JP2014235256A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device that positions a camera unit around a tilt axis without causing increase in size of the imaging device and increase in cost in the imaging device provided with the camera unit rotatable around the tilt axis.SOLUTION: An imaging device 100 to be installed on an installation surface comprises: a camera unit 103 that images a subject to generate a picture signal; a tilt base 106 that holds the camera unit 103 rotatably around a tilt axis; a lower case 102 that holds the tilt base 106, and has a bottom surface part 102a to be installed on the installation surface provided; a pawl part 105c that is provided in the camera unit 103; and a groove array 106a that is engaged with the pawl part 105c, and is provided in the tilt base 106. The pawl part 105c is provided on a bottom surface part 102a side further than the tilt axis, and the groove array 106a is provided on the bottom surface part 102a side further than the tilt axis.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including a tilt rotation mechanism for rotating a camera unit that captures an image of a subject and generates a video signal around a tilt axis.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an imaging device such as a surveillance camera, which has a tilt rotation mechanism for rotating the camera unit in a tilt direction in an imaging device in which a camera unit for imaging a subject is covered with a dome. Are known.

  Some of such imaging devices include a drive system such as a motor in order to rotate the camera unit in the tilt direction by a user's remote operation. On the other hand, since it can be configured inexpensively and compactly, there are many imaging devices that do not include such a drive system and manually rotate the camera unit in the tilt direction.

  Here, in the case of an imaging device equipped with a drive system such as a motor, even if a small force is applied to the camera unit or the like, a resistance force is generated by the drive system gear or the like. Does not rotate in the tilt direction. On the other hand, in the case of an imaging apparatus that does not include a drive system for rotating the camera unit in the tilt direction, such a resistance force does not occur.

  For this reason, for an imaging apparatus that does not include such a drive system, the position of the camera unit in the tilt direction is held at a desired position when a certain force is not applied to the camera unit or the like. It is necessary to provide a mechanism. Furthermore, this mechanism must be capable of rotating the camera unit in the tilt direction when a certain force or more is applied to the camera unit or the like.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device including a lens case in which a lens is installed, a base that supports the lens case so as to be rotatable in a tilt direction, and a leaf spring. This imaging apparatus positions the lens case in the tilt direction by pressing the lens case toward the base side by the elastic force of the leaf spring.

  Conventionally, there has been known an imaging apparatus that positions a camera unit in a tilt direction by a click mechanism that engages a claw that elastically deforms with a groove array. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing the configuration of such an imaging apparatus 10. The upper case 11 in FIG. 8 has a dome portion 11a formed in a hemispherical shape. The upper case 11 is attached to the lower case 12. The upper case 11 and the lower case 12 constitute an exterior.

  Note that the axis T in FIG. 8 indicates the rotation axis of the camera unit 13 in the tilt direction.

  A camera unit 13 is disposed inside the dome portion 11a. The camera unit 13 images a subject and outputs a video signal. The camera unit 13 is provided with a cylindrical shaft portion 13a protruding from the camera unit. The shaft portion 13 a is inserted into the bearing portion 14 a of the tilt base 14. Thereby, the camera unit 13 is attached to the tilt base 14 so as to be rotatable in the tilt direction.

  Further, the shoulder portion 13 b is formed integrally with the camera unit 13. The shoulder portion 13b has a substantially disk shape concentric with the shaft portion 13a, and is formed in a substantially disk shape having a larger radius than the shaft portion 13a. In the circumferential portion of such a shoulder portion 13b, groove rows are continuously formed over a 90 ° region. Further, the claw portion 14b is integrally formed on the tilt base 14, and the claw portion 14b is engaged with a groove row formed on the shoulder portion 13b.

  Here, when the camera unit 13 is to be rotated in the tilt direction, the claw portion 14b located in a certain groove in the groove row of the shoulder portion 13b gets over between the groove by elastically deforming. Further, by rotating the camera unit 13 in the tilt direction, the claw portion 14b that has passed between the grooves fits into the next groove in the groove row.

  Thus, the click mechanism for determining the position of the camera unit 13 in the tilt direction is configured. According to such a configuration, the claw portion 14b is formed integrally with the tilt base 14, and the groove row of the shoulder portion 13b is formed integrally with the camera unit 13, so that the number of parts of the imaging device 10 is increased. Will not increase.

JP2012-93579

  However, in the configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a leaf spring is provided to determine the position of the lens case in the tilt direction, which increases the number of components and complicates the assembly, resulting in an increase in cost.

  In the imaging device 10 shown in FIG. 8, the claw portion 14 b is formed integrally with the tilt base 14, and the groove row formed in the shoulder portion 13 b is formed integrally with the camera unit 13. For this reason, although the number of parts does not increase, the claw part 14b is disposed between the tilt axis T and the dome part 11a, so that the dome part 11a is enlarged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. That is, an imaging apparatus including a camera unit that can rotate about a tilt axis, and an imaging apparatus that positions the camera unit about the tilt axis without increasing the size and cost of the imaging apparatus. Can do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is an image pickup apparatus installed on an installation surface, which captures a subject and generates a video signal, and rotates the camera unit around a tilt axis. A tilt support plate that can be held; a positioning mechanism that positions the camera unit around the tilt axis; and a lower case that holds the tilt support plate and is provided with a bottom surface portion that is installed on the installation surface. The positioning mechanism is provided closer to the bottom surface than the tilt shaft.

  According to the present invention, an imaging apparatus including a camera unit that can rotate around a tilt axis, and positioning the camera unit around the tilt axis without increasing the size and cost of the imaging apparatus. Can be provided.

It is an appearance perspective view of an imaging device in an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of an imaging apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the camera unit periphery in embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of an imaging device in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of an imaging device in an embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view for demonstrating the part which a nail | claw part and a groove | channel row | line in embodiment of this invention engage. It is a perspective view of a tilt base and a tilt table in an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the conventional imaging device.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an imaging apparatus 100 as a surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior (housing) of the imaging apparatus 100 includes an upper case 101 and a lower case 102. The upper case 101 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and is, for example, a plastic exterior part. The upper case 101 is fixed to a lower case 102 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a screw (not shown) or the like.

  The upper case 101 is provided with a dome portion 101a formed in a hemispherical shape. The dome portion 101a is a transparent or translucent plastic dome cover. Further, the upper case 101 is attached to the lower case 102. The lower case 102 is an aluminum alloy exterior component, like the upper case 101.

  Note that a bottom surface portion 102a (illustrated in FIG. 4) of the lower case 102 is provided with an unillustrated installation mechanism for installation on the installation surface. The dome portion 101a covers a camera unit 103 to be described later.

  2 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus 100 with the upper case 101 and the dome 101a removed. The camera unit 103 in FIG. 2 captures a subject, generates a video signal, and outputs the generated video signal. The cable 104 transmits the video signal output from the camera unit 103 to a main board 113 (shown in FIG. 4) described later.

  The tilt table 105 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The tilt table 105 holds the camera unit 103. The tilt table 105 is supported by the tilt base 106 so as to be rotatable in the tilt direction. The tilt base 106 is supported by the main base 107 so as to be rotatable in the pan direction.

  Next, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration around the camera unit 103 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, the camera unit 103 includes a lens barrel 110, an image sensor substrate 108 attached to the lens barrel 110 via a holding plate 109 and mounted with an image sensor, and a lens cover 111 that covers the lens barrel 110. And the rear cover 112. The lens barrel 110 is fixed to the lens cover 111.

  The lens barrel 110 includes an imaging optical system. The image of the subject imaged by this imaging optical system is imaged on the imaging device mounted on the imaging device substrate 108. The video signal output from the image sensor is transmitted to the main board 113 via the cable 104. The holding plate 109 is attached to each of the lens barrel 110 and the image sensor substrate 108 while being sandwiched between the lens barrel 110 and the image sensor substrate 108.

  The tilt table 105 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A tilting plate 105 a formed integrally with the cylindrical portion is provided inside the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105. Three circumferential plates 105 a are provided at equal intervals along the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105.

  The peripheral plates 105a provided at these three locations are sandwiched by the lens cover 111 and the rear cover 112 in a state in which they can rotate (rotate) around the optical axis of the imaging optical system included in the lens barrel 110. The As a result, the camera unit 103 can rotate around the optical axis with respect to the tilt table 105.

  Here, the rear cover 112 constituting the camera unit 103 is provided with a protrusion 112a. The protrusion 112 a comes into contact with a receiving portion 105 d provided on the tilt table 105 at the end of rotation around the optical axis of the camera unit 103. Thereby, the range in which the camera unit 103 rotates around the optical axis is restricted.

  The receiving portion 105d is disposed on the opposite side of the subject from a later-described columnar portion 105b in the optical axis direction. The receiving portion 105d is disposed closer to the imaging element than the cylindrical portion 105b.

  Further, the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105 is provided with a columnar portion 105b that protrudes outward from the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion 105b is inserted into a bearing portion 106a (shown in FIG. 4) provided on the tilt base 106. As a result, the tilt table 105 can rotate in the tilt direction with respect to the tilt base 106. That is, the tilt table 105 is held by the tilt base 106 so as to be rotatable about the tilt axis. Note that the cylindrical portion 105b in the present embodiment corresponds to a tilt axis. The tilt axis is located on the opposite side of the bottom surface portion 102a with respect to the lower end of the dome portion 101a. Furthermore, the tilt base 106 in this embodiment corresponds to a tilt support plate.

  The tilt table 105 is provided with two claw portions 105c formed integrally. These claw portions 105 c protrude outward from the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105. These claw portions 105 c are arranged at positions facing each other across the optical axis of the camera unit 103.

  Further, the tilt table 105 is provided with reinforcing ribs 105e over substantially the entire circumference of the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105. In the present embodiment, the tilt table 105 has a thin plate thickness for miniaturization and cannot be kept highly rigid due to the substantially cylindrical shape. Therefore, the rigidity of the tilt table 105 is improved by providing the reinforcing rib 105e. I am letting.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a diagram for illustrating the entire configuration of the imaging apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, and is an exploded perspective view of the imaging apparatus 100 in a state where the upper case 101 and the dome portion 101a are removed. The lower case 102 in FIG. 4 supports the main board 113. The main board 113 is attached to the lower case 102, and the main base 107 is fixed to the lower case 102 so as to cover the main board 113.

  A circular hole 107 a is provided at the center of the main base 107. Here, a cylindrical portion (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the tilt base 106, and this cylindrical portion is inserted into the hole 107a. Accordingly, the tilt base 106 is held by the main base 107 so as to be rotatable in the pan direction with respect to the main base 107.

  In the present embodiment, the columnar portion provided on the bottom surface of the tilt base 106 corresponds to the pan axis.

  The tilt base 106 is provided with two bearing portions 106a. Two cylindrical portions 105b provided on the tilt table 105 are inserted through these two bearing portions 106a. The tilt base 106 is formed with two groove rows 106b. These two groove rows 106b are disposed so as to face each other with the camera unit 103 interposed therebetween (with the pan axis interposed therebetween).

  Note that these two groove rows 106 b are engaged with the two claw portions 105 c provided on the tilt table 105. Further, the claw portion 105 c and the groove array portion 106 b in the present embodiment correspond to a positioning mechanism that positions the camera unit 103 around the tilt axis.

  Subsequently, the configuration of the click mechanism in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 5 is a side view of the imaging apparatus 100 in a state where the optical axis of the lens barrel 110 faces in the horizontal direction along the rotation axis in the tilt direction of the camera unit 103 in the present embodiment. . Here, in FIG. 5, a part of the imaging device 100 is cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tilt base 106 is provided with a groove array 106 b, and the groove array 106 b is formed in a substantially arc shape concentric with the rotation axis of the camera unit 103 in the tilt direction. The groove row 106 b is engaged with a claw portion 105 c provided on the tilt table 105.

  6 is an enlarged view for explaining a portion where the claw portion 105c of the tilt table 105 and the groove row 106b of the tilt base 106 are engaged. Here, FIG. 6 is a side view of the camera unit 103 viewed along the rotation axis in the tilt direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the groove row 106b is provided closer to the installation surface than the rotating shaft.

  The groove row 106 b is formed in a substantially arc shape concentric with the rotation axis of the camera unit 103 in the tilt direction. The substantially circular arc shape is formed over a range (region) of 90 ° around the rotation axis of the camera unit 103 in the tilt direction. The pitch of the groove row 106b is α °.

  Here, the both ends of the groove row 106b will be described in more detail as the end A and the end B. The end A is a straight line passing through the rotation axis in the tilt direction of the camera unit 103 and is the bottom surface of the lower case 102. It is provided closer to the bottom surface 102a than a straight line parallel to the portion 102a. Further, the end B is provided on the bottom surface 102 a side with respect to the end A, and the end B is provided on the opposite side of the end A across the rotation axis in the pan direction of the camera unit 103. It has been.

  As a result, the tilt table 105 is in a state in which the optical axis of the lens barrel 110 is positioned substantially horizontally with respect to the bottom surface portion 102a of the lower case 102 and the optical axis is positioned substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface portion 102a. Can rotate in the tilt direction. That is, the range in which the tilt table 105 can rotate in the tilt direction is a range of 90 °. Further, the tilt table 105 can be fixed every α ° within this range.

  In the present embodiment, the upper end (end A) of the positioning mechanism described above is provided closer to the bottom surface 102a of the tilt base 106 than the tilt shaft.

  Next, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tilt base 106 and the tilt table 105 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, the tilt table 105 is assembled to the tilt base 106. In FIG. 7, a part of the tilt base 106 is cut away.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing rib 105e is provided at the end of the tilt table 105 and at the end on the subject side. (That is, the reinforcing rib 105e corresponds to a rib provided at the subject side end of the tilt table 105.) Further, the reinforcing rib 105e is provided with a notch 105f.

  The notch 105f is notched so as not to interfere with the wall 106d provided with the groove row 106b when the tilt table 105 rotates in the tilt direction. The wall portion 106d is provided with a step portion with respect to the surface 106c. Further, a groove row 106b is formed in the step portion. The wall portion 106d is provided so as to be closer to the rotation axis around which the camera unit 103 rotates in the pan direction than the surface 106c.

  As described above, in the imaging device 100 according to the present embodiment, the claw portion 105c constituting the click mechanism is provided on the bottom surface portion 102a side of the imaging device with respect to the tilt axis and between the tilt table 105 and the tilt base 106. ing.

  Thereby, the enlargement of the dome part 101a can be avoided by providing the click mechanism. Further, by providing the groove row 106b on the bottom surface portion 102a side (bottom surface portion side) with respect to the tilt axis, it is possible to avoid the end point A of the groove row 106b from protruding in the direction of the dome portion 101a (opposite to the installation surface). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the apparatus from becoming large.

  Further, the tilt table 105 in the present embodiment has a receiving portion 105d that comes into contact with the protruding portion 112a at the end of rotation around the optical axis, and the receiving portion 105d is on the imaging element side (with respect to the tilt axis). It is placed on the opposite side of the subject.

  When the receiving portion 105d is disposed on the subject side with respect to the tilt axis, the receiving portion 105d is disposed in a region between the groove row 106b and the tilt axis. In this case, it interferes with the surface 106c formed between the groove row 106b and the bearing portion 106a. Alternatively, the surface 106c must be shifted outward to avoid this interference. As a result, the dome 101a or the entire device (the entire imaging device 100) is increased in size.

  For this reason, by arranging the receiving portion 105d closer to the imaging element than the tilt axis, it is possible to avoid an increase in size of the dome portion 101a and the entire device.

  In the present embodiment, the end point B of the groove row 106b is disposed closer to the bottom surface portion 102a than the end point A. In this embodiment, the end point A is a position where the optical axis of the imaging optical system included in the camera unit 103 is engaged with the claw portion 105c in a substantially vertical state, and the end point B is the position where the optical axis is approximately. It is a position that engages with the claw portion 105c in a horizontal state.

  Here, the substantially arc-shaped groove row 106b is formed over a range of 90 ° around the rotation axis in the tilt direction of the camera unit 103, and the end point A is arranged on the bottom surface 102a side of the end point B. The case where it is done is assumed. In this case, the claw portion must be formed at an angle of 45 ° or more with respect to a cross section perpendicular to the thrust direction (optical axis direction) of the cylindrical portion of the tilt table 105 in a state where the optical axis is horizontal.

  However, in order to dispose the claw portion 105c in such a manner, it is necessary to enlarge the tilt table 105 in the thrust direction, and as a result, the dome portion 101a or the entire device (imaging device 100) is increased in size. It will be.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the imaging device 100 is configured to avoid the increase in size of the device (imaging device 100) by disposing the end point B closer to the bottom surface portion 102a than the end point A.

  The claw portion may be provided on the tilt base and the groove row may be provided on the tilt table. In addition, the end point A and the end point B in the present embodiment correspond to both end portions.

  Although the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. . Moreover, you may combine suitably a part of embodiment mentioned above.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Imaging device 103 Camera unit 106 Tilt base 102 Lower case 102a Bottom face part 105c Claw part 106a Groove row

Claims (12)

An imaging device installed on the installation surface,
A camera unit that images a subject and generates a video signal;
A tilt support plate for holding the camera unit rotatably about a tilt axis;
A positioning mechanism for positioning the camera unit around the tilt axis;
A lower case that holds the tilt support plate and is provided with a bottom surface portion that is installed on the installation surface;
With
The imaging apparatus, wherein the positioning mechanism is provided closer to the bottom surface than the tilt axis.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the positioning mechanism is provided closer to the bottom surface than the tilt axis.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism is a click mechanism.   The said positioning mechanism contains a claw part and the groove | channel row | line | column part which engaged with the said claw part and was provided in the said tilt support plate, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Imaging device. The claw portion is provided in the camera unit,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the groove array portion is provided on the tilt support plate. The camera unit is provided with a tilt table supported by the tilt support plate so as to be rotatable about a tilt axis.
The tilt table is formed with a rib provided over the entire circumference of the subject side end of the tilt table,
The rib has a notch portion to avoid interference between the rib support plate provided with the groove row portion and the rib when the camera unit and the tilt table rotate around the tilt axis. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the groove array portion has an arc shape centered on the tilt axis.   When the optical axis of the imaging optical system included in the camera unit is parallel to the installation surface, the claw portion includes the groove row at the end on the installation surface side of both ends of the arc shape. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the imaging apparatus is engaged with a portion.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tilt axis is parallel to the installation surface.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dome cover that covers the camera unit and is formed in a hemispherical shape.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a surveillance camera. The groove row portion is provided in the camera unit,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the claw portion is provided on the tilt support plate.

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