JP5590870B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a surveillance camera or a pan head camera.

  An example of this type of conventional imaging apparatus is shown in FIG. In this imaging apparatus, a swivel base 105 is supported on the apparatus main body 102 so as to be pivotable in the P direction in the drawing, and an imaging unit 101 including an image sensor, a lens, and the like is fixed to the swivel base 105.

  In the apparatus main body 102, a motor 103, a gear train 106 that transmits the driving force of the motor 103 to the swivel base 105, a circuit board 104, and the like are arranged. The circuit board 104 includes a control circuit for controlling driving of the motor 103, an image processing circuit that processes image data captured by the imaging unit 101, a recording device that records image data processed by the image processing circuit, a power source, and the like. Has been implemented.

  The image data captured by the image capturing unit 101 is transmitted to a circuit board 104 in the apparatus main body 102 by a transmission unit (not shown), subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing circuit, and then recorded in a recording device. Or transferred to an external device.

  However, in the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 6, when the signal line for image transmission connecting the image pickup unit 101 and the circuit board 104 and the power supply wiring are wired, the wired wiring is twisted, so that the number is infinite. The imaging unit 101 cannot be turned in the direction. For this reason, when a certain turning angle of the imaging unit 101 is set as an upper limit and the turning angle (hereinafter referred to as “turning dead center”) is reached, it is necessary to reverse the turning direction, and the tracking is temporarily stopped. It will be.

  Therefore, the image data captured by the imaging unit 101 is transmitted to the circuit board 104 of the apparatus main body 102 by wireless communication, and the power source or the like supplies power using a sliding contact, thereby enabling the imaging unit 101 to turn infinitely. Techniques have been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2001-183738 A JP-A-9-284612

  However, in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since an electric circuit and an antenna dedicated to wireless communication are required, the cost of the apparatus is high, and noise is easily generated in a transmission signal of image data. In addition, when power is supplied through a sliding contact, the reliability of the contact may be reduced, which may cause electrical noise.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that enables infinite turning of the imaging unit even in the case of wired wiring, and that can reduce costs and improve reliability.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus main body, a swivel supported by the apparatus main body so as to be capable of swiveling, swivel drive means for swiveling the swivel, and a rotation center axis. An image pickup unit that is arranged in a direction different from the turning center axis of the swivel base and is rotatably held by the swivel base, is arranged along the swivel center axis, and connects the apparatus main body and the image pickup unit. Wired wiring and a transmission means for transmitting a rotational force to the imaging unit, the transmission means having the swivel base in a clockwise direction when viewed from the side where the imaging unit is disposed. sign of the angle between the imaging section with a sign of the turning operation of the imaging unit with the pivotal movement of the wire wiring is imaging portion in which the clockwise and positive as viewed from the side opposite to the side that is connected rotation The imaging unit so that the sum of the angle with the angle is less than a certain value Transmitting a rotational force, characterized in that.

  According to the present invention, since the imaging unit can be turned infinitely even in the case of wired wiring, the cost and reliability of the imaging device can be reduced.

It is a figure for demonstrating the imaging device which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a schematic explanatory drawing, (b) is a partial top view of (a), (c) is a part of (a). It is a side view. It is explanatory drawing in order to demonstrate the twist of the wired wiring by the turning operation | movement and rotation operation of an image pick-up part, (a) is a figure which shows the state in which the wired wiring is not twisted, (b) is the state in which the wired wiring was twisted 360 degrees. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the imaging device which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the state which lowered | hung the bevel gear of the swivel base, and released | engaged with the bevel gear of an imaging part, (b) is a partial side view of (a). It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the imaging device which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the conventional imaging device.

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

(First embodiment)
1A and 1B are explanatory views for explaining an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic explanatory view, FIG. 1B is a partial top view of FIG. It is a partial side view of a).

  In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the swivel base 2 is supported by the apparatus main body 3 so as to be able to turn in the direction of arrow P, and the swivel base 2 can rotate the imaging unit 1 in the direction of arrow Q. Is retained. In this embodiment, the rotation center axis in the arrow Q direction is the horizontal direction, the turning center axis in the arrow P direction is the vertical direction, and the rotation center axis and the turning center axis are orthogonal to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the rotation center axis and the turning center axis are directed in different directions.

  In addition to the imaging device and the lens, the imaging unit 1 also includes a mechanism and a control unit that enable a zoom operation for changing the angle of view and a focus operation for adjusting the focus as necessary. In the apparatus main body 3, a motor 12, a gear train 11 including a plurality of spur gears that transmit the driving force of the motor 12 to the swivel base 2 to drive the swivel base 2 in the direction of arrow P, a circuit board 4, and the like. Is arranged. The circuit board 4 includes a control circuit for controlling driving of the motor 12, an image processing circuit for processing image data picked up by the image pickup unit 1, a recording device for recording image data processed by the image processing circuit, a power source, and the like. Has been implemented.

  Further, the shaft of the bevel gear 14 is fixedly disposed on the swivel base 2 with its axis line aligned with the rotation center axis in the direction of arrow P, and the bevel gear 14 has a rotation center axis in the direction of arrow Q. The bevel gear 13 fixedly arranged integrally with the imaging unit 1 is engaged with the imaging unit 1 in a substantially matched state. Accordingly, since the bevel gear 14 is fixed without rotating, when the swivel base 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow P, the imaging unit 1 is integrated with the bevel gear 13 while rotating in the direction of the arrow P. A rotational force is transmitted through the gears 13 and 14 to rotate in the arrow Q direction. That is, the turning operation of the turntable 2 is converted into the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1.

  In addition, the pivot center axis of the bevel gear 14 has a hollow structure, and in this hollow portion, a wired wiring 5 that connects the imaging unit 1 and the circuit board 4 and transmits image data and feeds power is provided. It is inserted and arranged along the turning center axis.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the twist of the wired wiring 5 due to the turning operation in the arrow P direction and the rotation operation in the arrow Q direction of the imaging unit 1, and (a) shows a state in which the wired wiring 5 is not twisted. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the wired wiring 5 is twisted by 360 °. For convenience of explanation, in the illustrated example, the wired wiring 5 is exaggerated and drawn thickly.

  In the state of FIG. 2A, the imaging unit 1 turns clockwise (arrow P (+) direction) when viewed from the arrow A direction, or the imaging unit 1 rotates clockwise (arrow Q when viewed from the arrow B direction). When rotated in the (+) direction), the wired wiring 5 is twisted clockwise as viewed from the direction of the arrow A to be in the state of FIG. On the other hand, in the state of FIG. 2B, the imaging unit 1 turns counterclockwise (arrow P (−) direction) when viewed from the arrow A direction, or the imaging unit 1 counterclockwise when viewed from the arrow B direction. When rotating around (in the direction of the arrow Q (−)), the wired wiring 5 is twisted counterclockwise as viewed from the direction of the arrow A. Thereby, the twist of the wired wiring 5 is eliminated and it returns to the state of Fig.2 (a).

  If this action is used, when the imaging unit 1 turns clockwise as viewed from the direction of arrow A, the imaging unit 1 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the direction of arrow B by the same angle as the turning angle. The wiring 5 is not twisted. Further, when the imaging unit 1 is turned counterclockwise as viewed from the direction of the arrow A, when the imaging unit 1 is rotated clockwise as viewed from the direction of the arrow B by the same angle as the turning angle, the wired wiring 5 is twisted. Does not occur.

  Accordingly, when the clockwise direction when viewed from the direction of the arrow A or the arrow B is defined as (+) and the counterclockwise direction is defined as (−), the “angle of the turning operation” of the imaging unit 1 associated with the turning operation of the turntable 2. And the “rotation angle” of the imaging unit 1 are always set to 0, no twist is generated in the wired wiring 5. Therefore, the imaging unit 1 can turn infinitely in one direction.

  As for the angle of the turning operation and the angle of the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1, ± is considered depending on the direction of the turning and rotation. For example, when the imaging unit 1 is rotated 90 ° clockwise and then rotated 90 ° counterclockwise, the cumulative rotation angle is 0 °, and the imaging unit 1 is rotated 90 ° clockwise and counterclockwise. In this case, the sum of the angle of the turning operation and the angle of the rotation operation is set to 0 °.

  Here, by setting the number of teeth of the bevel gear 13 and the number of teeth of the bevel gear 14 to be the same, the image pickup unit 1 is opposite in direction and has the same absolute value by the turning operation of the image pickup unit 1. It can be rotated at an angular velocity. As a result, since the relationship in which the sum of the “turning angle” and the “rotation angle” of the imaging unit 1 is always 0 is automatically established, the wired unit 5 is not twisted and the imaging unit 1 is infinite. You can continue to turn in one direction.

  Note that when the imaging unit rotates, the image is also recorded on the recording device while rotating, but this rotation of the image can be corrected by hardware or software image processing and always displayed in the correct direction. . In this case, by arranging the rotation center axis of the imaging unit 1 in the direction of the arrow Q and the optical axis to coincide with each other, the center of the captured image does not shift, so that image processing can be performed relatively easily. However, this is not always necessary, and the rotation center axis of the imaging unit 1 in the direction of arrow Q and the optical axis may be shifted.

  As described above, in this embodiment, even when the imaging unit 1 and the circuit board 4 are connected by the wired wiring 5, a twist that reaches the turning dead center by the turning operation of the imaging unit 1 is performed by the wired wiring. Therefore, the imaging unit 1 can be turned infinitely. As a result, the cost of the imaging apparatus can be reduced and the reliability can be improved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, with reference to FIG.3 and FIG.4, the imaging device which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, with respect to the first embodiment, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the rotation of the imaging unit 1 is limited to a specific condition, and the image processing performed for correcting the rotated image is unnecessary.

  In FIG. 3, the shaft portion 14 a of the bevel gear 14 is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 3 with its axis line coincided with the turning center axis in the arrow P direction. A spur gear 20 is fixed to an end portion of the shaft portion 14a disposed in the apparatus main body 3.

  A motor 21 is disposed in the apparatus main body 3, and the driving force of the motor 21 is transmitted to the spur gear 20 via a gear train 22 including a plurality of spur gears, whereby the spur gear 20, the shaft portion 14 a, and the umbrella. The gear 14 rotates integrally in the arrow P direction. A control circuit and a power source for driving the motor 21 are mounted on the circuit board 4. Accordingly, in a state where the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are meshed, when the spur gear 20, the shaft portion 14a, and the bevel gear 14 rotate together in the direction of the arrow P, the imaging unit 1 does not turn, but the umbrella Rotational force is transmitted through the gears 13 and 14 so that it can rotate in the direction of arrow Q. Here, the bevel gear 13 corresponds to an example of the first rotation transmission member of the present invention, and the bevel gear 14 is in contact with the first rotation transmission member and transmits the rotational force to the imaging unit. This corresponds to an example of the rotation transmission member 2.

  Further, the spur gear 20, the shaft portion 14a, and the bevel gear 14 are movable in the axial direction along the turning center axis by a vertical movement device (not shown) controlled by a control means (not shown). Therefore, it is possible to switch between the state where the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are meshed (FIG. 3) and the state where the bevel gear 14 is not meshed (FIG. 4) by the axial movement (vertical movement) of the bevel gear 14. become.

  In the first embodiment, if the sum of the rotation angle and the rotation angle of the imaging unit 1 is always set to 0, the wired line 5 is not twisted and the imaging unit 1 rotates in one direction infinitely. You have already mentioned that you can continue. However, even if a slight twist occurs in the wired wiring 5, it does not immediately cause a problem. Actually, although the rigidity of the wired wiring 5 depends on the thickness, twisting up to a certain twist angle is allowed. That is, if the sum of the angle of the turning motion of the imaging unit 1 and the angle of the rotational motion of the imaging unit 1 is not always 0 and is equal to or less than a certain value, the twist of the wired wiring 5 is allowed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the twist angle of the wired wiring 5 before reaching the turning dead center is set as an allowable twist angle, and the allowable twist angle is set to ± n °.

  As shown in FIG. 4, even if the imaging unit 1 turns in a state where the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are not meshed, that is, in a state where transmission of the rotational force to the imaging unit 1 is interrupted, the imaging unit Since 1 does not rotate, the captured image does not rotate. In this case, the wire 5 is twisted by the turning angle of the imaging unit 1, but as described above, twisting up to ± n ° is allowed.

  In the present embodiment, the control means controls the vertical movement device to lower the bevel gear 14 until the twist of the wired wiring 5 reaches ± n °. Then, the control unit drives the motor 12 in a state where the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are not engaged with each other, and continues the turning operation of the imaging unit 1 to accumulate the twist in the wired wiring 5. Here, the control means calculates the accumulated torsion angle based on the rotation information of the motor 12 and stores it in a storage device (not shown).

  Further, when the cumulative twist angle stored in the storage device reaches ± n °, the control means controls the vertical movement device to raise the bevel gear 14 so that the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are engaged with each other. Switch. Then, the control means drives the motor 21 in this state to rotationally drive the bevel gear 14 to rotate the imaging unit 1 in a direction to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5.

  Note that it is not necessary to eliminate all the twists of the wired wiring 5 by one rotation of the imaging unit 1. For example, in a state in which the twist of 1080 ° is accumulated in the wired wiring 5, the imaging unit 1 is rotated by 720 ° to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5, and the twisting of 360 ° is left in the wired wiring 5. It is also possible to continue turning. In this case, the control unit needs to store in the storage device the angle at which the twist of the wired wiring 5 is eliminated by the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1. Further, the control means sets the direction in which the twist of the wired wiring 5 is accumulated by the turning operation of the imaging unit 1 as +, and sets the direction in which the twist is eliminated by the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 as-, and stores the sum thereof in the storage device. You may make it do.

  Further, the imaging unit 1 may be rotated in a direction to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5 before the cumulative twist angle stored in the storage device reaches ± n °.

  For example, in the case of a surveillance camera, there is no problem even if the image is temporarily rotated when there is no suspicious person. For this reason, a switch is provided for instructing the control means that the image may be rotated by the observer, and when the switch is pressed, the control means eliminates the twist of the wired wiring 5 accumulated so far. In order to do this, the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 may be performed.

  Further, it is stored in advance in the storage device on the condition that there are relatively few moving images in the captured image and there are few differences from the normal image. Then, when the image captured by the imaging unit 1 matches the condition stored in the storage device, the control means determines that there is no suspicious person and performs imaging to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5 accumulated so far. The rotating operation of the unit 1 may be performed. Further, the direction of the wall with a shallow field of view is stored in the storage device in advance, and when the imaging unit 1 faces the direction, the control unit takes an image to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5 accumulated so far. The rotating operation of the unit 1 may be performed.

  Thus, the observer can determine the timing for rotating the imaging unit 1 or can automatically determine the timing, or these may be used in combination. However, in any case, when the cumulative twist angle of the wired wiring 5 reaches ± n ° by the turning operation of the imaging unit 1, the imaging unit regardless of whether or not it is a timing when the imaging unit 1 may be rotated. Rotation operation 1 is executed to eliminate twisting of the wired wiring 5. At this time, as described above, it is not necessary to eliminate all accumulated twists of the wire 5, and only the minimum twist is eliminated, and the imaging unit 1 can be rotated next time. The remaining twist may be eliminated.

  As described above, in this embodiment, until the cumulative twist angle of the wired wiring 5 reaches ± n °, the imaging unit 1 performs only the turning operation without rotating, so the image rotates to the recording device. It will not be recorded. For this reason, it is possible to eliminate the need for image processing for correcting the rotated image until the cumulative twist angle of the wired wiring 5 reaches ± n °.

  When the cumulative twist angle of the wired wiring 5 reaches ± n °, the imaging unit 1 is rotated to eliminate the twist of the wired wiring 5. Thereby, even if it is a case where the image pick-up part 1 and the circuit board 4 are connected by the wired wiring 5, the twist which reaches | attains a turning dead center by turning operation | movement of the imaging part 1 does not generate | occur | produce in the wired wiring 5, The imaging unit 1 can be turned infinitely. As a result, it is possible to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of the imaging apparatus.

  Here, if the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 is always performed in units of 360 °, the image processing for the rotated image is unnecessary if the rotation of the image during the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 can be permitted. Since image processing is a burden on hardware or software, it is desirable that image processing is not possible. Therefore, the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 in units of 360 ° is most desirable.

  Further, if the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 is performed in units of an angle that is an integral multiple of 90 °, only the rearrangement of the pixels of the image sensor is required instead of the image rotation processing. Since this is a relatively light process, the burden on hardware or software is light. Therefore, the rotation operation of the imaging unit 1 in units of an angle that is an integral multiple of 90 ° is also relatively desirable.

  Furthermore, even if the imaging unit 1 is rotated at any other angle, there is no problem if hardware or software that allows image processing on the rotated image is used together. Furthermore, instead of always checking images in real time, if all the images picked up by the image pickup unit 1 are recorded in the recording device and the images recorded in the recording device are checked as necessary, batch processing is used. Since it is sufficient to perform image processing on the rotated image, the burden of image processing is further reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the rotation center axis in the Q direction of the imaging unit 1 is aligned with the optical axis is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotation center axis and the optical axis in the Q direction of the imaging unit 1 are exemplified. And may be shifted. However, when the rotation center axis in the Q direction of the imaging unit 1 and the optical axis coincide with each other, the center of the captured image does not shift, so that the imaging range is not changed by the rotation operation and the turning operation of the imaging unit 1. be able to.

(Third embodiment)
Next, with reference to FIG. 5, an imaging apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining an imaging apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In addition, with respect to the first and second embodiments described above, overlapping or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is omitted.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a vertical movement device that moves the bevel gear 14 up and down is unnecessary and the bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 14 are always meshed. .

  In a state in which the rotation of the bevel gear 14 is stopped, the bevel gear 13 is rotated according to the turning operation of the image capturing unit 1, and thus the image capturing unit 1 is rotated. In this case, if the bevel gear 14 is rotated in a direction to stop the rotation of the imaging unit 1 by controlling the motor 21 by the control means, the imaging unit 1 can be turned without rotating.

  At this time, although the twist is accumulated in the wired wiring 5, in a state in which the turning operation of the imaging unit 1 is stopped, the motor 21 is controlled by the control unit to rotate the bevel gear 14, and thus the second embodiment. Similarly, it is possible to eliminate the twist accumulated by the rotation of the imaging unit 1.

  Further, when the image pickup unit 1 is rotated by controlling the motor 21 by the control unit so that the angular velocity exceeds the angular velocity of the image pickup unit 1 that is turned by the control of the motor 12 by the control unit, the turning of the image pickup unit 1 is relative. Therefore, the imaging unit 1 is rotated by the amount of angular velocity that has been stopped and exceeded. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate the accumulated twist of the wire 5 while rotating the imaging unit 1. Note that the timing for rotating the imaging unit 1 and the rotation angle of the imaging unit 1 are the same as those in the second embodiment.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment can be obtained at a lower cost without using a vertical movement device that moves the bevel gear 14 up and down.

  The configuration of the present invention is not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiments, and the material, shape, dimensions, form, number, arrangement location, and the like are appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up part 2 Turntable 3 Device main body 4 Circuit board 5 Wired wiring 11 Gear train 12 Motor 13 Bevel gear 14 Bevel gear

Claims (7)

An apparatus main body, a swivel supported by the apparatus main body so as to be capable of swiveling, a swivel drive means for driving the swivel to swivel, and a rotation center axis oriented in a direction different from the swivel center axis of the swivel; An imaging unit rotatably held on the swivel base, a wired wiring that is arranged along the pivot center axis and connects the apparatus main body and the imaging unit, and a transmission unit that transmits a rotational force to the imaging unit And comprising
Said transmission means, said swivel base angle and said IMAGING signed the turning operation of the imaging unit with the revolving base of the turning operation in which the clockwise and positive as viewed from the side on which the imaging unit is arranged Rotate the imaging unit so that the sum of the rotation angle of the imaging unit and the signed angle with the clockwise direction when viewed from the opposite side to the side where the wired wiring is connected is equal to or less than a certain value. An imaging apparatus characterized by transmitting force. Rotation center axis of the imaging unit is arranged so as to coincide with the optical axis of the imaging unit, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angular velocity of the turning motion of the imaging unit and the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the imaging unit are opposite to each other and have the same absolute value.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit includes a conversion unit that converts a turning operation of the swivel base into a rotation operation of the imaging unit. Switching means for switching between transmission of rotational force to the imaging unit by the transmission unit and blocking of transmission of rotational force to the imaging unit by the transmission unit;
Control means for calculating an accumulated torsion angle of the wired wiring due to the turning operation of the swivel when the transmission of the rotational force to the imaging unit is interrupted by the switching means,
When the cumulative twist angle reaches an allowable twist angle, the control means is configured to transmit the rotational force to the imaging unit in a direction in which the absolute value of the cumulative twist angle is reduced by the transmission means. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is controlled. The transmission means is disposed on the turning center axis and contacts a first rotation transmission member provided on the rotation center axis of the imaging unit so as to be rotatable integrally with the imaging unit, thereby applying a rotational force to the imaging unit. A second rotation transmission member for transmitting, a rotation driving means for rotating the second rotation transmission member, and a control means for controlling the rotation driving means and the turning driving means;
The control unit controls the rotation driving unit to rotate the second rotation transmission member in a direction in which the rotation of the imaging unit that rotates according to the turning motion is stopped,
Further, the cumulative twist angle of the wired wiring due to the swing operation of the swivel base when the imaging unit is stopped is calculated, and the swivel operation of the swivel base when the cumulative twist angle reaches an allowable twist angle. The rotation driving means and the turning driving means are controlled so that the imaging section rotates in a direction in which the absolute value of the cumulative torsion angle is reduced in a state where the rotation is relatively stopped. The imaging device according to claim 3.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the imaging unit rotates in a unit of an angle of 360 ° or an angle unit of an integer multiple of 90 °.

Images