JP3336626B2 - Monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus, and more particularly, to a monitoring apparatus for efficiently or multilaterally imaging a predetermined monitoring area to be monitored in a store, a warehouse, or an event hall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of monitoring device includes a store,
In some cases, a television camera is provided toward a predetermined monitoring area in a warehouse or an event hall, images captured by the television camera are collected in a monitoring center or the like, and this is displayed on a monitor television. In such devices, a dedicated TV camera is provided for each monitoring area, or a TV camera is scanned when the monitoring area is wide, and multiple TV cameras are deployed in important monitoring areas to provide multi-faceted monitoring. Is possible.

[0003]

However, in such a monitoring apparatus, it is difficult to monitor the area even by scanning with a television camera, for example, when the monitoring area is large or when the monitoring points are widely separated. Yes, for example, when monitoring large stores or event venues, the number of TV cameras must be increased. Also, even if the monitoring area is a specific narrow range,
If the monitoring area requires particularly strict monitoring, for example, when monitoring the display position of important objects, it is necessary to monitor the monitoring area from multiple sides to eliminate blind spots and accurately capture events . In such a case, a plurality of television cameras must be provided around the monitoring area, and a monitoring device that is expensive and complicated in operation has been required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to construct a multi-faceted monitoring of a wide monitoring area or a most important area by an inexpensive and simple system.

[0005]

A monitoring device according to the present invention is provided with an image pickup means for picking up an image of a predetermined monitoring area such as a store, a warehouse, a factory, an event hall or the like as a monitoring target, and installed in the monitoring area;
In a monitoring apparatus including: a viewpoint changing unit that reflects or refracts light from within the monitoring area or outside the monitoring area; and a monitoring image display unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit, the posture of the imaging unit may be changed. Posture controlling means for controlling the posture of the imaging means .
An attitude of directly imaging the monitoring target from a first viewpoint,
A second view in which the one monitoring target is different from the first view;
Through the viewpoint changing means projected from the point,
The gist of the gist is that it is means for performing control for switching to a posture for imaging a viewing target .

Here, the viewpoint changing means is not limited to a means that constantly performs the function of reflecting or refracting light, and the ratio between reflected light and transmitted light is determined by the difference in brightness before and after the mirror, such as a half mirror. Are different, such as a car cell, whose reflection or transmission characteristics change depending on the applied voltage, those that act as mirrors only when a predetermined signal is input using liquid crystal, etc. May be a concave or convex mirror that can be continuously changed. Further, a plurality of viewpoint changing means may be provided for the imaging means. In this case, a complicated path is constructed such that light sequentially reflected or refracted by the plurality of viewpoint changing means finally reaches the imaging means. It is also possible. Also, the viewpoint changing means may be configured such that the one monitoring target in the monitoring area is the second viewing target.
The position projected from the point and the one monitored object are the
One viewpoint and a third viewpoint different from the second viewpoint
A plurality placed in position to be displayed, et al., The attitude control means, before
The attitude of the imaging means is directly adjusted to the first monitored object by the first
The posture to be imaged from the viewpoint and the one monitored object are the second viewpoint
The one monitored object via the viewpoint changing means projected from
The posture for imaging the image and the one monitored object are projected from the third viewpoint.
The one monitoring target is imaged through the displayed viewpoint changing means.
It is also desirable to provide a means for performing control for switching to a posture to be performed. Imaging means, one monitor target with different size,
It is also preferable to use a means for imaging at least one of the focus and the angle. In this case, setting means for setting a plurality of combinations of the size, focus, and angle of a monitoring target to be imaged for one image pickup means, and a plurality of combinations are sequentially switched according to the elapse of a predetermined period, Switching execution means for executing imaging by the imaging means may be provided. Control means for controlling the attitude of the viewpoint changing means may be provided. The viewpoint changing means may be a convex mirror. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration including switching means for switching the monitoring target according to time, and monitoring target switching means for switching the monitoring target based on a predetermined sensor detection or a predetermined operation. Further, a recording unit capable of recording an image captured by the imaging unit in the form of a continuous image and a frame-by-frame image, and a mode recorded by the recording unit are used for detecting a predetermined sensor for switching a monitoring target or performing a predetermined operation. It is also preferable to adopt a configuration including a recording mode determination unit that determines the content according to the content.

[0007]

In the monitoring apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the attitude control means for controlling the attitude of the imaging means captures the attitude of the imaging means directly from a first viewpoint of one monitored object.
The attitude to image and the one monitored object are different from the first viewpoint
The one is changed via the viewpoint changing means projected from the second viewpoint.
Is switched to the posture for imaging the monitoring target . By the imaging means whose posture has been switched in this manner, light inside or outside the monitoring area reflected or refracted by the viewpoint changing means is imaged, and monitoring by the monitoring image display means becomes possible.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the monitoring apparatus of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a monitoring device as an embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the monitoring device includes an electronic control unit 1 having a well-known CPU and the like, a sensor group 3 provided for a monitoring target, a keyboard 5 for an operator to make various settings, and a television. Joystick 7 for inputting attitude control of camera and mirror, and 10 monitor televisions M
Ti (i = 1, 2,... 10) and the touch panel 12
Is installed, 20 television cameras TVn (n = 1, 2,..., 20) and their camera attitude control device CIn, and 20 mirrors MLn (n
= 1, 2,... 20) and its mirror attitude control device CM
n. These devices are all incorporated in a console panel (not shown).

In this embodiment, the monitor television MTi
Is smaller than the number of TV cameras TVn,
The same number of monitor televisions MTi may be provided. Also, the number of monitor televisions M larger than the number of television cameras TVn
Ti may be prepared, and one or two monitor televisions MTi may be used as, for example, a main monitor having a large display area and a large resolution, and an important image may be overlappedly displayed on the main monitor. Similarly, in this embodiment, the number of mirrors MLn is equal to that of the television camera TVn.
More than n mirrors MLn may be provided, or mirrors MLn may be provided only on the television camera TVn monitoring an important part.

The electronic control unit 1 includes a CPU 21 and a ROM 2
2, a sensor input port 28 connected to the sensor group 3 and controlling its input interface, a key input port 30 for inputting signals from the keyboard 5 and the joystick 7, and a liquid crystal of the display panel 15 in addition to elements such as a RAM 24, a timer 26, and the like. A liquid crystal panel interface 34 for controlling the panel 32, a touch panel interface 36 for controlling data input from the touch panel 12, and a camera attitude control device CI provided for each television camera TVn
n, a camera motor interface 38 for controlling motors for pan, tilt, zoom, and focus, and selectively outputs image signals from the television camera TVn to the monitor television M.
Video selector 40 for outputting to Ti, mirror attitude control device C
A mirror motor interface 42 for controlling each motor for scanning Mn vertically or horizontally is built in, and these are mutually connected by a common bus 43.

In this embodiment, a part of the RAM 24 is backed up by a battery (not shown). The backed-up RAM 24 stores data such as imaging conditions, which will be described later.
An EPROM or a configuration for storing data in an external storage device such as a flexible disk may be used.

In this embodiment, since the monitoring target is a store such as a supermarket in this embodiment, the sensor group 3 includes a sensor for detecting the use state of the cash register (particularly, a sensor for detecting opening and closing of a drawer for storing cash), A sensor that detects the opening and closing of the door of the vending machine in the store, a sensor that detects the opening and closing of the automatic door at the entrance of the store, a sensor that detects the opening and closing of the emergency exit, a sensor that detects the opening and closing of the display case, etc. I have.

The keyboard 5 is, together with the joystick 7, a camera attitude control device CIn and a mirror attitude control device CMn.
Arrow keys 45 for adjusting zoom and focus, selection of the camera attitude control device CIn and mirror attitude control device CMn, and the imaging condition number PN for each television camera.
Alternatively, there are provided a setting key 47 for designating a table number TN, which is a group thereof, and a ten key 49 for entering a camera or mirror number or the like.

The joystick 7 is a television camera TV
n and pan (rotational position around the vertical axis) and tilt (vertical rotation position) of the mirror MLn, and two selections for selecting which of the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn to execute the posture control. Switch (TV, M
L) 8 is provided. The CPU 21 reads the selection state of the selection switch 8 via the key input port 30,
For the selected control target, the joystick 7
The attitude control is performed according to the operation amount of. That is, when the selection switch 8 for specifying the TV is pressed, the TV camera TVn pans in the direction by tilting the stick left and right, and tilts by tilting the stick back and forth. On the other hand, when the selection switch 8 for designating the ML is pressed, the mirror M
Ln pans and tilts.

Next, the configurations of the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn in which such attitude control is performed will be described with reference to FIG. The television camera TVn of this embodiment is of a ceiling-hanging type, in which a lens unit 53 and a camera body 55 are attached from a flange unit 51A for fixing the whole to the ceiling via an arm unit 52A. A camera pan motor (not shown) for rotating and driving the entire camera is incorporated in the flange portion 51A, and further, the camera body 55 is rotated and driven up and down together with a fixing portion 57A for fixing the camera body 55 in the arm portion 52A. A camera tilt motor (not shown) is incorporated. The camera body 55 and the lens unit 53 incorporate a focus motor for adjusting the focal length and a zoom motor for adjusting the zoom ratio (both are not shown). These motors are directly driven by a camera attitude control device CIn disposed above the flange portion 51A. The camera attitude control device CIn receives a command from the CPU 21 via the camera motor interface 38. To control each motor. Therefore, the CPU 21 can achieve desired pan, tilt, zoom (magnification of the camera), and focus (focus).

The mirror MLn can also be panned and tilted by the same ceiling hanging mechanism as the television camera TVn. That is, the mirror main body 60 is attached to the arm portion 52B extending from the flange portion 51B for fixing the whole to the ceiling by using the fixing portion 57B. And, as before,
A mirror pan motor (not shown) is incorporated in the flange portion 51B, and a mirror tilt motor (not shown) is incorporated in the arm portion 52B. The whole mirror body 60 is rotated and driven (panned), or the mirror body 60 is fixed. The fixed portion 57B can be rotated and driven (tilted) up and down. CP
The U21 can control the attitude of the mirror main body 60 to a desired angle by sending out pan and tilt commands to the mirror attitude control device CMn disposed above the flange portion 51B via the mirror motor interface 42. it can.

Further, the ceiling is hung as described above.
0 TV cameras TVn and 20 mirrors MLn are shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a pair of sets is formed by disposing each mirror MLn at an area that can be monitored by panning and tilting each TV camera TVn, that is, at a predetermined position in the field of view of the TV camera TVn. are doing. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the upper surface of the cash register X in the store, for example, is monitored by controlling the driving of the television camera TVn to capture the image projected on the mirror surface of the mirror MLn (the light indicated by the dashed line in the figure). By tilting the television camera TVn, the front surface of the register X can be directly imaged and monitored (optical axis indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure). In addition, since both have different optical path lengths,
The focus and magnification of the television camera TVn are also controlled with the change of the monitoring location.

Each image signal from the 20 television cameras TVn is input to the video selector 40 of the electronic control unit 1, where it is appropriately selected and the 10 monitor televisions MTi are selected.
Is output to The method of selecting an image signal will be described later.

The liquid crystal panel 32 of the display panel 15
Is a transmission type having a backlight, and is driven by a liquid crystal panel interface 34. CPU 21
Is a liquid crystal panel 32 based on data input in advance.
Then, a figure corresponding to a plan view of the store to be monitored is displayed. On the other hand, the touch panel 12 arranged on the surface of the liquid crystal panel 32 is a device for inputting a position pressed by an operator with a finger or a dedicated pen, and has a resolution of about 32 × 24. Since the touch panel 12 is transparent, the operator can input a desired position using the touch panel 12 while visually checking the display on the liquid crystal panel 32 below the touch panel 12. The touch panel 12 and its interface 36 allow the CPU 21 to read the section number Q corresponding to the pressed position. Note that the signal from the sensor group 3 and the signal from the touch panel 12 are
Each of them functions as a signal for requesting the CPU 21 to perform an interrupt process.

Various processes executed by the electronic control unit 1 in the monitoring device having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a routine for setting an imaging condition of the television camera TVn. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing routine for performing regular monitoring. FIG. 5 is an interrupt process by a signal from a sensor group or an operation of the touch panel 12. 9 is a flowchart showing a monitoring interrupt processing routine executed as (1). The imaging condition setting routine (FIG. 3) will be described.

When the monitoring apparatus according to the present embodiment is installed, an imaging condition setting routine is executed to set an imaging condition for each television camera TVn. When this routine is executed, first, a process of designating table number TN is performed (step 100). The monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment can have a plurality of sets of a plurality of imaging conditions for the 20 television cameras TVn, and a number for specifying one set of the imaging conditions is called a table number. The table number TN is specified by setting key (TN) 4 on the keyboard 5
The operation is performed by operating the numeric keypad 49 after pressing 7.

Following the setting of the table number TN, the camera number CN for setting the imaging conditions is input (step 110). Camera number CN is also keyboard 5
Is operated by operating the setting key (CN) 47 and the numeric keypad 49. When the input of the camera number CN is completed in this way, an image from the television camera TVn of the input number CN is displayed on one of the monitor televisions MTi (step 1).
20).

Next, the touch panel 12 or the sensor group 3
A process for setting the relationship between the image and the imaging target is performed (step 130). This is to set what imaging conditions to be set from now on are to be preferentially displayed when the conditions are satisfied. For example, if the imaging condition to be set is to raise the cash register, The detection signal from the sensor for detecting the use state is associated with the imaging condition. To display an image of the location displayed on the liquid crystal panel 32 when a predetermined location on the touch panel 12 is pressed, the touch panel 1
The second operation location is associated with the imaging condition to be set. Further, these relationships need not be one-to-one, and a plurality of imaging conditions may be associated with one sensor or one operation portion of the touch panel 12. The operation of associating the two is performed by inputting numbers assigned to each of the sensor groups and each of the sections of the touch panel 12 from the keyboard 5 and operating a specific setting key (PN) 47. Done.

After the operation for associating the two is completed, a process for determining the imaging condition number PN is performed (step 14).
0). The imaging condition number PN is usually the TV camera T
Vn is determined as a serial number from number 1. A maximum of 128 imaging conditions can be set for one television camera TVn.

When the imaging condition number PN is determined, the imaging object set in step 130 is displayed by blinking the corresponding portion of the liquid crystal panel 32 at a fixed size (step 150). In this state, since the captured image is displayed on the monitor television MTi, the user operates the arrow keys 45 of the keyboard 5 to zoom and focus the television camera TVn while watching the captured image. The postures (pan and tilt) of the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn for determining the imaging direction by operating are set (step 160).

When the desired image is obtained, the setting key (PN) 47 is operated again to determine the imaging conditions (step 170). As shown in FIG. 6, the imaging conditions input in this manner include the camera number C for each table number TN.
N, the associated sensor number S or the section number Q of the touch panel, the tilt, pan, focus, and zoom conditions Tc, Tp, Tf, and Tz of the television camera and the tilt and pan conditions Mc and Mp of the mirror are backed up by the battery. Stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 24.

In this embodiment, the data compiled in the table is stored in the RAM 24 for use.
It may be used by writing to a PROM or the like. At that time, RA
EE when M24 data causes parity error etc.
A configuration in which the data is switched to PROM data, and R is used at night when recovery in the event of a power failure cannot be relied on manually.
A configuration that enhances security, such as a configuration that uses PROM data instead of AM24 data, can also be used.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the input of all the imaging conditions has been completed (step 180). If the input has not been completed, the process returns to step 110 to repeat the above-described processing from the input of the camera number CN. If the input of all the imaging conditions has been completed, it is determined whether the input of the conditions of each table has been completed (step 190). In the case of a store, the locations monitored by the monitoring device are significantly different between daytime when customers enter and leave and nighttime when people are unattended, so at least two tables are created and sets of imaging conditions having different contents are set and stored. . Therefore, in this case, the entire process described above is performed for each table, and the 20 TV cameras TVn
In this case, two sets of 128 imaging conditions are set, and an imaging condition of a maximum of 5120 points is set. When the input of the imaging conditions for each table is completed, the process exits to “END” and ends this routine.

After the setting of the imaging conditions described above is completed, the monitoring apparatus is used. At the time of actual use, the monitoring device executes a monitoring process routine. If no interrupt from a sensor or the like has occurred, the routine monitoring process routine shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly executed together with other processes. If an interrupt factor has occurred, the routine shown in FIG. Is started and executed.

In the routine for routine monitoring processing, first, conditions such as time are determined (step 200). If the time measured by the timer 26 becomes a predetermined condition, for example, a store closing time, , The table number TN is switched (step 210). Such conditions may include a manual switching instruction in addition to the time. If the conditions are not particularly satisfied, the table number up to that point is continued.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the interval time I counted in the timer 26 has elapsed (step 220). Each time the interval time I has elapsed, the imaging condition of each television camera TVn is changed to the number. PN
, And controls the video selector 40 to perform a process of switching the display of the monitor television MTi (step 230). Further, the image after the switching is frame-taken and recorded on a video tape recorder (not shown) (step 240), and the processing exits to "NEXT" to end this routine. This regular monitoring routine is repeatedly executed together with other routines that are regularly executed, and sequentially switches images on the monitor television MTi at intervals of the interval time I.

If one of the sensor groups 3 outputs a detection signal and interrupts during execution of such a regular monitoring process, or if the touch panel 12 is operated and an interrupt occurs, FIG. Is started, first, a process of reading out the imaging condition number PN corresponding to the sensor number S that has output the detection signal or the operated section number Q of the touch panel 12 is performed (step 300). The reading of the imaging condition number PN is performed, for example, by searching the third column of the table shown in FIG. 6 to find the corresponding sensor number S or section number Q of the touch panel 12, and corresponding to the imaging condition number in the second column. This can be realized by obtaining a PN. Note that the imaging condition is 2 for one sensor in the sensor group 3 or one section of the touch panel 12.
Since there may be the above, the search in the third column is performed for the entire table, and if there are two or more relevant imaging conditions, all of them are stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 24.

After reading out the imaging condition number PN, the television camera TVn attitude (pan, tilt), zoom, focus, and mirror MLn attitude (pan, tilt) of the corresponding camera number CN are controlled according to this number PN ( Step 3
10). Each control element of the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn is recorded in the fourth and fifth columns of the table shown in FIG. 6, and controls panning, tilting, and the like according to this group of data.

After controlling the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn, the video selector 40 is switched to perform a process of displaying an image picked up by the television camera TVn of which posture is controlled on the monitor television MTi (step 320). Thereafter, it is determined whether there is another imaging condition related to the imaging condition of the image displayed on the monitor television MTi (step 33).
0) A process of controlling the panning of the TV camera TVn or the mirror MLn of the related storage conditions by the number of the related conditions stored in the RAM 24 and displaying the image taken by the TV camera TVn on the monitor TV MTi. Repeat (step 340). As a result, an image related to the sensor that outputs the detection signal or the operated section of the touch panel 12 is displayed on some of the ten monitor televisions MTi.

At the time of such display, the image may be switched and displayed by a signal from a sensor or the like by a method such as superimposing on the monitor television MTi displaying the image or turning on a display lamp. Further, the position of the sensor that has output the detection signal may be displayed on the display panel 15. Date and time as superimpose,
Further, it is also preferable to use the number of the sensor that is a factor.

Thereafter, the image recording by the video tape recorder is changed to continuous recording instead of frame-by-frame recording (step 350), and the process exits from "RTN" to end this routine.
The continuous recording of the video tape recorder means that the input of a detection signal from a sensor etc. means that a situation such as cash in and out has occurred, and an emergency situation or the possibility of occurrence may occur. It means that
This is in order to obtain a more detailed recording in preparation for such a situation. When the display of the image is switched by the operation of the touch panel 12, it is conceivable that the frame recording is continued without switching to the continuous recording.

According to the monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment described above, when the detection signal is input from the sensor group 3 disposed in the store, or when the display panel 1 displays the store.
When the user touches the desired position of No. 5, the image corresponding to the sensor group 3 or the section of the touch panel 12 is
It can be immediately displayed on the monitor television MTi. In addition, although the number of TV cameras is 20, the pan, tilt, zoom, and the like are controlled up to 2560.
Can be captured and displayed. Therefore, for example, in general, rough images in a store are sequentially switched and displayed, and when a cash register, a vending machine, or the like is used, the TV camera TVn that has taken the entire image is controlled to use the device. It is possible to shoot up the area around the device and display a detailed image around the device.

Further, since the mirrors MLn are provided corresponding to the respective television cameras TVn, the same place can be photographed from different viewpoints only by panning the single television camera TVn. In such a case, images captured from different directions can be displayed, and the situation can be grasped in more detail. That is, 2
Although it is a monitoring device composed of only 0 television cameras TVn, a comprehensive monitoring system can be constructed from a total of 40 viewpoints including 20 locations where the mirrors MLn are arranged as monitoring viewpoints. Further, by operating the touch panel 12, an image at a desired position can be displayed immediately.

Further, in the present embodiment, since other imaging conditions can be associated with the imaging conditions determined by the sensor and the section of the touch panel 12, when a predetermined situation occurs, it is necessary to efficiently and accurately perform the necessary operations. Images can be displayed and recorded. For example, when the security button is pressed, a configuration is adopted in which an image around the pressed button and an enlarged image near an entrance or exit that is likely to be an escape route are simultaneously displayed as other images associated with the image, in addition to the image around the pressed button. Can be. At this time, the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn are configured to capture the enlarged image by using the reflection of the mirror MLn.
And the focal length and magnification of the television camera TVn are determined, only the mirror MLn is visible from the vicinity of the entrance, and an image can be recorded without knowing the existence of the monitoring device.

In this embodiment, a plurality of tables can be prepared to store a plurality of sets of imaging conditions.
For example, when it is more efficient to change the object to be photographed or the viewpoint of monitoring, such as during the daytime and at nighttime, it is possible to easily cope with this by switching the table. Since a maximum of 2560 imaging conditions can be stored per table, 5120 imaging conditions can be realized by having two sets of tables, and monitoring can be made more reliable. Such switching of tables can be considered during store opening and closing, in store and warehouse, etc. at a store, and similarly at the event hall, during opening and after closing, as well as during opening and closing of the gate If the flow is reversed, it can be considered to use the event only for exhibitions or events for sale. The number of tables need not be limited to two, but may be one or three or more.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the monitoring target is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 32, even if the monitoring target is changed due to a store remodeling, extension or remodeling, etc., it is possible to easily cope with the change only by changing the data. be able to. Also,
Since the display can be changed simply by replacing the data, the versatility of the device is high. Moreover, the touch panel 12 is arranged on the liquid crystal panel 32 so that the operator can directly indicate a section to be displayed by a finger or the like,
It also has the feature of being easy to use. Note that the display panel 15 may be separated from the electronic control device 1 and may be configured to be remotely controllable by wireless, ultrasonic, or infrared. If remote control is possible, it is not necessary to be resident near the console panel on which the monitor television MTi is installed. Therefore, a position where the whole of the plurality of monitor televisions MTi can be visually recognized can be freely selected, and the entire monitor can be monitored. The user can freely refer to the image of the desired area. It is also preferable that the keyboard 5 and the joystick 7 are separated together with the display panel 15 to enable setting of imaging conditions and manual operation of the television camera TVn using the zoom key or the joystick 7.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the television camera TVn and the mirror MLn of the monitoring apparatus of the present invention are described.
Is appropriately determined depending on the condition of the monitoring target. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a monitoring device may be configured at a low cost by using a fixed mirror ML. Can be realized up to the monitoring of the rear area A of the pillar which becomes a blind spot. Similarly,
A large blind spot of a television camera is a place where the television camera is installed, and it is impossible to monitor a destruction operation on the camera with only one television camera.
However, according to the monitoring device of the present invention, the television camera can monitor its own installation location, and the reliability of the monitoring device is greatly improved.

As shown in FIG. 8, by setting the number of mirrors ML per one TV camera TV to two or more, and further increasing the viewpoint of monitoring without increasing the number of expensive TV cameras TV, Monitoring targets can be captured from multiple angles, and more accurate grasp of the situation becomes possible.

In addition, not only the most common plane mirror is used as the mirror ML, but also a convex mirror can be used to easily expand the monitoring range, and if a convex mirror whose curvature can be changed is used, the mirror can be used. Functions that are insufficient for the TV camera TV, such as the ability to freely control the monitoring range, can be realized in combination with the mirror ML.

The monitoring apparatus of the present invention as described above
Not only monitoring of stores, etc., configuration used for disaster prevention in combination with fire detection sensors, etc., applied to the factory production line and linked to the operation of robots and automatic processing machines to configure unmanned factories, security security company Of course, the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention, such as a configuration linked to a notification system for a police station or a fire station, or a configuration applied to a game arcade such as a pachinko hall.

[0047]

As described above in detail, according to the monitoring apparatus of the present invention, the attitude control means for controlling the attitude of the imaging means is provided by:
The attitude of the imaging means can be determined by directing
What is the attitude to capture from and the one monitoring target is the first viewpoint
Through a viewpoint changing means projected from a different second viewpoint
To switch to the posture for imaging the one monitoring target . By the switching of the attitude of the imaging unit, the light reflected or refracted by the viewpoint changing unit provided in the monitoring area of the imaging unit reaches the imaging unit, is formed into an image, and can be monitored by the monitoring image display unit. Therefore, it is possible to easily enlarge the monitoring area without increasing the number of imaging means, to make the viewpoint of monitoring multifaceted, and to freely design a comprehensive optical function of the imaging means and the viewpoint changing means. This provides an excellent effect that a desired monitoring situation can be established.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a monitoring device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of installation and functions of the television camera TVn and a mirror MLn.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an imaging condition setting routine executed by an electronic control unit of the monitoring device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a routine monitoring routine executed by the electronic control unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a monitoring interrupt processing routine also executed by the electronic control unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of storage of imaging conditions and the like.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another arrangement of the television camera TV and the mirror ML.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another arrangement of the television camera TV and the mirror ML.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 electronic control device 3 sensor group 5 keyboard 7 joystick 12 touch panel 15 display panel 21 CPU 28 sensor input port 30 key input port 32 liquid crystal panel 38 camera motor interface 42 mirror motor interface 51A, 51B flange 52A, 52B arm 53 lens 55 Camera body 57A, 57B Fixed part 60 Mirror body CIn Camera attitude control device CMn Mirror attitude control device

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An imaging means for imaging a predetermined monitoring area such as a store, a warehouse, a factory, an event hall or the like as a monitoring target, and installed in the monitoring area to reflect light from inside the monitoring area or from outside the monitoring area. In a monitoring apparatus, comprising: a viewpoint changing unit for refracting; and a monitoring image display unit for displaying an image captured by the imaging unit, comprising: a posture control unit for controlling a posture of the imaging unit; The attitude of the imaging means is determined by the
A posture in which a visual target is directly imaged from a first viewpoint;
From the second viewpoint different from the first viewpoint
The one object to be monitored via the projected viewpoint changing means
The monitoring device is a means for performing control for switching to a posture for capturing an image . 2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the viewpoint changing unit is configured to monitor the one of the plurality of monitoring units in the monitoring area .
The position where the object is projected from the second viewpoint, and
The viewing target is different from the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint
A plurality of positions are provided at positions projected from a third viewpoint , and the attitude control means sets the attitude of the imaging means to the one
The attitude of directly imaging the monitoring target from the first viewpoint
Viewpoint changing means in which the monitoring target is projected from the second viewpoint
Posture for imaging the one monitoring target via the
Through the viewpoint changing means that the object is projected from the third viewpoint
Control to switch to the posture for imaging the one monitoring target
A monitoring device that is the means to do . 3. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is configured to image one monitoring target at least one of different sizes, focal points, and angles. 4. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a setting means for setting a combination of a size, a focus, and an angle of a monitoring target to be captured in a plurality of ways for one of the imaging means; A monitoring device comprising: a switching execution unit that sequentially switches the plurality of combinations according to the elapse of a period and executes imaging by the imaging unit. 5. The monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling a posture of said viewpoint changing means. 6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said viewpoint changing means is a convex mirror. 7. The monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that switches the monitoring target according to time. 8. The monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring target switching unit that switches the monitoring target based on a predetermined sensor detection or a predetermined operation. 9. The monitoring device according to claim 8, wherein: a recording unit capable of recording an image captured by the imaging unit in the form of a continuous image and a frame-by-frame image; A monitoring apparatus comprising: a recording mode determination unit that determines a mode according to a predetermined sensor detection for switching the monitoring target or a content of a predetermined operation.