JP2012085171A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mitigate drive load and improve durability against repeated driving by reducing the length of a cable.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus comprises: a first substrate 19 which moves integrally with a lens unit 18; a second substrate 20 which is fixed at a mounted position and sends a control signal to drive the lens unit 18; a first cable 24 which is wired between the first substrate 19 and the second substrate 20 and transmits the control signal for at least one of tilt driving or rotation driving sent from the second substrate 20 to the first substrate 19; a second cable 22 which is wired between the first substrate 19 and tilt driving means 15 and transmits the control signal for tilt driving sent from the first substrate 19 to the tilt driving means 15; and a third cable 23 which is wired between the first substrate 19 and rotation driving means 17 and transmits the control signal for rotation driving sent from the first substrate 19 to the rotation driving means 17.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of adjusting the direction of a lens around three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation.

  Conventionally, various cameras that can electrically drive the direction of a lens around two axes of pan and tilt are known. For example, a pan-tilt camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a camera body with a built-in tilt mechanism, a pan mechanism for driving the camera body to pan, and a main board provided with a control unit and a power supply unit. .

Japanese Patent No. 3519146

In recent years, in addition to panning and tilting, there has been a demand for a camera that can adjust the direction of a lens around a rotation axis. A camera that can adjust the direction of the lens around three axes is configured such that the pan mechanism, the tilt mechanism, and the rotation mechanism can be driven independently. For this purpose, wiring to each actuator of the pan mechanism, the tilt mechanism, and the rotation mechanism is necessary.
Here, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of a camera capable of adjusting the direction of the lens around three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 50 includes a main base 51, a pan base 52, a tilt base 54, a rotation base 56, a lens unit 58, and the like.
A main substrate 60 that controls driving of a pan motor 53, a tilt motor 55, and a rotation motor 57, which will be described later, is fixed to the main base 51.

The pan base 52 rotates around the pan axis (P axis) by driving a pan motor 53 provided in the main base 51.
The tilt base 54 rotates around a tilt axis (T axis) by driving a tilt motor 55 provided in the pan base 52.
The rotation base 56 rotates around the rotation axis (R axis) by driving a rotation motor 57 provided in the rotation base 56.

The lens unit 58 is integrally attached to the rotation base 56, and rotates around the rotation axis (R axis) in synchronization with the rotation base 56.
An image sensor substrate 59 is attached to the position of the image plane of the lens unit 58. An image sensor such as a CCD or C-MOS is mounted on the image sensor substrate 59.

A pan cable 61 for transmitting a control signal from the main substrate 60 to the pan motor 53 is connected between the main substrate 60 and the pan motor 53.
A tilt cable 62 for transmitting a control signal from the main board 60 to the tilt motor 55 is connected between the main board 60 and the tilt motor 55.
A rotation cable 63 for transmitting a control signal from the main board 60 to the rotation motor 57 is connected between the main board 60 and the rotation motor 57.

  A video cable 64 is connected between the main board 60 and the image sensor board 59. The main board 60 transmits a control signal to the lens unit 58 via the video cable 64 and the image sensor board 59. Further, the imaging sensor substrate 59 transmits an image signal imaged on the imaging element to the main substrate 60 via the video cable 64.

In the camera 50 configured in this way, there are three systems that move with pan driving: a tilt cable 62, a rotation cable 63, and a video cable 64.
Further, there are three systems of cables that move along with the tilt drive: a tilt cable 62, a rotation cable 63, and a video cable 64.
In addition, there are two systems of cables that move along with the rotation drive: a rotation cable 63 and a video cable 64.

In the camera 50 that can adjust the direction of the lens around three axes, the length of the cable from the main board 60 to the actuators of the pan mechanism, the tilt mechanism, and the rotation mechanism becomes long, resulting in an increase in cost. There is.
Also, if the length of each cable is long, the twisting and bending of each cable will increase, and the reaction force of the cable will increase, increasing the driving load in pan driving, tilt driving and rotation driving. is there. At this time, the fact that there are many cables that move with panning and tilting driving is also a factor that increases the driving load.
Furthermore, since the cable is moved against the reaction force, there is a problem that the durability of the cable itself is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is capable of reducing the cable cost, reducing the driving load in pan driving, tilt driving, and rotation driving, and improving the durability against repeated driving. Providing equipment.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus including a lens unit that is driven around three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation with respect to an installation position via a pan mechanism, a tilt mechanism, and a rotation mechanism, and the lens A first substrate that moves integrally with the unit; a second substrate that is fixed with respect to the installation position and transmits a control signal for driving the lens unit; the first substrate and the second substrate; A first cable that is wired between the first board and transmits at least one control signal of tilt driving and rotation driving transmitted from the second board to the first board; and A second cable that is wired between the substrate and the tilt drive means and transmits a tilt drive control signal transmitted from the first substrate to the tilt drive means; A third cable that is wired between the first substrate and the rotation driving means and transmits a rotation driving control signal transmitted from the first substrate to the rotation driving means. To do.

  According to the present invention, the length of a cable wired to an actuator such as a tilt mechanism or a rotation mechanism can be shortened. Therefore, the cable is less bent and twisted, and the reaction force of the cable in pan driving, tilt driving and rotation driving can be reduced. Therefore, cost reduction, low power consumption, and high durability can be achieved.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the camera which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the camera which can adjust the direction of a lens around 3 axes | shafts.

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, a description will be given using a monitoring camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) as an imaging apparatus.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a camera according to the present embodiment.
The camera 100 includes a hemispherical transparent dome cover 31, a cylindrical cover 32, and a bottomed cylindrical cover 33 that cover the camera body 10. The camera 100 is fixed at the installation position by attaching the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical cover 33 to, for example, a ceiling surface.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the camera body 10 in which the lens unit can rotate around three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation.
The camera body 10 includes a main base 11, a pan base 12, a tilt base 14, a rotation base 16, a lens unit 18, and the like.
The main base 11 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape, and its bottom is attached directly to the installation position or via the above-mentioned bottomed cylindrical cover 33. A main substrate (second substrate) 20 that controls pan driving, tilt driving, and rotation driving is fixed inside the main base 11. Therefore, even if the lens unit 18 rotates about the three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation, the position of the main board 20 with respect to the installation position does not change.

The main base 11 is provided with a pan motor 13 for driving the pan base 12 to pan. In the present embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the pan motor 13. A spur gear 13a is mounted on the output shaft of the pan motor 13 and meshes with an internal gear 12a of the pan base 12 described later.
The main base 11 supports the pan base 12 so as to be rotatable around the pan axis (P axis).

The pan base 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upper opening. Since an internal gear 12a that meshes with the spur gear 13a of the pan motor 13 is formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the pan base 12, the pan base 12 rotates around the pan axis (P axis) by driving the pan motor 13. . Such a configuration in which the spur gear 13a and the internal gear 12a of the pan motor 13 disposed between the main base 11 and the pan base 12 mesh with each other is an example of a pan mechanism.
In addition, a tilt motor 15 for tilting the tilt base 14 is attached to the pan base 12. In the present embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the tilt motor 15. A spur gear 15 a is attached to the output shaft of the tilt motor 15 and meshes with a gear 14 b of the tilt base 14 described later.
The pan base 12 supports the tilt base 14 so as to be rotatable about a tilt axis (T axis).

The tilt base 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an upper opening. Since a gear 14b that meshes with a spur gear 15a of the tilt motor 15 is formed on a part of the rotation shaft 14a of the tilt base 14, the tilt base 14 is rotated about the tilt axis (T axis) by driving the tilt motor 15. Rotate. Such a configuration in which the spur gear 15a and the gear 14b of the tilt motor 15 disposed between the pan base 12 and the tilt base 14 mesh with each other is an example of a tilt mechanism. Further, an internal gear 14 c that meshes with a spur gear 17 a of a rotation motor 17 described later is formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the tilt base 14.
The tilt base 14 supports the rotation base 16 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis (R axis).

  The rotation base 16 is formed in a flat plate shape. A rotation motor 17 is attached to the rotation base 16. In the present embodiment, a stepping motor is used as the rotation motor 17. Since the spur gear 17a meshing with the internal gear 14c of the tilt base 14 is mounted on the output shaft of the rotation motor 17, the rotation base 16 rotates around the rotation shaft (R axis) by the rotation of the rotation motor 17. . Such a configuration in which the spur gear 17a and the internal gear 14c of the rotation motor 17 disposed between the tilt base 14 and the rotation base 16 mesh with each other is an example of a rotation mechanism.

The rotation base 16 holds a lens unit 18 at the center thereof. The lens unit 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a plurality of lenses (not shown) are arranged along the optical axis. The lens unit 18 is attached to the rotation base 16 so that the optical axis of the lens unit 18 and the rotation axis (R axis) substantially coincide with each other.
An imaging sensor substrate (first substrate) 19 is attached to the rear end of the lens unit 18 and on the imaging surface of the lens unit 18. The image sensor board 19 is mounted with an image sensor such as a CCD or C-MOS, and detects a subject image formed by the lens unit 18.

Next, the camera body 10 of the present embodiment is configured such that the length of a cable for transmitting a control signal to each actuator is shortened. Below, the wiring of the cable which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.
A pan cable 21 for transmitting a control signal from the main board 20 to the pan motor 13 is connected between the main board 20 and the pan motor 13.
A tilt cable (second cable) 22 for transmitting a control signal from the main board 20 to the tilt motor 15 is connected between the image sensor board 19 and the tilt motor 15.
A rotation cable (third cable) 23 for transmitting a control signal from the main board 20 to the rotation motor 17 is connected between the image sensor board 19 and the rotation motor 17.

  A video cable (first cable) 24 is connected between the main board 20 and the image sensor board 19. The main board 20 transmits a control signal to the lens unit 18 via the video cable 24 and the image sensor board 19. Further, the image sensor board 19 transmits an image signal imaged on the image sensor to the main board 20 via the video cable 24.

  Furthermore, a drive circuit that converts control signals from the main board 20 to the tilt motor 15 and the rotation motor 17 into pulse signals to the respective motors is mounted on the image sensor board 19 of the present embodiment. Accordingly, the drive circuit converts the control signal transmitted from the main board 20 to the tilt motor 15 into a pulse signal, and transmits the converted pulse signal to the tilt motor 15 via the tilt cable 22. Similarly, the drive circuit converts the control signal transmitted from the main board 20 to the rotation motor 17 into a pulse signal, and transmits the converted pulse signal to the rotation motor 17 via the rotation cable 23.

With this configuration, the lengths of the tilt cable 22 and the rotation cable 23 can be shortened. Also, the video cable 24 can be the only cable that runs from the main board 20 toward the pan base 12.
Note that if a high-frequency pulse signal is directly transmitted from the main board 20 to the tilt motor 15 and the rotation motor 17 via the video cable 24, the image signal transmitted via the video cable 24 is affected by noise. There is a risk of giving. However, in the present embodiment, only a control signal having a low frequency is transmitted from the main board 20 to the image sensor board 19 via the video cable 24. Thereafter, the image sensor substrate 19 converts the tilt motor 15 and the rotation motor 17 into a control signal capable of driving the tilt motor 15 and transmits the control signal via a drive circuit. Thereby, the transmission of the image signal and the control of the tilt motor 15 and the rotation motor 17 can be realized by the single video cable 24, and the influence of noise on the image signal transmitted by the video cable 24 can be reduced.

Next, an operation of moving the direction of the lens unit 18 by performing pan driving, tilt driving, and rotation driving will be described.
First, when pan driving is performed, a control signal is transmitted from the main board 20 to the pan motor 13 via the pan cable 21. When the pan motor 13 is driven, the lens unit 18 that is integrally movable with the pan base 12 rotates around the pan axis (P axis). At this time, the video cable 24 is the only cable that moves along with the pan driving.

  Next, in the case of tilt driving, the main board 20 transmits a control signal to the image sensor board 19 via the video cable 24. As described above, the drive circuit of the image sensor board 19 converts the control signal into a pulse signal, and then transmits the pulse signal to the tilt motor 15 via the tilt cable 22. When the tilt motor 15 is driven, the lens unit 18 that is integrally movable with the tilt base 14 rotates about the tilt axis (T axis). At this time, there are two cables that move along with the tilt drive: the tilt cable 22 and the video cable 24.

  Next, when rotating, the main board 20 transmits a control signal to the image sensor board 19 via the video cable 24. As described above, the drive circuit of the image sensor board 19 converts the control signal into a pulse signal, and then transmits the pulse signal to the rotation motor 17 via the rotation cable 23. When the rotation motor 17 is driven, the lens unit 18 that is movable integrally with the rotation base 16 rotates around the rotation axis (R axis). At this time, the cables that move in accordance with the rotation drive are two systems of the tilt cable 22 and the video cable 24. Further, the tilt cable 22 in the present embodiment is configured to connect the image sensor board 19 and the tilt motor 15 instead of connecting the main board 20 and the tilt motor 15. With this configuration, the tilt cable 22 can be made shorter than the tilt cable 62 shown in FIG. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the driving load in the pan driving and the rotation driving, improve the durability of the tilt cable 22, and further reduce the cost of the cable.

  According to the present embodiment, the length of the cable wired to each actuator in the pan mechanism, the tilt mechanism, and the rotation mechanism can be shortened. Therefore, there is little bending and twisting of the cable, and the reaction force from the cable in pan driving, tilt driving and rotation driving can be reduced. Therefore, cost reduction, low power consumption, and high durability can be achieved.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with various embodiment, this invention is not limited only to these embodiment, A change etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the tilt motor 15 is installed on the pan base 12 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, the tilt motor 15 may be installed on the tilt base 14 and geared with the pan base 12. In this case, there is only one cable of the video cable 24 that moves along with the tilt drive.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the connection source of the tilt cable 22 and the rotation cable 23 is the imaging sensor substrate 19 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. Another substrate may be used as long as the substrate moves integrally with the rotation base 16 and the lens unit 18.

  11: Main base 12: Pan base 13: Pan motor 14: Tilt base 15: Tilt motor 16: Rotation base 17: Rotation motor 18: Lens unit 19: Image sensor board 20: Main board 21: Pan cable 22: Tilt cable 23: Rotation cable 24: Video cable

Claims (5)

An imaging apparatus including a lens unit that is driven around three axes of pan, tilt, and rotation with respect to an installation position via a pan mechanism, a tilt mechanism, and a rotation mechanism,
A first substrate that moves integrally with the lens unit;
A second substrate fixed to the installation position and transmitting a control signal for driving the lens unit;
The first substrate is wired between the first substrate and the second substrate, and transmits at least one control signal of tilt driving and rotation driving transmitted from the second substrate to the first substrate. 1 cable,
A second cable that is wired between the first substrate and the tilt drive means and transmits a tilt drive control signal transmitted from the first substrate to the tilt drive means;
A third cable that is wired between the first substrate and the rotation driving means and transmits a rotation drive control signal transmitted from the first substrate to the rotation driving means. A characteristic imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is an imaging sensor substrate that detects a subject image formed by the lens unit.   The first substrate converts a tilt drive or rotation drive control signal transmitted from the second substrate into a control signal capable of driving the tilt drive unit or the rotation drive unit. The imaging apparatus according to 1 or 2. A rotation base that holds the lens unit and rotates about the rotation axis integrally with the lens unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation driving unit is attached to the rotation base. A tilt base that holds the lens unit and rotates about the tilt axis integrally with the lens unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tilt driving unit is attached to the tilt base.

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