JP2013162501A - Imaging apparatus controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera controller with which, when determining composition of a camera under on-air or prepared for on-air, the composition can be determined speedily by eliminating the need of an operation for switching a camera of an operation target.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus controller capable of controlling a plurality of imaging apparatuses comprises operation target imaging apparatus switching procedures including a video selecting signal inquiry step of inquiring a state of a video selecting signal to an imaging apparatus, a video selecting signal state discrimination step of discriminating a video signal state of the imaging apparatus obtained from video signal state inquiry means, and an operation target imaging apparatus switching step of switching an operation target to another imaging apparatus if it is detected that the video selecting signal of the imaging apparatus is brought into non-selected state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller that commands driving of zoom / focus of an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a selection switching method for one imaging apparatus to be operated by a controller when there are a plurality of imaging apparatuses.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in television shooting in a studio, a plurality of imaging devices including a lens and a camera are used. One cameraman is arranged in one image pickup device, and the zoom / focus is moved using a controller connected to the image pickup device of each cameraman to make an image according to the shooting scene. In addition, there is an adjustment room with a video engineer outside the studio, and the video engineer selects one video signal from video signals output from a plurality of image pickup devices while instructing the photographer the composition to be photographed (hereinafter referred to as “video camera”). Broadcast output. The state of video selection switched by the video engineer (hereinafter referred to as “broadcast output”) is sent as a signal (hereinafter referred to as “video selection signal”) to the imaging device and displayed on a display on the imaging device. A person in a studio such as a cameraman can know which imaging device is currently broadcasting by lighting this display.

  In recent years, in order to reduce the production cost of a program, a method of controlling a plurality of imaging devices with a small number of people has been considered.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a single controller and a plurality of lens devices are connected wirelessly, and the lens device to be operated is switched by a switch provided in the controller.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-31217

  However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, it is necessary for the cameraman to switch to an on-air camera or a camera that determines the composition in preparation for on-air. When shooting a subject that moves rapidly, or when switching on-air images frequently, the operation of switching the camera causes a delay in the operation of quickly determining the composition.

Further, when the camera to be operated is switched, an operation for re-determining the composition from the state where the previous operation has been completed is necessary, and it takes a lot of time to determine the composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device controller that can quickly determine a composition without switching an operation target camera when determining the composition of an on-air or on-air camera. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imaging device controller capable of controlling a plurality of imaging devices, a video selection signal state inquiry step for inquiring a state of a video selection signal to the imaging device, and the video signal Video selection signal status determination step for determining the video signal status of the camera obtained from the status inquiry means, and an operation to switch the operation target to another imaging device when detecting that the video selection signal of the camera is in a non-selected status The present invention is characterized in that an operation target imaging device switching procedure including a target camera switching step is included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging controller that does not require an operation for switching the operation target camera and can quickly determine the composition when determining the composition of the on-air or on-air camera.

Functional block diagram of the first embodiment Overall block diagram of imaging system Table of tally signal and operation target camera in Example 1 Processing flowchart of controller A in Embodiment 1 Processing flowchart of controller B in embodiment 1 Functional block diagram of the second embodiment Default zoom and focus position Switch table of tally signal and operation target camera of Example 2 Processing flowchart of controller A in the second embodiment Camera list of Example 3 Functional block diagram of the third embodiment Table of tally signal and operation target camera switching in Example 3 Processing flowchart of controller A in Embodiment 3 Processing flowchart of red tally monitoring mode in embodiment 3 Processing flowchart of controller B in embodiment 3 Processing flowchart of green tally monitoring mode in embodiment 3 Operation camera switching flowchart by camera switching operation unit Tally confirmation command table

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, processing of the camera controller which is an imaging controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the camera controller and the imaging system according to the first embodiment. Each of the cameras 1 to 4 is connected to a video signal selection device 50. The video shot by each camera is sent to the video signal selection device 50. The video signal selection device 50 is a device that selects a camera that captures a video to be used on the air. The video signal selection device 50 transmits a signal called a tally signal indicating use on air to a camera that captures video used on air. A camera that has received this signal generally turns on a red lamp, and a tally signal indicating use on air is called a red tally signal. Also, a tally signal is transmitted to the next camera that is currently on-air and is used on-air. Since a camera that has received this signal generally turns on a green lamp, it is called a green tally signal.

  Camera controller A. 100 and camera controller B.B. Reference numeral 200 denotes a controller for remotely operating the camera, which transmits zoom and focus command values to the camera. In this embodiment, the camera controller A. 100, camera controller B. 200 and the cameras 1 to 4 perform wireless communication. Camera controller A. 100, camera controller B. 200 selects one operation target camera and transmits an operation command value to the operation target camera.

  1 shows a camera 1 and a camera controller A.1. 100 is a functional block diagram of 100. FIG. The camera 1 includes a lens unit 10, an imaging unit 20, and a communication unit 30. The wireless communication unit 33 receives operation command data transmitted wirelessly from the camera controller 100 and sends it to the CPU 32 of the communication unit. The CPU 32 converts the data to be transmitted to the lens unit 10. Operation command data is sent from the serial communication unit 31 to the CPU 13 of the lens unit via the serial communication unit 14 of the lens unit. The operation command data is sent from the CPU 13 to the lens driving unit 15, and the lens driving unit 15 controls driving of the focus lens 16 and the zoom lens 17.

  The video signal selection device 50 receives a video signal from the imaging unit 21. When the video of the camera 1 is used on the air, a red tally signal is transmitted from the video signal selection device 50 to the serial communication unit 22 of the camera device. The information of the red tally signal is sent to the CPU 13 via the serial communication unit 14 of the lens unit 10 to turn on the red tally 11. In the case of a green tally signal, the CPU 13 turns on the green tally 12.

  Camera controller A. Reference numeral 100 includes a communication unit 101, a zoom demand 200, and a focus demand 300. The operation unit 203 is an operation member for operating the zoom. When the operation unit 203 is operated, a voltage proportional to the operation amount is sent to the CPU 202 and converted into serial data. The operation command data converted into serial data is transmitted from the serial communication unit 201 to the CPU 103 via the serial communication unit 104 of the communication unit 101. The operation command data is transmitted from the CPU 103 to the wireless communication unit 102 and transmitted to the wireless communication unit 33 of the camera 1 by wireless. The focus demand 300 performs the same process as the zoom demand 200 and transmits operation command data to the communication unit 101.

  FIG. 3 is a table showing switching of tally signals in each camera and switching of cameras to be operated by the camera controller. In FIG. 3I, the camera 1 is in a red tally ON state and the camera 2 is in a green tally ON state. The controller A100 is initially connected to the camera 1 by communication for red tally operation and is in a state where the camera 1 can be operated. The controller B200 is initially connected to the camera 2 by communication for green tally operation, and is in a state where the camera 2 can be operated.

  Whether the controller functions for red tally operation or green tally operation is set by a switch (not shown) provided in the controller.

  Next, a case where the red tally signal and the green tally signal are switched by the video signal selection device 50 and the tally signal of each camera is in the state (II) will be described. Since the camera 1 has changed from the red tally ON to the tally OFF state, the controller A100 detects that the red tally signal of the camera 1 has been turned OFF and searches for a camera with the red tally ON. Since the red tally ON is the camera 2, the controller A100 changes the connection destination to the camera 2. Further, since the camera 2 is changed from the green tally ON to the red tally ON state, the controller B detects that the green tally signal of the camera 2 is turned OFF and searches for a camera with the green tally ON. Since the green tally ON is the camera 3, the controller B200 changes the connection destination to the camera 3.

  Similarly, when the tally signal of each camera is in the state of (III), the controller A100 changes the connection destination to the red tally ON camera 3, and the controller B200 changes the connection destination to the green tally ON camera 4.

  4 shows the camera controller A.1. 10 is a flowchart of communication with the camera at 100. In step S101, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera. As shown in FIG. 18, the tally confirmation command is determined to return 0 in the tally OFF state, 1 in the red tally ON state, and 2 in the green tally ON state. In step S102, the reply data from the camera is checked. When the red tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S108, and an operation command value transmission process is performed. If it is not a red tally ON reply, the process proceeds to step S103, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted to another camera that is not the operation target. In step S104, a red tally ON response is checked from the camera. If there is a red tally ON response, the process proceeds to step S105. If no red tally ON response is received, the process returns to step S103, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted again. In step S105, the camera that returned the red tally ON is switched to the operation target camera. In step S106, a zoom position / focus position confirmation command is transmitted to the camera after the operation target is switched, and the zoom position and focus position received from the camera in step S107 are set as command values. In step S108, zoom and focus operation command values are transmitted to the operation target camera.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of communication with a camera at 200. In step S201, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera. In step S202, the reply data from the camera is checked. When the green tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S208, and an operation command value transmission process is performed. If it is not a green tally ON reply, the process proceeds to step S203, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted to another camera that is not the operation target. In step S204, a reply of green tally ON is checked from the camera. If there is a reply of green tally ON, the process proceeds to step S205. If there is no reply of green tally ON, the process returns to step S203, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted again. In step S205, the camera that has returned green tally ON is switched to the operation target camera. In step S206, a confirmation command for the zoom position and focus position is transmitted to the camera after the operation target has been switched, and the zoom position and focus position received from the camera in step S207 are set as command values. In step S208, zoom and focus operation command values are transmitted to the operation target camera.

  As described above, when the controller detects that the tally state of the camera has been removed and switches the connection destination camera, it is possible to eliminate the need for the cameraman to switch the connection destination camera at hand.

  In the second embodiment, a case where the operation target of the controller is switched from the green tally ON camera to the red tally ON camera will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the camera controller and the imaging system in the second embodiment. The first embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an EEPROM 106 is configured in the communication unit 101. In the EEPROM 106, as shown in FIG. 7, the zoom / focus initial setting position of each camera is stored. In this embodiment, the zoom / focus position is stored in a normalized form of 0 to 60000.

  FIG. 8 is a table showing switching of tally signals in each camera and switching of cameras to be operated by the camera controller. In FIG. 8I, the camera 1 is in the red tally ON state and the camera 2 is in the green tally ON state. The controller A100 is initially connected to the camera 1 by communication for red tally operation and is in a state where the camera 1 can be operated. The controller B200 is initially connected to the camera 2 by communication for green tally operation, and is in a state where the camera 2 can be operated.

  Whether the controller functions for red tally operation or green tally operation is set by a switch (not shown) provided in the controller.

  Next, a case where the red tally signal and the green tally signal are switched by the video signal selection device 50 and the tally signal of each camera is in the state (II) will be described. Since the camera 1 has changed from the red tally ON to the tally OFF state, the controller A detects that the red tally signal of the camera 1 has been turned OFF, and searches for a green tally ON camera. Since the green tally ON is the camera 3, the controller A changes the connection destination to the camera 3. In addition, since the camera 2 has changed from the green tally ON to the red tally ON state, the controller B detects that the green tally signal of the camera 2 has been turned OFF and confirms that it has been changed to the red tally ON. Does not change with camera 2.

  Similarly, when the tally signal of each camera is in the state (III), the controller A100 keeps the connection destination as the camera 3, and the controller B200 changes the connection destination to the camera 4 of the green tally ON.

  FIG. 9 shows the camera controller A.1. 10 is a flowchart of communication with the camera at 100. In step S301, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera. In step S302, the reply data from the camera is checked. If red tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S304, and zoom and focus operation command values are transmitted to the camera. If it is not a red tally ON reply, the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the zoom / focus initial position data of the currently operated camera is read from the EEPROM 106, and the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the command value data for moving to the read zoom / focus initial position is transmitted to the camera, and the zoom / focus position of the camera from which the red tally is removed is moved to the initial setting position. In step S306, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to another camera that is not the operation target. In step S307, the camera checks for a green tally ON reply. If there is a reply of green tally ON, the process proceeds to step S308, and if there is no reply of green tally ON, the process returns to step S306 and transmits a tally confirmation command again. In step S308, the camera that has returned green tally ON is switched to the operation target camera.

  From step S309, it functions as a green tally ON camera operation. In step S309, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the operation target camera. In step S310, the reply data from the camera is checked. If the green tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S311 to transmit zoom and focus operation command values to the camera, and then returns to step S309. If the green tally ON is not returned, the process returns to step S301 and functions again for operating the red tally ON camera.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the operation is continued from the green tally ON camera to the red tally ON state, and the connection destination camera is switched when the red tally is removed. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the need for the cameraman to switch the operation target camera from composition determination in preparation for on-air to composition adjustment in on-air. In addition, by transmitting a command value to a preset position to the camera from which the red tally is removed, it is possible to reduce the time for the next composition determination work.

  In the third embodiment, a case where a camera that cannot be connected to the controller is included will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a table showing whether or not operations by wireless communication are possible in the cameras 1 to 4 of FIG. For example, the camera 4 is operated in such a manner that the cameraman carries it on his / her shoulder, so that the camera 4 is operated manually rather than by a controller.

  FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of the camera controller and the imaging system according to the third embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a camera switching operation unit 107 is configured in the communication unit 101. The camera switching operation unit 107 is, for example, a line of push button switches on which camera numbers are described. When the cameraman wants to switch the camera he wants to operate, the camera to be operated by the controller can be switched by pressing the switch of the desired camera number.

  FIG. 12 is a table showing tally signal switching and camera controller operation target switching in each camera according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 12I, the camera 1 is in the red tally ON state and the camera 2 is in the green tally ON state. The controller A100 is initially connected to the camera 1 by communication for red tally operation and is in a state where the camera 1 can be operated. The controller B200 is initially connected to the camera 2 by communication for green tally operation, and is in a state where the camera 2 can be operated.

  Next, a case where the red tally signal and the green tally signal are switched by the video signal selection device 50 and the tally signal of each camera is in the state (II) will be described. Since the camera 1 has changed from the red tally ON to the tally OFF state, the controller A detects that the red tally signal of the camera 1 has been turned OFF, and searches for a red tally ON camera. Since the red tally ON is the camera 2, the controller A100 changes the connection destination to the camera 2. Further, since the camera 2 has changed from the green tally ON to the red tally ON state, the controller B 200 detects that the green tally signal of the camera 2 has been turned OFF, and searches for a green tally ON camera. Since the camera with the green tally ON is a camera 4 that cannot be operated wirelessly, the controller B.B. Reference numeral 200 is connected to the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107 or the camera that is tally OFF. In the example of FIG. 12, the camera 1 is connected.

  Next, the case where the tally signal of each camera is in the state (III) will be described. Since the camera 2 has changed from the red tally ON to the tally OFF state, the controller A100 detects that the red tally signal of the camera 1 has been turned OFF and searches for a camera with the red tally ON. Since the camera in which the red tally is ON is the camera 4 that cannot be operated wirelessly, the connection destination of the controller A remains the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107 or the camera 2. Further, since the camera 3 has changed from the tally OFF state to the green tally ON state, the controller B detects that the green tally signal of the camera 3 has been turned OFF and switches the connection destination to the camera 3.

  FIG. 13 shows the camera controller A.1. 10 is a flowchart of a normal operation mode in FIG. In step S401, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera. In step S402, the reply data from the camera is checked. If red tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S404, and zoom and focus operation command values are transmitted to the camera. If it is not a red tally ON reply, the process proceeds to step S403, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted to each connectable camera. In step S405, it is checked whether there is a red tally ON camera in the connectable camera. If a red tally ON camera is found, the process proceeds to step S407, the operation target camera is switched to a red tally ON camera, and step S401 is performed. Return to. If no red tally ON camera is found, the process proceeds to step S406. In step S406, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107. In step S408, the reply data from the camera is checked. If tally OFF is returned, the process proceeds to step S409. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S410. In step S409, the camera to be operated is switched to the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107. In step S410, the red tally monitoring mode is entered in order to constantly check that the red tally is ON.

  Next, processing in the red tally monitoring mode will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the red tally monitoring mode. In step S501, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to each connectable camera. In step S502, it is checked whether a red tally ON reply has been received. If there is a red tally ON camera, the process proceeds to step S503. If not, the process proceeds to step S504. In step S504, the command value is transmitted to the operation target camera, and the process returns to step S501 to continue the red tally monitoring mode. In step S503, the operation target camera is set to a red tally ON camera. In step S505, the red tally monitoring mode is canceled and the normal operation mode is restored.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a normal operation mode in FIG. In step S601, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera. In step S602, the reply data from the camera is checked. If the green tally ON is returned, the process proceeds to step S604, and zoom and focus operation command values are transmitted to the camera. If it is not a green tally ON reply, the process proceeds to step S603, and a tally confirmation command is transmitted to each connectable camera. In step S605, it is checked whether there is a green tally ON camera in the connectable camera. If a green tally ON camera is found, the process proceeds to step S607 to switch the operation target camera to a green tally ON camera, and in step S601. Return to. If no green tally ON camera is found, the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107. Next, in step S608, the reply data from the camera is checked, and if tally OFF is returned, the process proceeds to step S609, otherwise the process proceeds to step S610. In step S609, the camera to be operated is switched to the camera selected by the camera switching operation unit 107. In step S610, the camera to be operated is switched to the camera in the tally OFF state. This is because a camera in which the green tally is turned off moves to a state in which the red tally is turned on, and therefore, if the operation target camera is left unswitched, it is prevented from competing with the controller command for the red tally operation. . In step S611, a green tally monitoring mode is entered in order to constantly check that the green tally is ON.

  Next, processing in the green tally monitoring mode will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the green tally monitoring mode. In step S701, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to each connectable camera. In step S702, it is checked whether a green tally ON reply has been received. If there is a green tally ON camera, the process proceeds to step S703, and if not, the process proceeds to step S704. In step S704, the command value is transmitted to the operation target camera, and the process returns to step S701 to continue the green tally monitoring mode. In step S703, the operation target camera is set to a green tally ON camera. In step S705, the green tally monitoring mode is canceled and the normal operation mode is restored.

  Next, a process of switching the operation target camera by the camera switching operation unit 107 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. In step S801, the switching operation of the camera switching operation unit is checked. If there is a switching operation, the process proceeds to step S802. In step S802, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the currently connected camera. In step S803, the reply data from the camera is checked. If tally OFF is returned, the process proceeds to step S804. In step S804, a tally confirmation command is transmitted to the camera set by the camera switching operation unit, and in step S805, it is confirmed whether the return data from the camera is tally OFF. If tally OFF is returned, the process advances to step S806 to set the operation target camera to the camera with the number switched by the camera switching operation unit.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when there is a tally-on camera in a connectable camera, the camera to be operated is preferentially given to the tally-on camera regardless of the camera selection state in the camera operation unit 107. Was changed. When there is no tally ON camera, the camera switching operation unit 107 can select an operation target camera. Therefore, when operating a tally-on camera, it is possible to eliminate the need for a camera switching operation. When operating a tally-off camera, it is possible to select an arbitrary camera according to the shooting situation and determine the composition. it can.

  Further, when operating the camera in the tally ON state, it is possible to prevent a state in which the tally ON camera cannot be operated even if the camera switching operation unit is erroneously operated.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary. The operation target of the controller is not limited to zoom / focus, and the present invention can be applied even when operations such as pan / tilt are included. In addition, although the embodiment has been described with a wireless controller, the present invention can also be applied to a system in which a camera and a controller communicate with each other by wire.

  Further, although the communication unit is configured separately from the lens unit and the zoom demand / focus demand, the communication unit may be built in the lens unit and the zoom demand / focus demand.

100: Camera controller 102: Wireless communication unit 103: Communication unit CPU
106: EEPROM
202: Zoom demand CPU
203: Zoom demand operation unit 302: Focus demand CPU
303: Focus demand operation unit

Claims (8)

An imaging device controller capable of controlling a plurality of imaging devices,
A video selection signal status query step for querying the status of the video selection signal for a plurality of imaging devices;
A video selection signal state determination step of determining a video signal state of the imaging device obtained from the video signal state inquiry means;
An imaging having an operation target imaging device switching procedure including an operation target imaging device switching step for switching an operation target to another imaging device when it is detected that the video selection signal of the imaging device is in a non-selected state Controller for equipment. In the video selection signal state determination step, when it is detected that the video selection signal of the imaging device is in a non-selected state, a video selection signal imaging device search step of searching for an imaging device in which the video selection signal is in a selected state Have
2. The imaging device controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation target imaging device switching step switches an operation target to an imaging device whose video selection signal is in a selected state. The video selection signal state determination step detects that the first video selection signal is in a non-selected state,
The video selection signal imaging device search step searches for an imaging device in which the first video selection signal is in a selected state,
The imaging device controller according to claim 2, wherein the operation target imaging device switching step switches the operation target camera to an imaging device whose first video selection signal is selected. The video selection signal state determination step detects that a second video selection signal different from the first video selection signal is in a non-selected state,
The video selection signal imaging device search step searches for an imaging device in which the second video selection signal is in a selected state,
The controller for an imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation target imaging apparatus switching step switches the operation target imaging apparatus to an imaging apparatus whose second video selection signal is selected. The video selection signal state determination step detects that a second video selection signal different from the first video selection signal is in a non-selected state,
The video selection signal imaging device search step searches for an imaging device in which the first video selection signal is in a selected state,
The imaging device controller according to claim 2, wherein the operation target imaging device switching step switches the operation target imaging device to an imaging device whose first video selection signal is selected. In the video selection signal imaging device search step, when an imaging device whose video selection signal is in a selected state is not found, a video selection signal status monitoring step for monitoring that the video selection signal of the connectable imaging device is in a selected state Have
When it is detected that the video selection signal of the connectable imaging device is selected in the operation target imaging device switching step and the video signal state monitoring step, the operation target imaging device is transferred to the imaging device in which the video selection signal is in the selected state. The controller for an imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is switched.   7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an initial operation command value setting step of setting position information of the operation target imaging device to an initial operation command value after the operation target imaging device is switched. Controller for imaging device. In the video selection signal state determination step, when it is detected that the video selection signal of the imaging device is in a non-selected state, an initial setting position is read and a command value for moving to the initial setting position is transmitted to the imaging device. The controller for an imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a setting position command step.