JP2019045848A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus having a drive source having more excellent responsiveness.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes a camera unit which includes an imaging element, a tilt support member which rotatably supports the camera unit in a tilt direction, a pan support member which rotatably supports the tilt support member in a pan direction, a pan rotation shaft which is a rotation center when the pan support member is rotated in the pan direction, a base member which is arranged on a side opposite to the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in a pan rotation shaft direction, a substrate which is supported by the pan support member, and a ring-like ultrasonic motor which has a vibrator connected to the substrate and generating a vibration by the application of a voltage and a rubbing member coming into contact with the vibrator and rotationally drives the pan support member in the pan direction. The vibrator of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the pan support member and generates the vibration, so as to be relatively moved with respect to the rubbing member. The rubbing member of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the base member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device.

  Some image pickup apparatuses can change the pan / tilt angle of the camera unit in order to photograph the position / direction desired by the user.

  In an imaging apparatus having a general tilt rotation function, a camera unit is tilt-rotated by rotating a gear fixed to the tilt rotation shaft through a reduction mechanism by a stepping motor disposed below the tilt shaft is there.

  Similarly, in an imaging apparatus having a general pan rotation function, a camera unit is pan-rotated by rotating a gear fixed to the pan rotation axis via a speed reduction mechanism by a stepping motor disposed around the pan axis There is. (For example, refer to patent document 1.)

JP, 2006-419, A

  However, as in the above-described conventional example, in an imaging device using a stepping motor, there may be a case where the output is slow with respect to the input to the motor, that is, the response is not good.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an imaging device provided with a drive source that is more responsive.

In order to solve the above-mentioned subject, an imaging device of the present invention has the following composition. A camera unit including an imaging device, a tilt support member rotatably supporting the camera unit in a tilt direction, a pan support member rotatably supporting the tilt support member in a pan direction, and the pan support member in a pan direction A pan rotation axis, which is a rotation center when rotating to the bottom, and a base member disposed on the opposite side of the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in the pan rotation axis direction;
A substrate supported by the pan support member, a vibrator connected to the substrate and generating a vibration when a voltage is applied, and a rubbing member in contact with the vibrator, and coaxial with the pan rotation axis And a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor arranged to rotate the pan support member in the pan direction. The vibrator of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the pan support member, and generates vibration to move relative to the rubbing member, and the rubbing member of the ultrasonic motor is the base member Supported by

  As described above, according to the present invention, by using an ultrasonic motor, it is possible to provide an imaging device having better responsiveness than an imaging device using a stepping motor.

External view of an imaging device according to the present invention An exploded view of the tilt unit in the present invention An exploded view of the camera unit in the present invention Cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to the present invention Cross section around the tilt rotation axis in the present invention An exploded view around the ultrasonic motor of the tilt axis in the present invention Exploded view of the pan unit in the present invention Cross-sectional view around the pan rotation axis in the present invention The exploded view around the ultrasonic motor of pan axis in the present invention

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external view of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a tilt unit, FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a camera unit, and FIG.

  The imaging device 100 includes a camera unit 200 for shooting, and a tilt unit 300 for rotating the camera unit 200 in a tilt direction around a tilt axis L2. Furthermore, the imaging device 100 includes a pan unit 400 that rotates the camera unit 200 in the panning direction around the panning axis L3, and a base unit 500 that is a fixing unit when the imaging device 100 is attached to a wall or a ceiling.

<Camera unit 200>
As shown in FIG. 2, the camera unit 200 includes a camera 201 capable of capturing an image in the direction of the optical axis L1, a case member 202, and a camera cover 203. The camera 201 includes an imaging element and a plurality of lenses. As shown in FIG. 3, the case member 202 includes an upper case 202 a formed of a sheet metal and a lower case 202 b formed of a sheet metal. The camera 201 is attached to and supported by the case member 202. The camera cover 203 includes an upper cover 203a formed of resin and a lower cover 203b formed of resin. The camera cover 203 covers a part of the camera 201 and the case member 202. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the camera unit 200 and the tilt unit 300 are protected by attaching and fixing the pan cover 331, the front cover 330, the side cover 324, and the side cover 311 to a bottom case 501 described later.

<Tilt unit 300>
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view around the tilt rotation axis in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an exploded view around the ultrasonic motor of the tilt axis. The tilt unit 300 includes a first rotation shaft 320, a second rotation shaft 301, an ultrasonic motor 305, a rotor fixing member 302, a first support member 323, a second support member 310, and a bearing. A holder 322 and an anti-rotation member 307 are provided.

  The first rotation shaft 320 as a tilt rotation shaft is rotatable around the tilt axis L 2, one of which is attached to the case member 202, and the other is inserted into the bearing 321. The bearing 321 is fitted and supported on the bearing holder 322 as shown in FIG. The bearing holder 322 is attached and fixed to the first support member 323. The bearing holder 322 has a cylindrical portion, as shown in FIG.

  The rotor fixing member 302 is circular as shown in FIG. 2 and is inserted into the opening of the camera cover 203 and fixed to the side surface of the case member 202 as shown in FIG. Further, the scale 312 of the encoder is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302.

  The second rotation shaft 301 as a tilt rotation shaft is hollow and integrally molded with the rotor fixing member 302. The second rotation shaft 301 is rotatably supported by the bearing 303 about the tilt axis L2. The bearing 303 is supported by a first bearing pressing member 304, a stator fixing member 308 which will be described later, and a second bearing pressing member 309.

  The first bearing pressing member 304 is cylindrical and fixes the inner ring 303 a side of the bearing 303. The second bearing pressing member 309 is cylindrical and fixes the outer ring 303 b side of the bearing 303. Further, the bearing 303 is inserted into and supported by the through hole 308 b provided in the stator fixing member 308. Further, the second bearing pressing member 309 is inserted into and fixed to the through hole 308 b of the stator fixing member 308.

  The first support member 323 as a tilt support member is disposed on the side where the ultrasonic motor 305 is not disposed with respect to the camera unit 200, and fixes the bearing holder 322. The first support member 323 is fixed to the pan base 409.

  A second support member 310 as a tilt support member is fixed to the pan base 409 so as to be paired with the first support member 323. The second support member 310 is disposed on the opposite side of the ultrasonic wave motor 305 to the camera unit 200. The second support member 310 fixes the stator fixing member 308.

  A signal line 333 as a connection member connects an imaging element substrate of the camera 201 to a control substrate 412 described later. The signal line 333 is inserted through the inside (inner space portion) of the ultrasonic motor 305 and the second rotation shaft 301.

  The rotation preventing member 307 prevents the rotational movement of the stator 305 b about the tilt axis L 2 with respect to the stator fixing member 308. The rotation preventing member 307 is mounted on and supported by the mounting portion 308 a on the stator fixing member 308, and is disposed in a mounting space 334 provided in a gap between the mounting portion 308 a and the ultrasonic motor 305. In the rotation preventing member 307, the protrusions 307a are provided at substantially equal intervals in the radial direction of the second rotation shaft 301, and the protrusions 307a are inserted into the gaps of the comb teeth 305c of the stator 305b. This prevents rotational movement of the stator 305b about the tilt axis L2 with respect to the stator fixing member 308.

  The encoder detects the rotation angle of the camera unit 200 in the tilt direction. The encoder scale 312 is coaxial with the rotating shaft 301 and fixed on the rotor fixing member 302. The sensor 313 of the encoder is arranged on the stator fixing member 308 to correspond to the scale 312 on the rotor fixing member 302. By reading the value of the sensor 313, the amount of rotational movement of the rotor 305a with respect to the stator 305b can be known, and the tilt angle of the camera unit 200 can be detected.

  The ultrasonic motor 305 is a drive source that rotates the camera unit 200 in the tilt direction, and is formed of a ring-shaped member. As shown in FIG. 6, the ultrasonic motor 305 is configured by an annular stator 305b provided with a signal line 332 for driving, and an annular rotor 305a rotationally driven relative to the stator 305b. The ultrasonic motor 305 is coaxial with the second rotation shaft 301 and disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the stator fixing member 308. In detail, the rotor 305a is disposed on the camera unit side, and the stator 305b is disposed on the second support member side. Further, the rotor 305 a is installed coaxially with the rotation shaft 301 and on the rotor fixing member 302.

  The stator 305 b is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft 301 and in contact with the rotor 305 a, and is connected to a control board 412 described later via a signal line 332. The biasing member 306 is mounted and supported on the stator fixing member 308 so as to bias the stator 305 b toward the rotor 305 a. That is, the ultrasonic motor 305 and the biasing member 306 are sandwiched between the rotor fixing member 302 and the stator fixing member 308. At this time, the biasing member 306 exerts a biasing force sufficient for the stator 305 b to rotate the rotor 305 a. The rotor 305a is rotated about the tilt axis L2 by driving the stator 305b.

  Hereinafter, driving of the camera unit 200 by the ultrasonic motor 305 will be described. When a signal is input from the driving signal line 332, the stator 305b vibrates. The rotor 305a transmits its vibration from the stator 305b and rotates in the tilt direction. Further, since the rotor 305 a is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302, when the rotor 305 a rotates, the rotor fixing member 302 also rotates about the second rotation shaft 301. That is, the second rotation shaft 301 rotates in the tilt direction by the rotation of the rotor 305a. Further, since the case member 202 is fixed to the rotor fixing member 302, when the rotor fixing member 302 rotates, the camera unit 200 also rotates.

  As described above, by using the ultrasonic motor 305, it is possible to provide an imaging device that is more responsive than an imaging device using a stepping motor. Further, since the rotor of the ultrasonic motor 305 is disposed closer to the camera unit 200 than the stator of the ultrasonic motor 305, the arrangement is efficient without waste. More specifically, when the rotor and the stator are disposed reverse to the present embodiment, a member for suppressing the rotor is separately required in addition to the support member for supporting the stator. Therefore, the arrangement of the present embodiment can be said to be efficient and efficient.

  In addition, although the stepping motor requires a reduction mechanism, the use of an ultrasonic motor eliminates the need for a reduction mechanism having a complicated gear configuration. Further, in the case of the stepping motor, the speed reduction mechanism is provided coaxially with the tilt rotation shaft, and the motor is disposed below it. However, in the present embodiment, by disposing the ultrasonic motor 305 coaxially with the second rotation shaft 301, it is not necessary to arrange the motor below the second rotation shaft 301, which leads to downsizing. In addition, by arranging the signal line 333 for transmitting the video signal captured by the camera 201 to the control substrate 412 inside the ultrasonic motor 305 and the rotation shaft 301, the reverse of the camera unit 200 with respect to the ultrasonic motor 305. There is no need to provide a signal line on the side.

  By forming the rotor fixing member 302 and the second rotation shaft 301 as integrally formed parts, the number of parts can be reduced. The arrangement of the bearing 303, the bearing pressing member 309, the bearing pressing ring 304, the rotating shaft 301, and the signal line 333 in the through hole 308b of the stator fixing member 308 inside the ultrasonic motor 305 reduces the space. Specifically, the space of the bearing and the member for holding the bearing, which is conventionally required separately from the space for arranging the ultrasonic motor, is reduced. Therefore, the imaging device main body can be miniaturized.

<Base unit 500>
As shown in FIG. 4, the base unit 500 includes a bottom case 501, a bottom sheet metal 502, and a power supply substrate 503.

  The bottom case 501 is installed on a ceiling or a wall via a bottom sheet metal 502, and a pan unit 400 described later is disposed inside. The bottom sheet metal 502 is a member fixed to a ceiling or a wall. The power supply substrate 503 is a substrate for supplying power, and supplies power to the control substrate 412 through the signal line 414. A signal line 414 as a connection member passes through the inside (inner space portion) of a pan rotation shaft 401 described later. The power supply substrate 503 is attached to the bottom sheet metal 502.

<Pan unit 400>
FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a pan unit of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a sectional view around a pan rotation axis, and FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an ultrasonic motor of the pan axis. The pan unit 400 includes a pan rotation shaft 401, a pan base 409 as a pan support member, a base member 413, and an ultrasonic motor 406.

  The pan base 409 is a substantially circular member having a through hole 409 b at the center, and rotates when the pan rotates. A first support member 323 and a second support member 310 are fixed to the pan base 409. Further, a control substrate 412 is fixed to the pan base 409. The control substrate 412 is connected to the camera 201, the ultrasonic motor 305, an ultrasonic motor 406, which will be described later, and a power supply substrate 503, respectively, by signal lines.

  The base member 413 is a circular member having a through hole 413 a at the center. The base member 413 is fixed to the bottom case 501. The base member 413 is disposed on the opposite side of the camera unit 200 with respect to the pan base 409 in the pan rotation axis direction.

  The pan rotation shaft 401 is hollow and can rotate around the pan axis L3. The pan rotation axis 401 is the center of rotation when the pan base 409 rotates in the pan direction. At an end portion of the pan rotation shaft 401, a screw portion 401a engaged with the detachment preventing member 405 is formed. Further, a bearing pressing member 404 for inserting the bearings 402, 403 and the bearings 402, 403 in the direction of the pan axis L3 is inserted through the pan rotation shaft 401.

  The bearing pressing member 404 has three projections 401 d, and the three projections 401 d are arranged to correspond to the three projections 409 d on the pan base 409 and fixed to the pan base 409. The slip preventing member 405 is screwed to the screw portion 401 d of the pan rotation shaft 401 in order to prevent the bearing pressing member 404 from falling off the pan rotation shaft 401. As a result, the bearing pressing member 404 is attached and fixed to the rotation shaft 401, and the pan rotation shaft 401 can rotate around the pan axis L3.

  The rotation preventing member 408 is a member for preventing the vibrator 406 b from rotating relative to the pan base 409. As shown in FIG. 9, the rotation preventing member 408 is mounted on and supported by the mounting portion 409a on the pan base 409, and is disposed in a mounting space 416 provided in a gap between the mounting portion 409a and the ultrasonic motor 406. In the rotation preventing member 408, the protrusions 408a are provided at substantially equal intervals in the radial direction of the pan axis L3, and the protrusions 408a are inserted into the gaps of the comb teeth 406c of the vibrator 406b. This prevents the transducer 406b from rotating about the pan axis L3 with respect to the pan base 409.

  The encoder detects the rotation angle of the camera unit 200 in the pan direction. The encoder scale 410 is coaxial with the rotation axis 401 and fixed on the base member 413. The sensor 411 of the encoder is disposed on the pan base 409 to correspond to the scale 410 on the base member 413. By reading the value of the sensor 411, the amount of rotational movement of the pan base 409 relative to the base member 413 can be known, and the pan angle of the camera unit 200 can be detected.

  The ultrasonic motor 406 is a drive source that rotates the camera unit 200 in the pan direction, and is formed of a ring-shaped member. The ultrasonic motor 406 is composed of an annular transducer 406b provided with a driving signal line 415 (see FIG. 4) and an annular rubbing member 406a. The ultrasonic motor 406 is coaxial with the pan rotation shaft 401 and disposed around the through hole 413 a of the base member 413. In detail, the annular vibrator 406b is disposed on the pan base 409 side, and the rubbing member 406a is disposed on the base member 413 side.

  Further, the rubbing member 406 a is coaxial with the pan rotation shaft 401 and fixed on the base member 413. The vibrator 406 b is arranged coaxially with the pan rotation shaft 401 and in contact with the rubbing member 406 a, and is connected to the control substrate 412 by the signal line 415. The pan base 409 is mounted and supported so that the biasing member 407 biases the vibrator 406b in the direction of the rubbing member 406a. That is, the ultrasonic motor 406 and the biasing member 407 are held between the base member 413 and the pan base 409. At this time, the biasing member 407 exerts a sufficient biasing force for the relative rotation of the vibrator 406 b and the rubbing member 406 a. As a result, the vibrator 406b rotates about the pan axis with respect to the rubbing member 406a by vibrating.

  Hereinafter, driving of the camera unit 200 by the ultrasonic motor 406 will be described. When a voltage is applied from the driving signal line 415, the vibrator 406b vibrates. Thus, the vibrator 406b rotates in the pan direction relatively to the rubbing member 406a.

  Further, since the vibrator 406b is fixed so as not to rotate relative to the pan base 409 by the rotation preventing member 408 described later, the pan base 409 is also rotated by the vibration of the vibrator 406b. Rotate around the center. That is, the pan rotation shaft 401 rotates in the pan direction by the vibration of the vibrator 406 b. Further, since the first support member 323 and the second support member 310 are fixed to the pan base 409, when the pan base 409 is rotated, the camera unit 200 is also rotated.

  As described above, by using the ultrasonic motor 406, it is possible to provide an imaging device that is more responsive than an imaging device using a stepping motor. Further, since the control substrate 412 and the vibrator 406b are disposed on the pan base 409, even if the camera unit 200 rotates in the pan direction, the signal line 415 connecting the control substrate 412 and the vibrator 406b is not twisted.

  In addition, although the stepping motor requires a reduction mechanism, the use of an ultrasonic motor eliminates the need for a reduction mechanism having a complicated gear configuration. Further, in the case of the stepping motor, the speed reduction mechanism is provided coaxially with the pan rotation shaft, and the motor is disposed adjacent thereto. However, in the present embodiment, by disposing the ultrasonic motor 406 coaxially with the pan rotation shaft 301, it is not necessary to arrange the motor next to the pan rotation shaft 301. Therefore, another part can be arranged in the vacant space.

  By arranging the signal wire 414, the rotating shaft 401, the bearing 402, the bearing 403, the bearing pressing member 404, and the detachment preventing member 405 in the inside of the ultrasonic motor 406 or the through hole 413a of the base member 413, the space is reduced. Specifically, the space of the bearing and the member for restraining the bearing, which is conventionally required separately from the space for arranging the ultrasonic motor, is reduced. Therefore, the imaging device main body can be miniaturized.

<Other embodiments>
Although the present invention has been described in detail based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various embodiments within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Some of the embodiments described above may be combined as appropriate.

  For example, the rotor fixing member 302 and the rotating shaft 301 may be separate parts. The biasing members 306 and 407 may be elastic members such as wave washers or rubber as long as they can exert appropriate biasing force for rotationally driving between the rotors 305a and 406a of the ultrasonic motors 305 and 406 and the stators 305b and 406b.

  The signal line 333 connecting the camera 201 and the control board 412 and the signal line 414 connecting the control board 412 and the power supply board 503 may be a flexible printed board, a thin coaxial cable, or a slip ring. The means for fixing the rotation preventing members 307 and 408 to the stator fixing member 308 and the pan base 409 may be snap fitting or screwing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Imaging device 200 Camera unit 300 Tilt unit 301 The 2nd rotating shaft 302 Bearing 304 bearing restraining member 305 Ultrasonic motor 305a Rotor 305b Stator 307 Anti-rotation member 308 Stator fixing member 309 Bearing restraining member 310 2nd support Members 320 first rotation shaft 323 first support member 400 pan unit 401 pan rotation shaft 404 bearing holding member 406 ultrasonic motor 406a rotor 406b stator 408 rotation prevention member 409 pan base 413 base member 500 base unit

Claims (11)

A camera unit including an imaging device;
A tilt support member rotatably supporting the camera unit in a tilt direction;
A pan support member rotatably supporting the tilt support member in a pan direction;
A pan rotation axis which is a rotation center when the pan support member rotates in the pan direction;
A base member disposed on the opposite side of the camera unit with respect to the pan support member in the pan rotation axis direction;
A substrate supported by the pan support member;
A vibrator is connected to the substrate and vibrates by applying a voltage, and a rubbing member is in contact with the vibrator, and is arranged coaxially with the pan rotation shaft to rotate the pan support member in the pan direction. Equipped with a ring-shaped ultrasonic motor,
The vibrator of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the pan support member and vibrates to move relative to the rubbing member.
The imaging device, wherein the rubbing member of the ultrasonic motor is supported by the base member.   The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection member connecting the substrate and a power supply substrate for supplying power, wherein the connection member is disposed in an inner space of the ultrasonic motor. The pan rotation axis is hollow,
The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the connection member is disposed in an inner space portion of the pan rotation shaft. A bearing rotatably supporting the pan rotation shaft;
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bearing is disposed in an inner space of the ultrasonic motor.   The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor is attached to the pan support member.   The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rubbing member of the ultrasonic motor is attached to the base member.   The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the base member has a through hole, and the bearing and the pan rotation shaft are disposed in the through hole.   The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein a pressing member that presses the bearing is disposed in the through hole of the pan base. It has a detachment prevention member which prevents the pressing member inserted into the pan rotation shaft from coming off the pan rotation shaft.
The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein the removal prevention member is screwed into a screw portion of the pan rotation shaft. An encoder for detecting a rotational angle of the camera unit in the pan direction,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a scale of the encoder is disposed on the base member, and a sensor of the encoder is disposed on the pan base. A rotation preventing member for preventing the vibrator of the ultrasonic motor from rotationally moving with respect to the pan base;
The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the rotation preventing member is disposed between the ultrasonic motor and the pan base.

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