JP3230998B2 - Mobile imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has been developed as a device for recording image information of a vehicle parked on a road. The device is mounted on the vehicle and captures image information with a line sensor camera as the vehicle moves. It can be widely used as a photographing device for performing recording. The present invention provides a device that does not distort the image due to the speed of the vehicle during shooting, can perform correct recording even when the vehicle moves forward and backward, and that does not affect the light sensitivity of the camera by the speed of the vehicle. To provide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Illegal parking control is used to record image information of vehicles parked on the road. In the current illegal parking control, when a police officer recognizes illegal parking, a license plate and other information identifying a vehicle are recorded together with the parking position and time. For this record, vehicles were equipped with cameras to crack down on parking violations. Pictures are extremely useful as evidence.

On the other hand, a line sensor camera is a camera which is widely used for determining the final order of sports competitions or horse races, and for security cameras, etc., and stores line information taken in from a slit provided in the camera over time. Screen information is obtained when the subject moves across the slit or when the camera moves or rotates in a direction perpendicular to the slit.

A line sensor camera for transmitting an electric signal as a readout output has been used in place of a chemical photosensitive film. This is done by arranging a linear photoelectric converter parallel to the slit on the photosensitive surface of the line sensor camera and controlling the reading of the photoelectric converter in accordance with the movement of the subject or the movement or rotation of the camera. The screen information is read, and the read output is recorded in the memory means. According to the present invention, the electric signal is read out, the line sensor camera is mounted on a vehicle, and an image of the image is recorded in a memory device as the vehicle moves.

[0005]

In order to record image information of a vehicle parked on the road in a line sensor camera, a detection vehicle equipped with the line sensor camera needs to maintain a constant speed with the parked vehicle at a constant speed. You need to drive in However, many of the sites where illegal parking is detected are on congested roads, and it is generally difficult to take a picture at a constant speed beside an illegally parked vehicle. The running speed may change, stop, or move backwards. In the photographing by the line sensor camera, when the traveling speed of the detected vehicle changes, the image is distorted. When the detected vehicle retreats, the image becomes an image in which the left and right are reversed. Further, since the sensitivity of the line sensor camera is proportional to the signal accumulation time, when the speed of the detected vehicle is low, the aperture is narrowed down, when the speed is high, the aperture is opened, and when the vehicle stops traveling, the sensitivity becomes maximum and the camera aperture becomes Loss of control causes the photoelectric converter of the line sensor camera to saturate.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile photographing apparatus in which an image is not distorted by a speed change of a detected vehicle during photographing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile photographing apparatus capable of recording a correct image even when a detected vehicle moves backward or stops traveling. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile photographing apparatus that does not affect the light sensitivity of a line sensor camera even if the traveling speed of a detected vehicle changes.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention records an image with a constant exposure amount without distortion even if the traveling speed of a detection vehicle for photographing an object is changed by a line sensor camera. It is characterized by being able to.

That is, the present invention provides a line sensor camera mounted on a vehicle and transmitting an electric signal as a readout output,
Memory means for recording the readout output, a rotation sensor for detecting wheel rotation of the vehicle, and a first read signal of the line sensor camera is generated for each fixed movement distance of the vehicle according to the output of the rotation sensor. And circuit means.

By providing a read signal to the line sensor camera not at regular intervals but at regular intervals of the detected vehicle, the output of the line sensor camera does not cause image distortion due to speed changes.

[0010] The circuit means generates a second read signal obtained by delaying the first read signal by a fixed time t, which is sufficiently shorter than a cycle in which the first read signal is generated, corresponding to the fixed moving distance. The first read signal and the second read signal are both supplied as the read signal of the line sensor camera, and the read output corresponding to the first read signal among the read outputs of the line sensor camera. A control unit for invalidating the readout output from the line sensor camera and validating the readout output from the line sensor camera corresponding to the second read signal and recording in the memory unit.

That is, a first read signal is supplied to the line sensor camera every fixed distance traveled by the detected vehicle, and a second read signal is supplied after a short period of time t has elapsed from the first read signal. Then, the read output by the first read signal is discarded, and only the read output by the second read signal is made valid. Then, the readout output by the first readout signal is not constant depending on the traveling speed of the detected vehicle, but the readout output by the second readout signal is always a readout output of an image exposed for a fixed time t. That is, even if the speed of the detected vehicle changes from zero to the maximum speed, an image is always exposed for a certain time t. This time t must be longer than the time t ₀ required to read the signal of the CCD line sensor. For example, if the number of effective pixels is 10
00, assuming that the read clock frequency is 20 MHz, t ₀ = 1000/20 MHz = 50 μS, and t = 2t ₀ = 100 μS or more is necessary to obtain a valid signal of 1000 pixels. Assuming that once reading is performed each time the vehicle moves 1 mm, s = 1 mm / 1
00 μS = 36 km / h is the maximum speed of the vehicle. With this configuration, the effective exposure time t of the readout output of the line sensor camera is reduced without interfering with the first readout signal.

Thus, the sensitivity of the line sensor camera can be controlled according to the brightness of the object and independently of the speed of the vehicle.

If the rotation sensor is provided with means for detecting the direction of rotation, it is possible to detect whether the direction of rotation is the forward direction or the backward direction of the vehicle. The address is controlled by adding or subtracting the address value of the memory means, and a valid signal is recorded.

That is, in general, only when the vehicle moves forward is used as a valid signal. When the vehicle moves backward, the address of the memory means is moved backward, and rewriting is performed while filling with the signal when moving forward. Do. As a result, only a signal when the vehicle moves forward is recorded, and even when the vehicle is repeatedly moved forward and backward, discontinuity due to substantial backward movement can be eliminated. When the vehicle retreats continuously over the photographing period, it may be effective only when the vehicle retreats.

[0015] The line sensor camera, depending on the object to be photographed,
A plurality of detection vehicles can be provided. In this case, it is advantageous to supply the first read signal and the second read signal to a plurality of line sensor cameras in common. If the memory means is provided with an individual address area corresponding to each of the plurality of line sensor cameras, it is possible to record the read output classified for each line sensor camera.

A part of the photographing directions of the plurality of line sensor cameras can be set perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the other part of the photographing directions can be set oblique to the traveling direction of the vehicle. With this configuration, for example, when recording image information of a vehicle parked on the road, image information of the entire parked vehicle and image information of the license plate of the parked vehicle are captured in one run. be able to.

[0017] With this, even if the detected vehicle performing photographing performs acceleration / deceleration, retreating, stopping, or the like, and the traveling speed changes, an image without distortion can be recorded, and the exposure amount is kept constant. A clear image can be obtained.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a device that records image information of a vehicle parked on a road will be described as an example.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention. Although FIG. 1 shows a larger vehicle than a parked vehicle in order to clearly show the configuration of an electronic circuit device provided inside the detected vehicle, for example, the detected vehicle is a patrol car, and a particularly large vehicle is used. do not have to.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a line sensor camera 1 mounted on a detection vehicle and transmitting an electric signal generated by photographing a parked vehicle 20 as a read output, a memory means 2 for recording the read output, a vehicle And a circuit means for generating a first reading signal of the line sensor camera 1 at every constant moving distance of the vehicle in accordance with the output of the rotation sensor 3. This circuit means is included in the control circuit 4. The line sensor camera 1 is provided with a slit for taking in light, and is provided with a photoelectric converter 5 in which a number of elements are arranged in a line parallel to the slit at a position where light passing through the slit forms an image.
In this embodiment, a CCD sensor is used for the photoelectric converter 5.

Further, the control circuit 4 includes means for generating a second read signal delayed by a fixed time t sufficiently shorter than the cycle of the first read signal, and includes means for generating the first read signal and the second read signal. Both of the second read signals are line sensor camera 1
Of the line sensor camera 1
Of the read output from the line sensor camera 1 corresponding to the first read signal, and the read output from the line sensor camera 1 corresponding to the second read signal as valid. Control means for recording is provided.

The rotation sensor 3 includes means for detecting the direction of rotation. This is provided with a pulse generating means for generating two pulses having different phases in the rotation sensor 3,
The technique for detecting the rotation direction is a widely known technique. Means for adding or subtracting the address value of the memory means 2 according to whether the rotation direction is the forward direction or the backward direction of the vehicle is provided, and the control circuit 4 controls the sensitivity of the line sensor camera 1 for the object. Means are provided for controlling according to the brightness, generally the ambient brightness, and independent of the speed of the vehicle. The line sensor camera 1 is driven by driving means 11 connected to the control circuit 4.

In this embodiment, a detected vehicle that records image information of a vehicle parked on the road is taken as an example.
A time information generating means 13 for generating the current time as an electric signal,
Distance meter 15 that sends distance information to position information generating means 13
And an operation input device 16 for performing an operation input. The display unit 17 is connected to the position information generating unit 13.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the rotation sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, the wheels 2 rotating in contact with the road surface
4, a rotary encoder 25 is mechanically connected to the rotary encoder 25, and a rotational direction determining means 26 for determining a rotational direction based on an output of the rotary encoder 25;
Up / down counter 27 that takes in the output of
And are provided. As the rotary encoder 25, an incremental type having two outputs A and B having phases different by 90 degrees is used.

Here, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

First, when an illegally parked vehicle is found, a photographing starting point in a place where the parked vehicle 20 is to be photographed is set. As the photographing starting point, for example, a white line for a pause set at an intersection or the like is used.

When the detected vehicle moves over the set photographing starting point and receives a photographing mode setting operation input from the operation input device 16, the position information generating means 13 sends a photographing mode setting signal to the control circuit 4 and The map information 12 is fetched and a map of the specified place is displayed on the display means 17.

When the detection starting point is marked on this map and the setting of the moving distance is input from the operation input device 16, the position information generating means 13 sets the origin of the moving distance based on the output from the distance meter 15. Subsequently, when an operation input for time setting is performed from the operation input device 16, the time information generating means 14
Sets the start time.

When the control circuit 4 receives the photographing mode setting signal from the position information generating means 13, it sends out a driving signal to the driving means 11 to drive the line sensor camera 1.

As the detected vehicle moves at a substantially constant speed (for example, 20 to 30 km / h) along the parked vehicle 20, the line sensor camera 1 photoelectrically converts an image photographed in accordance with the moving speed. An image is formed on the device 5 and this electric signal is transmitted as a read output. The memory means 2 records this read output.

At the same time, the control circuit 4 fetches the detection output from the rotation sensor 3 and generates a first reading signal of the line sensor camera 1 at every fixed moving distance of the detected vehicle according to the output. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a second read signal delayed by a fixed time t sufficiently shorter than the cycle of the first read signal is generated. Both the first read signal and the second read signal are supplied to the control circuit 4 as a read signal of the line sensor camera 1, and the control circuit 4 outputs the first read signal of the read output of the line sensor camera 1. Is invalidated, and the readout corresponding to the second read signal is recorded as valid in the memory means 2. As a result, even if the traveling speed of the detected vehicle changes, the image which has no distortion and is exposed for a fixed exposure time is recorded in the memory means 2.

In many cases, roads are congested at the photographing site of a parked vehicle, and the detected vehicle often needs to stop or retreat. When the vehicle stops or moves backward, the rotation sensor 3 detects whether the direction is forward or backward. The control circuit 4 determines, based on this detection output,
As shown in FIG. 4, when the detected vehicle moves backward, the address value is subtracted, and when the detected vehicle moves forward, the address value is added.
In this way, a signal is recorded in the memory means 2 only when the detected vehicle moves forward, and the discontinuity caused by the retreat is removed.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of line sensor cameras in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a connection state between a rotation sensor, a line sensor camera, a control circuit, and a memory means in a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, two line sensor cameras 1a and 1b are provided. The first read signal and the second read signal described in the first embodiment are commonly supplied to the two line sensor cameras 1a and 1b, and the two line sensor cameras 1a and 1b are used as memory means. , A first memory means 2a and a second memory means 2b each provided with an individual address area are provided. The first line sensor camera 1a and the second line sensor camera 1b have a first photoelectric converter 5a and a second photoelectric converter 5, respectively.
b, the first driving means 1 connected to the control circuit 4
It is driven by 1a and second driving means 11b.
Printing means 18 is connected to the control circuit 4. Other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment.

In an actual vehicle, as shown in FIG. 6, the first line sensor camera 1a has a support 28 provided at the front of the detection vehicle having a photographing angle θ of about 30 degrees and a height from the road surface. It is arranged so that a shooting range of about 2 m can be taken in the vertical direction. The first line sensor camera 1a photographs the license plate 30. Further, the second line sensor camera 1b is arranged such that its optical axis is perpendicular to the parked vehicle 20 on the side surface (left side in the moving direction in Japan) of the detected vehicle, and the height from the road surface is the photographing range. It is installed to be 2m. The second line sensor camera 1b captures an image of the parked vehicle 20. The photographing of the license plate 13 by the first line sensor camera 1a is performed at the distance d between the parked vehicles 20.
Is 0.5 m or more, and the detection vehicle is 20 to 30 such that the distance D from the parked vehicle 20 is maintained at 0.5 to 1 m.
It moves at a speed of km / h.

The image signals photographed by the first line sensor camera 1a and the second line sensor camera 1b are processed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and stored in the first memory unit 2a and the second memory unit 2b. Recorded separately. The recorded image is printed as a photograph of the license plate 30 and a photograph of the entire parked vehicle 20 by the printing means 18 when the operation input device 16 receives an operation input of a print mode setting.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image is not distorted even if the traveling speed of a vehicle for photographing an object such as a parked vehicle parked on the road using the line sensor camera changes. In addition, image information with constant exposure can be recorded. Shooting on a congested road involves stopping or retreating the vehicle, but in such a case, image information is recorded only when the vehicle moves forward or backwards, so expansion and contraction due to normal exposure , And correct image information can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a rotation sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining an operation for keeping a change in signal level caused by a change in vehicle running speed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining writing to the memory means when the vehicle is moving backward and forward in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement example of a line sensor camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a connection state between a rotation sensor, a line sensor camera, a control circuit, and a memory unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Line sensor camera 1a First line sensor camera 1b Second line sensor camera 2 Memory means 2a First memory means 2b Second memory means 3 Rotation sensor 4 Control circuit 5 Photoelectric conversion device 5a First photoelectric Converter 5b Second photoelectric converter 11 Driving means 11a First driving means 11b Second driving means 12 Map information 13 Position information generating means 14 Time information generating means 15 Distance meter 16 Operation input device 17 Display means 20 Parking Vehicle 24 wheel 25 rotary encoder 26 rotation direction determining means 27 up / down counter 28 support 30 license plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/232 H04N 5/235 H04N 7/18

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An electric signal mounted on a vehicle is read out and output.
Line sensor camera to send out and record the readout output
Memory means for detecting rotation of a wheel of the vehicle
A sensor and the vehicle according to the output of the rotation sensor.
The first reading of the line sensor camera
Circuit means for generating an interrogation signal., The circuit means transmits the first read signal to the fixed moving distance.
More than the period at which this first read signal is generated
Generates a second read signal delayed by a short fixed time t
Means for reading the first read signal and the second read signal.
Both of the read signals are read signals of the line sensor camera.
Out of the readout output of the line sensor camera.
The line sensor camera corresponding to the first read signal
And invalidates the read output from the second read signal.
The readout output from the line sensor camera
Control means for recording in the memory means Features
Mobile imaging device. 2. The rotation sensor detects a rotation direction of the rotation sensor.
Means that the rotation direction is the forward direction of the vehicle
The address of the memory means depends on whether it is in the backward direction.
And means for controlling addition or subtraction of data values.
The mobile imaging device according to the above. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensitivity of the line sensor camera is set to an object.
3. A mobile photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for controlling according to the brightness of the vehicle and independently of the speed of the vehicle . 4. A camera comprising a plurality of said line sensor cameras ,
The first reading is performed on the plurality of line sensor cameras.
A signal and the second read signal are supplied in common,
The memory means supports the multiple line sensor cameras.
Each of claim 1 provided separate address area Te
The mobile imaging device according to any one of the chairs 3 . 5. The plurality of line sensor cameras are
In some cases, the shooting direction is set at a right angle to the
In some other cases, the shooting direction is
4. Symbol placing mobile photographing device is set at an angle to.