JP2017212576A - Imaging apparatus, and control method and control program of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of allowing a worker to immediately know an abnormality such as a malfunction of an external apparatus such as a lens unit when the external apparatus is attached.SOLUTION: An interchangeable lens 102 is attached to a camera body 101 of a monitoring camera 100 equipped with no display portion. When attaching the interchangeable lens to the camera body, a camera control unit 112 detects the state of the interchangeable lens, drives and controls a device provided in the camera body according to the detection result, and informs an operator of the state of the interchangeable lens.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device in which an external device such as a lens unit can be replaced, a control method thereof, and a control program.

  In general, a network camera (surveillance camera) connected to an external device such as a client device via a network is known as one of imaging devices. Unlike an imaging device such as a digital video camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a digital camera), this network camera does not include a display unit such as an LCD.

  In a digital camera in which an external device such as a lens unit can be replaced, if the external device is defective when the external device is replaced, a message to that effect is displayed on the display unit. On the other hand, in a network camera in which the external device can be replaced, even if there is a problem with the external device, the operator cannot immediately know the problem because the display unit is not provided.

  For example, when there is a lens malfunction, the lens malfunction is first noticed when a lens operation command is transmitted from an external device but the lens unit does not operate. If the operator can immediately notice the lens operation failure, the lens unit can be replaced or re-installed on the spot, which is very convenient.

  By the way, in a digital camera in which a lens unit can be exchanged, there is one in which an error message displayed on a display unit is changed depending on whether a lens communication error is detected at the time of camera activation or after the camera is activated (Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2009-260949 A

  However, in the digital camera described in Patent Document 1, a display unit such as an LCD is required to display an error message. On the other hand, it is assumed that the network camera is provided with a display unit. In this case, even if an error message is displayed on the display unit after a predetermined time has elapsed after the network camera is activated, the error message cannot be known unless the operator is near the network camera. That is, in the network camera in which the external device can be replaced, there is a problem that even if the external device has a problem when the external device is mounted, it is difficult to immediately know the problem.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can immediately know an abnormality such as a defect of the external device when an external device such as a lens unit is attached.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus in which an external device is attached to the imaging apparatus body, and the imaging apparatus body is not provided with a display unit, and the imaging apparatus When mounting the external device on the main body, according to the detection means for detecting the state of the external device and the detection result by the detection means, drive control of the device provided in the imaging device main body, Control means for notifying the state of the external device.

  According to the present invention, when an external device such as a lens unit is mounted, it is possible to immediately know an abnormality such as a malfunction of the external device.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the surveillance camera shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure about an example of the surveillance camera by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure about an example of the surveillance camera by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an example of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The illustrated imaging device is, for example, a network camera (hereinafter referred to as a monitoring camera) 100 connected to an external device such as a client device via a network. The monitoring camera 100 is not provided with a display unit such as an LCD. The surveillance camera 100 can be replaced with an external device such as a lens unit. Hereinafter, a lens unit will be described as an example of the external device.

  The monitoring camera 100 includes a camera body (imaging device body) 101 and an interchangeable lens 102 that is a lens unit that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 101. The interchangeable lens 102 is attached to the camera body 101 via the mount 103. The mount 103 includes an electrical contact for supplying power from the camera body 101 to the interchangeable lens 102, and further includes an electrical contact for performing communication between the camera body 101 and the interchangeable lens 102. The mount 103 is divided into a part that the camera body 101 has and a part that the interchangeable lens 102 has, but they are shown together in FIG. 1 for convenience.

  The camera body 101 includes an imaging unit 123, and an optical image incident from the interchangeable lens 102 forms an image on the imaging unit 123 via the shutter 120 and the infrared cut filter 121.

  The shutter 120 is opened during imaging under the control of the camera control unit 112, and shields light from the imaging unit 123 when imaging is not performed. The infrared cut filter 121 is a filter for cutting wavelengths in the infrared region, and is inserted in front of the image pickup unit element 104 when the amount of light is large and the luminance of the subject is high, such as during the daytime. The infrared cut filter 121 is removed from the optical path when the amount of light is low and the luminance of the subject is low, such as at night.

  The imaging unit 123 includes an imaging element 104 such as a CCD or CMOS sensor, a piezoelectric element 122, and an optical member 124. The piezoelectric element 122 is for cleaning the imaging unit 123, and dust attached to the surface of the optical member 124 can be shaken off by the vibration of the piezoelectric element 122.

  The image sensor 104 outputs an image signal (also referred to as a video signal) corresponding to an optical image (subject image) formed through the interchangeable lens 102. The video signal processing unit 105 performs predetermined image processing such as noise removal, gain adjustment, A / D conversion, color conversion processing, gamma correction, and inter-pixel complement processing on the video signal that is the output of the image sensor 104. Do. Then, the video signal processing unit 105 outputs image data (also referred to as video data).

  The network processing unit 106 compresses and encodes the video data output from the video signal processing unit 105, and outputs compressed / encoded video data. Then, the network interface unit 107 distributes the compressed / encoded video data output from the network processing unit 106 to the client device (external device) via a network such as a LAN.

  The fan 110 has a motor and blades, and rotates the blades by the motor to circulate heat inside the camera main plate 101 to radiate heat. The memory 111 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, and is used as a storage device for storing a processing buffer of the video signal processing unit 105 and a program executed by the camera control unit 112.

  The camera control unit 112 includes a microcomputer and executes a program stored in the memory 111 to control the entire monitoring camera 100 such as control of the video signal processing unit 105 and communication control with the interchangeable lens 102.

  The LED 130 for illumination is comprised by infrared LED and white LED, and it illuminates at the time of imaging as needed under control of the camera control part 112. The power display LED 131 emits light when the power is turned on.

  In the illustrated example, the interchangeable lens 102, the mount 103, the imaging unit 123, the shutter 120, the infrared cut filter 121, the video signal processing unit 105, the network processing unit 106, and the network interface unit 107 constitute an imaging unit. The pan / tilt mechanism 140 supports the imaging unit so as to be rotatable in the pan direction and the tilt direction under the control of the camera control unit 112.

  The interchangeable lens 102 includes a lens driving unit 115, a lens control unit 116, an imaging lens 117, and a lens memory 118. The lens driving unit 115 drives the imaging lens 117 under the control of the lens control unit 116. For example, the lens driving unit 115 shifts and drives a focus lens, a zoom lens, a diaphragm, an anti-vibration lens, and the like provided in the imaging lens 117.

  The lens control unit 116 includes a microcomputer, and controls the lens driving unit 115 according to a control signal sent from the camera control unit 112. The lens memory 118 is used as a storage device for storing various data used by the lens control unit 116.

  In the illustrated monitoring camera 100, after the power is turned on, the camera control unit 112 operates the camera body 101 in accordance with the state of the interchangeable lens 102, as will be described later. The operation of the camera body 101 includes, for example, the following operation.

  The camera control unit 112 vibrates and stops the piezoelectric element 122. Further, the camera control unit 112 changes the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric element 122 (hereinafter referred to as a first operation).

  The camera control unit 112 opens and closes the shutter 120 and inserts and removes the infrared cut filter 121 (hereinafter referred to as a second operation). Further, the camera control unit 112 rotates and stops the fan 110 to change the number of rotations during the rotation (hereinafter referred to as a third operation). In addition, the camera control unit 112 operates and stops the pan / tilt mechanism 140 to change the operation speed of the pan / tilt mechanism 140 (hereinafter referred to as a fourth operation). Further, the camera control unit 112 turns on and off the illumination LED 130 or blinks the illumination LED 130 (hereinafter referred to as a fifth operation). The camera control unit 112 may turn on and off the power display LED 131 or blink the power display LED 131 (hereinafter referred to as a sixth operation). Note that at least one of the first to sixth operations described above is performed as an operation by the camera control unit 112.

  As described above, the camera control unit 112 audibly notifies the user (worker) by the operation sound or visually notifies the user by the movement. Further, the camera control unit 112 may notify the user visually by light emission or notify the user tactilely by vibration.

  The notification may be performed when the interchangeable lens 102 is in a normal state or may be performed when the interchangeable lens 102 is in an abnormal state. Then, the operation content may be changed according to the content of the abnormal state.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the surveillance camera shown in FIG. Note that the processing according to the illustrated flowchart is performed under the control of the camera control unit 112.

  Now, when power is supplied to the monitoring camera 100, the camera control unit 112 becomes operable and the monitoring camera 100 is activated (step S201). Then, the camera control unit 112 detects whether or not the interchangeable lens 102 is attached to the camera body 101 (step S202).

  If the interchangeable lens 102 is attached according to the detection result (YES in step S202), the camera control unit 112 determines whether or not the power supply to the interchangeable lens 102 is short-circuited due to a failure of the interchangeable lens 102 (step S203). ). If the power supply is not short-circuited (NO in step S203), the camera control unit 112 determines whether a communication error with the interchangeable lens 102 has occurred due to a contact failure of the interchangeable lens 102 (step S204).

  If no communication error has occurred (NO in step S204), the camera control unit 112 performs a normal state notification operation (step S205). In the normal state notification operation, the camera control unit 112 performs an operation preset by the client among the above-described first to sixth operations. Thus, when the user (operator) is performing an operation such as mounting the interchangeable lens 102 on the camera body 101, if the camera body 101 performs a normal state notification operation, the user is in the normal state of the monitoring camera 100. It can be judged.

  Thereafter, the camera control unit 112 performs a normal operation flow. In the normal operation flow, for example, in the normal operation flow, the camera control unit 112 operates the monitoring camera 100 to perform imaging, and distributes the video data obtained as a result to the client device via the network. If no communication error has occurred (NO in step S204), the camera control unit 112 may proceed to the normal operation flow without performing the process of step S205.

  If the interchangeable lens 102 is not attached to the camera body 101 (NO in step S202), the camera control unit 112 performs a first abnormal state notification operation to notify the user that the interchangeable lens 101 is not attached. (Notification) (step S206). Here, the camera control unit 112 performs an operation different from the normal state notification operation described above. For example, the camera control unit 112 performs the first operation described above to notify the user of an abnormal state of the interchangeable lens 102 (in this case, the interchangeable lens 102 is not attached). Thereafter, the camera control unit 112 returns to the process of step S202.

  If a communication error has occurred (YES in step S204), the camera control unit 112 performs a second abnormal state notification operation (step S207). Here, the camera control unit 112 performs an operation different from the normal state notification operation described above. For example, the camera control unit 112 performs the first operation described above to notify the user of an abnormal state (here, a communication error) of the interchangeable lens 102. Note that the second abnormal state notification operation performed in step S207 may be an operation different from the normal state notification operation and the first abnormal state notification operation.

  If the power supply is short-circuited (YES in step S203), the camera control unit 112 performs a third abnormal state notification operation (step S209). Here, the camera control unit 112 performs an operation different from the normal state notification operation described above. For example, the camera control unit 112 performs the first operation described above to notify the user of an abnormal state of the interchangeable lens 102 (here, power supply short-circuited). Note that the third abnormal state notification operation performed in step S209 may be different from the normal state notification operation, the first abnormal state notification operation, and the second abnormal state notification operation.

  After the processing in step S207 or S209, the camera control unit 112 notifies the client device of the abnormal state of the interchangeable lens 102 (step S208). Then, the camera control unit 112 ends the camera operation process. Note that the camera control unit 102 may turn off the power of the monitoring camera 100 after the process of step S208.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the device provided in the camera body 101 is operated to notify the user of the abnormality of the interchangeable lens. As a result, even in a surveillance camera that does not include a display unit, the user can immediately know the abnormality of the interchangeable lens.

  In the above-described example, the interchangeable lens is described as an example of the external device. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a light emitting device such as a strobe device is attached to the camera body as the external device.

  By the way, in the above-described example, the abnormal state of the interchangeable lens 102 is notified by operating a device provided in the camera body 101. On the other hand, instead of operating the device provided in the camera body 101, the device provided in the interchangeable lens 102 may be operated.

  For example, when the interchangeable lens 102 is normal or abnormal, the camera control unit 112 operates and stops the focus lens provided in the interchangeable lens 102, and further sets an operation speed for operating the focus lens. Change. Similarly, the camera control unit 112 may drive and control the zoom lens provided in the interchangeable lens 102. Furthermore, the camera control unit 112 may drive and control a diaphragm or an anti-vibration lens provided in the interchangeable lens 102.

[Second Embodiment]
Subsequently, a monitoring camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an example of a surveillance camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated monitoring camera, the same components as those in the monitoring camera shown in FIG.

  In the illustrated monitoring camera 100, the camera body 101 includes an audio digital / analog conversion unit 301 and an audio IF 300. The audio digital / analog conversion unit 301 is connected to the camera control unit 112.

  When the user attaches the interchangeable lens 102 to the camera body 101, the user connects the speaker unit 310 to the audio IF 300. As will be described later, the camera control unit 112 converts the audio data into an analog audio signal by the audio digital / analog conversion unit 301 and sends the analog audio signal to the speaker unit 310 via the audio IF 300.

  The speaker unit 310 includes a speaker 311 and an amplifier 312. After the analog audio signal is amplified by the amplifier 312, the speaker unit 310 outputs the audio from the speaker 311. Note that the above-described audio data is stored in the memory 111 in advance or is received via the network and stored in the memory 111.

  In the second embodiment, the camera operation process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and the normal state notification operation or the first to third abnormal state notification operations described above are performed according to the state of the interchangeable lens 102. One of them is done. When the normal state notification operation is performed (that is, when the process of step S205 is performed), the audio data related to the normal state notification operation is different from the first to third abnormal state notification operations. Also, the audio data related to the first to third abnormal state operation notifications may be the same or different from each other. Furthermore, the sound is not limited to sound data, and may be an electronic sound or a mechanical sound as long as the user can recognize the sound.

  As described above, also in the second embodiment of the present invention, the user can immediately know the abnormality of the interchangeable lens in the monitoring camera that does not include the display unit.

[Third Embodiment]
Subsequently, a monitoring camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an example of a surveillance camera according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated monitoring camera, the same components as those in the monitoring camera shown in FIG.

  In the illustrated monitoring camera 100, the camera body 101 is not provided with the pan / tilt mechanism 140, and a camera platform 411 is connected to the camera body 101. The camera platform 411 can be driven in the pan direction and the tilt direction. The pan / tilt head 411 is provided with a pan / tilt pan / tilt driving unit 412, and the camera control unit 112 controls the pan / tilt head 411 by the pan / tilt pan / tilt driving unit 412 in accordance with the state of the interchangeable lens 102.

  A monitoring camera 100 is mounted on the illustrated camera platform 411, and the monitoring camera 100 is driven by the camera platform 411 in the pan direction and the tilt direction. Drive control of the camera platform 411 is performed by the camera control unit 112.

  In the third embodiment, the camera operation process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and any one of the first to third abnormal state notification operations described above is performed according to the state of the interchangeable lens 102. Is called. In the third embodiment, the process of step S205 is not performed, and when the first to third abnormal state operation notifications are made, the camera control unit 112 drives the camera platform 411 to move the monitoring camera 100 in the pan direction. And operate in the tilt direction.

  As described above, also in the third embodiment of the present invention, the user can immediately know the abnormality of the interchangeable lens in the monitoring camera that does not include the display unit.

  As is apparent from the above description, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the camera control unit 112 functions as a detection unit and a control unit.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to these embodiment, Various forms of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are also contained in this invention. .

  For example, the function of the above embodiment may be used as a control method, and this control method may be executed by the imaging apparatus. Further, a program having the functions of the above-described embodiments may be used as a control program, and the control program may be executed by a computer included in the imaging apparatus. The control program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, for example.

[Other Embodiments]
A program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium. The present invention can also be realized by a process in which one or more processors in the computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Camera main body 102 Interchangeable lens 110 Fan 112 Camera control part 120 Shutter 121 Infrared cut filter 122 Piezoelectric element 130 LED for illumination
131 LED for power display
140 Pan tilt mechanism

Claims (12)

An imaging device in which an external device is attached to the imaging device body,
The imaging device body is not provided with a display unit,
Detecting means for detecting a state of the external device when the external device is mounted on the imaging device body;
Control means for driving and controlling a device provided in the imaging apparatus main body according to a detection result by the detection means, and notifying a state of the external device;
An imaging device comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit drives and controls a device provided in the imaging apparatus body when the external device is in an abnormal state.   The said control means changes the device with which the said imaging device main body which carries out drive control according to the content of the said abnormal state is changed, when the said external device is in an abnormal state. Imaging device. An imaging device in which an external device is attached to the imaging device body,
The imaging device body is not provided with a display unit,
Detecting means for detecting a state of the external device when the external device is mounted on the imaging device body;
Control means for driving and controlling a device connected to the imaging apparatus main body according to a detection result by the detection means, and notifying a state of the external device;
An imaging device comprising: The device connected to the imaging apparatus body is a speaker unit that emits sound,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit outputs sound from the speaker unit according to a detection result by the detection unit.   The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit outputs sound from the speaker unit when the external device is in an abnormal state.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the external device is in an abnormal state, the control unit changes sound output from the speaker unit according to the content of the abnormal state. The external device is a device connected to the imaging device main body, and is mounted on a pan head that can be driven in a pan direction and a tilt direction,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit drives and controls the camera platform when the external device is in an abnormal state.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is an interchangeable lens that can be attached to and detached from the imaging apparatus main body. The imaging device is connected to a client device via a network;
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit distributes the state of the external device to the client device after informing the state of the external device. An imaging device control method in which an external device is attached to the imaging device main body and no display unit is provided,
A detection step of detecting a state of the external device when the external device is attached to the imaging device body;
In accordance with the detection result of the detection step, the control step of driving and controlling the device provided in the imaging device main body and notifying the state of the external device;
A control method characterized by comprising: A control program used in an imaging device in which an external device is attached to the imaging device body and no display unit is provided,
In the computer provided in the imaging device,
A detection step of detecting a state of the external device when the external device is attached to the imaging device body;
In accordance with the detection result of the detection step, the control step of driving and controlling the device provided in the imaging device main body and notifying the state of the external device;
A control program characterized by causing

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