JPH06225309A - Monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a device and to reduce cost by using the storage area of a storage means storing the background image information of each image pickup device by switching it and constituting the device by a single alarm generator. CONSTITUTION:Video signals from image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, 4 are inputted in a sequential switcher 6. The video signal of the image pickup device 1 is selected by the sequential switcher and is inputted in an alarm generator 10. A memory control part 15 reads the background information of the part corresponding to the image pickup device 1 from plural storage areas that a memory 11 for background has, it is compared with the video signal by an object detection part 16 and the object detection part 16 detects whether images are different from the present background information partly or over the whole of the image or not when the images are different with each other. When the video signal and the part of the background information are different, the object detection part generates an alarm, and when they are different as a whole, the memory control part switches to the storage area of the memory for background corresponding to the next image pickup device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance device using a plurality of television image pickup devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a surveillance television device has a plurality of image pickup devices, which are automatically switched by a sequential switcher and an alarm is generated when an object to be monitored is detected, thereby saving labor in monitoring. It tends to change. The conventional monitoring device will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional monitoring device. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 are image pickup devices. Reference numerals 100, 200, 300 and 400 denote alarm generators, respectively, which are image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, 4
And an alarm is generated when an object to be monitored is detected. 101,201,3
01 and 401 are background memories, and 102 and 20, respectively.
2, 302 and 402 are memory control units, 103 and
Reference numerals 203, 303 and 403 respectively denote an object detection unit and 10
Reference numerals 4, 204, 304 and 404 denote background processing units. Background memories 101, 201, 301, 401,
The memory control units 102, 202, 302, 402, the object detection units 103, 203, 303, 403, and the background processing units 104, 204, 304, 404 are included in the alarm generators 100, 200, 300, 400, respectively. ing. A sequential switcher 7 switches the video signal to be sent to the monitor.

Next, the operation will be described. Since the alarm generators 100, 200, 300, and 400 have the same configuration and perform the same operation alternately, only the alarm generator 100 will be described. First, a video signal is input to the alarm generator 100 from the imaging device 1. The alarm generator 100 has a background memory 101 for the image pickup apparatus 1 and holds image information (background information) of the background of the image pickup apparatus 1. The background information stored in the background memory 101 is read by the memory control unit 102 to the object detection unit 103. The object detection unit 103 compares the background information held in the background memory 101 with the image information of the video signal sent from the image pickup apparatus 1, and when there is a difference between the two, that is, the object to be monitored. If is detected, an alarm is generated. At the same time, the background information in the background memory 101 is also read out by the background processing unit 104, mixed with the image information of the current video signal, and then written in the background memory 101 as new background information. Video signals from the image pickup devices 2, 3, and 4 are input to the alarm generators 200, 300, and 400, respectively, and the same operation as that of the alarm generator 100 is performed. On the other hand, the video signals from the image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, and 4 are input to the sequential switcher 7, respectively, and when an alarm is not detected, the object detection units 103, 203, and 30.
The control signals from 3, 403 are input and each video signal is switched at a predetermined cycle.
When any of the alarm generators 100, 200, 300, 400 generates an alarm, the sequential switcher 7 switches to the video signal of the image pickup device corresponding to the video signal in which the object is detected. As described above, the plurality of image pickup devices and the alarm generators corresponding to the plurality of image pickup devices constantly monitor the plurality of monitoring regions.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional monitoring device, peripheral devices for processing the background memory, that is, the memory control unit, the background processing unit, and the object detection unit are required according to the number of the image pickup devices. Had a problem. Further, when a single alarm generator is connected after the sequential switcher, there is a problem that an interface is required to instruct the memory control unit to switch the background memory when the image pickup device is switched. there were.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, in which each of the peripheral device controlling the background memory and the object detecting unit is one, and when the image pickup device is switched,
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and low-cost excellent monitoring device by automatically switching to the background memory corresponding to the next imaging device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides one background memory having a storage area corresponding to each image pickup device after a sequential switcher for selecting a video signal, respectively. The configuration is such that an alarm generator having one memory control unit, an object detection unit and a background processing unit is connected. Furthermore, when the image information different from the background information is sent from the imaging device, the object detection unit in the alarm generator determines whether it is due to the object appearing in the background or the background itself being switched. If the detected background is switched, the function to instruct the memory controller to switch the currently referenced background memory storage area to the background memory storage area corresponding to the next imaging device. Be prepared.

[0008]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the video signals sent from the plurality of image pickup devices are compared with the background information stored in the storage area in the background memory corresponding to each of them, so that the object to be monitored is To be detected. In addition, when the imaging device is switched by the sequential switcher,
The area of the background memory is automatically switched to refer to the area of the background memory corresponding to the next image pickup apparatus.

[0009]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a monitoring apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1, 2, 3, and 4 are image pickup devices, 5 is a sequential switcher, and 10 is an alarm generator. 11
Is a background memory, and has storage areas corresponding to the image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. 12 is a memory control unit,
Reference numeral 13 is an object detection unit, and 14 is a background processing unit. A background memory 11, a memory controller 12, an object detector 13,
The background processing unit 14 is included in each of the alarm generators 10.

Next, the operation will be described. First, video signals are input to the sequential switcher 5 from the image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, and 4. Sequential switcher 5
The video signal of the image pickup apparatus 1 is selected by, and the video signal is input to the alarm generator 10. The memory control unit 12 reads out the background information stored in the storage area corresponding to the imaging device 1 from the background memory 11. The object detection unit 13 compares the read background information with the video signal. When the compared background information and the video signal are different from each other, the object detection unit 13 issues an alarm. Further, the background information stored in the storage area of the background memory 11 corresponding to the image pickup apparatus 1 is also read out to the background processing unit 14, and after being mixed with the currently input video signal,
The new background information is written and stored in the storage area of the background memory 11 corresponding to the imaging device 1. Next, when the video signal input by the sequential switcher 5 is switched to the video signal of the imaging device 2, the memory control unit 12 works in conjunction with the sequential switcher 5 to set the storage area of the background memory 11 to the imaging device. 2 is switched to the area corresponding to 2, and the same operation as when the video signal of the image pickup apparatus 1 is input is performed for the storage area of the background memory 11 corresponding to the image pickup apparatus 2. After that, the video signals input by the sequential switcher 5 are sequentially switched to the video signals of the image pickup devices 3 and 4, and exactly the same operation is performed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the image pickup apparatus is switched by the sequential switcher 5, the memory control unit 12 switches the storage area of the background memory 11 in response to this, so that the background Memory 11
The memory control unit 12, the object detection unit 13, and the background processing unit 14 have the effect that one alarm generator 10 functions as a monitoring device.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a monitoring apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those of FIG. 1 showing the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, the description thereof will be omitted, and only different points will be described. 6 is a sequential switcher, which is the first
The difference from the sequential switcher 5 in the embodiment is that it does not have an output terminal for interlocking the memory controller. Reference numeral 15 is a memory control unit and 16 is an object detection unit. The memory control unit 12 and the object detection unit 13 in the first embodiment have the same function, but the operation procedure is different.

Next, the operation will be described. First, video signals are input to the sequential switcher 6 from the image pickup devices 1, 2, 3, and 4. Sequential switcher 6
The video signal of the image pickup apparatus 1 is selected by, and the video signal is input to the alarm generator 10. The memory control unit 15 reads out the background information stored in the storage area corresponding to the imaging device 1 from the background memory 11. The object detection unit 16 compares the read background information with the video signal. When the compared background information and the video signal are different from each other, the object detection unit 16 detects whether a part of the current background information is different or the whole background information. If the background information and a part of the video signal are different, the object detection unit 16 issues an alarm. Further, the background information is also read out to the background processing unit 14, mixed with the current video signal, and then written and stored as new background information in the storage area of the background memory 11 corresponding to the imaging device 1. . If the entire video signal and background information are different, that is, the sequential switcher 6
When the image pickup device is switched according to a predetermined cycle, the object detection unit 16 determines that the sequential switcher 6 has switched the image pickup device 1 to the image pickup device 2, and the memory control unit 15 causes the image pickup device of the background memory 11 to be detected. Command to switch to the storage area corresponding to 2. in this way,
When the video signal and the background information are different from each other, the memory control unit 15 instructs the background memory 11 to switch to the storage area corresponding to the next image pickup apparatus, based on the judgment of the object detection unit 16.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the image signal different from the background information is sent from the image pickup device, the object detection unit 16 determines whether it is due to an object appearing in the background. Since it is detected whether it is due to switching itself, there is an effect that the storage area of the background memory 11 can be switched without requiring an interface between the sequential switcher 6 and the memory control unit 15.

[0015]

As is apparent from the above-described embodiment, the present invention provides a background memory having a storage area corresponding to each of a plurality of image pickup devices, a memory control unit, an object detection unit, and background processing in a monitoring device. 1 composed of
Since it is equipped with one alarm generator, the monitoring device can be configured by providing a single alarm generator for a plurality of image pickup devices, so that it is possible to realize a low-cost monitoring device with a simple structure. Have.

Further, according to the present invention, the object detection unit determines that the imaging device has been switched by the sequential switcher, so that the interface between the alarm generator and the sequential switcher is not required, and the interface is provided. This has the effect that the alarm generator can be connected to the sequential switcher without the need.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a monitoring device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a monitoring device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional monitoring device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3, 4 Imaging device 5, 6 Sequential switcher (switching means) 10 Alarm generator 11 Background memory (storage means) 12, 15 Memory control section 13, 16 Object detection section 14 Background processing section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of imaging devices, a switching means for switching and transmitting a plurality of video signals output from the plurality of imaging devices, and background image information corresponding to each of the plurality of imaging devices. A storage unit having a plurality of storage regions; and a memory control unit for controlling switching between the plurality of storage regions of the storage unit corresponding to the plurality of imaging devices,
The object detection unit that compares the image information of the video signal sent from the switching unit with the image information of the background stored in the storage area and issues an alarm if some of them differ from each other; Background processing for reading the background image information stored in the means, mixing the image information of the video signal and the background image information to generate new background image information, and storing the new background image information in the storage area And a monitoring device. 2. The object detecting section compares the image information of the video signal input from the switching means with the image information of the background stored in one of the storage areas of the storage means, and the whole of the two is detected. 2. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a memory control unit controls the storage unit by switching the storage region of the storage unit to another storage region when they are different from each other.