JP3811722B2 - Sensor-linked still image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sensor-linked still image recording apparatus that detects a person passing through a predetermined place with a sensor and records it as a still image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of conventional recording apparatus, a person passing through a predetermined place is detected by a passive infrared sensor (hereinafter referred to as “PIR sensor”) and recorded as a moving image by a video camera. On the basis of this, there is a configuration in which an index signal is recorded in the portion of the image to be recorded, and when the recorded tape is reproduced later, the index signal is cued.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional recording apparatus, it is necessary to search the desired image for a long time because the video tape has to be fast-forwarded for each photographing unit when viewed. In order to solve this problem, there is a system in which only one still image is recorded by the camera based on the detection signal of the sensor. However, it is difficult to specify a person because the still image is a profile or a poor image. There is a case.
[0004]
The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-described problems, and provides a sensor-linked still image recording apparatus that can easily search for a desired image in a short time even when a plurality of still images are recorded. It is an object.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A sensor-linked still image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of sensors that detect a human body in each detection area, and an imaging unit that captures a still image in an imaging area including the detection area when the sensor detects a human body. An image recording means for recording an image signal from the imaging means; an index command circuit for detecting a human body existing in an index area set as a part of the detection areas of the plurality of sensors and outputting a command signal; Index adding means for adding an index signal to an image signal obtained by imaging a human body in the index area based on the command signal.
[0006]
According to the present invention, an index signal is added to a still image of a person in the index area and recorded. Therefore, even when there are a plurality of still images obtained by photographing a person in the detection area, a still image in the index area can be easily searched. By selecting an appropriate area, such as an area located in the center of the imaging area of the camera, or an area where the person can easily face in the direction of the camera, the image of the person can be improved.
[0007]
One detection area of the plurality of sensors can be set as the index area.
[0008]
Moreover, the sensor can be set as a pair, and the overlapping area of the detection areas of both sensors can be set as the index area.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the sensor unit 1 includes first and second PIR sensors 2a and 2b, and first and second Fresnel lenses 3a and 3b, which are optical systems that define detection areas of the PIR sensors 2a and 2b. By this optical system, the first detection area 4a is set in the first PIR sensor 2a, the second detection area 4b is set in the second PIR sensor 2b, and one of the detection areas 4a and 4b is set. The overlapping part is set as the index area 4c. When the person A moves in front of the sensor unit 1 in the direction of the arrow G, the first PIR sensor 2a sends the detection signal a to the control circuit 5 while the person A is in the first detection area 4a. Then, while in the second detection area 4 b, the second PIR sensor 2 b sends the detection signal b to the control circuit 5.
[0010]
The imaging command circuit 6 constituting the control circuit 5 sends the imaging command signal c to the digital camera 7 and the image recording means 8 constituting the imaging means while the detection signals a and b are input. The still image recording circuit 9 uses the card-type still image signal d input from the digital camera 7 until the person A leaves the detection areas 4a and 4b, that is, while the detection signal a or b is output. A still image is recorded in the memory 10 once every several seconds. The digital camera 7 has a wide imaging area 15 including the detection areas 4 a and 4 b, and the index area 4 c is located at the center of the imaging area 15 of the digital camera 7.
[0011]
Here, it is also possible to record the still image signal d at a rate of several times per second with the digital camera 7 in the continuous shooting mode. In this case, the memory 10 is composed of a flash memory and a frame memory, The still image signal d is temporarily stored in the frame memory and then sequentially recorded in the flash memory.
[0012]
At this time, since the detection signals a and b are simultaneously input to the control circuit 5 while the person A is in the index area 4c, the index command circuit 11 in the control circuit 5 receives the input and receives the command signal. e is sent to the index adding means 12. The index adding means 12 sends to the still image recording circuit 9 an index signal f obtained by digitizing the shooting date and time, the index number, and other data necessary for the search, and the still image recording circuit 9 outputs the index signal f. The index signal f is added to the still image signal d inputted at the timing or immediately after that, and recorded in the memory 10. The index signal f is added to the address field at the head of the still image signal d, for example.
[0013]
If the still images recorded in the memory 10 in this way are searched for the index signal in the recording order, only the still images when the person A is in the index area 4c can be viewed sequentially in the recording order. If the image taken for indexing is unclear, such as sideways or backwards, the still images before and after that can be viewed. In addition, by searching by shooting date and time, it is possible to pick up and view a still image at a specific time zone or a specific time. Therefore, a desired still image can be searched in a short time. Here, if the digital camera 7 and the index area 4c are set toward the entrance of the room, for example, an index signal is added to a still image obtained by capturing a front image of a person entering from the entrance. A useful still image is retrieved.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sensor unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the first Fresnel lens 3c of the sensor unit 1 sets a central indexing area 4c with respect to the first PIR sensor 2m, and the second Fresnel lens 3d is connected to the second PIR sensor 2n. On the other hand, detection areas 4d are set on both sides of the index area 4c. The detection signal m of the first PIR sensor 2m and the detection signal n of the second PIR sensor 2n are respectively input to the shooting command circuit 6 and the index command circuit 11 of the control circuit 5, and the shooting command circuit 6 receives the detection signal m. While n and n are input, the shooting command signal c is sent to the digital camera 7 and the image recording means 8 constituting the imaging means, and the still image recording circuit 9 causes the person A to exit from the detection areas 4b and 4a. Until this time, a still image signal d inputted from the digital camera 7 is recorded in the card-type memory 10 once every several seconds.
[0015]
Further, the index command circuit 11 sends a command signal e to the index adding means 12 when the detection signal m is inputted. The index adding means 12 sends to the still image recording circuit 9 an index signal f obtained by digitizing the shooting date / time, index number, and other data necessary for the search, and the still image recording circuit 9 inputs the index signal f at that time. The recorded still image signal d is recorded in the memory 10.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sensor-linked still image recording apparatus that can retrieve a desired captured image in a short time by retrieving an index signal from a recorded still image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sensor-linked still image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sensor unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sensor part, 2, 2a, 2b, 2m, 2n ... PIR sensor, 3, 3a-3d ... Fresnel lens, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4p-4t ... Detection area, 4c ... Indexing area, 5 ... Control circuit , 6 ... shooting command circuit, 7 ... digital camera (imaging means), 8 ... image recording means, 9 ... still image recording circuit, 10 ... memory, 11 ... index command circuit, 12 ... index adding means, 15 ... imaging area, e: Command signal, f: Index signal.

Claims (3)

A plurality of sensors for detecting a human body in each detection area;
An imaging means for imaging a still image of an imaging area including a detection area when the sensor detects a human body;
Image recording means for recording an image signal from the imaging means;
An index command circuit for detecting a human body existing in an index area set in a part of the detection areas of the plurality of sensors and outputting a command signal;
A sensor-linked still image recording apparatus comprising index adding means for adding an index signal to an image signal obtained by imaging a human body in the index area based on the command signal. 2. The sensor-linked still image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of sensors has a detection area set as the index area. 2. The sensor-linked still image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the sensors are provided, and an overlapping portion of the detection areas of both sensors is set as the index area.

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