JP2021170749A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To electrically operate a plurality of imaging units, allow easy adjustment of the angles of view of the imaging units, and reduce the size of an imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus allows shift rotation of a plurality of imaging units that are arranged in a circumferential shape on a base unit. The imaging unit has a lens unit that includes a lens and an image pick-up device, a pan base unit that rotatably supports the lens unit, a driving unit for allowing pan rotation of the lens unit with respect to the pan base unit, a pan position detection unit that detects the position of the pan rotation of the imaging unit, and a shift position detection unit that detects the position of the shift rotation of the imaging unit. The shift position detection unit is arranged such that the movement locus of the shift rotation is inside the radial direction of the base unit compared with the movement locus of the pan rotation of the pan position detection unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging device.

In recent years, user needs for imaging devices intended to be installed on the ceiling, wall surface, or pole of equipment for monitoring and photographing have been diversified. For example, as an image pickup device that meets the needs of a user who wants to take a picture of 360 ° around a place where an image pickup device is installed, there is an omnidirectional shooting type image pickup device equipped with a fisheye lens or the like. The image taken by such an image pickup device has a feature that the whole captured image is distorted while it is possible to take a 360 ° image due to the influence of the mounted fisheye lens. There are the following methods for capturing a 360 ° image while suppressing distortion of the captured image. This is a method of acquiring an image taken by each lens unit by using a multi-lens image pickup device configured to have a plurality of lens units in one image pickup device. In the case of such an imaging device, it is necessary to adjust the angles of view of a plurality of lens units in order to acquire a photographed image having a desired angle of view.

The multi-camera head assembly described in Patent Document 1 is a multi-lens imaging device equipped with a plurality of lens units and capable of acquiring an image by adjusting the angle of view of each. The configuration described in Patent Document 1 includes a base composed of a plurality of tracks, a plurality of support frames, and a plurality of image sensor assemblies. The plurality of support frames are provided with a guide member for guiding the tilt movement of the image sensor assembly and a support base for connecting to a plurality of tracks in the range of motion so as to enable pan movement of the image sensor assembly. Will be done. As a result, the image sensor assembly can be easily assembled to the base. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily adjust the angle of view of a plurality of lens units in order to obtain a desired angle of view.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/01/91813

However, in the conventional configuration, the angle of view adjustment of the plurality of lens units must be performed manually, and the plurality of lens units cannot be operated unless a person is always close to the camera assembly. Therefore, when the camera assembly is installed in a high place, it is difficult to adjust the angle of view to a desired angle. Further, in the conventional configuration, the plurality of lens units cannot be operated unless the housing cover accommodating the plurality of lens units is opened. Therefore, the housing cover must be opened to adjust the angle of view, and the cover must be closed after adjusting the angle of view, which makes it difficult to adjust the angle of view.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to electrically operate a plurality of imaging units to enable easy adjustment of the angle of view of each imaging unit, and to configure the imaging device in a compact size.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an image pickup device in which a plurality of image pickup units arranged in a circumferential shape on a base portion can be shifted and rotated, and the image pickup unit includes a lens and an image pickup element. Detects the position of the lens unit, the pan base unit that supports the lens unit in a pan-rotatable manner, the drive unit for pan-rotating the lens unit with respect to the pan-base unit, and the pan-rotation position of the imaging unit. The pan position detecting unit has a pan position detecting unit and a shift position detecting unit that detects the position of the shift rotation of the imaging unit. It is characterized in that it is arranged so as to be inside the radial direction of the base portion with respect to the movement locus due to rotation.

According to the present invention, a plurality of imaging units can be electrically operated to easily adjust the angle of view of each imaging unit, and the imaging device can be configured in a compact size.

It is an external view of the image pickup apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view of the image pickup apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view of the image pickup unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an inside view which shows the urging direction of the pan motor unit of the image pickup unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top sectional view of the image pickup apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the arrangement of the electric element for the position detection in the shift direction of the image pickup apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. At that time, those having the same function in the figure are given the same number, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted. The configuration shown in the following embodiments is only an example, and the present invention is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

<First Embodiment>
First, the basic configuration of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an external view of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image pickup apparatus 100 includes an upper case unit 200 and a lower case unit 300. The imaging device 100 is configured by assembling a plurality of imaging units (imaging units) inside the housing, and is installed on the ceiling, wall surface, or pole via an accessory for installing equipment (not shown). As an example in the present embodiment, the image pickup apparatus 100 includes four image pickup units, a first image pickup unit 400, a second image pickup unit 500, a third image pickup unit 600, and a fourth image pickup unit 700.

The upper case unit 200 includes a dome cover 210 made of a member such as a translucent resin and a ring-shaped upper cover 220 made of a member such as metal or resin, and is assembled to the lower case unit 300. Be done.

The lower case unit 300 includes a substantially cylindrical lower cover 310 made of a member such as metal or resin, a main board 320 having a video signal, various control signal circuits, and a power supply circuit, and a base member 330 (base portion). ) And the shift shaft holder 340.

The base member 330 is made of a member such as resin and is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A shift gear 330a is formed on the inner surface of the cylinder, and ribs 330b and 330c formed in a circumferential shape and ribs 333c extending in the radial direction are formed. Further, a shift shaft 334d is formed around the center of the cylinder. The ribs 330b and 330c are formed so as to be substantially concentric with the shift shaft 334d, and the ribs 330b and 330c are formed so as to be stepped in the height direction of the image pickup apparatus 100. A plurality of imaging units are arranged in a circumferential shape on the base member 330. The plurality of imaging units can move independently on the base member 330 with the central axis 301 (shown in FIG. 5) of the base member 330 as an axis. In the present specification, such movement is referred to as shift rotation. That is, the plurality of imaging units can shift and rotate on the base member 330.

Next, a plurality of imaging units (first imaging unit 400, second imaging unit 500, third imaging unit 600, and fourth imaging unit 700) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. First, the first imaging unit 400 will be described, and the second imaging unit 500, the third imaging unit 600, and the fourth imaging unit 700 will be described with respect to parts similar to the first imaging unit 400. Omit. In the second imaging unit 500, the third imaging unit 600, and the fourth imaging unit 700, the members having the same functions as the first imaging unit 400 are designated by reference numerals in the 500s, 600s, and 700s. Is used.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging unit according to the first embodiment. The first imaging unit 400 includes a rotation unit 410 (lens unit), a tilt unit 420, a pan unit 430, and a shift unit 440.

The rotation unit 410 includes a lens barrel 411 having a plurality of lenses, an image sensor substrate 412 on which an image sensor is mounted, a front cover 413, and a rear cover 414. The front cover 413 is a substantially cylindrical member formed of a member such as resin, and a rotation gear 413a is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

The tilt unit 420 includes a tilt base 421 and a rotation motor unit 422 including a worm gear. The tilt base 421 is formed of a member such as resin in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a tilt shaft 421a extending in the radial direction of the cylinder is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Further, a tilt gear 421b is further formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tilt base 421.

The pan portion 430 includes a pan base 431 (pan base portion), a pan shaft holder 432, a tilt motor unit 433 provided with a worm gear, and an electric element 434 (pan position detection unit) for detecting a rotation position in the pan direction. .. The pan base 431 is formed of a member such as resin in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the pan gear 431a is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Further, the pan base 431 is provided with a tilt motor unit 433 inside the cylinder. Further, a tilt arm 431b extending in the optical axis direction is formed on the surface side provided with the tilt motor unit 433, and a U-shaped opening 431c is formed in the tilt arm. Further, an electric element 434 for detecting the rotation position in the pan direction is provided on the opposite side of the surface on which the tilt motor unit is provided. A circular opening 431d is formed in the center of the pan base 431. The electric element 434 for detecting the rotation position in the pan direction is, for example, a photo interrupter (PI), and can detect the relative position with a member on which a light-shielding rib or the like (rib portion) is formed so as to correspond to the photo interrupter (PI). Make it possible.

The shift unit 440 includes a shift base 441, a pan shift drive unit 450, and an electric element 442 (shift position detection unit) for detecting a rotation position in the shift direction. The shift base 441 is formed of a member such as resin in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a convex portion 441a extending in the radial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface. An R surface 441b is formed on the end surface of the convex portion 441a.

Further, a pan shaft 441c and a circumferential rib 441d are formed on the bottom surface of the cylinder. Further, a motor unit shaft 441e (shown in FIG. 4), a spring shaft 441f (shown in FIG. 4), and a relay gear shaft 441g are formed on the bottom surface. Further, the convex portion 441a is provided with an electric element 442 for detecting the rotation position in the shift direction. The electric element 442 for detecting the rotation position in the shift direction is, for example, a photo interrupter (PI), and detects the relative position with a member on which a light-shielding rib or the like (rib portion) is formed so as to correspond to the photo interrupter (PI). Is possible.

FIG. 4 is an internal view showing the urging direction of the pan motor unit of the imaging unit according to the first embodiment. The pan shift drive unit 450 includes a pan motor unit 451 provided with a worm gear, a pressing member 452 for urging the tip of the worm gear in the pressing direction, a retracting member 453 for urging the tip of the worm gear in the retracting direction, and A relay gear 454 is provided. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a state in which the pan motor unit 451 is urged in the pan gear 431a direction. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a state in which the pan motor unit 451 is urged in the direction of the relay gear 454.

The pan motor unit 451 is rotatably provided around the shift base motor unit shaft 441e, and is attached so that the pressing direction and the pulling direction can be switched by the urging force applied to the tip of the worm gear. The pressing member 452 is, for example, a solenoid or the like, and the position of the tip portion can be changed by conduction. The retracting member 453 is, for example, a tension coil spring or the like. The pan motor unit 451 moves the pan motor unit 451 in the pan gear 431a direction by the pulling force of the pulling member 453 when the pushing pressure of the pressing member 452 is not working. On the other hand, when the pressing force is working, the pan motor unit 451 moves in the direction of the relay gear 454 attached to the relay gear shaft 441g of the shift base 441 by the pressing force. With this configuration, the rotational torque of the pan motor unit 451 can be selectively transmitted to the pan gear 431a or the relay gear 454 depending on the operating state of the pressing member 452.

Next, the rotation / tilt / pan drive of the first imaging unit 400 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The rotation portion 410 is fitted on the inner peripheral surface of the tilt base 421, and is assembled so that the rotation gear 413a and the worm gear of the rotation motor unit 422 of the tilt portion 420 mesh with each other. As a result, the rotation unit 410 is rotatably assembled to the tilt unit 420 around the cylindrical axis of the tilt base 421 (rotation drive).

The tilt portion 420 is assembled to the pan base 431 so that the tilt shaft 421a and the U-shaped opening 431c of the pan portion 430 are fitted and the tilt gear 421b and the worm gear of the tilt motor unit 433 are meshed with each other. As a result, the tilt portion 420 is rotatably assembled around the tilt shaft 421a with respect to the pan portion 430 together with the assembled rotation portion 410 (tilt drive).

In the pan portion 430, the circular opening 431d of the pan base 431 and the pan shaft 441c of the shift portion 440 are fitted via the pan shaft holder 432 so that the pan gear 431a and the worm gear of the pan motor unit 451 mesh with each other. It is assembled to the shift base 441. As a result, the pan portion 430 is rotatably assembled around the pan shaft 441c with respect to the shift portion 440 together with the assembled rotation portion 410 and tilt portion 420 (pan drive). That is, the pan base 431 supports the rotation portion 410 and the tilt portion 420 so that the pan can rotate. At this time, the pan motor unit 451 is urged in the pan gear 431a direction as shown in FIG. 4 (A).

Further, during pan drive, the circumferential rib 441d of the shift base 441 blocks the optical path of the electric element 434 assembled to the pan portion 430 in the pan direction during pan rotation. Have been placed. Therefore, the position in the rotation direction is detected by switching the light blocking / transmitting of the electric element 434 at the tip of the circumferential rib 441d.

The plurality of imaging units configured as described above attach the convex portion 441a so as to sandwich the convex portion 441a of the shift base 441 between the base member 330 of the lower case unit 300 and the shift shaft holder 340.

Next, the shift drive of the first imaging unit 400 will be described.

The shift portion 440 is assembled to the base member 330 so that the R surface 441b of the convex portion 441a of the shift base 441 is guided by the shift shaft 334d of the base member 330 and the relay gear 454 of the shift portion 440 and the shift gear 330a mesh with each other. Can be attached. As a result, the first imaging unit 400 is rotatably assembled around the shift shaft 334d with respect to the base member 330 (shift drive).

At the time of shift drive, the pan motor unit 451 is urged in the direction of the relay gear 454 as shown in FIG. 4 (B). Further, at the time of shift drive, the circumferential rib 330b of the base member 330 blocks the optical path of the electric element 442 for detecting the rotation position in the shift direction assembled to the shift portion 440 at the time of shift drive. Is located in. Therefore, the position of the shift rotation is detected by switching the light blocking / transmitting of the electric element 442 at the tip of the circumferential rib 330b.

Further, during the shift drive, the shift drive angle is regulated by the contact between the convex portion 441a of the shift base 441 and the rib 333c extending in the radial direction of the base member 330. That is, the rib 333c functions as a regulating unit that regulates the shift rotation of at least one imaging unit.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the shift drive position detection of the plurality of imaging units (first imaging unit 400, second imaging unit 500, third imaging unit 600, and fourth imaging unit 700) is performed. The order of is explained. FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of the image pickup apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the nearest imaging unit of the rib 333c of the base member 330 will be described as the first imaging unit 400 and the fourth imaging unit 700.

After the power of the image pickup apparatus 100 is turned on, first, the shift drive position detection of the first image pickup unit 400 and the fourth image pickup unit 700 is performed. At this time, both are shift-driven in the direction approaching the rib 333c of the base member 330 and moved to the reference position. That is, the first image pickup unit 400 is shift-driven in the direction 470 shown in FIG. 5, and the fourth image pickup unit 700 is shift-driven in the direction 770. At this time, the direction 470 for moving the first imaging unit 400 to the reference position for detecting the shift position is different from the direction 770 for moving the fourth imaging unit 700 to the reference position for detecting the shift position.

Next, the shift drive position detection of the second imaging unit 500 and the third imaging unit 600 is performed. At this time, both are shift-driven in a direction approaching the rib 333c of the base member 330. That is, the second image pickup unit 500 is shift-driven in the direction 570, and the third image pickup unit 600 is shift-driven in the direction 670. In the present embodiment, the direction 570 for moving the second imaging unit 500 to the reference position for detecting the shift position and the direction 470 for moving the first imaging unit 400 to the reference position for detecting the shift position. Is the same. Further, the direction 670 for moving the third imaging unit 600 to the reference position for detecting the shift position and the direction 770 for moving the fourth imaging unit 700 to the reference position for detecting the shift position are the same.

Next, the arrangement of the electric element 434 for detecting the rotation position in the pan direction and the electric element 442 for detecting the rotation position in the shift direction in the shift rotation axis direction view of the image pickup apparatus 100 will be described.

With the configuration as described above, the movement locus 350 due to the shift rotation of the electric element 442 is arranged inside the locus range due to the shift rotation of the movement locus 460 due to the pan direction rotation of the electric element 434. It is possible to configure 100 in a small size.

Here, a more preferable arrangement of the electric elements 442 and the electric elements 542 of the first imaging unit 400 and the second imaging unit 500 that are adjacent to each other and have the same rotation direction for detecting the shift position will be described. When the first image pickup unit 400 and the second image pickup unit 500 are in the reference position, the angle interval between the electric element 442 and the electric element 542 is the angle at which the first image pickup unit 400 and the second image pickup unit interfere with each other. It is preferably arranged at a position wider than the interval. Here, the angle interval is an angle centered on the central axis 301 of the base member 330. With such an arrangement, it is possible to reduce interference between the imaging units when the first imaging unit 400 and the second imaging unit are at the reference positions.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the electric element 442 for detecting the position of the image pickup apparatus according to the first embodiment in the shift direction. In the present embodiment, the electric element 542 provided in the shift base 541 of the second imaging unit 500 is arranged so as to have a different height from the electric element 442 provided in the shift base 441 of the first imaging unit 400. ing. Here, the electric element 542 is arranged at a position lower than that of the electric element 442 in the shift rotation axis (central axis 301) direction. Correspondingly, the height of the rib 330c is also lower than the height of the rib 330b. With such an arrangement, the electric element 442 can move on the movement locus of the electric element 542 during the shift drive, and the image pickup apparatus 100 can be made compact.

When an imaging unit having the same rotation direction for detecting the shift position is further arranged next to the second imaging unit 500, the electric element for detecting the shift position of the imaging unit is an electric element. It will be placed at a position lower than 542.

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

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which four imaging units are arranged as a plurality of imaging units has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the rotation direction for detecting the shift position is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

100 Imaging device 200 Upper case unit 300 Case unit 301 Central axis 330 Base member 350, 460 Movement locus 400 First imaging unit 410 Rotation section 430 Pan section 431 Pan base 434,442 Electrical element 500 Second imaging unit 600 Third Imaging unit 700 Fourth imaging unit

Claims (6)

This is an imaging device in which a plurality of imaging units arranged in a circumferential shape on the base unit can be shifted and rotated.
The image pickup unit includes a lens unit including a lens and an image pickup element, a pan base unit that supports the lens unit in a pan-rotatable manner, and a drive unit for pan-rotating the lens unit with respect to the pan base unit. It has a pan position detecting unit for detecting the pan rotation position of the imaging unit and a shift position detecting unit for detecting the shift rotation position of the imaging unit.
The image pickup is characterized in that the shift position detection unit is arranged so that the movement locus due to the shift rotation is inside the radial direction of the base portion with respect to the movement locus due to the pan rotation of the pan position detection unit. Device. The pan position detection unit and the shift position detection unit include a photo interrupter, and the pan position detection unit and the shift position detection unit include a photo interrupter.
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device further includes a rib portion corresponding to the photo interrupter. The base unit has at least one regulation unit that regulates the shift rotation of the imaging unit.
Claim 1 or 2 of the plurality of imaging units, wherein the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit that are adjacent to each other with the restricting unit in between have different rotation directions for detecting a shift position. The imaging apparatus according to. Among the plurality of imaging units, the rotation directions for detecting the shift position are the same, and the shift position detection units of the adjacent first imaging unit and the third imaging unit are different from each other in the shift rotation axis direction. The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imaging apparatus is arranged at a height. 4. The fourth aspect of the present invention is that the shift position detection unit of the third imaging unit is arranged at a position lower in the shift rotation axis direction than the shift position detection unit of the first imaging unit. The imaging apparatus described. Among the plurality of imaging units, the shift position detecting units of the first imaging unit and the third imaging unit that are adjacent to each other and have the same rotation direction for detecting the shift position are the same as the first imaging unit. When the third imaging unit is in the reference position for detecting the shift position, the third imaging unit is arranged at a position wider than the angular interval at which the first imaging unit and the third imaging unit interfere with each other. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images