JPH0261794A - Picture supervisory equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clear up the causes of abnormality generation by image-picking up, inputting and electronically recording the picture of a monitoring subject area with a television camera when it is detected that an object invades the monitoring subject area. CONSTITUTION:A sensor part 1 composed of an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving device intermittently emits an ultrasonic signal to the monitoring subject area and measures a time until the reception of a reflected wave. Then, the intrusion of the object is detected. For a television camera part 2, automatic focusing control is executed with a prescribed period under the control of a focusing distance detecting part 7. A system control part 5 and a stroboscope control part 3 are activated by such a detecting output and the picture of the monitoring subject area is image-picked up and inputted by the television camera part 2. This image-picked up and inputted picture is temporarily stored in a picture memory 4 with receiving the control of the system control part 5 and after that, transferred to a picture recording part 6. Then, the picture is electronically recorded and kept.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EObjective of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an image monitoring device that records and monitors abnormalities such as the intrusion of an object into a monitoring target area.

(Prior art) Recently, security issues have been widely discussed (f',
Various monitoring devices have been developed. Conventionally, with this kind of monitoring device, when fishing on a boat, an infrared light transmission and reception wave path is formed so as to surround the area targeted for security, and when the infrared light is blocked by an object that has entered the said transmission and reception wave path, the infrared light is blocked. The sensor is configured to detect an abnormality and issue an alarm. Recently, surveillance TV cameras have been placed at important points in areas targeted for security, and security guards monitor the images, and the surveillance images from the TV cameras are recorded on VTRs. There is.

However, in a monitoring system in which an infrared transmission/reception wave path is installed around a security target area, it is only possible to detect an abnormality by blocking the infrared light, and it is not possible to determine where in the transmission/reception wave path the abnormality occurred. I can't grasp the point.

Moreover, there is a problem in that the cause of the abnormality cannot be determined only from this abnormality detection.

Furthermore, in monitoring using the TV left camera, it is possible to immediately grasp the cause of an abnormality from the monitoring image, but for this purpose it is necessary to constantly monitor the monitoring image. Moreover, constructing such a monitoring system requires a large amount of equipment expense.

Furthermore, it was extremely wasteful to record all the surveillance images on a VTR.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional monitoring system, an infrared light transmission/reception wave path is stretched around a security target area, and an abnormality is detected when the infrared light is interrupted. There are many difficulties in identifying the location where the abnormality occurs and investigating its cause. Further, in the abnormality monitoring system using the TV left camera, it is necessary to constantly monitor the monitoring image, and there is a problem in that it requires a large amount of equipment cost.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to effectively monitor the intrusion of objects into a predetermined monitoring target area and to effectively investigate the cause of the abnormality. The object of the present invention is to provide an image monitoring device that can perform the following tasks.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The image monitoring device according to the present invention includes: (1) a sensor section that detects the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area; A camera unit that captures and inputs images of the monitoring target area, and a memory unit that has a function of electronically recording the images captured and input by this camera unit and outputting the recorded image information to the outside, in one predetermined unit. The device is characterized in that it is housed integrally in the unit and functions as one independent monitoring device element.

(Function) According to the present device configured in this way, for example, by surrounding a predetermined security area and arranging a plurality of the devices at predetermined intervals, when an object intrudes into the security area, the intrusion is prevented. When an abnormality is detected by the sensor unit of this device, which has a location as a monitoring target area, the camera unit of the device is activated, and an image of the monitoring target area is captured and input and electronically recorded in the memory unit. Recorded image information is then read out from the memory section as needed and used to investigate the cause of the abnormality.

As a result, when an object intrudes into a security area, the intrusion location is detected as an electronic surveillance image by the surveillance equipment elements (this device) that are housed in a predetermined housing and function independently. will be recorded. Since the recorded image information can be read out and monitored as necessary, the location of the abnormality can be identified from the installation position of this device that recorded the monitoring image, and the cause of the abnormality can be effectively investigated from the recorded image. It becomes possible to do so.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, an image monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the main parts of the embodiment device, in which 1 is a sensor section consisting of an ultrasonic transceiver device, etc. that detects the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area, and 2 is a sensor section that controls the strobe control section 3. This is a TV camera section that includes a micro-sized CCD sensor, etc., which receives and irradiates a strobe light onto a monitoring target area, and captures and inputs an image of the monitoring target area under strobe light illumination conditions. Reference numeral 4 designates an image memory unit that temporarily stores the image information captured and input by the TV camera unit 2 and electronically records the captured human image in the image recording unit 6 under the control of the system control unit 5. . The image storage section 6 is composed of an image information recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a memory card, and can output recorded images on a monitor by being set in, for example, a portable monitor device. Further, reference numeral 7 denotes a focal length detecting section that receives an external control signal and adjusts the focal length of the captured input image in the TV camera section 2 at a predetermined period.

For example, as shown in FIG.
The controller is configured to function as an independent monitoring component driven by the controller. A plurality of devices (monitoring components) configured in this way are arranged at predetermined intervals to surround a predetermined security area, as shown in FIG. A monitoring system is constructed using the above, and each of them is used to individually monitor and detect the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area. Specifically, the plurality of devices are respectively arranged as supports of a fence provided surrounding the security area, and the areas between the posts are set as respective areas to be monitored.

Therefore, the sensor section l consisting of an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving device is
Ultrasonic signals are intermittently emitted to a predetermined monitoring target area (the shaded area between the pillars in Figure 3), and the time it takes to receive the reflected wave of the ultrasonic signal from an object is measured. Detects the intrusion of objects into the monitored area. Specifically, detection of this object intrusion is performed by determining whether or not the reflected wave is received within a predetermined time period from the transmission timing of the ultrasonic signal. In other words, when an object enters the monitoring target area, the intruding object blocks the propagation of the ultrasonic wave in the detection target area, and the ultrasonic wave is reflected at the object entry position, so that the reflected wave is The time until the wave reception timing is shorter than the average reflected wave reception time.

Utilizing such a time difference, the sensor section 1 detects the intrusion of an object.

Further, the TV camera section 2 is subjected to automatic focus adjustment at a predetermined period under the control of the focal length detection section 7. The automatic focus adjustment is performed by measuring the distance from the TV camera unit 2 to an object existing within the predetermined monitoring target area by applying a distance measurement technology using infrared light or ultrasonic waves.

When the sensor unit 1 detects the intrusion of an object into the monitored area as described above, the system control unit 5 is activated by this detection output, and the strobe control unit 3 is also activated, and the TV The camera section 2 captures and inputs images of the monitoring target area. Then, the TV camera section 2 emits strobe light under the control of the strobe control section 7 under the above-mentioned focal length adjustment condition, illuminating the predetermined monitoring target area under constant illumination conditions. An image of the monitoring target area is captured and input. As a result, the TV camera section 2 can be operated under stable and appropriate lighting conditions using strobe light.
In addition, an image of the object that has entered the monitoring target area is captured and inputted with the focal length to the intruding object being adjusted. The input image is temporarily stored in the image memory section 4 under the control of the system control section 5, and then transferred to the image recording section 6 where it is electronically recorded and stored.

That is, when the sensor unit 1 detects the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area, an image of the monitoring target area is captured and inputted by the TV camera unit 2 under appropriate imaging conditions by strobe light irradiation, and the monitoring target area is captured and inputted by the TV camera unit 2. An image showing the intrusion state of the object in the target area is electronically recorded in the image recording unit 6.

In this way, the image of the monitoring target area electronically recorded in the image recording unit 6 is an image of the object that has entered the area. Therefore, when the sensor section 1 detects the intrusion of an object into the monitored area, the intruding object can be easily confirmed by reproducing the image electronically recorded in the image recording section 6 on a monitor. This makes it possible to investigate the cause easily and efficiently. Furthermore, it becomes possible to easily specify the intrusion location of the object based on the installation position of the device that obtained the image of the intruding object.

In addition, regarding the playback and display of images electronically recorded in the memory unit 6, for example, the image recording unit 6, such as a magnetic disk, may be stored in the image recording unit 6, such as a magnetic disk, by a supervisor who goes to the installation location of this device where an intrusion of an object is detected.
All you have to do is take it out and set it on a portable monitor device so that you can monitor the recorded image. Alternatively, a portable monitor device may be electrically connected to the present device to monitor the recorded image. By adopting a configuration that monitors recorded images in this way, it is compared to constructing a large-scale system that requires centralized monitoring by laying cables between individual equipment installations and predetermined monitoring locations. Since each device can be used as an independent monitoring component as needed, the equipment cost can be significantly reduced. In addition, by making it possible to copy the recorded image information obtained from each device and take it back as necessary, and by making it possible to erase the recorded image information as appropriate, unnecessary surveillance is required. It is possible to perform effective monitoring management by preventing storing images and collecting unnecessary monitoring images.

Further, as described above, this device is configured such that all of its series of monitoring functions are integrally housed in the pile-shaped housing portion 10, and each function as an independent monitoring component. A plurality of devices are arranged at predetermined intervals, and the devices are used to function independently as individual areas to be monitored. Therefore, without having to manage all devices in a unified manner, it is possible to easily identify the point of intrusion based on which device among the devices that function independently has detected the intrusion of an object. The intruding object can be easily identified from the recorded image.

In addition, since the devices can be housed in the pile-shaped housing section lO and installed in each monitoring area, the installation of the devices can be effectively camouflaged and can be effectively protected from unwanted sabotage. Effects such as becoming possible can be achieved. In addition, by arranging multiple devices in relation to each other, if an attempt is made to sabotage the device, another device can detect the abnormality and capture and record the image. This makes it possible to effectively monitor abnormalities and investigate their causes.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Here, we used ultrasonic signals to monitor the intrusion of objects into the area to be monitored, but it is of course also possible to use infrared light to monitor the intrusion of objects. Of course, it is also possible to detect the intrusion of an object by cutting the cable. Furthermore, it is possible to incorporate this device not only into the pile-shaped case 10 but also into various camouflage cases, and the detection of the intrusion of an object itself can be notified to a predetermined monitoring center using radio waves or the like. is also possible. Even in this case, it is sufficient that each individual device captures and records an image of an object that has entered a predetermined monitoring area, and monitors the recorded image as necessary. Furthermore, the number of combinations of the devices may be determined according to the security specifications, and it is also possible to arbitrarily and variably set each monitoring target area. In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the gist thereof.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, when the sensor unit detects the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area, the TV camera unit captures and inputs an image of the monitoring target area. Since the images are recorded electronically, the recorded images can be effectively used to investigate the cause of the abnormality. In other words, since the intrusion of an object is recorded as an image, it eliminates the need for a large amount of effort to investigate the cause of an abnormality, unlike conventional systems, and eliminates the hassle of constantly monitoring surveillance images using the TV left camera. disappears. For example, since each device can be handled as a monitoring component housed in a pile-shaped housing, multiple TV cameras can be placed at key locations and these TV left cameras can be centrally controlled remotely. There is no need for equipment to construct a monitoring system, and the equipment cost can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of how the embodiment device is housed in a case, and FIG. 3 is a security diagram of the embodiment device. It is a diagram showing an example of equipment arrangement in areas. 1...Sensor unit, 2...TV camera unit, 3...Strobe control unit, 4...Image memory unit, 5...System control unit, 6...Image recording unit, 7... - Focal length detection section, 8... Battery, 10... Peg-shaped (rod-shaped) housing section. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A sensor unit that detects the intrusion of an object into a predetermined monitoring target area; a camera unit that captures and inputs an image of the monitoring target area according to the detection result of the sensor unit; A memory section having a function of electronically recording images and outputting the recorded image information to the outside for image display, and an independent monitoring equipment element that integrally accommodates the sensor section, camera section, and memory section. What is claimed is: 1. An image monitoring device comprising: a casing portion that functions as an image monitoring device; (2) The camera section has an automatic focus positioning function based on the output of the sensor section, and when an object intrusion into the monitoring area is detected, it emits a strobe light and captures and inputs an image of the monitoring area. The image monitoring device described in section 1).