JP2014050000A - Radio wave emission source photographing camera automatic tracking method and automatic tracking camera system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that when trying to confirm a radio wave emission source with a camera while receiving a radio wave from its emission source, if automatic tracking is attempted only with reception strength, an error in a camera tracking direction arises.SOLUTION: An automatic camera tracking system comprises: an antenna for tracking the direction of a radio wave received from a prescribed radio wave emission source and outputting radio wave direction information indicating the direction of the radio wave; a camera unit for outputting, as an image signal, the result derived by photographing a direction corresponding to an input signal as a photographing direction; and an image processing unit for outputting location information obtained from the image signal, indicating the location of the radio wave emission source on a photographing screen. The input signal is controlled on the basis of the location information relative to the photographing direction which is set in radio wave direction information so that the location information approaches a preset spot on the photographing screen.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic tracking method for a camera that captures an object of telemetry measurement that is a radio wave transmission source.

  When a radio wave from a telemeter measurement target is being received and the telemeter transmission source is confirmed with a camera, the camera may be manually operated to photograph the telemeter transmission source. This method requires one person who operates the camera, and when the subject to be moved moves at a high speed, tracking of the camera fails until the operator becomes familiar with the camera operation. Further, when the object to be photographed approaches from outside the field of view, it is necessary to align the direction of the object to be photographed roughly with the direction of the antenna, and for fine adjustment, it is necessary to align the direction of the camera depending on the experience of the operator.

  In order to improve this point, a technique for automatically tracking the direction of a camera on a subject to be imaged is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-26883 discloses a method for moving a subject by rotating a camera integrated with a receiver using a rotary table so that the reception intensity of a radio wave from a wireless tag attached to the subject is maximized. A technique is disclosed in which a camera follows and obtains a tracking image.

JP 2005-123931 A

  In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the direction of the antenna is controlled so that the reception intensity of the radio wave from the wireless tag is maximized. If the reception range is limited to a short distance of about 10m as in the case of a wireless tag, that may be sufficient. However, if the reception range is a long distance exceeding 1000m, the reception environment changes and the radio wave reception intensity is maximized. An error also appears in the range. Therefore, there is a problem that if the control is performed only with the reception intensity, an error appears in the direction in which the camera follows.

  The objective of this invention is providing the automatic tracking camera system which solves the subject mentioned above.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention tracks the direction of a radio wave received from a predetermined radio wave source, outputs an antenna direction information indicating the direction of the radio wave, and sets the direction corresponding to the input signal as a shooting direction. A camera unit is provided for outputting a photographed result as an image signal. In addition, an image processing unit that outputs position information indicating the position of the radio wave transmission source on the shooting screen, which is obtained from the image signal, is provided.

  And based on the said positional information with respect to the imaging | photography direction set to radio wave direction information, an input signal is controlled so that position information may approach the location previously set on the imaging | photography screen.

  The effect of the present invention is that it is possible to perform accurate automatic tracking as compared with existing automatic tracking camera devices that face the same direction as the direction of the antenna.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the automatic tracking camera system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the automatic tracking camera system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the automatic tracking camera system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the automatic tracking camera system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic tracking camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an antenna 1 with an automatic tracking function is a tracking antenna that automatically tracks the directivity direction of the antenna to a radio wave source. As a type of antenna, a parabolic antenna, a helical antenna, or the like is used. As a function of the antenna, it has a function of automatically tracking so that a radio wave source is within the beam width for receiving radio waves.

  The automatic tracking function of the antenna 1 equipped with the automatic tracking function performs control to direct the antenna directivity within a certain range. In the case of the present embodiment, the range in which the automatic tracking mounted antenna 1 automatically tracks the radio wave of the radio wave transmission source is set within 5 degrees to the left and right from the center of the antenna.

  In the present embodiment, a telemeter signal is transmitted from a telemeter target that is a radio wave transmission source. When receiving this telemeter signal by automatic tracking, the camera drive control unit 2 obtains data indicating which direction the antenna is directed from the antenna 1 equipped with the automatic tracking function. Further, the telemeter signal received by the antenna 1 equipped with the automatic tracking function is sent to various analysis devices (not shown) via the camera drive control unit 2 in the camera unit 10 and used for telemeter measurement.

  The camera unit 10 includes a camera drive control unit 2, a camera drive unit 3, and a camera 4. The camera driving unit 3 is a part that performs an operation of fixing the camera 4 that captures an image of the telemeter object to the camera driving unit 3 and tracking the camera 4 toward the telemeter target.

  The camera drive unit 3 can change the shooting direction of the camera 4 into an azimuth (AZ) direction (horizontal plane direction) and an elevation (EL) direction (vertical plane direction) according to a signal from the camera drive control unit 2. it can.

  Here, the camera 4 is installed in the vicinity of the antenna 1 with the automatic tracking function. The camera 4 has a built-in image identification function, identifies the color, pattern, and outer shape of the shooting target, and outputs the identification result to the image processing unit 5. The captured image can be confirmed on a monitor (not shown) via the image processing unit 5. The camera 4 may be used for moving image shooting or still image shooting.

  The image processing unit 5 processes the identification result output from the camera 4 and outputs to the camera drive control unit 2 the deviation width of the telemeter reception target from the center of the image being captured.

  The camera drive control unit 2 captures the shooting direction of the camera 4 with respect to the camera drive unit 3 based on the deviation width obtained from the image processing unit 5 and the antenna direction data obtained from the antenna 1 with the automatic tracking function. Is output so that the camera 4 can perform automatic tracking shooting.

  The operation of the automatic tracking camera system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic tracking camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the camera tracking control unit 2 controls the automatic tracking camera system. As an automatic tracking operation in the camera drive control unit 2, the camera 4 is directed to the center of the antenna pointing direction based on the automatic tracking information of the antenna obtained from the antenna 1 equipped with the automatic tracking function (step 101). The image processing unit 5 recognizes the photographing target (step 102).

  The camera drive control unit 2 determines whether the shift width obtained from the image processing unit 5 is within 7 degrees to the left and right of the center in the AZ direction on the screen (YES in step 103). If it is within 7 degrees to the left and right, the camera drive unit 3 is controlled to point the camera 4 toward the object to be photographed (step 104). When the deviation width exceeds 7 degrees on the left and right, it is directed to the center of the antenna pointing direction (NO in step 103).

  In this embodiment, the deviation width is set to 7 degrees on the left and right, but it goes without saying that a predetermined value set in advance may be used.

  When the image processing unit 5 cannot capture the target (NO in step 102), the AZ direction is directed to the center of the antenna directivity direction, and the EL direction is directed horizontally. The initial state is set so that a new target can be easily captured.

As described above, the automatic tracking camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention performs more accurate automatic tracking than the existing automatic tracking camera device that faces the direction of the antenna. It is possible.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic tracking camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Since automatic tracking is performed in two directions in FIG. 3, the reference numerals are different from those in the first embodiment, but the configuration is almost the same.

  In FIG. 3, an antenna 11 with an automatic tracking function is a tracking antenna that automatically tracks the direction of the antenna to a target that emits radio waves. As a type of antenna, a parabolic antenna, a helical antenna, or the like is used. The function of the antenna is an antenna that automatically tracks so that the measurement target is always included in the beam width.

  The automatic tracking function of the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function performs control for directing the antenna directivity within a certain range. In the case of the present embodiment, the range in which the automatic tracking mounted antenna 11 automatically tracks the radio wave of the radio wave transmission source is set within 5 degrees in the vertical and horizontal directions from the center of the antenna.

  In the present embodiment, a telemeter signal is transmitted from a telemeter target that is a radio wave transmission source. When receiving this telemeter signal by automatic tracking, the camera drive control unit 12 obtains data indicating which direction the antenna is directed from the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function. Further, the telemeter signal received by the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function is sent to various analysis devices (not shown) via the camera drive control unit 12 in the camera unit 20 and used for telemeter measurement.

  The camera unit 20 includes a camera drive control unit 12, a camera drive unit 13, and a camera 14. The camera drive unit 13 is a part that performs an operation of fixing the camera 14 that captures an image of the telemeter target to the camera drive unit 13 and tracking the camera 14 toward the telemeter target.

  The camera drive unit 13 can change the shooting direction of the camera 14 into an azimuth (AZ) direction (horizontal plane direction) and an elevation (EL) direction (vertical plane direction) according to a signal from the camera drive control unit 12. it can.

  Here, the camera 14 is installed in the vicinity of the antenna 11 with the automatic tracking function. The camera 14 has a built-in image identification function, identifies the color, pattern, and outer shape of the shooting target, and outputs the identification result to the image processing unit 15. The captured image can be confirmed on a monitor (not shown) via the image processing unit 15. The camera 14 may be used for moving image shooting or still image shooting.

  The image processing unit 15 processes the identification result output from the camera 14 and outputs to the camera drive control unit 12 the deviation width of the telemeter reception target from the center of the image being captured.

  The camera drive control unit 12 captures the shooting direction of the camera 14 with respect to the camera drive unit 13 based on the shift width obtained from the image processing unit 15 and the antenna direction data obtained from the antenna 11 with the automatic tracking function. A signal for changing the image is output, and control is performed so that the camera 14 can perform automatic tracking shooting.

  The operation of the automatic tracking system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the automatic tracking system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present invention, control of the automatic tracking system is performed by the camera drive control unit 12. As the automatic tracking operation in the camera drive control unit 12, automatic tracking in the AZ direction and automatic tracking in the EL direction are performed. The automatic tracking in the AZ direction and the automatic tracking in the EL direction may be performed in parallel or sequentially. The individual operations are almost the same as those in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

  As the automatic tracking operation in the AZ direction of the camera drive control unit 12, the camera 14 is directed to the center of the antenna pointing direction based on the automatic tracking information of the antenna obtained from the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function (step 201). The image processing unit 15 recognizes the shooting target (YES in step 202).

  The camera drive control unit 12 determines whether the shift width obtained from the image processing unit 15 is within 7 degrees from the center in the AZ direction on the screen (YES in Step 203). If it is within 7 degrees to the left and right, the camera drive unit 13 is controlled to point the camera 14 at the object to be photographed (step 204). When the deviation width exceeds 7 degrees on the left and right, it is directed to the center of the antenna in the AZ direction (NO in step 203).

  Similarly, in the operation in the EL direction, the camera 14 is directed to the center in the EL direction of the antenna based on the automatic tracking information of the antenna obtained from the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function (step 211). The image processing unit 15 recognizes the shooting target (YES in step 212). The camera drive control unit 12 determines whether the shift width obtained from the image processing unit 15 is within 7 degrees above and below the center in the EL direction on the screen (YES in Step 213). If it is within 7 degrees in the vertical direction, the camera drive unit 13 is controlled to point the camera 14 at the photographing target (step 214). If the deviation width exceeds 7 degrees in the vertical direction, it is directed to the center of the antenna in the EL direction (NO in step 213).

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the automatic tracking function of the antenna 11 equipped with the automatic tracking function is set so that the deviation width of the received beam width from the center in the AZ direction and the EL direction is within 7 degrees vertically and horizontally, respectively. Needless to say, a predetermined value is acceptable.

  As described above, the automatic tracking system according to the second embodiment of the present invention adds an automatic tracking based on image recognition when an error occurs in a camera facing the same direction as an existing antenna. It is possible to perform more accurate automatic tracking.

  The present invention can be applied not only to a telemeter measurement object but also to a system that automatically tracks using radio waves, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Changes and modifications can be made.

  The present invention can be used for automatic tracking shooting of a camera that is shooting a radio wave source.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna with automatic tracking function 2 Camera drive control part 3 Camera drive part 4 Camera 5 Image processing part 10 Camera part 11 Antenna with automatic tracking function 12 Camera drive control part 13 Camera drive part 14 Camera 15 Image processing part 20 Camera part

Claims (6)

An antenna that tracks the direction of radio waves received from a predetermined radio wave source and outputs radio wave direction information indicating the direction of the radio waves;
A camera unit that outputs a result obtained by photographing a direction corresponding to an input signal as a photographing direction as an image signal;
An image processing unit that outputs position information representing the position of the radio wave transmission source on the shooting screen, obtained from the image signal;
With
Controlling the input signal based on the position information with respect to the shooting direction set in the radio wave direction information so that the position information approaches a preset location on the shooting screen;
Automatic tracking camera system characterized by   The camera unit outputs a result of identifying a color, a pattern, and an outer shape of a shooting target to the image processing unit, and the image processing unit calculates the position information on the screen of the shooting target based on the result. The automatic tracking camera system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic tracking camera system is generated. 3. The automatic tracking camera system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a directional antenna, and automatically tracks so that the radio wave transmission source is always included in a reception beam width. 4.   4. The automatic tracking camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera unit changes a camera direction in an AZ direction and an EL direction to determine a shooting direction of the camera. 5.   The automatic tracking camera system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radio wave transmission source is a telemeter measurement target. Tracking the direction of a radio wave received from a predetermined radio wave source, and outputting radio wave direction information indicating the direction of the radio wave;
A step of outputting a result of photographing as a photographing direction in a direction corresponding to an input signal as an image signal;
A step of outputting position information indicating the position of the radio wave source on the shooting screen, obtained from the image signal;
Controlling the input signal based on the position information with respect to the shooting direction set in the radio wave direction information so that the position information approaches a preset location on the shooting screen;
An automatic tracking method for a radio wave source photographing camera, comprising:

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