JP4037548B2 - Anti-theft device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an antitheft device integrated with a portable article such as a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Several camera systems that record not only the shooting date but also the position in an image by providing a camera with a position detection device that uses GPS (Global Positioning System) have been proposed. They are JP-A-7-307913, JP-A-9-98323, JP-A-9-135416 and JP-A-9-218451.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When a camera is rented only for use within a certain area such as an amusement park or a theme park, it is necessary to prevent theft, that is, taking it out of the area. However, the conventional camera body has a function for detecting the position using GPS, but does not have a special function for preventing theft. Therefore, methods such as confirming the identity at the time of lending and depositing a security deposit can be considered, but the procedure for identifying the identity is complicated and the security deposit is expensive, and none of them is an appropriate method.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for preventing theft of portable articles such as a digital camera, which eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, an anti-theft device that is integrated with a portable article such as a digital camera and prevents the portable article from being taken out of a predetermined area, according to the result of positioning by positioning radio waves necessary for positioning of the portable article, Or the alarm means which generate | occur | produces an alarm triggered by having received the positioning radio wave is included.
[0006]
According to the present invention, the antitheft device further receives GPS (Global Positioning System) radio waves as positioning radio waves and performs positioning of portable articles, a memory for storing area data representing a predetermined area, A position determination means for sending a theft signal indicating the occurrence of theft when the result of positioning of the portable article is compared with the area data and the result is determined to be out of the area, and the alarm means receives the theft signal. Generate an alarm.
[0007]
According to the present invention, the position determination means in the anti-theft device receives a differential signal transmitted from a reference station arranged at a predetermined location and corrects a GPS radio wave, and corrects the positioning result of the portable article using the differential signal. Check with area data.
[0008]
According to the present invention, the position determination means in the anti-theft device sends a theft signal when the positioning result of the portable article is not obtained for a predetermined period.
[0009]
According to the present invention, the antitheft device further includes receiving means for sending a theft signal indicating the occurrence of theft when receiving a boundary radio wave transmitted out of the area as a positioning radio wave, and the alarm means receives the theft signal. To generate an alarm.
[0010]
According to the present invention, the anti-theft system for preventing the removal of a portable article such as a digital camera outside a predetermined area is integrated with the portable article, and according to the result of positioning by positioning radio waves required for positioning of the portable article, Alternatively, an anti-theft device that generates an alarm when receiving a positioning radio wave is included.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the anti-theft device in the anti-theft system receives GPS radio waves as positioning radio waves.
[0012]
According to the present invention, the anti-theft system further includes a reference station that is disposed at a predetermined location, receives a GPS radio wave, and transmits a differential signal for correcting the GPS radio wave, and the anti-theft device receives the differential signal, An alarm is generated according to the positioning result of the portable article corrected by the difference signal.
[0013]
According to the present invention, the anti-theft system further includes pseudo GPS radio wave transmission means for transmitting pseudo GPS radio waves received as GPS radio waves by the anti-theft device to a predetermined area in the area.
[0014]
According to the present invention, the anti-theft system further includes boundary radio wave transmission means for transmitting a boundary radio wave transmitted outside the area as a positioning radio wave.
[0015]
According to the present invention, the digital camera including the first power supply system having the image pickup means and the first power supply means for supplying power to the image pickup means is further fed with the second power supply means and integrated with the first power supply system. The second power supply system is an alarm that generates an alarm according to the result of positioning by positioning radio waves necessary for camera positioning, or triggered by reception of positioning radio waves. Including means.
[0016]
According to the present invention, the second power supply system in the digital camera further includes GPS receiving means for receiving a GPS radio wave as a positioning radio wave to perform positioning of the camera, a memory for storing area data representing a predetermined area, a camera Position determination means that sends a theft signal indicating the occurrence of theft when the result of the positioning of the above and the area data are collated and the result is determined to be out of the area, and the alarm means receives the theft signal and issues an alarm. appear.
[0017]
According to the present invention, the position determination means in the digital camera receives a differential signal transmitted from a reference station arranged at a predetermined location and corrects a GPS radio wave, corrects the positioning result of the camera using the differential signal, and Check against the data.
[0018]
According to the present invention, the position determination means in the digital camera sends a theft signal when the camera positioning result cannot be obtained for a predetermined period.
[0019]
According to the present invention, the digital camera further includes receiving means for sending a theft signal indicating the occurrence of theft when receiving a boundary radio wave transmitted outside a predetermined area as a positioning radio wave, and the alarm means outputs the theft signal. Receives and generates an alarm.
[0020]
According to the present invention, at least one of the first or second power supply means in the digital camera is a secondary battery that is charged by an electromagnetic induction method.
[0021]
According to the present invention, the digital camera further includes a blocking unit that blocks power supply from the first power supply unit to the imaging unit after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0022]
When configured in this way, when a portable article such as a digital camera is taken out of the area, the anti-theft device generates an alarm to make it known that there is a suspicion of theft.
[0023]
In the digital camera, since the first and second power supply systems are independent of each other, the first power supply system loses the imaging function after a certain period of time and the power supply is lost. The system will continue to supply power and the anti-theft function will remain effective.
[0024]
Furthermore, since the digital camera is charged by a non-contact electromagnetic induction method, it is not necessary to separate the secondary battery from the camera during charging.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the anti-theft device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or corresponding parts. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment in which a digital camera is equipped with an antitheft device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a camera 10 includes an imaging unit 20 for recording image data and an anti-theft unit 40 for preventing theft of the camera, each of which is powered by two independent power systems. It is attached to 10.
[0026]
The imaging unit 20 includes an imaging device 28 that converts a subject image 24 formed on a photographing element via a lens 22 into a video signal 26, an A / D converter 30 that A / D converts the video signal 26, A frame memory 32 that records image and camera position information, a secondary battery 34 that feeds power to the imaging device 28, and a power supply control from the secondary battery 34 to the imaging device 28 after a certain period of time has elapsed since the camera 10 was lent out. The line 36 is cut off, and is composed of an imaging device 28, an A / D converter 30, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 38 that controls the frame memory 32.
[0027]
The anti-theft unit 40 receives a GPS radio wave 42 from a GPS satellite 44 and measures the position of the camera 10, and receives the position information 47 of the camera 10 from the GPS receiver 46 and determines the position where the camera 10 exists. A position determining device 48 for determining, an alarm device 52 for generating an alarm by sound, electronic buzzer, light emission, etc. in accordance with a theft signal 50 from the position determining device 48; a CPU 54 for controlling these devices; and It is comprised with the secondary battery 56 which electrically feeds an apparatus.
[0028]
The position determination device 48 includes a ROM area 58 for recording area data representing a certain area. The ROM 58 can be a rewritable flash memory, for example, and includes area data in which a boundary of a certain area is specified by latitude, longitude, altitude, etc., and this area becomes a theft monitoring, that is, a position determination area. This area is, for example, an amusement park or a theme park where the lending camera 10 is allowed to be carried, and may include not only the ground but also areas specified by three-dimensional positioning such as in buildings and underground. .
[0029]
The rechargeable batteries 34 and 56 are charged by using an electromagnetic induction charger 70, not by a conductor connection method. The charger 70 is a detachable power transformer and is attached to the camera 10 during charging. The charger 70 includes a primary winding 71, an iron core 72, and an AC power source 73. With these, the secondary windings 74 and 75 connected to the secondary batteries 34 and 56 are connected to the camera casing. Charging is performed by electromagnetic induction that boosts the voltage while realizing insulation across 10.
[0030]
On the other hand, a reference station 60 including a GPS receiver 62 of the same type as the GPS receiver 46 included in the camera 10 is installed on the ground at an observation point whose coordinates are known. The reference station 60 sends a difference signal 64 between the position information of the reference station obtained by the device 62 and the actual coordinates of the reference station to the GPS receiver 46 of the camera 10. Thus, in this embodiment, two GPS receivers are used, and the device 46 included in the camera 10 corresponding to the mobile station corrects the error of the GPS radio wave by the difference signal 64 to improve the positioning accuracy. Use differential GPS (DGPS). According to DGPS, coordinates are specified with a positioning accuracy of several meters to 10 meters.
[0031]
The camera 10 according to the present embodiment can be lent out in the area 80 shown in FIG. The area 80 can be an amusement park, a theme park, or the like. As shown in FIG. 3, the area 80 can be an area specified by three-dimensional positioning using information such as longitude, latitude, and altitude. That is, the area 80 can include not only the ground area 82 which is a space on the ground surface 81 but also the in-building area 84 and the underground area 86 where the external radio waves such as the GPS radio wave 42 and the differential signal 64 do not reach. The area data of the area 80 is recorded in the ROM 58 of the position determination device 48. In the building area 84 or the underground area 86, for example, a pseudo GPS radio wave transmission device 92 for transmitting a pseudo GPS radio wave 90 that includes positioning information determined to be in the area 80 and is received in the same manner as the GPS radio wave 42 is preliminarily provided. Can be arranged. It is assumed that the pseudo GPS radio wave 90 is received only in these areas 84 or 86.
[0032]
The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the camera 10 is in the ground area 82 or the external area 94 of the area 80 and is in a place where the GPS radio wave 42 reaches, the GPS receiver 46 included in the anti-theft unit 40 of the camera 10. Receives the GPS radio wave 42 transmitted from the GPS satellite 44 and the differential signal 64 transmitted from the reference station 60, performs positioning by DGPS, and continuously sends the position information signal 47 to the position determination device 48 (FIG. 1). The GPS receiver 46 is inferior to DGPS in terms of accuracy, but can also perform positioning using only the GPS radio wave 42. When the position determination device 48 receives the position information signal 47, the position determination device 48 determines whether or not the camera 10 exists in the region 80. That is, the area data of the built-in ROM 58 and the position information signal 47 are collated to determine whether the camera 10 exists inside or outside the area 80. When it is determined that the area is out of the area, it is regarded that the theft has been performed, and the theft signal 50 is output.
[0033]
When the camera 10 is in the area 84 or the underground area 86 where the GPS radio wave 42 and the differential signal 64 do not reach within the area 80, the GPS receiver 46 is simulated by the pseudo GPS radio wave transmitter 92. GPS signal 90 is received and positioning is performed. The position information signal 47 in this case is determined within the region 80 by the position determination device 48.
[0034]
Even if the camera 10 is in the external area 94 of the area 80 and the GPS radio wave 42 does not reach, for example, when it is brought into another building area 88 or in the area 80, the user of the camera 10 blocks the radio wave. When the GPS receiver 46 cannot receive the GPS radio wave 42, for example, by putting the camera 10 in a container to be operated, the GPS receiver 46 does not perform positioning and does not output the position information signal 47. Also in this case, the position determination device 48 outputs the theft signal 50 and the alarm device 52 generates an alarm.
[0035]
The operation of such a position determination device 48 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. When the GPS receiver 46 is controlled by the CPU 54 and performs positioning, the position information signal 47 is sent continuously or periodically to the position determiner 48. The position determiner 48 is similarly controlled by the CPU 54. While the position information signal 47 is received (step 100), it is determined whether the camera 10 exists inside or outside the region 80 (step 102), and the state in which the position information signal 47 cannot be obtained remains for a certain period of time. If it continues, the theft signal 50 is output (step 104).
[0036]
On the other hand, the secondary battery 34 of the imaging unit 20 is automatically turned off by the CPU 38 after a certain time from the lending of the camera 10 regardless of theft or not, and the imaging function of the camera 10 is lost. However, since power is continuously supplied to the anti-theft unit 40 which is a separate power supply system, the anti-theft unit 40 continues to function effectively.
[0037]
Further, since the detachable charger 70 is an electromagnetic induction type, the secondary batteries 34 and 56 can be charged while being protected inside the camera casing 10.
[0038]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment in which the antitheft device according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera. In FIG. 2, as in the first embodiment, the camera 110 includes an imaging unit 20 and an anti-theft unit 112 that are respectively fed by two independent power systems, and both are mounted on an integrated camera case 110. ing. The anti-theft unit 112 outputs a theft signal 50 to the alarm device 52 when receiving the boundary radio wave 114 transmitted only to the external area 94 of a predetermined area instead of the GPS receiving apparatus 46 and the position determining apparatus 48 in FIG. 1 is different from the anti-theft unit 40 in FIG. The camera 110 can have the same configuration as the camera 10 in the first embodiment with respect to other points.
[0039]
The camera 110 according to the present embodiment can also be lent out in the area 80 specified by the three-dimensional positioning shown in FIG. A boundary radio wave transmission device 120 that transmits a boundary radio wave 114 transmitted only to the external area 94 of the area 80 is installed at the boundary of the area 80 or a specific gate 118.
[0040]
The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when the camera 110 is to be taken out to the external area 94 of the area 80, the boundary radio wave receiving device 116 included in the anti-theft unit 112 of the camera 110 receives the boundary radio wave 114 at the gate 118 or the like. Then, the theft signal 50 is output assuming that the theft has been performed, and the alarm device 52 generates an alarm.
[0041]
The operation of the boundary radio wave receiver 116 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The boundary radio wave receiving device 116 senses the presence or absence of reception of the boundary radio wave 114 continuously or at regular intervals (step 130), and when the camera 110 is taken out beyond the boundary of the area 80, it is stolen. The signal 50 is output (step 132), and an alarm is generated by the alarm device 52.
[0042]
Note that the power supply to the imaging unit 20 is automatically terminated after a certain time from the lending of the camera 110 regardless of the theft or not, and the imaging function of the camera 110 is lost. Since the battery 70 continues to function effectively and the charger 70 is of an electromagnetic induction type, the secondary batteries 34 and 56 can be charged by the detachable charger 70 while being protected inside the camera housing 110. This is the same as in the first embodiment.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the antitheft device according to the present invention, particularly when using DGPS, the latitude and longitude representing the position of the portable article can be specified with an accuracy of several m to 10 m. Further, when the boundary radio wave is used, it can be detected that the portable article has been taken out of the predetermined area. Therefore, in any case, when a portable article is taken out of a predetermined area, a warning by an alarm is possible, which is useful for preventing theft when the portable article is lent out in a limited area. In addition, the area where lending is permitted is not limited to a certain space on the ground, but can also include a building or underground area where radio waves do not reach from outside.
[0044]
Particularly in the embodiment using GPS, the alarm device is activated even if the user puts a portable article in a container shielded from radio waves, so that the anti-theft effect is enhanced.
[0045]
According to the digital camera equipped with the anti-theft device according to the present invention, the secondary battery of the image pickup device of the camera automatically terminates the power supply after a certain period of time regardless of the presence or absence of the theft. If the user is informed at the time of lending that the user will be lost, there is an effect of giving up the theft of malicious users. Further, in the case of lending a camera not only in the area but also in time, there is an effect that the user can be informed that the return time has arrived due to the loss of the imaging function.
[0046]
Since the secondary batteries of both the imaging device and the anti-theft device of the camera according to the present invention are charged by a non-contact electromagnetic induction method, it is not necessary to separate each secondary battery from the camera at the time of charging. The protection structure can be isolated from the outside. Therefore, even if a malicious user attempts to resume the power supply to the terminated imaging device or stop the power supply to the anti-theft device, the destruction or modification of each power supply will substantially destroy the camera housing, etc. Therefore, such an action can be prevented. At the same time, the maintenance of the anti-theft function and the loss of the imaging function are ensured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an anti-theft system according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another anti-theft system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the position determination device in the camera of FIG. 1;
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the boundary radio wave receiver in the camera of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital camera
28 Imaging device
34, 56 Secondary battery
38, 54 CPU
44 GPS satellites
46, 62 GPS receiver
48 Positioning device
52 Alarm system
58 ROM
60 Base station
70 charger
92 Pseudo GPS radio wave transmitter
116 Boundary wave receiver
120 Boundary radio wave transmitter

Claims (6)

In a digital camera including a first power supply system having an image pickup means and a first power supply means for supplying power to the image pickup means, the camera is further fed with a second power supply means and integrated with the first power supply system. A second power supply system, wherein the second power supply system further includes:
GPS receiving means for positioning the camera by receiving GPS radio waves required for positioning of the camera;
A memory for storing area data representing a predetermined area;
A position determination means for sending a theft signal indicating the occurrence of theft when the positioning result of the camera is compared with the area data and the result is determined to be out of the area;
A digital camera comprising alarm means for generating an alarm in response to the theft signal.   2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the position determination means receives a differential signal transmitted from a reference station arranged at a predetermined location and corrects the GPS radio wave, and uses the differential signal to obtain a positioning result of the camera. A digital camera, wherein the verification is performed after correction. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein, when the GPS receiving unit cannot receive the GPS radio wave, the GPS receiving unit transmits the pseudo GPS transmitting unit provided at a predetermined position in the region and is determined to be within the region. A digital camera that performs positioning of the camera by receiving pseudo GPS radio waves including positioning information as the GPS radio waves .   4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the position determination means transmits the theft signal when a positioning result of the camera is not obtained for a predetermined period.   5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second power supply means is a secondary battery charged by an electromagnetic induction method.   5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a blocking unit configured to block power supply from the first power supply unit to the imaging unit when a predetermined time elapses. Digital camera.

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