JP2013106175A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system of excellent operability which does not generate a dead angle while a large number of cameras are not installed.SOLUTION: The camera system comprises: a camera 101 comprising subject distance detection means for detecting a subject distance as a distance to a subject 103; photographing direction change means capable of changing the photographing direction of the camera; moving means for moving the camera; moved distance detection means for detecting a distance moved by the moving means; and control means which calculates an angle between the camera and the subject from the subject distance and the moved distance and changes the photographing direction of the camera by the photographing direction change means on the basis of the angle.

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-moving camera system that captures an object such as a person and obtains detailed information for monitoring or the like.

  In the past, to monitor theft and illegal activities in stores and parking lots, or to monitor the entry of third parties from outside, various locations in stores and parking lots, or specific buildings Surveillance camera devices are arranged at various locations on the fence surrounding the. For example, indoor surveillance camera devices such as stores, underground parking lots, and indoor parking lots are rotatably attached to a shaft driven into the ceiling, and outdoor surveillance camera devices such as outdoor parking lots and fences are It is rotatably attached to a shaft extending vertically. A motor is attached to these surveillance camera devices, and the shaft can be rotated in a predetermined angle range with the shaft as a rotation axis, whereby the situation in the angle range can be sequentially photographed. In addition, a zoom function has been installed so that it can handle distant objects, and a method of covering the monitoring range has been taken.

  However, the conventional surveillance camera device has a problem that many blind spots are generated because the camera itself cannot be moved even though the direction of the camera can be changed. For example, even if the surveillance camera device is arranged so as to look down on the inside of the store from the ceiling in the store, many blind spots are generated on the shelf in the store, so it is not possible to photograph an action performed behind the shelf. Similarly, even if the surveillance camera device is arranged so as to look down on the inside of the parking lot from the ceiling of the parking lot or the upper corner of the parking lot, many blind spots are generated due to the presence of the parked car. Furthermore, the indoor parking lot has many pillars, and the presence of these pillars has a problem that more blind spots are generated. Therefore, in a monitoring system using a conventional monitoring camera device, a large number (for example, 10 or more) of monitoring camera devices are arranged at various locations in a store or a parking lot, Prevents blind spots from occurring.

  In order to solve this problem, there is provided a monitoring camera device that travels on a rail track arranged in an area to be monitored in order to monitor a predetermined area without installing a large number of cameras and without causing blind spots. Proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, in order to perform monitoring over a wide range with a small number of cameras and to obtain a detailed image, an image capturing apparatus that moves on a rail, operation control of the image capturing apparatus, and an image captured by the camera are performed. There has been proposed a system having a monitoring device for monitoring the above and a signal cable for connecting both devices.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to monitor a predetermined area, a monitoring camera device that travels on a rail track arranged in an area to be monitored includes a casing, a camera unit attached to the casing, and a casing that is detachable. And a frame to be attached. In addition, a transport mechanism that rotates a drive wheel that is attached to the frame and that contacts the upper surface of the rail, a guide wheel that is attached to the frame and holds both sides of the rail, and a casing, on the side of the field of view of the camera unit. And a display unit arranged.

JP 2002-27441 A JP 2001-142138 A

  However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, the number of installations can be reduced and the blind spots can be eliminated by the camera system provided with the rail track, but the operation axis increases due to the movement of the rail track. There is a problem that it becomes complicated.

  This will be described with reference to an installation image diagram of the camera system shown in FIG. For example, in order for the camera 801 at the position A on the rail track 802 to monitor the subjects 803 and 804 from different angles, after moving the rail track 802 to the position B, the pan / tilt moves to the direction C. There is a complicated operation that must be changed.

(Object of invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system excellent in operability without installing a large number of cameras and without causing blind spots.

  In order to achieve the above object, a camera system of the present invention includes a camera including a subject distance detection unit that detects a subject distance, which is a distance from a subject, and a shooting direction changing unit that can change the shooting direction of the camera. A moving means for moving the camera, a moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance moved by the moving means, an angle between the camera and the subject is calculated from the subject distance and the moving distance, and the angle And a control means for changing the shooting direction of the camera by the shooting direction changing means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera system excellent in operability without installing a large number of cameras and without causing blind spots.

It is an image figure of the camera system explaining Example 1 of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a camera system for explaining a second embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram illustrating a relationship between a zoom lens position and a focus lens focusing position in a rear focus zoom lens. FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a camera system for explaining a third embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment. It is an image figure of the camera system which has a rail track | orbit in a prior art.

  The mode for carrying out the present invention is as described in Examples 1 to 3 below.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 1, a monitoring mode of the camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a camera configured so that a captured image can be rotated in the pan and tilt directions and has a zoom function. Next, 102 is a rail track on which the camera 101 moves, and 103 is a subject. The camera 101 is supported by a gantry (not shown), and the gantry includes a photographing direction changing unit that can change a photographing direction of the camera 101 and a moving unit such as a motor that moves the camera 101 on the rail track 102. A control terminal (not shown) has control means such as a CPU for controlling the photographing direction changing means and the moving means.

  When the camera 101 moves from the position C on the rail track 102 to the position D, the shooting direction is changed according to the subject distance L with respect to the subject 103, so that the subject 103 can be viewed at different angles without losing sight of the subject 103. Therefore, the subject can be monitored.

  Note that the camera according to the first embodiment is instructed to move by a user operating a control terminal (not shown).

  Next, a description will be given of photographing direction changing means corresponding to the moving distance (de) of the rail track 102 in the monitoring moving mode with the subject 103 as the center.

Initially, camera 101 is in position C.
Here, in the rear focus zoom system, as shown in FIG. 5, the distance L to the subject can be calculated based on the position of the focus lens with respect to the zoom lens position as long as it is in focus. For example, if the subject is in focus and the zoom lens and focus lens are at point P in FIG. 5, the distance to the subject is 10 m because the object is on the 10 m trajectory. The subject distance detecting means for detecting the subject distance is constituted by a camera CPU (not shown) built in the camera 101.

Further, the initial angle α is obtained from the panning rotation angle of the camera 101 itself.
As a result, the distance l from the subject at a panning rotation angle of 0 ° is
l = Lsinα
Is required.

Next, when the camera 101 moves to the position D, if the relative rail movement distance d from the position of the panning rotation angle 0 ° with the subject is known,
tan β = 1 / d
Thus, the panning angle β for moving while keeping the necessary subject as the center is sequentially obtained. Note that the moving distance detecting means for detecting the moving distance (de) is constituted by a CPU built in the control terminal.

  Further, when the subject distance is changed from the autofocus information (the subject is moving), the subject distance information L is updated to adapt to the moving object.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment, and the operation will be described below according to the operation flowchart.
(Step 201) Start (Step 202) If the camera 101 is in the movement mode centered on the subject 103, the process proceeds to step 203. If the camera 101 is in the normal mode, the process proceeds to step 212. Note that the normal mode and the subject center movement mode are set by a control terminal (not shown) that controls the camera 101.
(Step 203) The subject distance L is calculated from the zoom lens position (zoom magnification) and the focus lens focus position. The process proceeds to step 204.
(Step 204) The initial angle α between the subject 103 and the camera 101 is read out. The process proceeds to step 205.
(Step 205) The shortest subject distance l with a panning rotation angle of 0 ° with respect to the subject 103 is calculated. The process proceeds to step 206.
(Step 206) If it is instructed to move the rail track 102, the process proceeds to step 207, and if not, the process proceeds to step 214. Note that the camera 101 according to the first embodiment is instructed to move by a user operating a control terminal (not shown).
(Step 207) The rail track 102 is moved. The process proceeds to step 208.
(Step 208) A rail movement amount d from the position of the panning rotation angle 0 ° with the subject 103 is calculated. Control goes to step 209.
(Step 209) The panning angle β is calculated from the rail movement amount d. Control goes to step 210.
(Step 210) The panning angle is changed to β. The process proceeds to step 211.
(Step 211) A zooming operation according to the previous increase / decrease in the subject distance L is performed. By this processing, the size of the subject image can be kept constant. This operation is performed by the zoom lens of the camera 101 and the camera CPU. That is, the shooting angle of view changing means that can change the shooting angle of view is constituted by a zoom lens and a camera CPU. Control goes to step 214.
(Step 212) If it is instructed to move the rail, the process proceeds to step 213, and if not instructed, the process is terminated.
(Step 213) The rail track 102 is moved. Control goes to step 214.
(Step 214) End.

  As described above, when moving on the rail track 102, a subject center movement mode and a normal mode are prepared, and switched appropriately and used, so that a surveillance camera system that does not cause blind spots and has excellent operability is provided. It becomes possible to construct.

  Further, the camera may be moved to an optimum position so that the blind spot of the camera cannot be automatically detected by detecting the subject. When performing automatic monitoring, an operation may be considered in which monitoring is performed in the normal mode when there is no moving object, and when the moving object is detected, the mode shifts to the subject center movement mode.

  Regarding the system configuration of the rail track, if it is a relatively short rail track, it can be a belt type and can be easily configured with a motor and an encoder.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, a monitoring mode of the camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a camera that is configured so that a captured image can be rotated in the pan and tilt directions and has a zoom function. Next, 302 is a rail track on which the camera 301 moves, and 303 and 304 are subjects.

  When the subject 303 moves to the position 305, the motion vector of the subject 303 is detected according to the movement of the subject 303, and the horizontal movement amount and vertical movement amount of the subject are determined from the movement amount on the screen, the zoom magnification, and the subject distance. Is calculated. Next, correction is performed by driving the tilt axis so as to cancel the amount of movement in the vertical direction. Further, the movement in the horizontal direction is corrected by performing addition / subtraction during movement on the rail track 302. For example, even when the subject 303 moves to the position 305, the subject can be centered by moving and rotating the camera to the E position. Accordingly, it is possible to deal with the moving subject 303 so that the subject 303 is at the center, and it is possible to continue to capture the moving subject.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the second embodiment, and the operation will be described below according to the operation flowchart.
(Step 401) Start (Step 402) If the movement mode is centered on the subject, the process proceeds to step 403, and if it is the normal mode, the process proceeds to step 414.
(Step 403) The subject distance L is calculated from the zoom lens position (zoom magnification) and the focus lens focus position. The process proceeds to step 404.
(Step 404) The initial angle α between the subjects 303 and 304 and the camera 301 is read out. The process proceeds to step 405.
(Step 405) The subject shortest distance l at the position of the panning rotation angle 0 ° with the subjects 303 and 304 is calculated. The process proceeds to step 406.
(Step 406) If it is instructed to move the rail track 302, the process proceeds to step 407, and if not, the process proceeds to step 416.
(Step 407) The motion vector of the subject 303 is detected, the horizontal movement amount of the subject 303 is calculated from the zoom magnification and the subject distance, and the correction amount is calculated by adding and subtracting the panning angle β during the rail movement. Also, the amount of movement in the vertical direction is calculated, and the amount of correction by tilting is calculated. The process proceeds to step 408.
(Step 408) Vertical correction according to the amount of movement of the subject 303 is performed by tilting. The process proceeds to step 409.
(Step 409) The rail track 302 is moved. The process proceeds to step 410.
(Step 410) A rail movement amount d from the position of the panning rotation angle 0 ° with the subject 303 is calculated. The process proceeds to step 411.
(Step 411) The panning angle β is calculated. Control goes to step 412.
(Step 412) The panning angle is changed to β. Control goes to step 413.
(Step 413) Zooming is performed by increasing or decreasing the subject distance L in the previous time. By this processing, the size of the subject image can be kept constant.
(Step 414) If it is instructed to move the rail, the process proceeds to step 415, and if not instructed, the process is terminated.
(Step 415) The rail track 302 is moved and the process proceeds to Step 416.
(Step 416) End.

  Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 6, a monitoring mode of the camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 601 denotes a camera that is configured so that a captured image can be rotated in the pan and tilt directions and has a zoom function. Next, reference numeral 602 denotes a rail track on which the camera 601 moves, and reference numerals 608 and 609 denote subjects.

  In the third embodiment, human sensors 603, 604, and 605 (infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and the like) are installed at places with good visibility on the rail track 602 to complement the blind spots.

  By moving the camera 601 according to the detection results of the human sensors 603, 604, and 605, efficient monitoring can be performed.

  When there is no reaction in the human sensors 603, 604, and 605, the camera 601 is moved to the H position and used for monitoring the entrance (entrance) 606 and the register counter 607, and so on.

  In the third embodiment, there is a curve on the rail track 602, so it is necessary to correct the camera posture according to the curve.

  Here, when the camera 601 is monitoring the subjects 608 and 609 at the position F, if the camera 601 is moved to the position G, monitoring from the front becomes possible.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the third embodiment, and the operation will be described below according to this operation flowchart.
(Step 701) Start (Step 702) If the human sensors 603, 604, 605 have reacted, the process proceeds to step 703, and if not, the process proceeds to step 705.
(Step 703) The camera 601 is moved to the position of the reacting human sensor. The process proceeds to step 704.
(Step 704) The target subject is monitored. Control goes to step 707.
(Step 705) The camera 601 is moved to the H position. Control goes to step 706.
(Step 706) The entrance 606 is monitored. Control goes to step 707.
(Step 707) End.

  In the third embodiment, a human sensor is used as a sensing means for detecting the presence of a person. However, a small surveillance camera may be installed instead of the human sensor.

  As mentioned above, although preferable Example 1 thru | or 3 of this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to these Examples, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

101 Camera 102 Rail track 103 Subject L Subject distance

Claims (5)

A camera having subject distance detection means for detecting a subject distance that is a distance from the subject;
Photographing direction changing means capable of changing the photographing direction of the camera;
Moving means for moving the camera;
A moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance moved by the moving means;
Control means for calculating an angle between the camera and the subject based on the subject distance and the moving distance, and changing a shooting direction of the camera by the shooting direction changing unit based on the angle. Camera system.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the subject distance detection unit detects the subject distance from a focus lens focusing position of the camera. The camera includes a shooting angle of view changing means capable of changing a shooting angle of view,
The said control means keeps the magnitude | size of a to-be-photographed image constant by making the said imaging | photography angle-of-view change means change the said imaging | photography angle of view according to the said to-be-photographed object distance and the said moving distance. The camera system according to any one of 1 and 2. The camera calculates the amount of horizontal and vertical movement of the subject image from the motion vector of the subject image,
The control means corrects the shooting direction by adding and subtracting a panning angle according to the horizontal movement amount, and corrects the shooting direction by tilting according to the vertical movement amount. The camera system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It further has a sensing means for sensing the presence of a person,
5. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit starts movement of the camera by the moving unit when the presence of a person is detected by the detecting unit. 6.

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