JP3973336B2 - Video camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a video camera that can adjust the imaging direction of an imaging unit to a desired position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For video cameras that require imaging in a desired direction, such as surveillance cameras and TV door phone cameras, the rotation of an electric pan head or motor is converted into a linear motion and the motion is shaken. There are some which transmit to the imaging unit held movably to perform pan and tilt operations.
[0003]
In the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-227182, the rotation of the motor is converted into a linear motion, the motion is transmitted to the camera head, the head portion can be swung around the horizontal axis, and the angle adjustment rod is used. A method has been proposed in which the lever can be moved back and forth so that it can be remotely operated efficiently.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in order to make the angle adjustment mechanism including the image pickup unit compact, the thickness described in JP-A-3-227182 must be thinner than the dimension obtained by adding the angle adjustment mechanism to the image pickup unit. There was a drawback that it was difficult.
[0005]
This is a problem with the recent TV door phone, though it is required to be thin even with a pan / tilt function from the design aspect, but its dimensional constraints have been a problem.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The video camera of the present invention solves the above-described problems, and a holding cylinder that integrally holds an imaging unit that images a subject and a control unit that performs video signal processing and control on the imaging unit, In a video camera comprising a holding unit that rotatably holds the holding cylinder and a driving unit that moves the holding unit, the driving unit includes two motors and a plurality of gear trains, and rotates one of the motors. Thus, the first drive means for moving the pan gear having a substantially fan-shaped bevel gear through the first gear train, and the holding through the second gear train by rotating the other motor. and a second driving means for freely movable is a section in a predetermined range, the rotation axis of said Pangia and the holding portion is configured to respectively movable on the same center, perpendicular to the bevel gear of the Pangia Meshing bevel teeth And the rotation axis of the bevel gear is supported by the holding portion, and the first driving means causes the imaging unit to pass through a predetermined point on the optical axis. By rotating about an axis, the lens can be moved left and right, and by rotating about a second central axis passing through the predetermined point, it can be moved up and down.
[0007]
Also, before SL driver, the one and the substantially box-shaped drive case for incorporating the said one and the other motor and the first drive means the second drive means, the ends of the drive case and disposing the other motor, and a plurality of spur gears constituting said first gear train that meshes with the worm of the one motor, a plurality of forming the second gear train which meshes with the worm of the other motor A spur gear, a fan-shaped spur gear that meshes with a spur gear of the last stage among the plurality of spur gears driven by the one motor at one end of the pan gear, and the other motor at one end of the holding portion A plurality of spur gears driven by a substantially fan-shaped spur gear meshing with a spur gear at the final stage, and the pan gear and the holding portion are integrated so as to be independently movable on a coaxial rotating shaft. The above-mentioned holding cylinder holding set The drive case, which is assembled from the side of the case and has U-shaped depressions so as to hold the respective rotation shafts, is fitted with the drive cover, and this drive cover is inserted into the insertion part of the holding cylinder holding set. A convex rib is provided so as to cover the side cut-out portion of the drive case.
[0008]
Preferably, the gears have the same number of teeth so that the gear ratios of the first drive means and the second drive means are the same.
[0009]
Preferably , a gap is provided in a contact portion at the time of each rotation operation of the holding portion that rotatably holds the holding cylinder and the drive portion that moves the holding portion, and an elastic body is provided there. Is.
[0010]
Further preferably, the frictional force of the second elastic body provided in the drive unit for moving the holding part is obtained from the frictional force of the first elastic body provided in the holding part for rotatably holding the holding cylinder. It has a means to become large.
[0011]
Still further preferably , a hemispherical protrusion is provided in the gap between the holding portion in the vicinity of the meshing portion with the bevel gear provided in the holding cylinder meshing perpendicularly with the bevel gear of the pan gear, or on the pan gear side or the holding portion. A hemispherical protrusion is provided on either the driving unit side or the holding unit side in the gap between the driving unit that moves the holding unit and the holding unit, and the gap becomes small. It has such a means.
[0012]
Preferably, a light detection unit is provided on each surface of one substrate provided at one end of the holding unit for rotatably holding the holding cylinder, and the pan gear is provided at a position where the light detection unit is blocked. The first light-shielding part and the second light-shielding part provided in the driving part are provided, and has means for detecting a movable range in the vertical and horizontal directions of the imaging part .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
<First Embodiment> The first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is an external front view of a video camera showing an embodiment of the present invention. An imaging unit 1 for imaging a subject includes a lens for imaging the subject and a solid-state imaging device for receiving an image from the subject. It is configured.
[0015]
A drive circuit for converting the electrical signal into an electrical signal by the solid-state imaging device and the electrical signal are processed into a video signal by the control unit 2 for performing video signal processing and control, and output from a signal cable (not shown). The imaging unit 1 and the control unit 2 are fixed to the holding cylinder 3.
[0016]
The holding cylinder 3 is rotatably held on the upper surface and the lower surface of the rotation center via a cylindrical projection portion 5 so as to be rotatable with a tilt frame 4 which is a holding portion of the holding cylinder 3 described later. Further, a gear portion 6 formed in a substantially fan shape with respect to the center of rotation and provided with a bevel gear on the arc portion thereof is integrally formed at the lower portion of the holding cylinder 3 and meshed with the pan gear 7.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the main part of the video camera showing the embodiment of the present invention, showing a section taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and the tilt frame 4 is pivotally supported in combination with the drive unit 8, The imaging unit 1 can be tilted up and down by rotating around a shaft supported by rotation of a motor built in the drive unit.
[0018]
Further, the pan gear 7 is also supported by a shaft in combination with the drive unit 8, rotates around a shaft supported by the rotation of a motor built in the drive unit, and is provided on the holding cylinder 3 via the gear unit 6. The imaging unit 1 can be panned left and right around the axis of the protruding portion 5.
[0019]
FIG. 3 is an internal component layout diagram of the drive unit. The drive unit 8 houses two motors 21 and 22 and a plurality of gear trains as drive means in a substantially box-shaped drive case 9, and further, A holding cylinder holding set 25 in which the pan gear 7 and the tilt frame 4 are integrated so as to be independently movable on a coaxial rotating shaft is assembled from the side surface of the drive case 9 so as to hold each rotating shaft. A drive case 9 having a U-shaped recess 26 is fitted to the drive cover 10, and the drive cover 10 is a convex rib so as to cover the side cutout of the drive case 9 of the insertion part of the holding cylinder holding set. It has.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the holding cylinder holding set and represents a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. The tilt frame 4 and the pan gear 7 are combined with the same rotation axis to form a holding cylinder holding set 11. The rotation axis of the tilt frame 4 has a circular through hole, and the rotation axis 15 of the pan gear 7 is rotatably fitted in this hole. A gear 16 is tightly fitted to a rotary shaft 15 that is longer than the rotary shaft of the tilt frame 4.
[0021]
At this time, it is preferable to prevent the rotational shaft 15 and the gear 16 from shifting in the rotational direction by, for example, making the cross-sectional shape of the rotational shaft 15 of the fitting portion hexagonal. A substantially fan-shaped spur gear 17 is formed on the rotation shaft of the tilt frame 4, and a substantially fan-shaped spur gear is also formed on the gear 16, which is the last stage spur gear driven by the motors 21 and 22, respectively. Engage.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the drive unit showing the meshing of the gear train. The first drive means for moving the pan gear 7 through the first gear train by rotating the motor 22 and the other motor. The movement of the second driving means for moving the tilt frame 4 through the second gear train by rotating the rotation 21 will be described in order.
[0023]
In the first driving means, the rotation of the worm 31 attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 22 is transmitted to the worm wheel 32 and is transmitted to the gear 34 via the gear 33 that is formed integrally with the worm wheel 32. It is transmitted to the gear 16 through a gear 35 that is integrally formed with the gear 34, and the pan gear 7 is moved.
[0024]
In the second driving means, the rotation of the worm 36 attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 21 is transmitted to the worm wheel 37 and is transmitted to the gear 39 via the gear 38 integrally formed with the worm wheel 37. The tilt frame 4 is moved to the gear 17 via the gear 40 integrally formed with the gear 39.
[0025]
At this time, since Pangia 7 relative to the first driving means stops the as second drive means only the motion of the tilt frame 4 when the moving is stopped, the gear portion 6 in the retaining cylinder 3 lower relative motion imaging The part 1 pans while tilting.
[0026]
Therefore, when moving the second driving means, the imaging section 1 can be tilted by a predetermined angle by moving the first driving means in synchronization. If only the first driving means is moved, the imaging unit 1 can be panned at a predetermined angle.
[0027]
At this time, the product of the number of teeth of the driving gear and the number of teeth of the driven gear of the first driving unit and the second driving unit are made the same, and the specifications of the motors 21 and 22 are made the same, so that the tilting operation is performed. It is possible to easily control the synchronous operation. In the case of the synchronous operation, it is preferable to use a stepping motor as the motor and to control the motor alternately for each step.
[0028]
Next, the pan / tilt operation range detection structure will be described with reference to FIG.
[0029]
In FIG. 2, a sensor substrate 41 is fixed to the tip of the L-shaped arm of the tilt frame 4, and optical sensors 42 and 43 are arranged on both sides of the substrate. The optical sensor 43 moves so as to sandwich the light shielding portion 44 disposed in the drive case 9 with the movement of the tilt frame 4. Further, the light shielding arm 45 configured integrally with the pan gear 7 moves between the optical sensors 42.
[0030]
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the detection portion, showing a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG. 2, and the optical sensors 42 and 43 that move together with the tilt frame 4 include a light-shielding portion 44 on the fixed side and a movable light-shielding arm 45 When the light is blocked, the signal is turned OFF, and when the pan / tilt operation is performed, the optical sensors move relatively to both sides of the movable range, and the signal is turned ON when the light shielding unit 44 and the light shielding arm 45 do not block the light.
[0031]
As described above, the movable range is detected by the optical sensors 42 and 43, and the rotational directions of the motors of the first driving means and the second driving means are reversed slightly if the signal is turned on and the movable range is deviated. The predetermined tilt operation range and pan operation range can be controlled by returning and stopping.
<Second Embodiment> The second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0032]
The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the portions related to the configuration of the tilt frame 4 and the drive unit 8 and the tilt frame 4 and the lower portion of the holding cylinder 3, and the description other than that portion is omitted and the same. Parts will be described with the same reference numerals.
[0033]
FIG. 7 is an external front view of the video camera showing the embodiment of the present invention. The imaging unit 1 and the control unit 2 for imaging a subject are fixed to the holding cylinder 3 and are connected to the drive unit 8 via the tilt frame 4. It is connected.
[0034]
When the second drive means included in the drive unit 8 is moved, the first drive means is moved synchronously, so that the imaging unit 1 is tilted at a predetermined angle, or only the first drive means is movable. Thus, the imaging unit 1 can be panned at a predetermined angle. In this case, since the drive means includes a gear, backlash due to backlash occurs.
[0035]
Therefore, a gap is provided in the contact portion of the tilt frame 4 and the drive unit 8 during the rotation operation, and an elastic body 51 made of a material having a high frictional resistance such as rubber is inserted therein. Further, a gap is provided at a contact portion between the tilt frame 4 and the lower portion of the holding cylinder 3 during the rotational operation, and an elastic body 52 made of a material having a high frictional resistance such as rubber is inserted therein. The backlash is absorbed by the frictional force of these elastic bodies 51 and 52.
[0036]
To attempt to lift the tilt frame 4 as a reaction force to the contact portion in a rotational movement of the holding cylinder 3 lower and tilt frame 4 via the gear portion 6 in the rotational torque holding cylinder 3 under the Pangia 7 when the pan operation Power works. Therefore, the reaction force can be reduced by making the frictional force of the elastic body 51 larger than that of the elastic body 52.
<Third Embodiment> The third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
[0037]
The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the portions related to the configuration of the tilt frame 4 and the pan gear 7, and the description of other portions is omitted and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. To do.
[0038]
FIG. 8 is a front view of the main part of the video camera showing the embodiment of the present invention. The imaging unit 1 and the control unit 2 for imaging a subject are fixed to a holding cylinder 3 and are driven via a tilt frame 4. It is connected to 8.
[0039]
Since the pan gear 7 meshes with the gear portion 6 below the holding cylinder 3 at a predetermined distance from the center of rotation, when the impact force is applied to the entire video camera, the pan gear 7 may be bent and disengage. Therefore, a hemispherical projection 55 is provided on the surface of the tilt frame 4 so as to prevent bending at a position in the vicinity of the meshing portion between the pan gear 7 and the gear portion 6.
[0040]
At this time, the gap between the tip of the protrusion 55 and the surface of the pan gear 7 is reduced to such an extent that the disengagement does not occur, and a minimum gap is provided so as not to cause resistance when the pan gear 7 is movable.
[0041]
The weights of the imaging unit 1 and the control unit 2 fixed to the holding cylinder 3 are supported by the tilt frame 4 and thus have a cantilever structure with respect to the rotation axis of the tilt frame 4.
[0042]
Therefore, in order to reduce the friction at the time of driving and reduce the frictional resistance as much as possible, the surface of the tilt frame 4 is as small as possible so that there is no gap between the tilt frame 4 and the drive case 9 at a position below the rotation axis of the tilt frame 4. Are provided with hemispherical projections 56. In this embodiment, the protrusion is provided on the tilt frame 4 side, but conversely, a rib having a semicircular cross section in an arc shape may be provided on the drive case 9 side.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
Since the video camera of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the pan / tilt operation can be realized with a compact configuration. In addition, a drive case with good sealing performance can be realized with a small number of parts. The two drive systems can share parts. In addition, it is possible to reduce the backlash of the pan operation and tilt operation.
[0044]
Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the bevel gear portion from being disengaged due to an impact applied to the video camera, and to reduce rattling during the tilting operation. Furthermore, it is only necessary to provide a sensor at one position on the movable side in order to control the pan / tilt operation, and the detection structure can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external front view showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of internal parts of a drive unit showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a holding cylinder holding set showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a drive unit showing meshing of a gear train showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a detection portion showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an external front view showing an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a front view of an essential part showing a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 imaging unit 2 control unit 3 holding cylinder 4 tilt frame (holding unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Drive part 7 Pan gear 9 Drive case 10 Drive cover 16 Gear 17 Gear 21 Motor 22 Motor 31 Warm 32 Warm wheel 41 Sensor board 51 Elastic body 52 Elastic body

Claims (6)

A holding cylinder that integrally holds an imaging unit that images a subject and a control unit that performs video signal processing and control on the imaging unit, a holding unit that rotatably holds the holding cylinder, and the holding unit In a video camera consisting of a drive unit that moves
The drive unit includes two motors and a plurality of gear trains, and a first drive for moving a pan gear having a bevel gear having a substantially fan-shaped end through the first gear train by rotating one of the motors. means, and a second driving means for the second of said holding portion via a gear train by rotating the other motor is freely movable in a predetermined range, the rotation axis of said Pangia and the holding portion The bevel gear is configured to be movable on the same center, and the holding cylinder includes a bevel gear that meshes perpendicularly to the bevel gear of the pan gear, and the rotation shaft of the bevel gear is configured to pivotally support the holding portion.
The imaging unit is moved to the left and right by rotating about the first central axis passing through a predetermined point on the optical axis by the first driving means, and the second central axis passing through the predetermined point is the center. der which movable up and down by rotating as is, furthermore,
The drive unit includes a substantially box-shaped drive case for incorporating the one and the other motors, the first drive unit, and the second drive unit, and the one and the other motors at both ends of the drive case. A plurality of spur gears constituting the first gear train that disposes a motor and meshes with the worm of the one motor; and a plurality of spur gears that constitute the second gear train meshed with the worm of the other motor; The fan gear is driven by the other motor at one end of the pan gear and the substantially fan-shaped spur gear meshed with the spur gear at the final stage among the plurality of spur gears driven by the one motor. A substantially fan-shaped spur gear meshing with a spur gear at the last stage among the plurality of spur gears, and the pan gear and the holding portion are integrated so as to be independently movable on a coaxial rotating shaft. Connect the cylinder holder assembly to the drive cable. The drive case having a U-shaped depression so as to hold the respective rotation shafts is fitted with a drive cover, and this drive cover is inserted into the insertion portion of the holding cylinder holding set. A video camera comprising a convex rib so as to cover a side cutout portion of a drive case . 2. The video camera according to claim 1 , wherein each gear has the same number of teeth so that the gear ratios of the first driving means and the second driving means are the same. A clearance is provided in a contact portion at the time of each rotation operation of a holding portion that rotatably holds the holding cylinder and a drive portion that moves the holding portion, and an elastic body is provided there. Item 3. A video camera according to item 1 or item 2 . The frictional force of the second elastic body provided in the drive unit that moves the holding part is configured to be larger than the frictional force of the first elastic body provided in the holding part that rotatably holds the holding cylinder. The video camera according to claim 3 . A hemispherical protrusion is provided on either the pan gear side or the holding portion side in the gap with the holding portion in the vicinity of the meshing portion with the bevel gear provided in the holding cylinder meshing perpendicularly with the bevel gear of the pan gear. A hemispherical protrusion is provided on either the driving unit side or the holding unit side in the gap between the driving unit for moving the holding unit and the holding unit, and the gap is made small. The video camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the video camera is characterized. A first light-blocking portion provided on the pan gear at a position where the light-detecting portions are respectively provided on both surfaces of one substrate provided at one end of the holding portion that rotatably holds the holding cylinder; a second light shielding portion provided in the driving unit, according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that to detect the vertical and lateral moving range of the imaging section to claim 5 Video camera.

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