JP2017085325A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of preventing degradation of image quality by reducing dirt adhered on the outer surface of a camera cover.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: a camera; a housing opened in an imaging direction of the camera fixed therein; a transparent cover that covers the opening of the housing and seals the camera storage chamber; and a heat exchange unit that has a first heat absorbing and releasing part disposed in the housing and second absorbing and releasing part disposed out of the housing. The heat exchange unit absorbs heat from the camera storage chamber by means of the first heat absorbing and releasing part and cools the outer surface of the transparent cover to a dew point or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In an imaging apparatus installed outdoors, a photographed image may deteriorate due to water droplets on a camera cover that covers the front of the camera when it rains. Conventionally, the following optical unit that removes water droplets by applying a water repellent coating or a hydrophilic coating to the surface of a camera cover has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). This optical unit imparts water repellency to the surface of the lens part, and imparts hydrophilicity to the surface of the non-lens part, which is a presser crown formed around the lens part. Accordingly, when the water droplet on the surface of the lens unit contacts the non-lens unit, the optical unit guides the water droplet from the surface of the water repellent lens unit to the surface of the hydrophilic non-lens unit.

JP 2008-148276 A

  However, dust in the air may adhere to the outer surface of the camera cover of the imaging device. In the imaging apparatus to which the optical unit described in Patent Document 1 is attached, it is difficult to suppress degradation of the image quality of the captured image when dirt such as dust or dirt adheres to the outer surface of the camera cover. .

  The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an imaging apparatus capable of reducing dirt attached to the outer surface of a camera cover and suppressing deterioration in image quality.

  An imaging device according to the present disclosure is disposed in a camera, a housing that is fixed to the camera and that opens in an imaging direction of the camera, a transparent cover that covers an open portion of the housing and seals the camera storage chamber, and the housing. A heat exchange device having a first heat absorbing / dissipating part and a second heat absorbing / dissipating part disposed outside the housing. The heat exchange device absorbs heat from the camera housing chamber by the first heat absorbing / dissipating part, and cools the outer surface of the transparent cover to a dew point or lower.

  According to the present disclosure, dirt attached to the outer surface of the camera cover can be reduced, and deterioration in image quality can be suppressed.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a surveillance camera according to a first embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the surveillance camera shown in FIG. Side view of surveillance camera showing dirt removal method according to comparative example The perspective view of the surveillance camera which concerns on a modification 4 is a vertical sectional view of the surveillance camera shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed description than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and repeated descriptions for substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following description from becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter.

  In the following embodiments, a surveillance camera will be described as an example of an imaging device.

(First embodiment)
[Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a monitoring camera 11 according to the first embodiment.

  The monitoring camera 11 includes a housing 13, a camera 15, a transparent cover, and a heat exchange device 17.

  The casing 13 has a cover 19 as an outer shell that is open with a circular bottom surface and gradually becomes smaller in diameter in the vertical direction. The upper end of the cover 19 is a mounting cylinder 21 that is fixed to a column or the like. A power supply line and a signal line are drawn into the mounting cylinder 21 from a column or the like. A camera 15 is housed inside the cover 19. The opening 23 on the lower surface of the cover 19 is opened toward the imaging direction of the camera 15. The cover 19 has a horizontal camera support base 25 fixed to the back side (vertical direction upper side) of the opening 23.

  The surveillance camera 11 is configured such that the camera 15 is capable of pan rotation about the pan rotation center Pc. The camera 15 is supported so as to be capable of tilting rotation about a tilt rotation center Tc that intersects the pan rotation center Pc at a right angle. That is, an outer ring 29 of a rolling bearing 27 (for example, an angular bearing) is fixed to the camera support base 25. The outer ring 29 rotatably supports the inner ring 31 via rolling elements. The inner ring 31 is restricted from falling downward in the vertical direction. A camera bracket 33 is fixed to the lower end of the inner ring 31.

  The camera bracket 33 is supported so as to be rotatable about the pan rotation center Pc with respect to the camera support base 25. A tilt shaft 35 is rotatably supported on the camera support base 25. The camera 15 is fixed to the tilt shaft 35. That is, the camera 15 is tiltable about the tilt rotation center Tc and is supported by the camera bracket 33 (housing side).

  A pan motor 37 is fixed to the camera bracket 33. A pan worm 39 is fixed to the drive shaft of the pan motor 37. The pan worm 39 meshes with a pan worm wheel (not shown) fixed to one end of the pan shaft 41. A pan gear (not shown) is fixed to the other end of the pan shaft 41. This pan gear meshes with a ring gear 43 fixed to the outer periphery of the outer ring 29.

  Thus, when the pan motor 37 is driven, the pan shaft 41 is rotated by the pan worm wheel meshing with the pan worm 39. The pan gear of the pan shaft 41 revolves around the outer periphery of the ring gear 43 fixed to the camera support base 25 by the rotation of the pan shaft 41. As a result, the camera bracket 33 is pan-rotated with respect to the camera support base 25.

  A tilt motor 45 is fixed to the camera bracket 33. A tilt worm 47 is fixed to the drive shaft of the tilt motor 45. The tilt worm 47 meshes with a tilt wheel 51 fixed to one end of the tilt shaft 49. A tilt gear 53 is fixed to the other end of the tilt shaft 49.

  The tilt gear 53 meshes with the tilt shaft outer peripheral gear 55. Thereby, when the tilt worm 47 is driven, the tilt shaft 49 is rotated by the tilt wheel 51 meshing with the tilt worm 47. The tilt gear 53 of the tilt shaft 49 rotates the tilt shaft outer peripheral gear 55 by the rotation of the tilt shaft 49. As a result, the camera 15 tilts and rotates with respect to the camera bracket 33.

  The camera 15 has an imaging unit including an image sensor (not shown) and a lens 57. The image sensor includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) image sensor and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). Imaging light enters the image sensor via the lens 57. In the camera 15, the optical axis Oc of the lens 57 is directed, for example, forward in the opening direction of the opening portion 23 (downward in FIG. 1).

  A transparent cover is provided on the opening 23 of the housing 13. The transparent cover is, for example, the dome cover 59, and is a camera cover that covers the front (imaging direction) of the camera 15. The dome cover 59 includes, for example, a hemispherical outer shell and a cylinder connected to the opening periphery of the hemispherical outer shell with the same radius. The cylinder has a flange 61 fixed to the cover 19 on the side opposite to the hemispherical outer shell. The dome cover 59 covers the open portion 23 and seals the camera housing chamber 63.

  The dome cover 59 uses a resin material excellent in moldability and transparency as a substrate material. The resin material includes an organic resin material and an inorganic resin material. For example, an organic resin material such as polycarbonate is used for the substrate material of the hemispherical outer shell. Polycarbonate is suitable because it is hard and resistant to impact. Also, a resin having good transparency such as acrylic can be used.

  The heat exchange device 17 has a pair of heat absorbing / dissipating parts that can reverse the heat absorption and heat dissipation. In the heat exchange device 17, one heat absorbing / dissipating part (an example of the first heat absorbing / dissipating part) is disposed in the housing 13, and the other heat absorbing / dissipating part (an example of the second heat absorbing / dissipating part) is located outside the housing 13. Placed in.

  For example, when dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the dome cover 59, one of the heat absorbing / dissipating parts absorbs heat, that is, absorbs heat from inside the camera housing chamber 63, and the other heat absorbing / dissipating part dissipates heat, that is, outside the camera housing chamber 63. Dissipate heat. Thereby, the heat exchange device 17 cools the outer surface of the dome cover 59 to a dew point or less.

  The heat exchange device 17 uses, for example, a Peltier element 68 in its main part. In the Peltier element 68, when a current is passed through the PN junction, an endothermic phenomenon occurs at the NP junction and a heat dissipation phenomenon occurs at the PN junction. When electricity flows through the Peltier element 68, heat is transported from the heat absorption side to the heat radiation side.

  The pair of heat absorbing / dissipating parts includes an indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65 (an example of a first heat absorbing / dissipating part) and an outer heat absorbing / dissipating part 67 (an example of a second heat absorbing / dissipating part). The indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65 is exposed inside the camera housing chamber 63. The outer side heat absorbing / dissipating part 67 is exposed to the outside of the camera housing chamber 63. Fins 69 are provided in each of the indoor side heat absorption / radiation part 65 and the outer side heat absorption / radiation part 67. The heat transfer efficiency with the air is improved by the fins 69. In the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65, the fin 69 is covered with the chamber 71.

  A duct 73 is provided in the camera storage chamber 63. In the Peltier element 68, the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65 is arranged above the upper end in the vertical direction of the dome cover 59. The duct 73 has a proximal end that opens in the vicinity of the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65 and takes in heat-exchanged air (for example, cold air). The end of the duct 73 opens to the inner surface of the dome cover 59 (for example, the upper end in the vertical direction of the inner surface), and conveys cold air or the like to the inner surface of the dome cover 59.

  For example, the duct 73 is formed in a tube shape from a flexible material (soft vinyl, rubber, silicon rubber, or the like). The proximal end of the duct 73 is connected to the chamber 71 and is inserted into a cylindrical pan shaft 75 that rotates coaxially with the inner ring 31. The end of the duct 73 penetrating the pan shaft 75 is disposed in the vicinity of the lens 57. The front end of the duct 73 is connected to an air outlet 77 fixed to the camera housing near the lens 57.

  The blower outlet 77 has a rectangular blower opening, for example. As for the blower outlet 77, the front-end | tip of the duct 73 is connected to the base end of the longitudinal direction of a blower opening. The air outlet 77 is gradually narrowed in the cross section of the flow path toward the distal end side opposite to the proximal end side of the duct 73 so that cold air or warm air from the blowout opening is blown out at a uniform speed in the longitudinal direction. . Accordingly, in the air outlet 77, the distance along the optical axis Oc from the air outlet to the inner wall gradually decreases from the base end side to which the duct 73 is connected toward the tip on the opposite side.

  The air outlet 77 is directed in a direction along the optical axis Oc of the camera 15. The camera 15 rotates by the pan rotation center Pc and the tilt rotation center Tc. The air outlet 77 can be rotated integrally with the camera 15 and is fixed to the camera housing. Note that it is preferable that the blowout port 77 has a wide blowout range on the upper side in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axis Oc.

  In the present embodiment, for example, the duct 73 is connected to the base end (vertical upper end) of the air outlet 77 formed in a rectangular shape, so that the wind speed is slightly increased at the base end of the air outlet 77. As a result, the air flow rate at the proximal end of the air outlet 77 is increased, and a wide air discharge range on the upper side in the vertical direction can be secured.

  Thereby, when dirt exists in the center of the monitoring image, a large amount of water for washing flowing down can be condensed on the upper side of the dirt. And the water droplets of dew condensation flow down by gravity, and it becomes easy to reduce the dirt in the monitoring range.

  Moreover, the monitoring camera 11 may include a blower 79 that conveys air immediately after heat exchange by the heat exchange device 17 to the tip of the duct 73. The blower 79 is provided on the opposite side of the base end of the duct 73 in the chamber 71, for example. In this case, air sucked from inside the camera housing chamber 63 can be applied to the fins 69 and pushed into the duct 73. The blower 79 may be provided between the fin 69 and the duct 73 so as to suck the air on the fin 69 side and push it into the duct 73.

  The surveillance camera 11 may be provided with a duct 73 and the blower 79 may be omitted. In this case, the cool air flows down to a predetermined position on the inner surface by the duct 73. The cold air that has flowed down is returned to the indoor side air-absorbing and radiating portion 65 again by natural convection.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a part of the monitoring camera 11 illustrated in FIG.

  The monitoring camera 11 includes a camera controller 81, a controller 83, a pan / tilt controller 85, a fan controller 87, a timer 89, a temperature / humidity sensor 91, and a rainfall sensor 93.

  The camera controller 81 controls the operation of the camera 15. The camera controller 81 receives a detection signal from the controller 83 and sends a control signal to the controller 83.

  The controller 83 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The controller 83 may have a built-in memory for storing various data, programs, etc., or may be connected to the memory. The memory stores, for example, a temperature table for obtaining a dew point, a numerical value of a humidity table, a program for an operation procedure, and the like. The controller 83 implements various functions by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory. The same applies to other controllers.

  The pan / tilt controller 85 starts and stops driving the pan motor 37 and the tilt motor 45 based on, for example, a control signal in the imaging direction from the controller 83. The pan / tilt controller 85 can transmit drive information such as the rotation amounts of the pan motor 37 and the tilt motor 45 to the controller 83.

  The fan controller 87 starts and stops driving the blower 79 based on the drive control signal from the controller 83.

  The timer 89 sends a detection signal for the monitoring start time and the monitoring end time to the controller 83. The controller 83 refers to the monitoring start time and monitoring end time detection signals from the timer 89 and operates the heat exchange device 17 other than the operation time of the camera 15, for example. The operating time of the camera 15 refers to an imaging period in which the camera 15 captures an image, for example. The timer 89 may count the elapsed operation time of the heat exchange device 17.

  The temperature / humidity sensor 91 detects temperature / humidity (temperature and humidity) outside (outside the monitoring camera 11). The controller 83 controls the operation of the heat exchange device 17 according to the detection value of the temperature / humidity sensor 91. For example, the controller 83 may operate the heat exchanging device 17 when the detection value of the temperature / humidity sensor 91 is a predetermined value or more (predetermined humidity or more).

  The rainfall sensor 93 detects the presence or absence of precipitation. The controller 83 controls the operation of the heat exchange device 17 according to the detection value of the rain sensor 93. In other words, when the controller 83 receives a rain detection signal including the fact that rain has been detected from the rain sensor 93, if the heat exchange device 17 is not in operation, the controller 83 stops the operation. In this case, if the heat exchange device 17 is operating, the controller 83 stops the operation of the heat exchange device 17.

  The controller 83 may cause the outer heat absorbing / dissipating part 67 to perform a heat dissipation operation immediately after the end of the heat absorbing operation by the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65. That is, after the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating unit 65 absorbs heat and the outer side heat absorbing / dissipating unit 67 radiates heat, the indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating unit 65 may dissipate heat and the outer side heat absorbing / dissipating unit 67 may absorb heat.

  The monitoring camera 11 may include a dehumidifying device 95. The dehumidifying device 95 has a dehumidifying element. For example, the dehumidifying element applies a DC voltage to both ends of a dehumidifying element in which a porous electrode is attached to a special solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Then, the moisture on the anode side (dehumidification side) is dissociated into hydrogen ions (H +) and oxygen on the surface of the dehumidification element. Hydrogen ions move in the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and reach the cathode side (moisture release side). On the cathode side, hydrogen ions react with oxygen in the air and are released as water molecules (gas).

  Therefore, the dehumidifier 95 electrolyzes the water vapor inside the camera storage chamber 63 and releases it to the outside of the camera storage chamber 63. As a result, the humidity inside the camera storage chamber 63 can be lowered, and condensation due to cold air can be prevented from occurring inside the camera storage chamber 63.

[Action etc.]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the surveillance camera representing the dirt removal method according to the comparative example.

  In the monitoring camera 11 according to the present embodiment, the heat exchange device 17 is operated, and the air in the camera housing chamber 63 is cooled. When the outer surface of the dome cover 59 falls below the dew point, condensation occurs on the outer surface. When water due to condensation increases, water droplets are formed, and the water droplets flow down the outer surface of the dome cover 59 due to gravity. Thereby, the dirt adhering to the outer surface is washed away. The dirt includes, for example, dust and dirt.

  In a dome cover type surveillance camera in which it is difficult to provide a wiper, as shown in FIG. 3, the dome cover 59 may be washed with a jet water stream 99 by a water discharger 97 or the like. However, work such as preparation of the water discharger 97 is complicated, and there are cases where a water inlet cannot be secured.

  On the other hand, according to the monitoring camera 11, since a cleaning tool such as the water discharger 97 is unnecessary and water vapor in the air is used, water absorption is also unnecessary. Thereby, the monitoring camera 11 can reduce the dirt adhering to the outer surface of the dome cover 59 easily, and can suppress the degradation of the image quality of the monitoring image.

  Moreover, in the surveillance camera 11, when the air blower 79 is not provided, the indoor side heat absorption / radiation part 65 is driven as a heat absorption part, and when it becomes low temperature, the air near the indoor side heat absorption / radiation part 65 is cooled by heat exchange. The cooled air (cold air) flows into the base end of the duct 73. The cold air that has flowed into the base end flows down in the duct 73 and is sent from the front end to the inner surface of the dome cover 59. The cold air hitting the inner surface takes heat from the inner surface and cools the outer surface of the dome cover 59 to the dew point. On the other hand, the cold air that has taken heat from the inner surface has a high temperature and becomes an ascending air current. That is, natural convection occurs in the camera storage chamber 63. The cool air whose temperature has increased due to natural convection returns to the vicinity of the indoor side air-absorbing and radiating portion 65.

  Further, in the monitoring camera 11, when the blower 79 is provided, when the blower 79 is driven, the air (cold air) cooled in the vicinity of the indoor side heat-absorbing and dissipating unit 65 is forwarded from the proximal end of the duct 73 by the blower 79. To the dome cover 59 from the tip. The cold air blown to the inner surface takes heat from the inner surface and cools the outer surface of the dome cover 59 to the dew point.

  As a result, the cool air efficiently reaches the inner surface of the dome cover 59, and a large amount of the cool air whose temperature has increased returns to the indoor side air-absorbing and radiating portion by natural convection. Therefore, the amount of air passing through the heat exchange device 17 increases, and the cooling capacity of the inner surface increases.

  Further, the surveillance camera 11 cools the entire dome cover 59 or changes the direction of the air outlet 77 of the duct 73 to an arbitrary region in the dome cover 59, so that the entire outer surface of the dome cover 59 is covered. Can be washed with water droplets. For example, by blowing cool air with the air outlet 77 facing the upper end of the inner surface of the dome cover 59, it is generated at the upper end of the dome cover 59, and the entire area of the dome cover 59 can be cleaned by gravity. Further, when the entire dome cover 59 is cooled, a cold air device having a high cold air output function may be provided instead of the heat exchange device 17.

  Moreover, even if the surveillance camera 11 is provided with the dome cover 59 in which it is difficult to install a wiper, it is possible to obtain a cleaning effect using water vapor in the air.

  Further, the monitoring camera 11 uses a drive mechanism for changing the monitoring direction of the camera 15, and cools and warms air to a desired portion of the dome cover 59 (a portion where dirt is adhered or a portion where cleaning water remains). It is possible to carry out cleaning and drying efficiently (short time).

  Further, the monitoring camera 11 recognizes the timing at which condensation is likely to occur on the outer surface of the dome cover 59 based on the detection value of the temperature / humidity sensor 91. Thereby, the surveillance camera 11 can perform an effective operation (condensation water generation operation) of the heat exchange device 17.

  Further, when the monitoring camera 11 determines that there is precipitation based on the detection value of the rain sensor 93 (when it is determined that there is rainwater adhering to the outer surface of the transparent cover), the monitoring camera 11 performs the condensed water generation operation of the heat exchange device 17. . Thereby, the surveillance camera 11 can operate the heat exchange device 17 at a timing at which condensation is likely to occur, and can improve the operation efficiency.

  Further, when the controller 83 refers to the timer 89 and determines that the camera 83 is outside the operation time of the camera 15, that is, the non-imaging period in which no image is captured, the surveillance camera 11 operates the heat exchange device 17. Thereby, the monitoring camera 11 can suppress that the dome cover 59 is clouded and the image quality of the monitoring image is deteriorated due to the dome cover 59 being cooled during the monitoring operation by the camera 15.

  As described above, the monitoring camera 11 is provided with various sensors and timers to determine whether or not the outer surface of the dome cover 59 is suitable for cleaning by using dew condensation. The inner surface may be cooled.

  In the surveillance camera 11, the outer surface of the dome cover 59 which is condensed due to the heat absorption of the indoor side heat absorbing / radiating unit 65 is heated through, for example, the duct 73 by the heat releasing operation in which the indoor side heat absorbing / radiating unit 65 is reversely operated. . As a result, evaporation of water adhering to the outer surface of the dome cover 59 is promoted, and the dome cover 59 having high transparency with no water adhering thereto is obtained.

  In addition, although it is conceivable that condensation occurs on the inner surface of the dome cover 59 due to excessive cooling in the camera housing chamber 63, the above-described heat radiation operation suppresses condensation on the inner surface of the dome cover 59. Thereby, failure of weekly components (the lens 57, the camera 15, the control board, the board mounting component, the electric motor, etc.) in the monitoring camera 11 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the monitoring camera 11, the water vapor in the camera housing chamber 63 is discharged to the outside by the dehumidifying device 95, so that condensation on the inner surface of the dome cover 59 and housing components (lens 57, camera 15, control board, board) Condensation on mounting components, electric motors, etc.) is suppressed.

[Modification]
Next, a modified example of the monitoring camera 11 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a monitoring camera 101 according to a modification. The monitoring camera 101 has a casing 103 that is a rectangular parallelepiped. A transparent cover (front glass 105) that covers the opening 23 is provided on one end surface of the casing 103 in the longitudinal direction. A wiper 107 is provided in the housing 103. The wiper 107 wipes the outer surface of the front glass 105 with a blade 113 reciprocally rotated by the wiper motor 111 of the drive unit 109.

  FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the monitoring camera 101 shown in FIG.

  The casing 103 is provided with a heat exchange device 17 similar to the above. The indoor side heat absorbing / dissipating part 65 of the heat exchange device 17 is covered with a chamber 71. The base end of a duct 73 is connected to the chamber 71. A blower 79 is provided in the chamber 71 on the side opposite to the duct 73. In this case, the duct 73 may be a fixed duct and may not have flexibility.

  In the monitoring camera 101, when the heat exchange device 17 and the blower 79 are driven, the inner surface of the front glass 105 is cooled. Thereby, dew condensation occurs on the outer surface of the front glass 105 using external water vapor. Water and water droplets generated by condensation are wiped off by the wiper 107.

  According to the monitoring camera 101, the wiper 107 can be used without securing water absorption and without scratching the front glass 105.

  Therefore, according to the monitoring cameras 11 and 101, the stain | pollution | contamination adhering to the outer surface of a transparent cover can be removed or reduced, and the fall of the image quality of the image imaged with the camera 15 can be eliminated or suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technique in the present disclosure. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, and the like are performed.

  In the first embodiment, the duct 73 takes in the air cooled by the heat exchange device 17 and sends it to the inner surface of the dome cover 59. However, the duct 73 may be omitted. Even in this case, the air cooled by the heat exchange device 17 disposed vertically above the dome cover 59 reaches the inner surface of the dome cover 59 by natural convection, and condensation can be generated on the outer surface of the dome cover 60. . As a result, the monitoring camera 11 can easily reduce dirt adhering to the outer surface of the dome cover 59 and suppress deterioration in image quality of the monitoring image.

  In the first embodiment, the processor (various controllers) may be physically configured in any manner. Further, if a programmable processor is used, the processing contents can be changed by changing the program, so that the degree of freedom in designing the processor can be increased. The processor may be composed of one semiconductor chip or physically composed of a plurality of semiconductor chips. When configured by a plurality of semiconductor chips, each control of the first embodiment may be realized by separate semiconductor chips. In this case, it can be considered that a plurality of semiconductor chips constitute one processor. Further, the processor may be configured by a member (a capacitor or the like) having a function different from that of the semiconductor chip. Further, one semiconductor chip may be configured so as to realize the functions of the processor and other functions. In addition, a plurality of processors may be configured by one processor.

  The present disclosure is useful for an imaging apparatus or the like that can reduce dirt adhering to the outer surface of a camera cover and suppress deterioration in image quality.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Surveillance camera 13 Case 15 Camera 17 Heat exchange apparatus 23 Opening part 59 Dome cover 63 Camera accommodation room 65 Indoor side heat absorption / radiation part 67 Outer heat absorption / radiation part 73 Duct 79 Blower 83 Controller 91 Temperature / humidity sensor 93 Rain sensor 95 Dehumidifier 105 Front glass Oc Optical axis Pc Pan rotation center Tc Tilt rotation center

Claims (10)

A camera,
A housing in which the camera is fixed and opened toward the imaging direction of the camera;
A transparent cover that covers the open portion of the housing and seals the camera housing chamber;
A heat exchange device having a first heat absorbing / dissipating part disposed inside the housing and a second heat absorbing / dissipating part disposed outside the housing;
With
The heat exchange device absorbs heat from the camera housing chamber by the first heat radiating and radiating part, and cools the outer surface of the transparent cover to a dew point or lower. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
With a duct,
The heat exchange device is disposed above the upper end in the vertical direction of the transparent cover,
The duct is
The proximal end opens in the vicinity of the heat exchange device, takes in the cold air that has been heat exchanged,
The front end opens facing the inner surface of the transparent cover,
An imaging apparatus that conveys the cold air to an inner surface of the transparent cover. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
An imaging apparatus comprising: a blower that conveys air heat-exchanged by the heat exchange device to the tip of the duct under the control of a controller. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
Equipped with a temperature and humidity sensor that detects the external temperature and humidity,
The heat exchange device is configured to absorb heat from the camera housing chamber by the first heat radiating and radiating unit when the detection value of the temperature and humidity sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value under the control of a controller. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
It has a rainfall sensor that detects the presence or absence of precipitation,
The heat exchanging device absorbs heat from the camera housing chamber by the first heat absorbing / dissipating unit when the rain sensor detects rain under the control of a controller. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The heat exchanging device absorbs heat from the camera housing chamber by the first heat absorbing / dissipating unit during a non-imaging period in which an image is not captured by the camera under the control of a controller. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The heat exchanging device is an imaging device that absorbs heat in the housing by the first heat absorbing / dissipating unit and then dissipates heat in the housing by the first heat absorbing / dissipating unit under the control of a controller. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
An imaging apparatus comprising a dehumidifying device that discharges water vapor inside the camera housing chamber to the outside of the camera housing chamber. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The imaging apparatus, wherein the transparent cover is a dome cover having a hemispherical outer shell. The imaging device according to claim 2 or 3,
The camera is supported by the housing so as to be able to rotate around the center of pan rotation or to rotate around the center of tilt rotation.
An imaging apparatus in which a flexible distal end of the duct is directed in a direction along an optical axis of the camera and is fixed to be rotatable integrally with the camera.

Images