JP3121048B2 - Camera head with remote control function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control function in which a video camera, a still camera, or the like is mounted, and a photographing direction of the camera is directed to a subject in response to a control light signal from the subject. The camera head has a camera head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional video camera head capable of remote control, there is known a camera head provided with a control device which is connected to a camera head by code. Generally, this type of video camera head has a tripod, and the video camera is mounted while being supported by the tripod. The video camera head has an electric drive function for rotating the camera head in the direction of the camera head according to the operation of the control device. By operating the control device away from the video camera, the shooting direction of the camera can be adjusted to the subject. It is designed to be oriented. When the remote control is performed as described above, the video camera is kept in a release state.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned video camera head, since the control device is connected to the head by cord, the code is extended to a predetermined place and the control is performed.
Control device must be operated. From this,
There are inconveniences, such as that the cord is in the way and that the cord is not stretched and the operating position of the control device is limited. In particular, when photographing a video camera during a meeting or at a banquet, a person who is a subject often operates the control device, but the operation position is restricted by the code, which is serious. I often felt inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to develop a camera head which is remotely controlled by an optical signal and does not require a connection code between the head and the control device. And

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a control light signal from a subject is received, and the control signal is horizontally rotated in accordance with the light receiving state. In the camera head to be pointed,
A plurality of optical sensors including a light receiver and a control circuit for changing the pulse width according to the amount of light received by the light receiver and outputting a pulse signal are sequentially arranged around the rotation direction of the camera platform. In addition to receiving light, a receiving angle limit is provided so that two light beams can be received simultaneously, and the two optical sensors on the front side of the camera platform should receive the same amount of light at the rotational position of the camera platform facing the subject. When the optical sensor, which is placed in the right direction in front of the pan head, receives the control light signal,
The head is driven to the left in response to the output pulse signal, and when the optical sensor arranged to the left in front of the head receives a control light signal, the head is rotated right in response to the output pulse signal. When the two optical sensors on the front side of the head receive a control light signal and output a pulse signal of an equivalent pulse, an electric control circuit for stopping the rotation of the head according to the output pulse signal is provided. A camera head having a remote control function characterized by being provided is proposed.

[0006]

The camera head described above is arranged such that when an optical sensor arranged rightward in front of the head receives a control light signal,
The head is rotated to the left, and the front of the head is opposed to the emission of the control light signal. Contrary to the above, the optical sensor arranged to the left of the front of the head controls the control light signal. When light is received, the camera platform rotates clockwise and the front of the camera platform is opposed to the control light signal. When the two optical sensors on the front side of the camera platform simultaneously receive the control optical signal, and the pulse widths of the pulse signals output from these optical sensors become equivalent, the rotation of the camera platform stops. Therefore, if a control device is provided on the subject side and a control light signal is transmitted from the control device toward the camera platform, the shooting direction of the camera mounted on the camera platform can be directed to the object. it can.

When a video camera is mounted on a camera platform for photographing, the camera is set to a photographing operation (release state) and the remote control is performed as described above. When a still camera is mounted on a camera platform for photographing, a camera having a remote control function is used. After performing the remote control as described above, the still camera transmits a control light signal for shutter release. The control light signal for the shutter release may be transmitted from the control device.
A control optical signal for controlling the rotation of the camera platform can be identified.

[0008]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a simplified view showing a state where a camera head is remotely controlled. Reference numeral 10 denotes a head supported by a tripod 11 so as to be freely rotatable horizontally, 12 denotes a video camera mounted on the head 10, and 13 denotes a camera. This is a control device provided on the subject side.

The camera platform 10 is a rotating body that is circular when viewed from above. Four optical sensors 10a to 10d that receive infrared light are provided at equal distances around the rotating body. (FIG. 2,
(See FIG. 3) These optical sensors 10a to 10d
10a, 1 on the right side of the front of the camera platform (the position of the arrow in FIGS.
0b, 10c and 10d are sequentially arranged on the left side, and 10b and 10c are arranged at equal intervals from the front of the camera platform. In addition, the optical sensors 10a to 10a to 10
A light receiving angle limiting member is provided for each of the members d, and a control light signal from the control device 13 is received by one optical sensor and simultaneously received by two optical sensors. Further, each of the optical sensors 10a to 10d
The photodetector is configured to receive infrared light transmitted as a control light signal and output a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amount of received light.

The video camera 12 is attached to the camera platform 10 so that the taking lens is located in front of the camera platform. Further, the control device 13 is configured to transmit infrared light obtained by pulse-modulating a carrier wave as a control light signal.

FIG. 4 is an electric control circuit diagram provided for the camera platform 10. In this figure, an OR circuit 15, an AND circuit 16, for inputting output pulse signals of the optical sensors 10a and 10b,
The detection circuit 17, the buffer circuit 18, and the AND circuit 19 form a counterclockwise rotation circuit for controlling the drive circuit 20 of the motor M to rotate the camera platform 10 counterclockwise. Similarly, the optical sensor 10
an OR circuit 21 for inputting output pulse signals of c and 10d;
The AND circuit 22, the detection circuit 23, the buffer circuit 24, and the AND circuit 25 form a clockwise rotation circuit for rotating the camera platform 10 clockwise. The AND circuit 26 and the inverting circuit 27 for inputting the output pulse signals of the optical sensors 10b and 10c form a rotation stop circuit of the camera platform 10.

On the other hand, an OR circuit 28, a detection circuit 29, a buffer circuit 30, a differentiating circuit 31, and a flip-flop circuit (hereinafter, referred to as an FF circuit) 32 for inputting output pulse signals of the optical sensors 10a to 10d are used to rotate the pan head 10. A permission circuit is formed. The inverting circuits 33 and 34, the differentiating circuits 35 and 36, and the OR circuits 37 and 38 form a set circuit of the FF circuit 32. Further, the AND circuit 39 and the differentiating circuit 40 are configured such that both the buffer circuit 18 of the left rotation circuit and the buffer circuit 24 of the right rotation circuit output High (hereinafter, H output).
The FF circuit 32 is set when the signal becomes a signal) to form a stabilizing circuit for stabilizing the rotation of the camera platform 10.

Next, the operation of the above-described electric control circuit will be described with reference to the time charts of FIGS. Assuming that the camera platform 10 is in the rotational position shown in FIG. 2 when the control optical signal is transmitted from the control device 13, the optical sensor 10a is shown in FIG. 5A and the optical sensor 10b is shown in FIG. Control light signals as shown in FIG. In the case where infrared light obtained by pulse-modulating a carrier wave as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is received and the original signal is extracted by double tone, a resistor included in a detection filter circuit, etc. Regardless of whether it is preferred or not due to the capacitance of the capacitor or the like, when the amount of received light is large, the output pulse width becomes large. That is, it is generally difficult to always output a pulse signal having the same pulse width as the incident light regardless of the amount of received light, and a special configuration is required. The present invention utilizes the property that the optical sensors 10a to 10d that take out a pulse signal by duplicating the infrared light obtained by modulating a carrier wave, which is usually made, make use of the property that the pulse width becomes large when the amount of received light is large. The center is made to face the control device 13 as much as possible. Therefore, it does not mean that the light receiving amount and the pulse width of the output pulse signal have a linear relationship. Needless to say, a control circuit to which such a control circuit is added may be used. If there is an optical sensor intentionally made so that the pulse width becomes small when the amount of received light is large, the center of the camera platform 10 is similarly directed to the control device 13 using this. You can do it. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, these optical sensors 10a and 10b output a pulse signal having a pulse width corresponding to the amount of received light. This pulse signal passes through the OR circuit 28 and the detection circuit 2
9, the detection circuit 29 repeats charging and discharging, and outputs a detection signal shown in FIG. The detection signal is input to the buffer circuit 30, and the buffer circuit 30
Outputs a constant voltage shown in FIG. 5 (g) according to the reference voltage (see the dashed line in FIG. 5 (f)), and when the constant voltage rises, the differentiating circuit 31 outputs the differentiated pulse shown in FIG. 5 (h). The signal is input to the S terminal of the FF circuit 32. From this, FF
An H signal is supplied from the Q terminal of the circuit 32 to one-way terminals of the AND circuits 19 and 25.

On the other hand, output pulse signals of the optical sensors 10a and 10b are input to a detection circuit 17 through an OR circuit 15 and an AND circuit 16. In this case, since the AND circuit 26 is closed, the H signal output from the inverting circuit 27 is supplied to the AND circuit 16. The detection circuit 17 inputs an output signal as shown in FIG. 5 (f) to a buffer circuit 18, and the buffer circuit 18 inputs the same output signal as in FIG. 5 (g) to the other terminal of the AND circuit 19.
Therefore, the AND circuit 19 is connected to the buffer circuit 18 and the FF.
The gate is opened by inputting the output signal from the circuit 32, and the output signal is supplied to the drive circuit 20 to drive the motor M.

At this time, the motor M is rotationally driven so as to rotate the camera platform 10 counterclockwise. That is, the camera platform 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow 41 shown in FIG. In the above description, the case where the optical sensors 10a and 10b receive light simultaneously is described. However, the same operation is performed when the optical sensor 10a receives light alone.

As the head 10 rotates to the left, the optical sensor 10c simultaneously receives light with the optical sensor 10b, as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the incident light of the optical sensor 10c becomes weaker than that of the optical sensor 10b until the camera platform 10 directly faces the control device 13. 10b and 10c show FIG.
A pulse signal having a pulse width as shown in (c) and (d) is output. As a result, as shown in FIG.
0b, while T ₁ the pulse width of the pulse signal overlaps that 10c is outputted, the AND circuit 26 Gage - for the bets open, Low signal is inverted circuit 27 outputs (hereinafter, referred to as L signals)
Is supplied to the AND circuit 16, which closes the gate.

[0017] However, the optical sensor 10b, of the output pulse signal 10c, while T ₂ pulse width do not overlap, the AND circuit 26 Gage - becomes DOO closed, H signal from the inverting circuit 27 is supplied to the AND circuit 16 The AND circuit 16 inputs a pulse signal from the optical sensor 10b. From this, the output signal shown in FIG. 6 output from the AND circuit 16 is input to the detection circuit 17, so that the buffer circuit 18 is kept in the output state, and the left rotation of the camera platform 10 is performed by driving the motor M. move on.

When the rotation of the camera platform 10 proceeds such that the front of the camera platform faces the control device 13, the optical sensors 10b, 1b
The control optical signals incident on 0c are equivalent, and these optical sensors output pulse signals having the same pulse width. As a result, the gate of the AND circuit 26 is opened, and the inversion circuit 2
The L signal output from 7 is input to the AND circuit 16. Since the AND circuit 16 keeps the gate closed by this operation, the output of the detection circuit 17 disappears, and the buffer circuit 18
The output of the AND circuit 19 also disappears and the motor M stops.
As a result, the rotation of the camera platform 10 stops at the rotation position facing the control device 13.

When the output of the buffer circuit 18 has disappeared, the differentiated pulse of the differentiating circuit 35 is supplied to the lower circuit 37.
The signal is input to the R terminal of the FF circuit 32 through 38, and the Q terminal output of the FF circuit 32 is switched from the H signal to the L signal. As a result, even if the camera platform 10 overruns due to inertia and the buffer circuit 24 of the clockwise rotation circuit outputs, the motor M is not driven because the AND circuit 25 remains gate-closed. . In other words, vibration caused by the rotational advance and retreat of the head 10 sandwiching the front of the head is prevented.

On the other hand, when a control optical signal is transmitted from the control device 13 and the light sensors 10c and 10d arranged in the left direction in front of the camera platform receive light, the OR circuit 21, the AND circuit 22, and the detection circuit Circuit 23, buffer circuit 2
4. The clockwise rotation circuit composed of the AND circuit 25 operates in the same manner as described above, and the camera platform 10 rotates so that the front of the camera platform faces the control device 13.

As described above, since the characteristic that the pulse width of the output pulse signal is large when the incident light is large is used, the control light having the same intensity depends on the performance of the optical sensors 10a to 10d. Even when a signal is received, an output pulse signal having an equivalent pulse width may not be obtained, or a pulse signal having a phase shift may be output even with an equivalent pulse width. For example, when the front of the camera platform is opposed to the control device, the optical sensor 10b is turned on as shown in FIG.
7B, the pulse signal of the optical sensor 10c may be out of phase as shown in FIG. 7B.

In such a case, the signal shown in FIG. 7 (c) is inputted to the detection circuit 17 and the signal shown in FIG. 7 (d) is inputted to the detection circuit 23, so that both the buffer circuits 18 and 24 are at H level.
A signal is output, and the drive circuit 20 of the motor M may operate abnormally. Then, in such a case, the gate of the AND circuit 39 of the stabilizing circuit is opened, and the differentiated pulse of the differentiating circuit 40 is input to the R terminal of the FF circuit 32 through the OR circuit 38. As a result, the FF circuit 32 is set, and the Q terminal output is set to the L signal, and the AND circuits 19 and 25 are closed. The same applies when the optical sensors 10b and 10c output pulse signals having different pulse widths.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the light receiving angle limiting members 42, 4 of the optical sensors 10b, 10c are used.
3 has been improved. That is, since the control light signal of the control device 13 can be considered as a parallel light orthogonal to the tangent of the camera platform 10, the light receiving angle limiting members 42 and 43 are provided.
Are extended toward the front of the camera platform at a slight angle with respect to the parallel light. In this case, the light-receiving angle limiting members 42 and 43 move with respect to the sensor optical axis.
α> β.

In this embodiment, only when the front of the camera platform correctly faces the control device 13, the optical sensors 10b, 1b
0c is received simultaneously, and the camera platform 10 stops. If the front of the camera platform is slightly deviated, either one of the optical sensors 10b and 10c receives light, and the electric control circuit shown in FIG. 9 operates to rotate the camera platform 10 counterclockwise or clockwise. In addition,
FIG. 9 shows the left rotation circuit and the right rotation circuit described in FIG.
It has a configuration of a rotation stop circuit. Other configurations of this embodiment are the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

[0025]

As described above, the camera head according to the present invention can automatically direct the shooting direction of the mounted camera to the subject by the control light signal from the subject. Therefore, there is no need for a code for connecting the control device to the camera platform, and the problems such as the obstruction of the code and the necessity of the trouble of routing the code are required as in the conventional camera platform. It will be the resolved camera head.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing a remote control state of a camera platform equipped with a video camera.

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram showing a light receiving state of an optical sensor arranged rightward in front of a camera platform.

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram showing a light receiving state of two optical sensors arranged on the front side of a camera platform.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an electric control circuit provided on a camera platform.

FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the electric control circuit when an optical sensor arranged leftward or rightward in front of the camera platform receives light.

FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the electric control circuit when two optical sensors on the front of the camera platform receive light.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a phase shift of an output pulse signal caused by a difference in performance of an optical sensor.

FIG. 8 is a partial simplified view of a pan head showing another embodiment in which the light receiving angles of two optical sensors on the front side of the pan head are improved.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an electric control circuit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Head 10a-10d Optical sensor 12 Video camera 13 Control device 17 Detection circuit 20 Motor drive circuit 23 Detection circuit 29 Detection circuit 32 FF circuit

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera head for receiving a control light signal from a subject side, rotating horizontally in accordance with the light receiving state, and directing a mounted camera toward the subject, and a light receiving amount of the light receiving section of the camera head. A plurality of optical sensors including a control circuit for changing the pulse width and outputting a pulse signal in accordance with the conditions are sequentially arranged around the rotation direction of the camera platform, and these optical sensors receive one light and simultaneously receive two light. In addition, the two light sensors on the front of the camera platform are arranged so that the same amount of light is received at the rotational position of the camera platform facing the subject, and the light sensor is positioned rightward in front of the camera platform. When the arranged optical sensor receives the control light signal, it drives the head to the left in accordance with the output pulse signal, and the left arranged optical sensor in front of the head receives the control light signal. When you do In response to the force pulse signal, the camera platform is driven to rotate clockwise, and when the two optical sensors on the front of the camera platform receive the control light signal and output a pulse signal of an equivalent pulse, they respond to this output pulse signal. A camera head having a remote control function, comprising an electric control circuit for stopping the rotation of the head.