JP5832261B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that controls backlight correction according to a backlight state with respect to a camera.

  Based on the fact that the correction for the backlight state in the conventional imaging device is effective to set the same backlight correction value (knee setting value) at the same angle of the rotary table, as shown in Patent Document 1. A backlight correction value is stored in advance for each angle of the turntable, and correction is performed by reading and applying the backlight correction value stored according to the angle of the turntable as needed.

JP-A-8-70403

  However, for example, the conventional imaging apparatus such as Patent Document 1 is configured as described above. Therefore, it is necessary to store a backlight correction value corresponding to the angle of the turntable in advance, and this work is a burden. There was a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and does not require a burdensome task of storing a backlight correction value corresponding to the angle of the turntable in advance, and automatically performs backlight correction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device that can be controlled.

In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is fixed to a turntable, and a camera unit that images a subject and outputs an image signal, and a lens focal length detection that detects a focal length of a lens of the camera unit And a magnetic sensor unit that detects the horizontal direction of the direction in which the camera unit is facing, an angle detection unit that detects the vertical direction of the direction in which the camera unit is facing, and a turntable that rotates the camera unit Based on the time information and date information, the horizontal direction and vertical direction of the sun direction are calculated, and the focal length of the lens of the camera unit detected by the lens focal length detection unit and the preset image sensor size of the camera unit are calculated. direction to calculate a field angle of the camera portion of the lens in the horizontal direction and vertical direction, the horizontal direction of the calculated solar camera unit detected by the magnetic sensor unit is oriented based It compares the horizontal direction, and an angle obtained by the horizontal angle of view of the calculated camera portion of the lens, and the vertical direction of the calculated solar camera unit detected by the angle detection unit is facing Compared to the angle obtained by the vertical direction of the direction and the vertical direction of the calculated angle of view of the lens of the camera unit, the calculated horizontal direction and vertical direction of the direction of the sun and the calculated angle of view of the lens of the camera unit A rotary table control unit that detects a relative positional relationship, and a wide dynamic range processing unit that performs wide dynamic range processing on an image signal output from the camera unit based on the relative positional relationship detected by the rotary table control unit, When the turntable control unit detects that the sun is within the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit, the wide dynamic range processing is performed so that the effect of the processing is maximized. If the turntable control unit detects that the sun is outside the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit, the shortest distance between the sun direction and the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit is calculated, and the shortest distance is increased. Accordingly, the wide dynamic range process is performed so that the effect of the process is reduced.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, it is not necessary to perform a burdensome task of storing a backlight correction value corresponding to the angle of the turntable in advance, and automatically according to the backlight state in the direction in which the camera is facing. Backlight correction processing can be performed, and high-quality image signals can be achieved.

1 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram corresponding to preset control for an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The block diagram corresponding to preset control is shown about the imaging device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device includes a camera unit 1 that captures an image of a subject and outputs an image signal, a magnetic sensor unit 2 that acquires a direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing, and a time information acquisition unit that acquires time information. 3. A turntable control unit 4 that controls the operation of the turntable, a motor unit 5 and a drive mechanism unit 6 that rotate the turntable, and a backlight correction processing unit 7 that performs correction processing for backlight.

  Next, the operation of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. First, the procedure for rotating the imaging device will be described. The camera unit 1 receives a turntable operation command from the outside, and outputs a control command (rotation direction, rotation speed, absolute position, etc.) to the turntable control unit 4. When the turntable control unit 4 operates the motor unit 5 and the drive mechanism unit 6 in accordance with a control command from the camera unit 1, the turntable rotates.

When the imaging device rotates, the turntable control unit 4 calculates the sun direction S based on the time information T acquired by the time information acquisition unit 3. As a method of calculating the sun direction S, there are a method in which table data on the correlation between the time information T and the sun direction S is given to the turntable control unit 4 in advance, a method of calculating using a calculation formula, and the like. . As a method for calculating the direction S of the sun using the calculation formula, for example, assuming that 6 o'clock is sunrise (east: 90 °) and 18:00 is sunset (west: 270 °), formula (1) There is a method of calculating using.
S = 90 + 180 × (T−6) ÷ 12 (1)
In addition, when giving table data about the correlation between the time information T and the sun direction S, since this table data is common to all the imaging devices, the work of giving this table data in advance does not become a burden.

  The magnetic sensor unit 2 detects the direction C to which the camera unit 1 is facing. Here, when the direction C toward the camera unit 1 detected by the magnetic sensor unit 2 is included in a range of ± 90 ° with respect to the calculated sun direction S, the turntable control unit 4 includes the camera unit 1. Is facing the sun direction S, detects that the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing is in a backlight state, and notifies the camera unit 1 of the detected direction.

  When the camera unit 1 is notified by the turntable control unit 4 that the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing is in the backlight state, the camera unit 1 sets the correction processing by the backlight correction processing unit 7 to be effective, while the camera unit 1 When it is not notified that the direction in which the light is directed is in the backlight state, the correction processing by the backlight correction processing unit 7 is set to be invalid.

  When the correction process is enabled by the camera unit 1, the backlight correction processing unit 7 performs the backlight correction process on the image signal output by the camera unit 1 and outputs the image signal. On the other hand, the camera unit 1 performs the correction process. When set to invalid, the image signal output by the camera unit 1 is output as it is without performing backlight correction processing.

  Here, the backlight correction processing performed by the backlight correction processing unit 7 is processing that suppresses the person from becoming dark even during backlighting by photographing so that the entire screen is brightened. The brightness control of the camera is controlled so that the integral value of the entire screen becomes the target value, but in the backlight correction process, the target value is set larger than normal during backlighting to brighten the entire screen. In other words, when a general camera is backlit at the time of shooting, it is difficult to discriminate the face due to the influence of backlighting, but it is difficult to discriminate the face. Since the photograph is taken, it is possible to suppress a symptom that a person becomes dark at the time of backlighting.

  Note that the angle of the turntable may be registered in advance for control of the imaging apparatus, and control (preset control) may be performed so as to call the registered angle of the turntable later. FIG. 2 is a block diagram corresponding to the preset control for the image pickup apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The difference from FIG. 1 is the angle at which the direction in which the turntable faces is detected. It is a point provided with the memory | storage part 9 which memorize | stores the angle information detected by the detection part 8 and the angle detection part 8.

Here, a procedure for registering angle information of the turntable in advance in the preset control will be described. First, when an angle registration command is output from the camera unit 1 that has received an angle registration command to the turntable control unit 4, the turntable control unit 4 faces the camera unit 1 detected by the angle detection unit 8. The angle information of the turntable is registered by storing the vertical direction of the angle and the direction (horizontal direction of the angle) in which the camera unit 1 is detected detected by the magnetic sensor unit 2 in the storage unit 9.
Next, a procedure for calling the registered angle information of the turntable in the preset control will be described. When an angle call command is output from the camera unit 1 that has received the angle call command to the turntable control unit 4, the turntable control unit 4 is detected by the angle detection unit 8. The angle of the turntable is compared with the angle information of the turntable registered in the storage section 9 and the motor section 5 and the drive mechanism section 6 are controlled so that they match each other. Make a call.

  Since the angle at which the camera unit 1 stops the turntable at the moment when the camera unit 1 issues an angle call command to the turntable control unit 4 is controlled by the preset control, the angle at which the turntable is previously stored in the storage unit 9 is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to set the camera setting corresponding to the rotation table while the turntable is rotating, and it is possible to provide an optimal image from the moment when the turntable stops, and the processing speed can be increased.

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the camera unit 1 that images a subject and outputs an image signal, and the magnetic sensor unit 2 that detects the direction C to which the camera unit 1 is directed. And the turntable for rotating the camera unit 1, the sun direction S is calculated based on the time information, and the camera unit 1 detected by the magnetic sensor unit 2 is directed based on the calculated sun direction S. When the turntable control unit 4 detects that the direction C is in the backlight state, and the turntable control unit 4 detects that the direction C toward the camera unit 1 is in the backlight state, the camera unit 1 Since it is configured to include the backlight correction processing unit 7 that performs backlight correction processing on the output image signal, it is not necessary to perform a burdensome task of storing the backlight correction value according to the angle of the turntable in advance. Camera part 1 is facing That direction can automatically perform backlight correction processing in accordance with the backlight state and C, it is possible to achieve high quality of the image signal.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
3 is a block diagram of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The difference between the block diagram of the imaging device shown in FIG. 3 and the block diagram of the imaging device shown in FIG. 1 of Embodiment 1 is that the angle detection unit 8 that detects the vertical direction of the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing, A point that additionally includes a date information acquisition unit 10 that acquires date information and a lens focal length detection unit 11 that detects a focal length of the camera unit 1, and a point that a wide dynamic range processing unit 12 is provided instead of the backlight correction processing unit 7. It is.

  Here, the wide dynamic range processing performed by the wide dynamic range processing unit 12 performs high-sensitivity shooting and low-sensitivity shooting. A dark portion indicates a high-sensitivity shooting image, and a bright portion indicates a low-sensitivity shooting image. This is a process that allows the bright part and the dark part to be photographed even when the difference in light and dark is large by combining the images. Note that the wide dynamic range is effective even in a scene with strong backlight, and the setting is adjusted based on the backlight intensity. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the backlight intensity more strictly than the backlight correction processing.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment, when the sun is within the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit 1 when the turntable rotates, the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing is a strong backlight state. The image signal output from the camera unit 1 is subjected to wide dynamic range processing, and the sun direction needs to be calculated more strictly than the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment.

Therefore, the date information acquisition unit 10 that acquires date information is provided, and the turntable control unit 4 calculates the sun direction S based on the date information acquired by the date information acquisition unit 10 in addition to the time information. This makes it possible to calculate the sun direction S in consideration of the influence of the seasons on the sunrise time, sunset time, sun height, and the like. Specifically, the correlation between the time information, the date information, and the sun direction S is investigated in advance, and table data on the correlation between the time information, the date information, and the sun direction S is given to the turntable control unit 4. Can be realized. The turntable controller 4 calculates the sun direction S in both the horizontal direction Sx and the vertical direction Sy.
In addition, since the table data regarding the correlation between the time information, the date information, and the sun direction S is common to all the imaging apparatuses, the work of providing the table data in advance is not a burden.

  Next, the turntable control unit 4 calculates the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1. The angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 is calculated by Expression (2) using the lens focal length F detected by the lens focal length detection unit 11 and the preset image sensor size s.

A = 2 × tan ⁻¹ (s / (2 × F)) (2)

  Here, the value of the lens focal length F detected by the lens focal length detection unit 11 is input to the turntable control unit 4 via the camera unit 1. The image sensor size s is a fixed value depending on the image sensor to be used, and is given to the turntable control unit 4 in advance. The turntable control unit 4 calculates the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 in both the horizontal direction Ax and the vertical direction Ay.

  Next, both the horizontal direction Cx and the vertical direction Cy of the direction C in which the camera unit 1 faces are detected. The magnetic sensor unit 2 detects the horizontal direction Cx in the direction in which the camera unit 1 faces, and the angle detection unit 8 detects the vertical direction Cy in the direction in which the camera unit 1 faces.

Here, when the horizontal direction Sx of the sun direction satisfies the formula (3) and the vertical direction Sy of the sun direction satisfies the formula (4), the turntable control unit 4 displays the image of the lens of the camera unit 1. The sun is in the corner A, and the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing is detected to be in a strong backlight state, and the camera unit 1 is notified.
Cx− (Ax / 2) ≦ Sx ≦ Cx + (Ax / 2) (3)
Cy− (Ay / 2) ≦ Sy ≦ Cy + (Ay / 2) (4)

  When the turntable control unit 4 notifies the camera unit 1 that the direction in which the camera unit 1 faces is in the backlight state, the camera unit 1 enables the wide dynamic range processing by the wide dynamic range processing unit 12. On the other hand, when it is not notified that the camera unit 1 is in the direction of the backlight that the camera unit 1 faces, the wide dynamic range processing by the wide dynamic range processing unit 12 is set to be invalid.

  The wide dynamic range processing unit 12 performs wide dynamic range processing on the image signal output by the camera unit 1 when the wide dynamic range processing is enabled by the camera unit 1, and outputs the wide dynamic range processing by the camera unit 1. When the range processing is set to invalid, the image signal output by the camera unit 1 is output as it is without performing the wide dynamic range processing.

  FIG. 4 shows a block diagram corresponding to the preset control in the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and additionally includes a storage unit 9 in addition to the configuration of FIG. By controlling by the preset control, as in the case of the first embodiment, the angle at which the camera unit 1 stops the turntable at the moment when the camera unit 1 issues an angle call command to the turntable control unit 4 is known. The camera setting corresponding to the angle at which the turntable is stored can be set while the turntable is rotating, and the optimal image can be provided from the moment the turntable stops. Can be speeded up.

  As described above, according to the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, the camera unit 1 that images a subject and outputs an image signal, and the lens focal length detection that detects the focal length F of the lens of the camera unit 1 The unit 11, the magnetic sensor unit 2 that detects the horizontal direction Cx in the direction that the camera unit 1 faces, the angle detection unit 8 that detects the vertical direction Cy in the direction that the camera unit 1 faces, and the camera unit 1 While controlling the rotating base to rotate, the horizontal direction Sx and the vertical direction Sy of the sun direction are calculated based on the time information and the date information, and the focal length F of the lens of the camera unit 1 detected by the lens focal length detection unit 11 is calculated. The angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 is calculated based on the preset image sensor size s of the camera unit 1, and the calculated horizontal direction Sx and vertical direction Sy of the sun direction and the image of the lens of the camera unit 1 are calculated. A horizontal direction Ax, vertical direction Ay of A, horizontal direction Cx of the direction in which the camera unit 1 is detected detected by the magnetic sensor unit 2, and vertical direction of the direction in which the camera unit 1 is detected detected by the angle detection unit 8 Based on Cy, the turntable control unit 4 that detects that the direction C toward the camera unit 1 is in a backlight state, and the direction C in which the camera unit 1 faces by the turntable control unit is in a backlight state. When detected, the image signal output from the camera unit 1 is provided with a wide dynamic range processing unit 12 that performs wide dynamic range processing, so that the wide dynamic range processing according to the angle of the turntable is previously performed. When the sun is within the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 without requiring a burdensome task of storing the set value, the wide dynamic range processing is automatically performed. Since is enabled, it is possible to achieve high quality of the image signal.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 3 has the same configuration as that of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 3, and the relative positional relationship between the sun direction and the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit 1. Accordingly, the turntable control unit 4 controls wide dynamic range processing by the wide dynamic range processing unit 12.

  First, as in the second embodiment, the turntable control unit 4 sets the horizontal direction of the sun based on the time information acquired by the time information acquisition unit 3 and the date information acquired by the date information acquisition unit 10. The direction Sx and the vertical direction Sy are calculated, the horizontal direction Ax and the vertical direction Ay of the camera unit 1 are calculated based on the lens focal length F detected by the lens focal length detection unit 11 and the image sensor size s, and the magnetic sensor unit 2 and the angle detection unit 8 detect the horizontal direction Cx and the vertical direction Cy of the direction of the camera unit 1.

  Next, a setting value (0: minimum to 1: maximum) of the wide dynamic range process is determined based on the relative positional relationship between the sun direction S and the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1. When the horizontal direction Sx of the sun direction satisfies Expression (3) and the vertical direction Sy of the sun direction satisfies Expression (4), the turntable control unit 4 is within the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1. Since there is the sun and a strong retrograde state is set, the setting value of the wide dynamic range process is set to 1 which is the maximum.

On the other hand, when the horizontal direction Sx and the vertical direction Sy of the sun direction are outside the field angle A of the lens of the camera unit 1, the turntable control unit 4 determines the sun direction S and the field angle of the lens of the camera unit 1. The shortest distance of A is calculated, and the setting value of the wide dynamic range processing is determined so as to decrease the setting value of the wide dynamic range processing as the shortest distance increases. Specifically, by providing the turntable control unit 4 beforehand with table data on setting values of wide dynamic range processing according to the shortest distance between the sun direction S and the field angle A of the lens of the camera unit 1. Realize.
Note that the table data regarding the setting value of the wide dynamic range processing corresponding to the shortest distance between the sun direction S and the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 is common to all the imaging apparatuses, and thus this table is stored in advance. Giving data is not a burden.

  Thus, the turntable control unit 4 detects the relative positional relationship between the sun direction S and the field angle A of the lens of the camera unit 1, and determines the setting value of the wide dynamic range process according to the detected relative positional relationship. And output.

  The setting value of the wide dynamic range processing output by the turntable control unit 4 is transmitted to the wide dynamic range processing unit 12 via the camera unit 1. The wide dynamic range processing unit 12 performs wide dynamic range processing when the set value is large so that the effect of the wide dynamic range processing is reduced when the set value is small according to the input set value of the wide dynamic range processing. Processing is performed to increase the effect.

  In addition, when controlling by preset control, it is set as the same structure as what was corresponded to preset control about the imaging device concerning Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 4, and the memory | storage part 9 is additionally provided with respect to the structure of FIG. . As in the case of the first and second embodiments, the angle by which the camera unit 1 stops the turntable at the moment when the camera unit 1 issues an angle call command to the turntable control unit 4 can be known by controlling by the preset control. The camera settings corresponding to the angle at which the turntable stored in the unit 9 is stopped can be set while the turntable is rotating, and it is possible to provide an optimal image from the moment the turntable stops. , Processing can be speeded up.

  As described above, the effect similar to that of the second embodiment can be obtained, and the camera unit 1 that captures an image of a subject and outputs an image signal, and the lens focal length detection unit 11 that detects the focal length F of the lens of the camera unit 1. Then, the magnetic sensor unit 2 that detects the horizontal direction Cx in the direction in which the camera unit 1 faces, the angle detection unit 8 in which the vertical direction Cy in the direction in which the camera unit 1 faces, and the camera unit 1 are rotated. While controlling the turntable, the horizontal direction Sx and the vertical direction Sy of the sun direction are calculated based on time information and date information, and the focal length F of the lens of the camera unit 1 detected by the lens focal length detection unit 11 and the camera The angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 is calculated based on the image sensor size s of the unit 1, and is detected by the horizontal direction Cx of the direction in which the camera unit 1 is detected detected by the magnetic sensor unit 2 and the angle detection unit 8. A turntable control that detects a relative positional relationship between the calculated horizontal direction Sx of the sun direction and the vertical direction Sy and the calculated angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1 based on the vertical direction Cy of the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing. And the wide dynamic range processing unit 12 that performs wide dynamic range processing on the image signal output from the camera unit 1 based on the relative positional relationship detected by the turntable control unit 4. The magnitude of the effect of the wide dynamic range processing is adjusted according to the relative positional relationship between the sun direction S and the angle of view A of the lens of the camera unit 1, and correction suitable for the backlight condition in the direction in which the camera unit 1 is facing. This makes it possible to improve the quality of the image signal.

  In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, any combination of the embodiments, or any modification of any component in each embodiment, or omission of any component in each embodiment is possible. .

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera part, 2 Magnetic sensor part, 3 Time information acquisition part, 4 Turntable control part, 5 Motor part, 6 Drive mechanism part, 7 Backlight correction process part, 8 Angle detection part, 9 Storage part, 10 Date information acquisition part , 11 Lens focal length detection unit, 12 Wide dynamic range processing unit.

Claims (1)

A camera unit that images a subject and outputs an image signal;
A lens focal length detection unit for detecting a focal length of the lens of the camera unit;
A magnetic sensor unit for detecting a horizontal direction of the direction in which the camera unit is facing;
An angle detection unit for detecting a vertical direction of a direction in which the camera unit is facing;
Controlling a turntable for rotating the camera unit, calculating a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the sun direction based on time information and date information, and detecting the focal point of the lens of the camera unit detected by the lens focal length detection unit The angle of view of the lens of the camera unit is calculated in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction based on the distance and the preset image sensor size of the camera unit, and the calculated horizontal direction of the sun direction is detected by the magnetic sensor unit The horizontal direction of the direction in which the camera unit is directed and the calculated horizontal direction of the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit are compared, and the vertical direction of the calculated sun direction is angle obtained by the vertical angle of view and vertical direction of the camera unit detected by the angle detection unit is facing, calculated the camera unit of the lens In comparison, the rotary base control unit for detecting a relative positional relationship between the angle of view of the camera portion of the lens and the calculated horizontal and vertical directions of the calculated sun,
A wide dynamic range processing unit that performs a wide dynamic range process on the image signal output from the camera unit based on the relative positional relationship detected by the turntable control unit;
When it is detected by the turntable control unit that the sun is within the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit, the wide dynamic range process is performed so as to maximize the effect of the process, and the turntable control unit When it is detected that the sun is outside the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit, the shortest distance between the direction of the sun and the angle of view of the lens of the camera unit is calculated, and as the shortest distance increases, The imaging apparatus fixed to the turntable , wherein the wide dynamic range process is performed so that the effect of the process is reduced.

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