JP5241936B2 - IMAGING DEVICE, ITS CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus suitable for a video distribution system or a surveillance camera system that distributes camera video via a network, and further relates to an imaging apparatus characterized by an optical image stabilization function.

  Video distribution systems and surveillance camera systems that distribute camera video via a network are widespread, and many cameras with network terminals have been commercialized. In these video distribution systems and surveillance camera systems, a network is generally connected from a video shooting point to a central monitoring center or a video display point of one user who can access the camera through network communication.

  As for the installation structure of this surveillance camera, there has been known a type in which a dedicated pole is set up and a surveillance camera is attached to this dedicated pole. In recent years, many are directly attached to the ceiling or wall. It is commercialized with an adapter. In any case, the vibration is generated at the installation location of the surveillance camera due to vibrations such as wind and vehicle traffic.

  Due to the shaking of the surveillance camera body, the captured image is swayed, which hinders monitoring.

  As a conventional method for correcting the shake of the image captured by the monitoring camera, as proposed in Patent Document 1, a shake correction means by image processing built in the monitoring camera body is known. As another technique for correcting the fluctuation, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a technique for providing an optical image stabilization function.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-024934 JP 2000-292824 A

  By the way, the durability of the driving mechanism is always a problem in a surveillance camera that is permanently turned on without being turned off. In particular, the optical lens system cannot be easily replaced as a single unit, and if the lens is mechanically abnormal, the unit is not replaced but the entire body is replaced.

  In addition, the optical system design of a camera or video camera is often performed in consideration of miniaturization of the drive system rather than durability, and this is often used as it is for the lens system of the surveillance camera. Therefore, it can be said that there is a big problem in the durability of the lens system in the surveillance camera.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of extending the life of an optical anti-vibration system lens that is always powered on, such as a surveillance camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 has an optical system durability mode in which an optical image stabilization function is turned on to perform image stabilization of a shift lens and is connected to a user via a network. In the apparatus, when the user changes the image size setting, the largest image size among the image sizes set by the user connected to the imaging apparatus is determined, and the determined image size is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In this case, an optical image stabilization function off means for turning off the optical image stabilization function is provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to extend the life of an optical anti-vibration system lens that is always powered on, such as a surveillance camera.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a part of a configuration of a network camera device integrated with a camera function and a network function as an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical image stabilization servo system in the network camera device of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the optical system durability mode process performed by the network camera apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the frame rate setting process performed by step S305 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image size setting process performed by step S306 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the access process performed by step S307 of FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an optical image stabilization function off setting process executed in step S606 of FIG. 6. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the lens position monitoring mode process performed by step S704 of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of a configuration of a network camera device integrated with a camera function / network function as an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a camera unit 100 is a block in which a lens system and an image sensor are integrated. Although not shown, a lens group such as a focus lens, a zoom lens, and a shift lens for optical image stabilization is included in each lens. It is incorporated as a lens unit together with a position sensor and the like. The camera unit 100 constitutes an imaging unit.

  The optical image stabilization processing unit (component for optical image stabilization function means) 101 operates a shift lens in the camera unit 100 according to the output of the vibration detection sensor unit (component for optical image stabilization function means) 102. This block adds an optical image stabilization function.

  The image processing unit 103 is a block that performs signal processing on the electrical signal output from the image sensor and outputs the signal as an image signal.

  The electronic image stabilization processing unit 104 is a block that adds an electronic image stabilization function to the signal processing in the image processing unit 103 according to the output of the vibration detection sensor unit 102. The image stabilization on / off determination unit 105 switches the operation of the optical image stabilization processing unit 101 according to the state of the network unit 108.

  Here, the image stabilization on / off determination unit 105 functions as an identification unit that identifies the transmission state of the network unit 108 serving as an imaging transmission unit, and functions as an optical image stabilization function unit according to the identification result of the identification unit. It functions as a control means for controlling the optical image stabilization processing unit 101.

This block temporarily stores images output from the image buffer memory unit 106 and the image processing unit 103. The network unit (imaging transmission unit) 108 has a network I / F function for performing communication between the network camera and an external network device.

  The network unit 108 is a block that has both a moving image generation unit 110 that generates a moving image of a predetermined codec as necessary from an image to be transmitted to the network, and a control function related to various settings set via the network. In particular, among the items set here, a frame rate and image size setting unit (frame rate / image size setting unit) 109 is displayed. The frame rate and the image size can be set according to the request of the accessing user (network user) 111, respectively.

  The image frame extraction processing unit 107 is a block that extracts an image frame from the image buffer memory unit 106 in accordance with the setting of each frame rate in the setting unit 109. An image with a set frame rate is transmitted to a plurality of network users 111 accessing the network camera via the network unit 108.

  Each of these blocks is connected to a CPU, a main memory, and a program memory (not shown) via a bus, and is also configured with an operation switch (not shown).

  When the main switch is turned on, the program compressed in the program memory is decompressed / expanded in the program memory, and the CPU operates according to the program in the program memory. Various control operations are performed.

  This network camera (network camera device) is installed in a corner of a ceiling or the like, and is used as a surveillance camera with a network and a power supply connected. When the power is turned on, various initial settings of the network system and the camera system are performed, and the camera and network communication are activated.

  In the place where the network camera is installed, light from the subject to be monitored is imaged on the image sensor through the lens unit in the camera unit 100 and photoelectrically converted, and the subject image is output from the camera unit 100 as an electrical signal. Is done.

  The electrical signal output is signal-processed by the image processing unit 103 so as to become a standard image signal, and temporarily stored in the image buffer memory unit 106. On the other hand, when the user accesses the camera via the network, the monitoring target image stored in the image buffer memory unit 106 is transmitted via the network unit 108.

  The user can set an image size, an image frame rate, a camera orientation, a focal length, and the like transmitted via the network at the start and during the connection with the camera. Communication is performed after these settings are made (the default value set by the administrator when settings are not made). In accordance with this setting, a pan / tilt function and a zoom function for changing the orientation of the camera unit 100 work, and remote operation control is possible.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical image stabilization servo system in the network camera apparatus of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the vibration detection sensor unit 102 includes a vibration sensor 200 that detects vibration, and an A / D converter 201 that converts the output of the vibration sensor 200 into a digital value.

The optical image stabilization processing unit 101 extracts a vibration component from the vibration sensor 200 and an anti-vibration band filter 202 for removing other components, an adder 203, and a phase compensation filter 204 for improving the stability of the image stabilization servo system. Servo loop gain 205 is provided.

  The camera unit 100 includes a driver 206 for driving the shift lens 208, an actuator 207 for driving the shift lens 208, and a shift lens (optical anti-vibration system lens) 208 that can operate in a plane parallel to the optical axis. . The camera unit 100 also includes a position sensor 209 for detecting the position of the shift lens 208 and an A / D converter 210 for converting the output of the position sensor 209 into a digital value.

  When the optical image stabilization function is on, all of these servo systems are operating properly, and the shift camera 208 is driven in response to vibration and vibration to give the surveillance camera system an optical image stabilization function. .

  As described above, the network camera has an optical image stabilization function and an electronic image stabilization function. Then, according to the vibration of the vibration sensor 200, an optical image stabilization process is performed on the camera unit 100 or an electronic image stabilization process is performed, and an image or moving image subjected to shake correction is sent to the user. It has become.

  Note that a user with administrator authority for this network camera (hereinafter simply referred to as “administrator”) is also given superuser authority to enable / disable these image stabilization functions. Can set the maximum number of users that can be connected simultaneously.

  In the network camera having the above-described configuration, the operation when the administrator turns on the optical system durability mode is shown in the sequence of FIGS. 3 to 6, and will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of optical system durability mode processing executed by the network camera apparatus of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, when the administrator enters the optical system durability mode, the program branches in step S301 as determined by the current shutter speed of the camera unit 100.

  The shutter speed is a parameter that depends on the brightness of the subject, the brightness of the lens (F value), and the sensitivity of the sensor. If the shutter speed is faster than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S302. If the shutter speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S304, and the optical image stabilization processing unit 101 (optical image stabilization function) remains on ( Optical anti-vibration function on means).

  In step S302, it is determined whether there is a connection request access to the network camera from a general user on the network, whether there is a change in the number of connections, or whether there is a change in the setting of the requested image by the currently accessed user. To do.

  If the setting has been changed, the process proceeds to step S303. In step S303, the process proceeds to step S305, step S306, or step S307, respectively, depending on the change made in step S302.

  That is, if the frame rate setting of the connected user is changed (frame rate change), the process proceeds to step S305, and the process proceeds to the frame rate setting process of FIG. Similarly, if the connection user's requested image size setting is changed (image size change), the process proceeds to the image size setting process of FIG. When there is a new access and the number of accesses increases (when the number of accesses is changed), the process proceeds to the access process of FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the frame rate setting process executed in step S305 of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, when the user changes the frame rate setting, the maximum frame rate Rh among the connected users is determined in step S401. In step S402, the largest frame rate Rh is compared with a predetermined frame rate that can be set by the administrator, and branches as follows.

  That is, when the requested maximum frame rate Rh is low (when the frame rate is a predetermined value or less), the process proceeds to step S403, and the optical image stabilization function is set to off (optical image stabilization function). Off means). On the other hand, when the frame rate Rh is high (when it exceeds the predetermined value), the process proceeds to step S404, and the optical image stabilization function is set to ON.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the image size setting process executed in step S306 of FIG.

  In FIG. 5, when the user changes the setting of the image size, the maximum image size Sh among the connected users is determined in step S501. In step S502, the largest image size Sh is compared with a predetermined image size that can be set by the administrator and branched as follows.

  That is, if the requested image size Sh is small (if it is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value), the process proceeds to step S503, where the optical image stabilization function is set to off (optical image stabilization function off means). On the contrary, when the image size Sh is large (when exceeding the predetermined value), the process proceeds to step S504, and the optical image stabilization function is set to ON.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the access process executed in step S307 of FIG.

  In FIG. 6, when there is a new access from a user, the number of users who are currently accessing at the same time changes in step S601, and the number of connected users is determined. In step S602, it is determined whether it is possible to maintain a communication speed that can be sent to all connected users at a rate set by the user.

  If a bandwidth that can correspond to the frame rate requested by each user is not secured, the process proceeds to step S603 to lower the frame rate of each user. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S604, and the frame rate Fm of each user is determined while keeping the frame rate as requested by the user.

  If Fm is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value in step S605, the process proceeds to step S606, where the optical image stabilization function is set to off (optical image stabilization function off means). Conversely, if the frame rate Fm exceeds the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S607, and the optical image stabilization function is set to ON.

  As described above, the sequence of FIGS. 3 to 6 determines whether the optical image stabilization function is on or off based on the communication state with the user.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the optical image stabilization function off setting process executed in step S606 of FIG.

  In FIG. 7, when the optical image stabilization function is set to off (during the optical image stabilization function off setting process), in step S701, first, the shift lens 208 is returned to the neutral position of the mechanism (moving means). Thereafter, in step S702, the mechanical lock mechanism operates to fix the shift lens 208 in the neutral position (mechanical lock means).

  In step S703, an operation to turn off energization of one or a plurality of blocks (mechanical mechanisms) in FIG. 2 is performed as follows (energization off means). That is, one is to turn off the power supply for operating the vibration sensor 200 and set the output from the vibration sensor 200 to zero level. Second, the power supply for operating the driver 206 is set to zero level so that the shift lens 208 is not driven.

  When the energization is turned off in this way, the process proceeds to step S704 to enter a lens position monitoring mode.

  As described above, the hardware power supply is turned off, and the software anti-vibration processing is not performed almost simultaneously. By turning off both software and hardware and locking the lens to fix the lens position, the optical image stabilization function is turned off with a high power consumption reduction effect.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the lens position monitoring mode process executed in step S704 of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when the energization is turned off and the lens position monitoring mode is entered, the position sensor 209 is operated with the operation power on and only the output of the position sensor 209 is monitored.

  In step S801, when the optical image stabilization function is turned off, if the position of the shift lens 208 is greatly shifted due to the output of the position sensor 209, the process proceeds to step S802, and energization is performed to activate the function again. turn on.

  In step S803, control is performed so that the position of the shift lens 208 is returned to the center, and when the shift lens 208 is returned to the center position, in step S804, the mechanical lock is applied again, and the process proceeds to step S805. Turn off.

  Thereafter, the lens position monitoring mode is entered again (return), and the shift lens 208 is monitored for abnormal operation. In the mechanical lock, the shift lens 208 is fixed by various known mechanisms using springs, magnets, etc., and is not limited here.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk,
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, and the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing is also included in the present invention. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera part 101 Optical anti-shake process part 102 Vibration detection sensor part 103 Image processing part 104 Electronic anti-shake process part 105 Anti-vibration on / off determination part 106 Image buffer memory part 107 Image frame extraction process part 108 Network part 109 Frame rate / Image size setting unit 110 Movie generation unit 111 Network user 200 Vibration sensor 201 A / D converter 202 Anti-vibration band filter 203 Adder 204 Phase compensation filter 205 Servo loop gain 206 Driver 207 Actuator 208 Shift lens 209 Position sensor 210 A / D converter

Claims (6)

In an imaging apparatus that has an optical system endurance mode that turns on the optical image stabilization function to perform image stabilization of the shift lens, and is connected to the user via a network.
When the user changes the image size setting, the largest image size among the image sizes set by the user connected to the imaging device is determined, and when the determined image size is a predetermined value or less An image pickup apparatus comprising: an optical image stabilization function off unit for turning off the optical image stabilization function. An optical image stabilization function on means for turning on the optical image stabilization function when the shutter speed exceeds a predetermined value;
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical image stabilization function off unit turns off the optical image stabilization function when a shutter speed is a predetermined value or less. During the optical image stabilization function off setting process by the optical image stabilization function off means,
Moving means for moving the shift lens to a neutral position;
Mechanical locking means for locking the mechanical mechanism;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a power-off unit that turns off power to the predetermined mechanical mechanism. In the control method of the image pickup apparatus having an optical system durability mode for turning on the optical image stabilization function and performing image stabilization of the shift lens and connected to the user via the network,
The optical image stabilization function off means of the imaging device determines the largest image size among the image sizes set by the user connected to the imaging device when the user changes the image size setting, An image pickup apparatus control method comprising: an optical image stabilization function off step of turning off the optical image stabilization function when the determined image size is a predetermined value or less.   A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the imaging apparatus control method according to claim 4.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 5.

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