ b> A, and the imaging unit 3 is stored and attached inside the cavity created by the storage recess 2 </ b> A and the cover 6. Since the imaging unit 3 includes the circuit board 331 connected to the power supply unit 34, the first operation switch 335, the second operation switch 336, and the indicator lamp 332 mounted on the surface of the circuit board 331 are It is housed in the aforementioned cavity of the imaging device housing 2. The imaging device housing 2 is made of, for example, a resin or metal that has substantially no light transmittance.

  As described above, the cover 6 is attached so as to close the opening of the housing recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2, and can be removed. Here, the cover 6 is formed in a dome shape so as to shoot in a wide angle range, and is made of a colored transparent resin including gray so that the monitored state is not conscious of the shooting state for the purpose of monitoring or crime prevention. ing. The cover 6 may be a colorless and transparent cover or a cover obtained by applying a mirror coating to the surface of a colorless and transparent material according to the purpose.

[Operation of imaging device]
New installation work, maintenance work, repair work, and the like of the imaging device 1 described above are performed as follows. First, after the imaging device 1 is installed indoors or outdoors and necessary wiring work is completed, the operator removes the cover 6 attached to the imaging device housing 2 of the imaging device 1. The same applies to the maintenance work and the repair work, and starts with the removal of the operator's cover 6. When the cover 6 is removed, the operator operates a first operation switch (menu switch) 335 disposed on the surface of the circuit board 331 of the image pickup unit 3 housed in the image pickup device housing 2. Turn on the power.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 33 determines whether or not the power is turned on by operating the first operation switch 335 (step S <b> 1. Hereinafter, description of “step” is omitted). If it is determined that the power has been turned on, the control unit 33 determines whether or not the setting menu has already been opened on an external display screen (not shown) (S2). If the setting menu is not opened, the setting menu is opened on the external display (S5). Here, since the power is turned on by the operation of the first operation switch 335, the power is supplied from the power supply unit 34 to the indicator lamp 332, and the indicator lamp 332 is held in the lighting state. The operator can confirm that the power supply from the power supply unit 34 is normally supplied to each unit such as the imaging unit 31 by the lighting operation of the indicator lamp 332, and can proceed with the work.

  For example, the worker connects the video output terminal 303 shown in FIG. 2 and an external display (not shown) by a coaxial cable, and looks at the video projected on the external display, and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 31 (camera direction). Adjust. Further, the operator operates the second operation switch 336 in accordance with the setting menu displayed on the external display, for example, adjusting the horizontal or vertical position of the image, correcting the distortion, adjusting the contrast, and brightness. Various adjustments and settings such as adjustments.

  When there is an initial abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34, a deficiency in wiring work, or a failure of the image pickup unit 31, power is not supplied from the power supply unit 34 to the image pickup unit 31, so the indicator lamp 332 is turned off. As described above, when such an inconvenience is found after the imaging apparatus 1 and the external display are connected by the coaxial cable and various adjustments and settings are made, the work efficiency of the worker is extremely deteriorated. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, an operator confirms an abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34 based on the lighting operation or extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332 before performing various adjustments and setting operations. It is possible to perform operations such as analysis and repair of abnormalities on the spot.

  When the operations of various adjustments of the image pickup apparatus 1 or the operations such as the analysis and repair of an abnormality when there is an initial abnormality are completed, the control is performed when the operator operates the first operation switch 335 again and the power is shut off. The unit 33 determines whether or not the power is turned on (power is cut off) by operating the first operation switch 335 (S1). If it is determined that the power has been cut off, the control unit 33 determines whether the setting menu has already been opened on the external display (S2). At this stage, since the setting menu has already been opened, the setting menu displayed on the external display is closed (S3). Here, since the power supply is shut off due to the operation of the first operation switch 335, the supply of power to the indicator lamp 332 from the power supply unit 34 is shut off, and the indicator lamp 332 is held in the off state. An operator attaches the cover 6 so as to close the opening of the housing recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2, and completes the work.

  After the work is finished, an image is actually taken for the purpose of monitoring and crime prevention using the imaging device 1. At this time, since the indicator lamp 332 is in an extinguished state, there is no reflection of light generated by reflection of light emitted from the indicator lamp 332 on the inner surface of the cover 6, and a clear image can be taken.

  In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, such an operation of turning on and off the indicator lamp 332 is realized by executing a program written in a memory such as a ROM by the CPU.

  In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the lighting operation and the light-off operation of the indicator lamp 332 are replaced with the first resistor R connected to the first operation switch 335 instead of the first operation switch (menu switch) 335. The same configuration as that of the second resistor R2 may be added, and the second operation switch (setting switch) 336 may be used. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332 may be executed using the first operation switch 335 and the second operation switch 336.

[Characteristics of imaging device]
In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the first operation switch 335 (or the second operation switch 336) is also used as a switch for controlling the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332. 6 There is no reflection of light caused by reflection of light emitted from the indicator lamp 332 on the inner surface, and a clear image can be obtained, and the operating state in installation work etc. can be confirmed by the light of the indicator lamp 332, Work efficiency can be improved. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, the lighting and extinguishing of the indicator lamp 332 can be controlled every time the first operation switch 335 is operated.

  Furthermore, in the imaging apparatus 1, the first operation switch 335 (or the second operation switch 336) is also used as a switch for controlling the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332, so that the display lamp 332 is newly controlled. There is no need to provide parts such as a switch, and the number of parts can be reduced. As a result, the structure of the imaging device 1 can be easily realized and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(Example 2)
The second embodiment of the present invention describes an example in which the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the display lamp 332 are changed in the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[Configuration of imaging device]
As shown in FIG. 5, in the configuration of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the imaging unit 3 is disposed in the housing recess 2 </ b> A of the imaging apparatus housing 2, and the opening of the housing recess 2 </ b> A of the imaging apparatus housing 2 is formed. The configuration is similar to that of the imaging device 1 according to the first embodiment described above in that the cover 6 that is detachably closed is mounted. The imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in that the control unit 33 includes a timer function 33T connected to the indicator lamp 332.

  This timer function 33T is connected to a first operation switch 335 (menu switch not shown) connected to the first operation terminal 311 (menu switch; see FIGS. 1 to 3 described above), and operates the first operation switch 335. After that, power is supplied to the indicator lamp 332 for a certain period of time, and the indicator lamp 332 is kept in the lighting state. After a certain period of time, the indicator lamp 332 is automatically held off. The instruction that triggers the turning on and off operation of the indicator lamp 332 is performed by the first operation switch 335 in the second embodiment, but the second operation switch (setting switch) 336 or the first operation switch 335 is used. And the second operation switch 336 may be used.

  The timer function 33T is constructed by a program (software) since a memory and a CPU are incorporated in the control unit 33. The timer function 33T may incorporate a timer as hardware in the control unit 33 or the imaging unit 3.

[Operation of imaging device]
New installation work, maintenance work, repair work, and the like of the imaging device 1 described above are performed as follows. First, after the imaging device 1 is installed indoors or outdoors and necessary wiring work is completed, the operator removes the cover 6 attached to the imaging device housing 2 of the imaging device 1. The same applies to the maintenance work and the repair work, and starts with the removal of the operator's cover 6. When the cover 6 is removed, the operator turns on the first operation switch (menu switch) 335 disposed on the surface of the circuit board 331 of the image pickup unit 3 housed in the image pickup device housing 2. .

  The control unit 33 determines whether or not the first operation switch 335 has been turned on as shown in FIG. 6 (S11). If it is determined that the timer function has been inserted, the timer function 33T of the control unit 33 executes presetting of the timer value (S12), and determines whether or not the timer value of the timer function 33T is zero (S13). The timer value preset may be set to a certain time necessary for the operator to check for an abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34 or a deficiency in the wiring work. Set to a certain time. The timer value may be set in advance as a default in the imaging apparatus 1 or may be arbitrarily set by the operator. If it is determined in step S11 that the first operation switch 335 has not been turned on, it is directly determined whether or not the timer value of the timer function 33T is zero (S13).

  In step S13, when the timer value of the timer function 33T is not zero, the timer value is decremented (S15) and power is supplied from the power source 34 to the indicator lamp 332 until the timer value becomes zero. The lighting state of the indicator lamp 332 is held for a certain time (S16). In steps 13 and 13, when the timer value becomes zero, the indicator lamp 332 is automatically turned off (S14). The operator can confirm that the power supply from the power supply unit 34 is normally supplied to each unit such as the imaging unit 31 by the lighting operation of the indicator lamp 332 and can proceed with the work.

  When there is an initial abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34, a deficiency in wiring work, or a failure of the image pickup unit 31, power is not supplied from the power supply unit 34 to the image pickup unit 31, so the indicator lamp 332 is turned off. As described above, when such a defect is discovered after various adjustments and settings of the imaging apparatus 1, the work efficiency of the worker is extremely deteriorated. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, an operator confirms an abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34 based on a lighting operation or a light-off operation of the indicator lamp 332 before performing various adjustments and setting operations. It is possible to perform operations such as analysis and repair of abnormalities on the spot.

  When this operation is completed, the setting menu opened on the external display by the operator is closed, and the operator attaches the cover 6 to the storage recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2 to complete the operation completely.

  After the work is finished, an image is actually taken for the purpose of monitoring and crime prevention using the imaging device 1. At this time, since the indicator lamp 332 is in an extinguished state, there is no reflection of light generated by reflection of the light emitted from the indicator lamp 332 on the inner surface of the cover 6, and a clear image can be taken.

[Characteristics of imaging device]
In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the first operation switch 335 (or the second operation switch 336) is also used as a switch for controlling the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332. 6 It is possible to obtain a clear image by eliminating the reflection of light caused by reflection of light from the indicator lamp 332 on the inner surface, and to check the operation state in the installation work etc. by the light of the indicator lamp 332. Efficiency can be improved. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, the lighting state of the indicator lamp 332 can be maintained for a certain time after the first operation switch 335 is turned on.

  Further, in the imaging apparatus 1, the first operation switch 335 (or the second operation switch 336) is also used as a switch for controlling the lighting operation and the extinguishing operation of the indicator lamp 332, so that the display lamp 332 is newly controlled. There is no need to provide parts such as a switch, and the number of parts can be reduced. As a result, the structure of the imaging device 1 can be easily realized and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(Example 3)
The third embodiment of the present invention describes an example in which the operation method for turning on and off the indicator lamp 332 is changed in the imaging apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[Configuration of imaging device]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the configuration of the imaging apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment, the imaging unit 3 is disposed in the imaging apparatus casing 2, and the cover 6 is detachably attached to the imaging apparatus casing 2. The configuration is the same as that of the imaging apparatus 1 according to Example 1 described above. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment, the illuminance is sensed in a state where the cover 6 is attached to the storage recess 2A and a state where the cover 6 is removed from the storage recess 2A, and the indicator lamp 332 is turned off in the state where the cover 6 is attached. And an illuminance detector 337 that turns on the indicator lamp 332 with the cover 6 removed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the illuminance detection unit 337 is mounted on the same surface as the surface on which the indicator lamp 332 of the circuit board 331 is mounted in the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. A configured photo sensor (illuminance sensor) is used. That is, when the cover 6 is attached to the imaging apparatus housing 2 and the internal space (inside the cavity) becomes darker than the state in which the cover 6 is removed, the illuminance detection unit 337 passes from the power supply unit 34 through the control unit 33 to the indicator lamp 332. The power supplied to is cut off, and the indicator lamp 332 is held in the extinguished state. Further, the illuminance detection unit 337 supplies power from the power supply unit 34 to the indicator lamp 332 through the control unit 33 when the cover 6 is removed from the imaging device housing 2 and the storage recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2 becomes brighter. The indicator lamp 332 is kept in the lighting state. That is, the cover 6 has a characteristic of reducing the amount of light, and the illuminance detection unit 337 detects a difference in illuminance between the state where the cover 6 is attached and the state where the cover 6 is removed, and controls turning off and on of the display lamp 332. To do.

  In Example 3, the cover 6 is a colored transparent (smoke) material including gray or a film or a metal thin film on the surface so as to produce a difference in illuminance between the state attached to the imaging device housing 2 and the state removed. It is composed of a coated colorless transparent material or colored transparent material.

[Operation of imaging device]
New installation work, maintenance work, repair work, and the like of the imaging device 1 described above are performed as follows. First, after the imaging device 1 is installed indoors or outdoors and necessary wiring work is completed, the operator removes the cover 6 attached to the imaging device housing 2 of the imaging device 1. The same applies to the maintenance work and the repair work, and starts with the removal of the operator's cover 6. When the cover 6 is removed, the cover of the illuminance detection unit 337 stored in the storage recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2 is removed, and the surroundings of the illuminance detection unit 337 become bright. The illuminance detection unit 337 detects the brightness, and the detection result is sent to the control unit 33. The control unit 33 performs control to supply power from the power supply unit 34 to the indicator lamp 332 based on the detection result from the illuminance detection unit 337, and as a result, the lighting operation of the indicator lamp 332 is started. The operator can confirm that the power supply from the power supply unit 34 is normally supplied to each unit such as the imaging unit 31 by the lighting operation of the indicator lamp 332, and can proceed with the work.

  When there is an initial abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34, a deficiency in wiring work, or a failure of the image pickup unit 31, power is not supplied from the power supply unit 34 to the image pickup unit 31, so the indicator lamp 332 is turned off. As described above, when such an inconvenience is found after the imaging apparatus 1 and the external display are connected by the coaxial cable and various adjustments and settings are made, the work efficiency of the worker is extremely deteriorated. In the imaging apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment, an operator confirms an abnormality such as a failure of the power supply unit 34 based on a lighting operation or a light-off operation of the indicator lamp 332 before performing various adjustments and setting operations. It is possible to perform operations such as analysis and repair of abnormalities on the spot.

  When this work is finished, the worker attaches the cover 6 to the housing recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2 and finishes the work completely. When the cover 6 is attached, the interior space created by the imaging device housing 2 and the cover 6 becomes darker than when there is no cover 6 (an illuminance difference occurs), and the illuminance detection unit 337 detects the darkness, This detection result is sent to the control unit 33. Based on the detection result from the illuminance detection unit 337, the control unit 33 interrupts the supply of power from the power supply unit 34 to the indicator lamp 332, and as a result, the operation of turning off the indicator lamp 332 is started.

  After the work is finished, an image is actually taken for the purpose of monitoring and crime prevention using the imaging device 1. At this time, since the indicator lamp 332 is in an extinguished state, there is no reflection of light generated by reflection of the light emitted from the indicator lamp 332 on the inner surface of the cover 6, and a clear image can be taken.

[Characteristics of imaging device]
Since the imaging apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment includes the illuminance detection unit 337 that controls the lighting operation and extinguishing operation of the display lamp 332, the imaging apparatus 1 is caused by reflection of light from the display lamp 332 on the inner surface of the cover 6 at the time of shooting. A clear image can be obtained by eliminating the reflection of light, and the operation state in the installation work or the like can be confirmed by the light of the indicator lamp 332, so that the work efficiency can be improved. In the imaging device 1 according to the third embodiment, the lighting state of the indicator lamp 332 can be maintained until the cover 6 is removed from the imaging device housing 2 and attached again.

  Further, in the imaging apparatus 1, since the illuminance sensor that is an electrical switch having an inexpensive and simple structure is used as the illuminance detection unit 337, not the mechanical switch having an expensive and complicated structure, the structure is simplified. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Modification of imaging device]
The imaging device 1 according to the modification of the third embodiment is not provided with the illuminance detection unit 337 on the circuit board 311 of the imaging unit 3 incorporated in the housing recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2, but is shown in FIG. As described above, the illuminance detection unit 337 is disposed at a position on the inner wall (side surface) of the housing recess 2A of the imaging device housing 2 that faces the end surface when the cover 6 is attached. Since the end surface of the cover 6 is not in the imaging range, a film or a metal thin film is easily partially coated on the region corresponding to the illuminance detection unit 337 on the end surface, and the illuminance difference can be clarified.

  That is, the lighting operation and the light-off operation of the display lamp 332 of the imaging device 1 can be reliably performed, and the malfunction of the display lamp 332 can be prevented.

(Other examples)
As described above, the present invention has been described with a plurality of embodiments. However, the description and the drawings, which form a part of this disclosure, do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be applied to various alternative embodiments, examples, and operational technologies.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the imaging direction of the imaging unit 31 of the imaging unit 3 is manually fixed is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to an image pickup apparatus 1 that automatically moves the shooting direction by remote control. In addition, the present invention is not limited to imaging using visible light, and can be applied to an imaging apparatus that can perform imaging using infrared light.

  The present invention can reduce the number of parts and improve work efficiency while preventing reflection of light generated by reflection of light emitted from an indicator lamp in a cover and obtaining a clear image. The present invention can be widely applied to imaging devices that can be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging device, 2 ... Imaging device housing, 2A ... Storage recessed part, 3 ... Imaging unit, 31 ... Imaging part, 32 ... Signal processing part, 33 ... Control part, 33T ... Timer function, 331 ... Circuit board, 332 ... Indicator lamp, 335... First operation switch (menu switch), 336... Second operation switch (setting switch), 337 .. Illuminance detection unit, 34 .. power supply unit, 35 .. on-screen unit, 36. ... cover, R1 ... first resistor, R2 ... second resistor.

Claims (2)

An imaging unit;
A control unit for controlling photographing of the imaging unit;
A power supply unit that supplies power to the imaging unit and the control unit;
An indicator lamp that emits light by a power source supplied from the power source;
An imaging device housing having a storage recess, and storing the imaging unit, the control unit, the power supply unit and the indicator lamp in the storage recess;
A light-transmitting cover that detachably closes the storage recess;
An operation switch connected to the control unit and configured to perform shooting settings of the imaging unit,
The imaging apparatus is configured to perform shooting setting of the imaging unit by operating the operation switch, and to turn on and off the indicator lamp. An imaging unit;
A power supply for supplying power to the imaging unit;
An indicator lamp that emits light by a power source supplied from the power source;
An imaging device housing having a storage recess, and storing the imaging unit, the power supply unit and the indicator lamp in the storage recess;
A cover that detachably closes the storage recess, has a characteristic of being transparent and reducing the amount of light;
Based on illuminance in a state where the cover is attached to the storage recess and a state where the cover is removed, the indicator light is turned off in the state where the cover is attached, and the indicator light is turned on in a state where the cover is removed. An illuminance detector;
An imaging apparatus comprising:

Images