JPH0269899A - Passing vehicle photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clearly photograph and record a passing vehicle by outputting shutter speed determined beforehand and a stroboscope synchronizing signal from a shutter controller by a position detection signal when a position sensor detects the vehicle, and recording the photographed picture. CONSTITUTION:Photographing by natural light is continued until the vehicle 4 is detected by the position sensor 7, and the picture is recorded in a VTR 22. When the vehicle 4 reaches the position of the position sensor 7, light from a projector 7a to a receiver 7b is interrupted, and the position detection signal 8 is outputted from a processing circuit 7c. The shutter controller 14 takes one sheet of a still picture by the shutter speed determined beforehand. At this time, the stroboscope is started as well by the stroboscope synchronizing signal, and flashes and illuminates the vehicle 4, and the picture too is recorded in the VTR 22 through a picture processing circuit 20. Thus, the clear picture including a passing state can be recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention is applicable to vehicles passing through a road, such as photographing vehicles passing illegally without paying the toll at a toll gate on a toll road. This invention relates to improvement of photographic equipment.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, film-type still cameras have been used to take pictures of vehicles illegally passing without paying the toll at toll gates on toll roads. was necessary, and there was a problem in immediately tracking down fraudsters.

In addition to the above-mentioned toll gates, photography of such vehicles can be done at
It is also often needed to manage vehicles that drive out of control, and to manage parking lots.

Here, a tollgate will be explained as an example.

Figure 6 is a configuration diagram of a passing vehicle photographing device conventionally used at toll gates on toll roads. In Figure 1, (1) is the road, (2) is the toll booth, and (3) is the collector ( 4) is a vehicle as a target vehicle, (5) is an operation switch (6) is a camera control signal from the operation switch (5), and (7) is a position sensor, which includes a light emitter (7a), a light receiver (7b), and a camera control signal from the operation switch (5). (8) is a position detection signal from the position sensor (7), (9) is an AND circuit, and (10) is a photographing command signal from the AND circuit (9).

(11) is a still camera (12) that uses 35n+1 film and is a strobe as an illumination light source. Here, the collector (3) is in the booth (2) and collects the toll, but if he recognizes that the vehicle (4) is passing illegally, he presses the operation switch (5).゛Also, the 1-position sensor (7) receives the light emitted from the emitter (7a) with the receiver (7b), and when the light from the emitter (7a) is blocked, the receiver (7b) receives a specified signal. The system detects the presence of a vehicle because it cannot receive light exceeding the intensity, and the presence or absence of the vehicle is determined by the processing circuit (7c) and the vehicle is detected between the light emitter (7a) and the light receiver (7b). It outputs a position detection signal (8) when it crosses the line. This position sensor (7)
is installed at a predetermined position, for example, about 7 m in front of the still camera (11). Also, the AND circuit (
9) inputs the camera control signal (6) and the position detection signal (8), and when the position detection signal (8) is input under the condition that the camera control signal (6) is on, the photographing command signal (10) is input. )
is output, and the shutter of the still camera (11) is driven by a shutter drive means (not shown) to photograph the vehicle.

In such a configuration, the collector (3) collects a toll from the vehicle (4) according to the type of vehicle, and collects the toll from the vehicle (4).
) to pass. The collector (3) does not press the operation switch (5) for vehicles passing legally, so the camera control signal (6) from the operation switch (5) is off.
Even when the vehicle (4) reaches the position of the position sensor (7) and the position detection signal (8) is turned on, the AND circuit (9) does not output a photographing command signal. on the other hand.

If it is recognized that vehicle (4) is an illegal passing vehicle,
The operation switch (5) is pressed and the camera control signal (6) is turned on. In this state, the vehicle (4) is connected to the position sensor (7).
When the point is reached, a position detection signal (6) is output, and a photographing command signal (10) is output from the AND circuit (9). The still camera (11) receives this shooting command signal (10
), the shutter is released, illumination light is emitted from the strobe (12), and the vehicle (4) is photographed.

In this way, illegally passing vehicles are photographed with a still camera and recorded on film.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Conventional dual-traffic vehicle photographing devices photograph vehicles using still cameras and record the images on film, but processing such as developing and printing requires time and effort. In addition, vehicles (
There is also the problem of 4) that the image remains on a single sheet of film, and it is not possible to record how the vehicle passed through the area.

This invention was made to solve this problem, and uses a TV camera instead of a still camera to photograph the vehicle traffic situation under natural light at a slow shutter speed, and to record the vehicle at a predetermined photographing position. The aim is to realize a passing vehicle photographing device that can clearly photograph and record passing vehicles by illuminating them with a strobe when they arrive, taking pictures with a high-speed shutter, and recording each image.

[Means to solve the problem]

The passing vehicle photographing device according to the present invention includes a position sensor for detecting that a vehicle has arrived at a photographing point, a TV camera with a built-in shutter as a photographing means, a strobe as an illumination means, and -1-. an image memory that temporarily stores images, and a VTR (Video Tape Recorder) that records one image on video tape.
), comprising a shutter controller for controlling the TV camera, a strobe as an illumination means, and an operation switch operated by the collector, the TV camera is controlled by the shutter controller, and the collector can By pressing the switch, the TV camera takes pictures under natural light with a low-speed shutter, and when the position sensor detects a vehicle, the TV camera takes pictures with a high-speed shutter, for example, at a shutter speed of about 1/1000 seconds. At that time, the above strobe is synchronized with the shutter and illuminates the target car. In addition, when shooting under natural light, the shutter speed is switched using the photometry of the optical sensor to create an image with almost the same brightness as the result of shooting with strobe lighting, making it possible to take clear pictures with both natural light and strobe light. . Note that a high-speed shutter image using strobe light provides a clear image with less image blur for both the driver and the vehicle.

[Effect]

In this invention, static IF images of the traffic conditions of nine passing vehicles and strobe lighting at the photographing position can be photographed. Since these images are recorded on a VTR, they can be played back immediately, and two traffic conditions are also recorded, making it easier to track passing vehicles.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in the figure, (13) is the TV power, (14) is! T
V h ) (13) is the shutter controller that determines the shutter speed and strobe synchronization, (15) is the shutter speed signal from the shutter controller (!4), (+6)
is the strobe tuning signal from the shutter controller (14),
(17) is the video signal from the TV camera (+3),
(Ig) is an optical sensor, (19) is a light reception signal from the optical sensor, (21) is a video signal from the image processing circuit (20), and (22) is a VTR.

Note that (1) to (8) and (12) in FIG. 1 have the same functions as the same reference numerals in FIG. Here, TV camera (13)
For example, "Video Information", Volume 20, Volume 9, P41~
The frame transfer type CCD element (C
It uses a harge coupled device as an image sensor, and in addition to normal video shooting with the shutter open, it is also possible to operate the shutter. The above CCD has an image area and a storage area, and by photoelectrically converting the image in the image area and transferring the charge to the storage area at high speed, a still image can be taken by an electronic shutter operation, and the shutter speed can be controlled externally. It can be changed arbitrarily by the signal. The lens aperture value of the TV camera (!3) is set to a fixed F in advance.
is set to the value. Moreover, one image processing circuit (20) is T
It stores images from the V camera (13) as image data, and is mainly composed of semiconductor memory elements.

The optical sensor (18) is installed to detect the brightness within the field of view of the TV camera (13), and the brighter the brightness within the field of view, the higher the output voltage of the light reception signal (19). It's about to get bigger.

Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the details of the image processing circuit (20). In Figure 2, (201) is an A/D converter that converts the video signal (17) from the TV camera into a digital quantity corresponding to the magnitude of the voltage. Converter (Analog to Digit)
(202) is a synchronization signal separation circuit (203) which extracts a vertical synchronization signal and a horizontal synchronization signal from the video signal (17).
) A built-in clock (not shown), which is an address counter that outputs the memory address for each image, is counted up by the vertical synchronization signal and horizontal synchronization signal. An address counter (204) stores the output of the A/D converter (201), and an image memo 1 (205) stores the output of the A/D converter (201).
giatl t.

Analog Converter) converts the images stored in the 2-image memory (204) back into the video signal (2I).
It is designed to be taken out as . Image processing circuit (20
) is configured like this, and the captured image is A.
5 is made into a child by the /D converter (201) and stored in the image memory (204) for one screen. At this time, the vertical synchronization signal on the video signal (]7) gives a division between one photographed image, and the address counter (20
3) Perform the reset. Also, the horizontal synchronization signal is the scanning line 1
The address counter (203) counts up the built-in clock to determine the horizontal coordinates of one image, determines the address of the image memory for each pixel, and uses this horizontal synchronization signal to determine the horizontal coordinates of one image. The quantized image data output from the converter (20υ) is transferred to the image memory (20υ).
04). In addition, the image in the 2-image memory (204) is converted into a video signal (21) via a D/A converter (205).
is extracted as.

FIG. 3 is a detailed configuration diagram of the shutter controller (14), (141) is a level judger, (142) is a data selector, (143) is a pulse generator, (144)
) is the first gate (+45) is the second gate. Here, the level judger (141) quantizes the magnitude of the voltage of the light reception signal (19) and produces, for example, a 2-bit level judgment output G.
Output as 1 and G2. The first level determination output G1 is the lower bit of the level determiner (141), and the second level determination output G2 is the upper bit of the level determiner (141).

The data selector (142) outputs the first level determination output G
select the pulse output Dl-D4 from the pulse generator (143) according to the logic of l and the second level determination output G2,
Take out data output Q.

Further, the pulse generator (143) provides pulses for determining the shutter speed, and outputs a reference pulse output DO, a first pulse output DI, and a second pulse output D2.
．． Third pulse output D3. A fourth pulse output D4 is generated. Here, the reference pulse output DO gives the shutter speed when photographing with strobe illumination, and outputs a pulse with a pulse width of, for example, 1/1000 seconds. on the other hand,
First pulse output DI, second pulse output D2. The pulse width of the third pulse output D3 and the fourth pulse output D4 is 2. For example, DI=1/60 seconds, D2=1/120 seconds,
D3=1/250 seconds and D4-11500 seconds are set in multiple series, and when DI selects, the TV camera shutter operates at 1/60 seconds.

The first gate 1- (144) outputs one reference pulse DO after the 9 position detection signal (8) is turned on, and when it is off, outputs the data output Q from the shutter speed signal (15). . The second gate (145) has two position detection signals (8
) is turned on, only one reference pulse DO is output as a strobe tuning signal (16). FIG. 4 is a truth table explaining the operation of the shutter controller (14); as the light entering the optical sensor (18) becomes brighter, a higher shutter speed is output from the data output Q. Which indicates that. Note that the shutter speed values in Fig. 4 are just examples.The operation of the shutter controller (14) will be explained in Fig. 3.As is clear from Fig. 3, the 1 position detection signal (8) is off, the light reception signal (1) detected by the light sensor (49)
A shutter speed signal (15) corresponding to 9) is output. Also, during this time, the strobe tuning signal (16) is turned off. on the other hand.

When the position detection signal turns on, the shutter speed signal (1
In step 5), the reference pulse DO is output, and a predetermined shutter speed is achieved. At the same time, the strobe tuning signal (1
6) is output.

The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1 again. In the figure, when it is determined that the vehicle (4) is an illegal passing vehicle, the collector (3) turns on the operation switch (5). At this time, the camera control signal (6) is turned on, and the VTR
(22) starts, and from the shutter controller (14),
TV camera (1) detected by optical sensor (18)
3) Photographing is performed at a shutter speed that corresponds to the brightness within the field of view. When shooting using only natural light, the vehicle (
4) continues until it is detected by the position sensor (7), the traffic situation of the vehicle (4) is photographed by the VTV camera 3), and this video signal (17) is sent to the image processing circuit (
20) and is recorded on the VTR (22). When the vehicle (4) reaches the position of the position sensor (7), light from the emitter (7a) to the receiver (7b) is cut off, and the processing circuit (7C) outputs a position detection signal (8). . The shutter controller (14) receives this position detection signal (8
), one still image is taken at a predetermined shutter speed. At this time, the strobe is also activated by the strobe synchronization signal to illuminate the light-emitting vehicle (4). This image is also sent to the VTR (22) via the image processing circuit (20).
) is recorded. In this way, when shooting under natural light, the shutter speed is controlled according to the external brightness, and when using strobe lighting, a preset high-speed shutter is used to avoid blurring the image, and two images are recorded. You can leave it behind. As a result, it is possible to record a clear image including one traffic situation, so that processing at a later date can be carried out smoothly. Although not shown in the drawings, it is also possible to automatically stop the VTR and stop the TV camera after taking a still image.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the invention. In the figure, (30) is a data generator, and inside there is a clock (3I) and an installation point setting section (32).1 clock (31) shows the time such as 1:01:2 on February 2, 2017. Generate data. In addition, the installation point setting section (32) is a ROM
(Read 0nly Mellor) etc. The installation location person is inputted in advance into a memory element. (4
0) is an image synthesizer which superimposes the data from the data generator (30) as an image on the video signal (16) to form a single screen. With this configuration, time data and location data can be inserted into the image, making it convenient for later processing.

In addition, in the embodiment, a floodlight (7) is used as a position sensor (7).
Although the photoelectric type using a) and a light receiver (7b) has been described, there are other equivalent types such as an ultrasonic type and a loop coil type. Furthermore, although a VTR is used as the recording medium, an optical disc or the like may also be used. In the example, level judgment! (141
) shows the case with 2-bit level output, but two levels are provided to keep the brightness of the high-speed shutter image with strobe lighting and the low-speed shutter image with natural light as constant as possible, and depending on the application, this It may be other than that. Further, in the embodiment, the photographing of illegally passing vehicles at toll gates was taken as an example, but it can also be used for photographing motorcycle gangs, vehicles in parking lots, etc.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, this invention can record a JTj-bound vehicle as a moving image and a still image, and since it uses a VTR as a recording medium, it can be played back instantly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a passing vehicle photographing device showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a detailed block diagram of an image processing circuit, Fig. 3 is a detailed diagram of a shutter controller, and Fig. 4 is a detailed diagram of a shutter controller. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a passing vehicle photographing device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional passing vehicle photographing device. In the figure, (1) is the road, (2) is the booth, (3) is the collector, (4) is the vehicle, (5) is the operation switch, and (6)
is a camera control signal, (7) is a position sensor, and (8) is a position detection signal. (9) is an AND circuit, (10) is a shooting command signal, (11
) is a still camera, (12) is a strobe, (1:
() is the TV camera (14) is the shutter controller, (1
5) is a shutter speed signal, (16) is a strobe tuning signal, (17) is a video signal, (18) is a light sensor,
(19) is the light reception signal, (20) is the image processing circuit, (
21) is a video signal, (22) is a VTR, (30) is a data generator, (31) is a clock, and (32) is an installation point setting unit. (40) is an image synthesizer, (141) is a level judger,
(142) is a pulse generator, (143) is a data selector, (144) is a first gate, (145) is a second gate.
gate, (201) is the A/D converter, (202)
(203) is an address counter, (204) is an image memory, (205) is a D/A converter, and (206) is a memory address. Note that in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A passing vehicle photographing device for photographing vehicle traffic conditions, including a TV camera capable of shutter operation, a strobe serving as an illumination means, an image processing circuit for temporarily storing images from the TV camera, and the above image processing. A recorder that records the video signal from the circuit on a magnetic tape or the like, and a position sensor that is installed at a predetermined point in front of the TV camera and that emits a position detection signal when the vehicle reaches the point. , comprising an operation switch, a light sensor that detects brightness within the field of view of the TV camera, and a shutter controller, and when the operation switch is turned on, the shutter controller causes the signal from the light sensor to:
The brightness within the field of view of the TV camera is measured, the shutter speed corresponding to the brightness is given to the TV camera to take a picture, the recorder is turned on, and the image taken by the TV camera is processed by the image processing circuit. When the position sensor detects the vehicle, the position detection signal from the position sensor causes the shutter controller to send a predetermined shutter speed and strobe synchronization signal. is output, the vehicle is photographed under strobe lighting at the predetermined shutter speed, and these photographed images are recorded in the recorder via the image processing circuit. Features: Passing vehicle photography device. (2) A passing vehicle photographing device that photographs vehicle traffic conditions includes a TV camera capable of shutter operation, a strobe as a lighting means, a data generator that generates installation point and time data, and the like from the TV camera. an image synthesizer that superimposes time and installation point data from the data generator on the video signal of the data generator to form a single image; an image processing circuit that temporarily stores the signal from the image synthesizer; and an image processing circuit that temporarily stores the signal from the image synthesizer; a recorder that records the image data on a magnetic tape or the like, a position sensor that is installed at a predetermined point in front of the TV camera and that emits a position detection signal when the vehicle reaches the point, and an operation switch. , an optical sensor that detects brightness within the field of view of the TV camera, and a shutter controller, and when the operation switch is turned on, the shutter controller controls the TV camera according to a signal from the optical sensor. Measures the brightness within the field of view, gives the TV camera a shutter speed corresponding to the brightness to take a picture, turns on the recorder to start the recording function, and when the position sensor detects the vehicle In response to the position detection signal from the position sensor, the shutter controller outputs a predetermined shutter speed and a strobe synchronization signal, and the vehicle is operated under strobe illumination at the predetermined shutter speed. A passing vehicle photographing device characterized in that the image from the TV camera is recorded by the recorder together with the passing time data and installation point data by the data generator.