JPH04276992A - Automatic tracking device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the camera to surely acquire a moving object and to trace it with high accuracy automatically without need of mount of a signal transmitter to the object. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with an information generating means to obtain tracking information of an object 1 from output information of a range finder 2 to measure the distance between the camera 7 and the object 1 and drive means 4, 5, 6 to move the said camera 7 by the said tracking information and a recognition means 13 to recognize the tracking object to attain the scope.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an automatic tracking device for a camera,
For example, the present invention relates to a target subject automatic tracking device for photographing equipment such as a video camera.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic tracking means for this type of camera, a signal oscillator is attached to a target object to be tracked, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-134351. is received by a receiving device on the camera side, and the driving source of the device is operated so that the camera always faces the target object, and the drive source follows the movement of the target object.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional method as described above, since the receiving device receives the signal from the signal oscillator and determines the direction of the target to be tracked, the following problems occur. There was a problem. That is, (1) it is necessary to attach a signal oscillator to the target object, and due to this restriction, the target object cannot be selected arbitrarily and freely. (2) Since the moving direction of the target is determined based on the received signal output difference due to the distance difference between each receiving device and the signal oscillator, high accuracy of automatic tracking cannot be expected. (3) When multiple automatic tracking devices and targets exist in the same scene, the tracking function may be lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional examples as described above, and it is possible to reliably capture a moving target on a camera and automatically track it without the need to attach a signal oscillator to the target. The object of the present invention is to provide this type of automatic tracking means that can recognize a target object by first capturing the target object at the center of the screen.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention provides a distance measuring device for measuring the distance between cameras to a moving subject target, and tracking of the target from the output information of the distance measuring device. By comprising an information generating means for obtaining information, and a driving means for moving the camera based on the tracking information, and further by comprising a recognition means for recognizing the tracking target, the objective can be achieved. This is what we are trying to achieve.

[0006]

[Operation] With the above-described configuration, the tracking accuracy for a moving subject target is greatly improved, and the target can be recognized simply by first capturing the target at the center of the screen.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 3 show explanatory diagrams of an embodiment of an automatic tracking device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the automatic tracking system of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of its configuration.

(Structure) In both figures, 1 is a target which is a moving subject to be tracked, 2 is a distance measuring device for measuring the distance to the target 1, and each has three measuring devices A, B, and C. Equipped with a range device. 3 detects the movement of the target object 1 from the output signal of the distance measuring device 2, creates tracking information, outputs the tracking information to the motor control circuit 4, and further detects the movement of the target object 1 from the signal of the lock-on button 13. 4 is a motor control circuit for controlling the motor 5 in response to tracking information from the microcomputer 3; 5 is a transmission mechanism 6 using a control signal from the motor control 4; A drive motor 6 transmits the driving force of the motor 5 to the camera 7 and the distance measurement device 2 via a drive motor 6 for integrally rotating the video camera (hereinafter simply referred to as camera) 7 and the distance measurement device 2. 7 is a video camera for photographing the target object 1; 13 is a lock-on button for causing the microcomputer 3 to recognize the target object 1;

Further, in FIG. 2, numeral 8 indicates a circuit unit for processing signals from the distance measuring device 2 to control the motor 5, 9 indicates a tripod for fixing the above-mentioned structure, and 10 indicates a ranging unit. This is an electric wire cable for transmitting signals from the device 2 to the circuit section 8.

(Automatic Tracking Method) FIG. 3 shows an explanatory diagram of this automatic target object tracking method. 11 is a fixed object,
Reference numeral 12 represents another moving object, and AA, BB, and CC represent distance measuring points of the distance measuring devices A, B, and C, respectively. a is a still screen in which the tracking target 1 is completely captured, b is a moving screen in which the tracking target 1 is moving, and c is a screen in which the tracking device tracks the tracking target 1 and the tracking target is re-tracked. d is the initial invasion screen when another moving object 12 has gotten between the tracking target 1 and the tracking device, and e is the tracking screen when the other moving object 12 is being tracked. f shows a screen in the middle stage of the invasion in a state where the target object 1 is completely covered, and f shows a screen in the late stage of the invasion in a state in which the other moving object 12 that has cut in has left.

In the above configuration, the object to be tracked 1 is detected at each distance measuring point AA, BB, CC of the distance measuring devices A, B, C.
Confirm through a peephole (finder) (not shown) that all objects have been captured, and then press the lock-on button 13 in FIG. 1 to cause the microcomputer 3 to detect, memorize, and recognize the distance to the target object 1. This becomes the still screen a. At this time, the camera 7 is set on the tracking device so that the target object 1 can be photographed, and from then on, the camera 7 moves together with the distance measuring device 2. At this time, an error display lamp (not shown) is off.

Next, when the target object 1 moves as shown in the movement screen b, the range finder c detects a longer distance than the other range finders A and B, and the microcomputer 3 uses this information to The moving direction of the target object 1 is detected and tracking information is output to the motor control circuit 4. Upon receiving this signal, the motor control circuit 4 drives and controls the motor 5 to rotate the camera 7 and the distance measuring device 2 together via the transmission mechanism 6 to track the target 1.
The microcomputer 3 constantly detects and stores the distance to the target object 1. When the distance measurement information of each distance measurement device A, B, and C matches, tracking is completed and a tracking screen c appears.

Further, when another moving object 12 enters between the tracking target object 1 and the tracking device as shown in the intrusion initial screen d, the distance measuring device C is connected to the other distance measuring devices A, Based on this information, the microcomputer 3 detects that an intruder has intervened and ignores the signal from the distance measuring device C. Furthermore, when another moving object 12 completely covers the target object 1 as shown in the middle-stage invasion screen e, the microcomputer 3 detects that it has lost sight of the target object 1, and uses the front distance data of the target object 1. is saved, the error display lamp (not shown) is blinked, and the motor 7 is stopped to stop tracking. As shown in screen f after the invasion, another moving object 1
2 leaves, if the distance detection information of each range finder C and B matches the distance information of target 1 before losing sight of target 1, microcomputer 3 detects that each range finder C and B It recognizes that the captured subject is the tracking target object 1, starts tracking again, and lights up the error display lamp.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
Since we have provided a means to obtain target tracking information of a moving subject from the information of the distance measuring device, the tracking device automatically tracks the target with high precision, and therefore the camera can accurately capture the moving target. can do.

[0015] Furthermore, since the target object can be recognized by first capturing it at the center of the screen, the target object can be freely selected, and there is no need to attach a signal oscillator or the like to the target object. Therefore, it is possible to independently operate a plurality of automatic tracking devices within the same scene.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic tracking system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the automatic tracking method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1　Subject target object 2 Distance measuring device 3. Microcomputer 4 Motor control circuit 5 Drive motor 6 Transmission mechanism 7 Video camera

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A distance measuring device for measuring the inter-camera distance to a moving subject target, an information generating means for obtaining tracking information of the target from output information of the distance measuring device, and a tracking device for the tracking device. An automatic tracking device for a camera, comprising: a drive means for moving the camera based on information. 2. The automatic camera tracking device according to claim 1, further comprising recognition means for recognizing the tracking target.