JPH05336414A - Panning and tilting mechanism for television door interphone - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To return the panning and tilting mechanism to its preset position in a short time by detecting whether or not there is a light shield zone having its one end at the reference point of a prism by a photosensor after an image is picked up with a proper image pickup range by operating the panning and tilting mechanism, and changing the rotating direction of the prism according to the presence/absence detection result. CONSTITUTION:Substantially columnar prism 4a and 4b which have their input/ output light surfaces in their axial direction and deflect and make light 3 incidence on the lens 1 of a camera are arranged in front of the lens 11, and motors 7a and 7b which rotate the prisms are provided on the column flanks of the prisms. Then this mechanism has a control part 10 which controls the driving of the motors according to the control signal from an interior master equipment and is equipped with collar-shaped light shield zones 9a and 9b which are arranged having one-end sides at reference points 8a and 8b set on the column flanks of the prisms and are a half as long as the periphery between the reference points and U-character shape sectioned photosensors 2a and 2b which detect the passage of the light shield zones.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV intercom, and more particularly to a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV intercom that can quickly perform presetting for imaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a visitor presses a call button on a front door subunit with a camera, a person in the room visits the front door subunit while checking the video of the visitor on the TV monitor screen of the main unit of the TV intercom. In recent years, the introduction of a camera having a pan-tilt mechanism, which has a wide image capturing range and is capable of capturing a relatively wide range of objects with a camera unit, has been increasing in recent years as an entrance device of a TV intercom that communicates with a person.

The applicant of the present invention has also proposed an improvement of a camera-equipped front cordless handset having such a pan-tilt mechanism (Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 121651, Jpn. Application No. 2-127778, Jpn. Application No. 3-9818, Jpn. Application No. 3-9826, Jpn. Application 3-1.
No. 3982), in particular, a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone having a mechanically simple, miniaturized, and highly accurate pan / tilt mechanism is proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-1009).
32, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-252009).

The pan / tilt mechanism for this TV doorphone is
As shown in FIG. 6, the light 3 for imaging a visitor is deflected on the front surface of the lens 11 of the camera 1 with a CCD element used in a child device of a TV intercom that images a visitor and displays an image on a TV screen. The prisms 5a and 5b of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b that allow light to enter the lens 11 of the camera 1 are slidably arranged, and the prisms that rotate the cylindrical prisms on the cylindrical side surfaces of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b, respectively. Wheels 6a and 6b as rotation drive mechanisms and drive motors 7a and 7b are provided. These drive motors 7
A control unit 10 for controlling and driving based on a control signal from the indoor master device is connected to a and 7b.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the reference points 8a and 8b of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b, respectively, a light blocking piece 90 is projected on the outer periphery of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b.
a, 90b are attached, and the photosensors 2a, 2b are installed slightly outside the outer peripheries of the cylindrical prisms 4a, 4b.

[0006]

In this pan / tilt mechanism for TV door intercoms, the driving motors 7a and 7b drive the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b to deflect the light 3 for imaging the visitor to an arbitrary angle. It is possible to return light to the lens 11 of the camera 1 and operate the pan / tilt mechanism to take an image in an appropriate imaging range, and then return the pan / tilt mechanism to a desired preset position.

In order to return the pan-tilt mechanism to a desired preset position, the photo sensor 2a is provided when the light-shielding piece 9a provided at the reference point 8a of the cylindrical prism 4a is in a position as shown in FIG. order to shading piece 9a moves to the preset position, but rotates the cylindrical prism 4a, the direction of rotation of the drive motor 8a is, R1 ₀
The rotation is 180 ° or more as indicated by the arrow. In this case, in a short time if the rotation as indicated by the arrows in L _10, although the reference point 8a of the cylindrical prism 4a can return to the preset position, the photosensor 2a position of the reference point 8a of the cylindrical prism 4a Since it is unknown, whether it is shorter on the circumference (short time) or longer on the circumference (long time) depends on the rotation direction of the drive motor 7a. For this reason, there is a problem in that it rotates around 360 ° and returns to the preset position, which requires extra time.

[0008]

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to quickly return the pan-tilt mechanism to a desired preset position after operating the pan-tilt mechanism to capture an image in an appropriate imaging range. An object is to provide a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention is a child device of a TV door phone that images a visitor and displays an image on a TV screen of an indoor base unit. On the front surface of the lens of the camera used, a cylindrical prism having a light entrance / exit surface in the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical column that deflects the light for imaging the visitor and enters the lens of the camera is disposed. The prismatic rotation mechanism that rotates the prismatic prism on the cylindrical side surface of the prismatic prism has a control unit that controls and drives the prismatic rotation drive mechanism based on the control signal from the indoor master unit. A cylindrical prism is used as a reference point that serves as an index for returning to the initial position, and the reference zone is arranged so as to surround the reference point as one end and has a length equal to one half of the circumference between the reference points. , Covered It is obtained by a sensor for detecting a strip.

[0010]

[Function] The prism type rotation driving mechanism rotates the cylindrical prism to deflect the light for picking up the image of the visitor to an arbitrary angle to enter the lens of the camera, and at the same time, operate the pan / tilt mechanism to obtain an appropriate image pickup range. After the image is picked up by the sensor, the sensor detects the presence or absence of a zone to be inspected having the reference point as one end in the circumferential direction and having a half length of the circumference between the reference points, and the pan / tilt mechanism is set to a desired preset position in a short time. To return.

[0011]

Embodiments of a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in the pan / tilt mechanism for a TV doorphone according to the present invention, a camera 1 with a CCD element used in a child device of a TV doorphone that images a visitor and displays an image on a TV screen.
The prism surfaces 5a and 5b of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b for deflecting the light 3 for imaging the visitor and entering the lens 11 of the camera 1 are slidably arranged on the front surface of the lens 11 of FIG.
Wheels 6a and 6b and drive motors 7a and 7b as prism rotation driving mechanisms for rotating the cylindrical prisms are provided on the cylindrical side surfaces of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b, respectively. The drive motors 7a and 7b are connected to a control unit 10 that controls and drives the drive motors 7a and 7b based on a control signal from the indoor master device 12 (FIG. 4).

Further, a light-shielding band 9a as a band to be inspected has a length that half-circulates the outer circumference of the side surface of the cylindrical prism 4a, and is attached so as to extend in a brim shape so as to surround the side surface of the cylindrical prism 4a with a reference point as one end. (Figs. 1 and 2). A photo sensor 2a as a sensor for detecting the passing state of the light-shielding band 9a is installed slightly outside the side surface outer periphery of the cylindrical prism 4a.
It is connected to a control unit 10 (FIG. 1) that controls and drives based on a control signal from (FIG. 4). The photo sensor 2a
As shown in FIG. 2 (f), the vertical cross section is substantially U-shaped, and a brim-shaped light-shielding band 9a passing through the U-shaped portion while rotating is formed from the light emitting portion 2m. The light receiving unit 2n detects whether or not the emitted light is blocked.

The band and the sensor to be inspected are not limited to the light-shielding band and the photosensor of the embodiment. For example, a sensor in which the band to be inspected is composed of a reflective surface and the passing state of the reflective surface can be detected is also suitable. is there. In the cylindrical prism 4b as well, similarly to the cylindrical prism 4a, a light shielding band 9b having a half circumference with the reference point 8b as one end is attached, and the photosensor 2b is installed slightly outside the cylindrical prism 4b. The sensor 2b is connected to the control unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, two reference points (8a ₁ and 8a ₂ ) are provided at equal intervals, for example, 180 ° intervals on the same circumference with respect to one prism, and as a test zone. each shielding band 9A1,9a ₂ is one-half of the circumference between the reference point
A length, i.e. a quarter length of the perimeter, is preferred. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 10 includes a CPU 10a connected to the indoor master device 12 and the photosensors 2a and 2b, and a CPU 10a.
It is composed of a motor driver 10b which drives the motors 7a and 7b by a signal from a.

The CPU 10a analyzes and converts the signal from the indoor base unit 12 and the signals from the photosensors 2a and 2b, and sends a drive signal to the motor driver 10b.
A prism rotation drive mechanism including drive motors 7a and 7b and wheels 6a and 6b is drive-controlled. When a visitor who is significantly taller than a visitor of average height calls from the slave, the indoor master unit 12 is operated to send a control signal to the control unit 1.
No. 0 to the CPU 10a, the CPU 10a analyzes the control signal and converts it into a signal giving the angle of the prism position, the motor driver 10b drives the driving motors 7a and 7b, and the wheels 6a and 6b are rotated to rotate the cylindrical prism. Rotate 4a, 4b to image tall visitors. When this call ends and the handset of the indoor base unit 12 is returned to its original state,
When the reset signal is sent to the CPU 10a and the reset signal is received, the CPU 10a sends a signal to the motor driver 10b so that the pan-tilt mechanism returns to the preset position stored in advance and the position where the visitor of average height is imaged. .

This preset position is arbitrarily set when the slave unit of the TV doorphone is installed, and the reference points 8a and 8b of the cylindrical prisms 4a and 4b come to the positions of the photosensors 2a and 2b, respectively. So that the reference points 8a, 8
b and the positions of the light-shielding bands 9a and 9b whose one end is the reference point,
And / or the positions of the photosensors 2a and 2b are set.

The return of the pan / tilt mechanism to the desired preset position in the pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention is as follows. When the photosensor 2a for detecting the reference point 8a of the cylindrical prism 4a is provided at the position shown in FIG. 2 and the reference point 8a is at the position shown in FIG.
Does not detect the light-shielding band 9a. Even when the photo sensor 2a is located at the position shown in FIG. 3B, the photo sensor 2a does not detect the light-shielding band 9a. Thus, when the photo sensor 2a does not detect the light-shielding band 9a having the reference point 8a as one end, a signal to that effect is sent to the CPU 10a of the control unit 10. CPU10
A clockwise driving signal is sent from a to the motor driver 10b, and is rotated by R _{1 in} the same figure (a) and R _{2 in the} same figure (b) to restore the reference point 8a to the position of the photosensor 2a (see the same figure). (E)) The motor 7a stops. FIG.
In the position of (d), the photo sensor 2a has the light-shielding band 9
Since a is detected, CPU1 of the control unit 10 to that effect
0a, a counterclockwise drive signal is sent from the CPU 10a to the motor driver 10b, and is rotated by L _{1 in} the same figure (c) and L _{2 in the} same figure (d), and is referenced to the position of the photosensor 2a. The motor 7a is stopped by returning the point 8a ((e) in the figure).

[0018]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, the prismatic rotation mechanism is driven to rotate the cylindrical prism, and the light for picking up the image of the visitor is deflected at an arbitrary angle to enter the lens of the camera. At the same time, the pan / tilt mechanism is operated to capture an image in an appropriate imaging range, and then the sensor detects the presence or absence of the test zone that is arranged in the circumferential direction with the reference point of the prism as one end. Since the rotation direction is changed, the pan-tilt mechanism can be returned to the preset position in a short time, and the performance can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention.

2 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are diagrams for explaining the operation of the pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention, and (f) is a portion of FIG. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a conventional pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional pan / tilt mechanism for a TV door phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Camera with CCD element 11 ... Lens 2a, 2b ... Sensor 3 ... Light 4a, 4b ... Cylindrical prism 5a, 5b ... Prism sliding surface 6a, 6b ... Wheel 7a, 7b ... Driving motor 8a, 8b ... Reference points 9a, 9b ... Inspected bands 7a, 7b ... Driving motor 10 ... Control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A camera for deflecting light for capturing an image of a visitor to a front surface of a lens of a camera used for a child device of a TV intercom that displays an image of the visitor on a television screen of an indoor master unit. A prism rotation driving mechanism for arranging a cylindrical prism having a light entrance / exit surface in the axial direction of a substantially cylindrical column for allowing light to enter the lens, and rotating the cylindrical prism on the cylindrical side surface of the cylindrical prism. And a control unit that controls and drives the prism rotation drive mechanism based on a control signal from the indoor master unit, and the reference point serving as an index for returning the rotated cylindrical prism to the initial position is the cylindrical prism. And a test band that is arranged so as to surround the reference point as one end in the circumferential direction and has a length of a half of the circumference between the reference points, and a sensor that detects the test band. Special thing To TV door for pan-tilt mechanism.