JPH07298224A - Camera unit for electronic conference - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive electronic conference use camera unit in which the portrait image pickup mode or the picture and writing image pickup mode is immediately selected with excellent operability. CONSTITUTION:The electronic conference use camera unit is made up of three cases such as a lens block 72, a camera unit main body 71 and a stationary support base 73. The lens block 72 has a tilt turning shaft at its frontmost part and its lowest part and contains a lens mechanism. The camera unit main body 71 has a recessed space to contain a 1st support means supporting turnably the lens block 72 within a vertical plane, a 1st drive means turning the lens block 72 and a video signal processing section processing a video signal and to accommodate the lens block 72. The stationary support base 73 contains a 2nd support means supporting turnably the camera unit main body 71 within a horizontal plane, a 2nd drive means turning the main body 71 and a main control section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera unit for electronic conference which can be used for both person image pickup and document image pickup.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of video information processing technology and information communication technology, video telephone systems and electronic conference systems for mutually communicating video information have been put into practical use. A conventional camera device used in such an electronic conference system will be described below.

For example, a first conventional example (prior application by the present applicant: Japanese Patent Application No. 5-121283) proposes a compact camera device structure. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a camera device in the first conventional example. In the figure, 101 is a movable side casing, 102 is a fixed side casing, and 103 is a spacer. The movable casing 101 is rotatably engaged with the fixed casing 102 via a spacer 103. Inside the movable side housing 101, a camera unit (not shown) including an image sensor and a video processing circuit, and a tilt drive unit (not shown) for vertically moving the camera unit in a vertical plane.
Built in.

Inside the fixed casing 102, a pan drive unit for moving the movable casing 101 left and right in a horizontal plane and a control unit for controlling the entire camera apparatus are housed.

The camera device according to the first conventional example having such a structure is suitable for photographing a person or a conference room when used for an electronic conference. However, because of its structure, the tilting range of the camera part is limited, so that it is not possible to take an image of the document placed on the table, and a document capturing camera is additionally required.

Further, for example, a second conventional example (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-
32950, that is, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 167899/1993, proposes a structure of a camera device used for person image pickup and document image pickup. 9A and 9B are perspective views of a camera device according to a second conventional example. FIG. 9A shows a state set for human image pickup, and FIG. 9B shows a state set for document image pickup. In the figure, 111 is a monitor unit, 112 is a camera unit, and 113 is a document. The monitor unit 111
A display device such as an LCD or CRT is built in a fixed housing. The camera unit 112 is a housing that houses a camera (not shown) including an image sensor and an image processing circuit, and is pivotally supported by a monitor unit 111 so as to be vertically rotatable in a vertical plane. In addition, 113 is a document for imaging.

The camera device of the second conventional example configured as described above has an advantage that a person and a document can be imaged by one camera. However, since the left and right shooting ranges are limited to the shooting angle of view specific to the lens, it is not suitable for use in a large conference room.

Next, in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a camera device has been proposed which can perform a horizontal movement and a vertical movement in a wide range. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a conventional electronic conference camera unit. In FIG. 10, a fixed base 123 having an L-shaped cross section, which includes a bottom portion 131 and side portions 132, is placed on a monitor installation base 126. Fixed stand 12
A monitor 121 is mounted on the bottom 131 of the third unit.
The camera unit 122 is arranged above the monitor 121 by the horizontal rotation support shaft 133 and the rotation arm 134.

The horizontal rotation support shaft 133 is vertically supported on the upper surface of the side portion 132 of the fixed base 123. Rotating arm 1
34 is integrally formed in the vertical direction of the horizontal rotation support shaft 133, and the camera unit 122 is attached to the tip thereof. Therefore, the camera unit 122 and the rotating arm 1
34 rotates in a horizontal plane by the rotation of the horizontal rotation support shaft 133. The camera unit 122 is attached to the tip of the rotary arm 134 so as to be vertically rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the rotary arm 134.

In the camera device configured as described above, the normal usage pattern is that a human subject 124 is located in front of the monitor 121, and a document to be used in a meeting or the like beside the fixed table 123 on the monitor installation table 126. A document subject 125 such as a photograph is placed. The camera unit 122 captures an image of a human subject 124 located in front of the monitor 121.

The camera unit 122 allows the document subject 1
In the case of imaging 25, the camera unit 122 attached to the rotary arm 134 is manually rotated 180 degrees about the horizontal rotation support shaft 133, and then the camera unit 1 is rotated.
22 is manually rotated 90 degrees downward with respect to the rotating arm 134.

As described above, in the conventional electronic conference camera unit, it is possible to manually switch between the image pickup of a person and the image pickup of a document.

[0013]

However, when the camera unit having the above configuration is used in an electronic conference, it takes time to switch between the image pickup of the human subject 124 and the image pickup of the document subject 125. In addition, since the document subject 125 is placed at a position far from the user (person subject 124), it is difficult for the user to handle the document subject 125.

Further, in order to mount the camera unit 122, a horizontal rotary support shaft 133 and a rotary arm 134 are provided.
A special fixing table 123 having

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive electronic conference camera unit which has a simple structure and can be immediately switched between a person image capturing mode and a document image capturing mode and is excellent in operability.

[0016]

An electronic conference camera unit according to the present invention comprises a lens block, a camera unit body,
And a fixed support base.

The lens block has a tilt rotation shaft that is rotatably supported in the vertical direction at the forefront and the bottom, and houses a lens mechanism for picking up an image of a subject.

The camera unit main body processes the image signal obtained by the first supporting means for rotatably supporting the lens block in the vertical plane, the first driving means for rotating the lens block, and the image signal obtained by the lens unit. It has a recess space for housing the means and for housing the lens block.

The fixed support base has second supporting means for rotatably supporting the camera unit main body in a horizontal plane, second driving means for rotating the camera unit main body, first driving means and second. And a control means for controlling the entire camera unit.

Further, the control means includes a storage means, and the storage means previously stores the focal length and zoom ratio of the lens mechanism according to the rotation of the lens block and the camera unit main body.

[0021]

With the above structure, the electronic conference camera unit of the present invention eliminates the mechanical constraint that restricts the vertical movement of the lens block as well as the rotation of the camera unit body within the horizontal plane. In addition, since the position of the tilt rotation support shaft of the lens block is set to the foremost part and the lowest part, when the lens block is rotated in the document photographing direction, the lens block projects to the front part of the camera unit main body. Therefore, the lens mechanism can capture an image of a document image object placed in front of the monitor without obstructing the field of view by an obstacle.

Further, when the lens block is rotated in the person photographing direction, the lens block is housed in the concave portion of the camera unit main body, so that the outer shape can be made more compact.

Furthermore, the document subject is set in advance by a simple operation of placing the document subject on the front of the monitor on the monitor installation stand and rotating the lens mechanism downward by approximately 90 degrees by the remote control unit. Since the image is picked up by the focal length and the zoom ratio (angle of view), it is possible to switch and use the electronic conference camera unit from the person image pickup to the document image pickup.

Furthermore, since all signal cables and the like for connecting to external devices are connected to the back surface of the back of the fixed support base, the signal cables and the like move as the pan / tilt operation of the electronic conference camera unit. Moreover, there is no fear that signal cables will obstruct the view in front of the monitor or lens mechanism.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera unit for electronic conference according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, the entire camera unit 7 is composed of three housings, a camera unit body 71 having a cylindrical housing, a lens block 72 having a rectangular parallelepiped housing, and a fixed support base 73. Although it is obvious from the usage pattern, the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 is defined as the front and will be expressed hereinafter.

A lens mechanism 72 is provided in the lens block 72.
1 is stored. The lens block 72 is pivotally supported in the camera unit main body 71 so as to be vertically rotatable (tilt direction). Further, the fixed support base 73 supports the camera unit main body 71 rotatably in the horizontal direction (pan direction) in a horizontal plane.

The fixed support base 73 is fixed on the monitor 1. The monitor 1 is installed on the monitor installation base 6, and a document image subject 5 such as a document or photograph is placed on the front surface of the monitor 1 on the monitor installation base 6.

In the use state of the camera unit for electronic conference, in FIG. 1, the lens block 72 is directed forward (in the direction of arrow A) so that the camera unit main body 71 images a human subject located in front of the monitor 1. It shows the state.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the lens block of the camera unit for electronic conference according to one embodiment of the present invention is oriented almost directly below. In the figure, the lens block 72 is almost directly below (arrow B) so that the camera unit 7 captures an image of the document subject 5 immediately in front of the monitor 1.
Direction), and the lens block 72 is rotated in the tilt direction with respect to the camera unit main body 71.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the mechanical construction of the camera unit of the electronic conference camera unit in one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the camera unit body 7
A rectangular parallelepiped concave portion is provided from the central portion to the front portion of 1 and a U-shaped lens block holding member 7 that supports the lens block 72 rotatably in the tilt direction in the concave portion.
11 is built in. A tilt motor 712 for driving the tilt operation of the lens block 72 and a tilt drive transmission gear portion 71 are provided on the outer side of the lens block holding member 711.
3 is provided (see an enlarged view of a portion 723 in FIG. 3).

The lens block 72 includes a lens mechanism 721.
Is built in. A tilt rotation support shaft 722 is attached to the left and right sides of the lowermost part of the lens block 72. A rotary rib 723 having a slit 723a is integrally attached to one end of the tilt rotation support shaft 722. The lens block 72 is mounted on the bearing portion 711a of the lens block holding member 711, and the tilt rotation support shaft 7 is provided.
22 is rotatably supported. That is, the tilt rotation support shaft 7
The semicircular gear 713a fixed to 22 meshes with the final drive gear of the tilt drive transmission gear unit 713, and the driving force of the tilt motor 712 causes the lens block 72 to move from an almost vertical position to an obliquely upward horizontal position. It is rotated at an angle (see an enlarged view of 713a portion in FIG. 3).

A tilt sensor 714 for detecting the amount of rotation of the rotary rib 723 is arranged at a position corresponding to the rotary rib 723. That is, the tilt angle is the slit 72
It is measured by counting 3a with the tilt sensor 714. When the lens block 72 configured as described above is tilted, the fulcrum positions thereof are at the forefront and the bottom, so when the lens block 72 is rotated to the horizontal position, the lens block 72 is moved to the camera unit main body 71. When the lens block 72 is housed in the concave portion and rotated to the vertical position, the lens block 72 is moved to the camera unit main body 71.
Project to the front of.

The fixed support base 73 includes a bottom portion 73a and a back portion 7.
It consists of 3b. A pan motor 731 and a pan drive transmission gear portion 732 for rotating the camera unit body 71 in a horizontal plane are built in the fixed support base 73. The final drive gear of the pan drive transmission gear portion 732 is the gear 7 formed on the bottom surface of the camera unit body 71.
1a (see an enlarged view of 732 portion in FIG. 3), the camera unit body 71 is rotated in the horizontal plane by the driving force of the pan motor 731. In addition, the bottom portion 73a of the fixed support base 73
A plurality of light receiving portions 733 for receiving remote control signals transmitted from the remote control unit 8 are attached to the front surface of the.

On the bottom surface of the bottom portion 73a, for example, rubber feet or fixing screws for fixing the pedestal of the monitor 1 or the platform (not shown) are provided.

A connector 73 is provided on the back surface of the back portion 73b.
c is provided, and all signal cables and the like for connecting to an external device are connected to the back portion 73b of the fixed support base 73.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the lens block holding member 711 of FIG. In the figure, the lens block holding member 711 is arranged so as to be movable forward by a solenoid 711b fixed to the camera unit main body 71.

In the above construction, first the solenoid 71
The tilt motor 712 is controlled so that the lens block holding member 711 is moved to the front and the lens block 72 is rotated to the vertical position. Accordingly, the lens block 72 can be projected further forward, so that a wider range of the document image capturing range can be secured.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the lens block 72 of FIG. In the figure, the lens block 72 is held by a lens block holding member 711. The tilt rotation support shaft 722 is connected to the tilt arm 713b (see an enlarged view of a portion 713b).

In the above structure, the lens block 72
The tilt motor 712 is controlled so as to rotate the to the vertical position. As a result, the lens block 72 is projected forward by a moving distance corresponding to the length of the tilt arm 713b. Therefore, it is possible to secure a wider range of the document image capturing range.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical operation system of the camera unit for electronic conference in one embodiment of the present invention.

The lens block 72 has a lens mechanism 721.
And a CCD (imaging device) that converts a captured image into an electrical signal
A processing unit 724 and an AF / zoom circuit unit 725 that drives the lens mechanism 721 to control (zoom) the automatic focus (AF) and the angle of view are housed.

The camera unit main body 71 includes a video signal processing section 715 for processing CCD output signals and a tilt motor 7.
12, the tilt sensor 714, and the tilt motor drive unit 716 are housed. The storage location of the video signal processing unit 715 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be stored in any housing. However, if the processing circuit is downsized, it should be stored in the lens block 72 close to the signal source. Is desirable.

Further, the fixed support base 73 is a pan motor 731.
The light receiving unit 733, the main control unit 734, the pan motor driving unit 735, and the pan sensor 736 are housed.

The overall operation of the electronic conference camera unit in the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. The image of the human subject 4 is taken out as a video signal through the lens mechanism 721 and the CCD processing unit 724. The video signal is output to the monitor 1 of FIG. 1 via the video signal processing unit 715.

The main controller 734 has an AC adapter 737.
It includes a power supply unit 734a connected to the above, and integrates overall video signal processing inside the electronic conference camera unit, drive of each motor, and control of the lens mechanism.

The AF function and the zoom function are controlled by the AF / zoom circuit section 725 and the main control section 734 (note that, since both functions are applied to known techniques, those functions are included in the present invention. I omit the explanation of the detailed technology). The tilt operation is controlled by the tilt motor 712, the tilt motor drive unit 716, the tilt sensor 714, and the main control unit 734. The pan operation is performed by the pan motor 731, the pan motor drive unit 735, and the pan sensor 73.
6 and the main controller 734.

The remote control signal from the remote control unit 8 is received by the light receiving section 733 and given to the main control section 734. The main control unit 734 transmits a control signal to each block in response to the remote control signal to control the video signal,
The AF function and the zoom function are controlled, and the pan operation and the tilt operation are controlled.

As described above, by sending the remote control signal to the main control section 734 using the remote control unit 8, the camera unit main body 7 is controlled by the control signal from the main control section 734.
The pan operation of No. 1, the tilt operation of the lens block 72, the AF function and the zoom function of the lens mechanism 721 can be controlled.

The main control section 734 has a function of storing and holding an appropriate zoom ratio of the lens mechanism 721 corresponding to the pan movement amount and the tilt movement amount. This zoom ratio is determined in advance based on the distance from the lens mechanism 721 to the subject after the panning or tilting and the size of the document subject 5. Thereby, the main control unit 734 has a function of automatically setting the focal length and the zoom ratio according to the imaging direction of the lens mechanism 721. This is called the preset function.

Details of the preset function will be described below. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the preset function of FIG. In the figure, a main control unit 734 is a CPU (central processing unit)
734b and a memory unit 734c. The memory unit 734c further includes a ROM 734d that stores invariant data such as a control program, a RAM 734e that temporarily stores data such as operation data that is changed at any time, and an EEPROM 734 that stores data that is changed such as setting data when necessary.
f and.

In the case of the present embodiment, the ROM 734d is provided with the direction control, the tilt control and the AF control of the electronic conference camera unit.
A control program related to zoom control is stored. In addition, the EEPROM 734f is the lens block 7
Setting data for setting the lens mechanism 721 to the most appropriate focal length and zoom ratio (angle of view) for capturing the document subject 5 when the document image capturing position 2 is set is stored.

In the present embodiment, the camera control may be performed depending on the auto focus function of the AF / zoom circuit section 725. In this case, the control for specifying the focal length from the main controller 734 can be omitted. However, in this case, the lens block 72 needs time to try focusing.

Next, FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the tilt operation in the embodiment of the present invention. The tilting operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, normally, the lens block 72 in the camera unit for electronic conference is used for the human subject 4
Is set in the front direction (the direction of arrow A) for capturing the image.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
In order to image the document subject 5 immediately before, the lens block 72 is rotated downward by approximately 90 degrees using the remote control unit 8 (S1). The rotation amount is detected by counting the slit 723a of the rotation rib 723 of FIG. 3 by the tilt sensor 714, and a detection signal corresponding to the detected rotation amount is transmitted to the main control unit 734 of FIG. 5 (S2).

The main control section 734 determines whether or not it is the document image pickup position based on the detection signal (S3). If the amount of rotation is much less than 90 degrees, it is determined that the person imaging operation is extended,
The automatic focus control operation is continued without changing the zoom control (S4).

When the rotation amount is approximately 90 degrees, it is determined that the position is the document image capturing position (S3). The CPU 734b is the EEPROM 7
The setting data regarding the focal length and the zoom ratio, which are stored and held in advance, are read from 34f (S5), and a command signal is sent to the AF / zoom circuit unit 725 based on the setting data.
Therefore, the AF / zoom circuit unit 725 controls the lens mechanism 721 to a predetermined focal length and zoom ratio (S6). In this way, the document image subject 5 placed in front of the monitor 1 is imaged with the preset focal length and zoom ratio (angle of view) (which is an imaging condition of a fixed distance when viewed from the lens mechanism 721 and an angle of view). It

It should be noted that the tilt angle at the time of photographing the document subject 5 does not necessarily have to be an accurate 90 ° downward. This is because it suffices that the document subject 5 placed on the monitor mount 6 can be photographed according to the optical characteristics of the lens mechanism 721.

Further, since all signal cables and the like for connecting to the external device are connected to the back surface of the back portion 73b of the fixed support base 73, signal cables and the like are connected with the pan / tilt operation of the electronic conference camera unit. There is no movement, and there is no fear that the signal cable or the like will obstruct the view in front of the monitor 1 or the lens mechanism 721.

As described above, in the electronic conference camera unit of this embodiment, the preset focal length and zoom ratio are instructed to the AF / zoom circuit section 725 at the time of the pan operation and the tilt operation, and the object of the subject is inspected. The lens mechanism 721 is automatically set so that shooting is performed with an appropriate focal length and zoom ratio.

[0061]

As described in detail in the above embodiments,
According to the camera unit for electronic conference of the present invention, the lens block 72, the camera unit main body 71, and the fixed support base 73 are formed of three housings. Therefore, not only the rotation of the camera unit main body 71 in the horizontal plane but also the mechanical restriction that restricts the vertical movement of the lens block 72 is eliminated. In addition, the tilt rotation support shaft 72 of the lens block 72
Since the position 2 is set to the forefront and the bottom, when the lens block 72 is rotated in the document photographing direction (almost downward),
The lens block 72 projects to the front of the camera unit body. Therefore, the lens mechanism 721 can photograph the document image subject 5 placed in front of the monitor 1 without obstructing the field of view by the obstacle.

Furthermore, when the lens block 72 is rotated in the person photographing direction (substantially horizontal), the lens block 72 is housed in the concave portion of the camera unit main body 71 and can have a more compact outer shape.

Further, the document object 5 is placed on the front surface of the monitor 1 on the monitor installation table 6 and the lens mechanism 721 is rotated by about 90 degrees downward by the remote control unit 8 by a simple operation. Is imaged with the focal length and the zoom ratio (angle of view) set in advance, so that it is possible to switch and use the electronic conference camera unit from person image capturing to document image capturing.

By operating the remote control unit 8, the direction of the lens mechanism 721 can be switched not only to the direction of the document subject 5 but also to a plurality of human subjects or other subjects.

Further, since all the signal cables and the like for connecting to the external device are connected to the back portion 73b of the fixed support base 73, the signal cables and the like will move as the electronic conference camera unit pans and tilts. Moreover, there is no fear that a signal cable or the like may obstruct the view in front of the monitor 1 or the lens mechanism 721.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera unit for electronic conference according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a lens block of a camera unit for electronic conference according to an embodiment of the present invention is directed substantially right below.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a mechanical configuration of a camera unit of an electronic conference camera unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the lens block holding member of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the lens block holding member of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical operation system of the camera unit of the electronic conference camera unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram of a preset function of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a tilt operation according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a camera device according to a first conventional example.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a camera device according to a second conventional example set for image capturing of a person. FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a camera device according to a second conventional example set for image capturing of a document.

FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a conventional electronic conference camera unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 monitor 4 person subject 5 document subject 6 monitor installation base 7 camera unit 71 camera unit body 71a gear 72 lens block 73 fixed support base 73a bottom 73b back 711 lens block holding member 711a bearing 711b solenoid 712 tilt motor 713 tilt drive transmission gear Part 713a Semi-circular gear 713b Tilt arm 714 Tilt sensor 721 Lens unit 722 Tilt rotation support shaft 723 Rotating rib 723a Slit 724 CCD processing unit 725 AF / zoom circuit unit 731 Pan motor 732 Pan drive transmission gear unit 734 Main control unit 734a Power supply unit 734b CPU 734c Memory unit 734d ROM 734e RAM 734f EEPROM 735 Pan motor drive unit 736 Pan sensor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Yamaguchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup housing for accommodating a lens means for picking up an image of a subject, and a support housing for rotatably supporting the image pickup housing in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. When the housing is rotated to a substantially vertical downward position, the imaging housing projects to a spatial position in front of the support housing, and the imaging range of the lens means does not include the support housing in actual use. A camera unit, wherein the support housing supports the imaging housing so as to be arranged at a position. 2. The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein the support housing is provided with a connector for connection with an external device on a back surface of a back portion. 3. A camera unit for use in a communication device for mutually capturing and displaying at least image information via a two-way communication means, the camera unit being mounted on the display means and used. An image pickup housing for accommodating the lens means for moving the image pickup housing, and a support housing for rotatably supporting the image pickup housing in a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. When rotated to the position, the imaging housing projects to a spatial position in front of the support housing, and the imaging range of the lens means is arranged in a position not including the support housing in practical use. A camera unit, wherein a support housing supports the imaging housing. 4. The camera unit according to claim 3, wherein the support housing is provided with a connector for connecting to an external device on a back surface of a back portion. 5. A first housing for accommodating a lens means for picking up an image of a subject, a first supporting means for rotatably supporting the first housing in a vertical plane, and the first housing. A second housing having a first drive means for rotating the second housing, a second support means for rotatably supporting the second housing in a horizontal plane, and the second housing. A third housing having a second drive means for rotating the body, and the rotatable range of the first support means is such that the first housing is substantially vertical from a substantially horizontal position. The first housing is rotatable to a position, and when the first housing is rotated to a substantially vertical position, the first housing is located in front of the second housing. A camera unit for an electronic conference, characterized in that it is configured to project into the space and the second supporting means can rotate the second housing in a horizontal plane. Tsu door. 6. The first casing has rotation shafts on the left and right side surfaces of the forefront portion and the lowermost portion, the first drive means has drive gears, and the first support means has the rotation means. 6. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 5, wherein the drive gear of the first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to the rotary shaft while supporting the shaft. 7. The first casing has rotation shafts on the left and right side surfaces of the front and bottom portions, the first drive means has a drive gear, and the first support means has the rotation. While supporting the shaft, the drive gear of the first drive means engages with a gear fixed to the rotating shaft, and the first support means moves the first support means in the front-rear direction. The camera unit for electronic conference according to claim 5, wherein the camera unit is housed in the second casing via a moving means. 8. The first casing has a rotary shaft on the left and right side surfaces of the forefront portion and the lowermost portion, the first drive means has a drive arm, and the first support means has the drive means. The camera unit for electronic conference according to claim 5, wherein one end of the arm is pivotally supported and the other end of the drive arm is fixed to the rotating shaft. 9. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 5, wherein the third housing is provided with a connector for connecting to an external device on a back surface of a back portion. 10. A first casing for accommodating lens means for capturing an image of a subject, a recessed space for accommodating the first casing, and rotating the first casing in a vertical plane. A first supporting means for supporting, and
A second housing having a first drive means for rotating the first housing and a video signal processing means for processing a video signal obtained from the lens means; A third housing having a second supporting means rotatably supported therein, a second driving means for rotating the second housing, the video signal processing means, and the first Driving means and control means for controlling the second driving means, and the rotatable range of the first supporting means is such that the first casing is moved from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. When the first housing is rotated to a substantially horizontal position, the first housing is housed in the recessed space, and the first housing is housed in the recessed space. If the first casing is rotated to a substantially vertical position, the first casing may project into the space in front of the second casing. Electronic conference camera unit in which the second support means is characterized by being configured to be rotated in a horizontal plane of the second enclosure. 11. The first casing has a rotation shaft on the left and right sides of the front and bottom portions, the first drive means has a drive gear, and the first support means has the rotation. 11. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 10, wherein the drive gear of the first drive means is engaged with a gear fixed to the rotating shaft while supporting the shaft. 12. The first casing has rotation shafts on the left and right sides of the front and bottom portions, the first drive means has a drive gear, and the first support means has the rotation. While supporting the shaft, the drive gear of the first drive means engages with a gear fixed to the rotating shaft, and the first support means moves the first support means in the front-rear direction. It is housed in the second housing via a moving means, and the control means first moves the first supporting means in the forward direction prior to the operation of rotating the first housing to a substantially vertical position. 11. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 10, wherein the camera unit is controlled so as to be moved to. 13. The first casing has rotation shafts on the left and right sides of the front and bottom portions, the first drive means has a drive arm, and the first support means has the drive means. 11. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 10, wherein one end of the arm is pivotally supported and the other end of the drive arm is fixed to the rotation shaft. 14. The control means includes a storage means, and the storage means is most suitable for the lens means to capture an image of a document subject when the first housing is rotated to a substantially vertical position. Setting data for setting the lens means to the focal length and the zoom ratio is stored in advance, and the control means stores the storage according to the operation of rotating the first casing to a substantially vertical position. 2. The control means reads out the setting data from a lens unit and sets the lens unit to a predetermined focal length and zoom ratio.
The camera unit for electronic conference described in 0. 15. The lens means has an autofocus function, the control means includes a storage means, and the storage means is configured such that when the first housing is rotated to a substantially vertical position, the lens means is Setting data for setting the lens unit to the most suitable zoom ratio for capturing the document subject is stored in advance, and the control unit rotates the first casing to a substantially vertical position. 11. The electronic conference camera unit according to claim 10, wherein the setting data is read out from the storage means and set to a predetermined zoom ratio according to an operation. 16. A connector for connecting to an external device is provided on a back surface of a back portion of the third housing.
The camera unit for electronic conference described in 0. 17. A first housing which houses lens means for picking up an image of a subject, and which has a rotation axis on both left and right side surfaces of a front part and a bottom part, and a recess space which can house the first housing. And a first support means for rotatably supporting the first casing in a vertical plane by pivotally supporting the rotation shaft, and a drive gear for rotating the first casing. It has a first drive means and a video signal processing means for processing a video signal obtained from the lens means, and the drive gear of the first drive means engages with a gear fixed to the rotating shaft. So that the first housing and the first
A second housing that accommodates and stores the driving means, second supporting means that rotatably supports the second housing in a horizontal plane, and the second housing is rotated. A third housing having a second drive means, a connector for connecting to an external device on the back surface of the back, and a storage means, the video signal processing means, the first drive means, and the first drive means. And a control means for controlling the second drive means, and the rotatable range of the first support means is capable of rotating the first casing from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. As for the manner of rotation, when the first casing is rotated to a substantially horizontal position, the first casing is housed in the recessed space, and the first casing is substantially vertical. When rotated to the position, the first housing projects into the space in front of the second housing, and the second support means moves to the first housing. Is configured to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, and the storage means captures the document subject by the lens means when the first housing is rotated to a substantially vertical position. In advance, setting data for setting the lens means to the most appropriate focal length and zoom ratio is stored in advance, and the control means is operable to rotate the first casing to a substantially vertical position. Accordingly, the electronic conference camera unit is characterized in that the setting data is read out from the storage means and the lens means is controlled to a predetermined focal length and zoom ratio. 18. A first housing for housing a lens means having an autofocus function for picking up an image of a subject, the first housing having rotating shafts on both left and right side surfaces of a front part and a bottom part, and the first housing. The first casing having a recessed space that can be stored, a first supporting unit that pivotally supports the rotation shaft to rotatably support the first casing in a vertical plane, and a drive gear. It has a first drive means for rotating the body and a video signal processing means for processing a video signal obtained from the lens means, and the drive gear of the first drive means is fixed to the rotary shaft. A second housing in which the first housing and the first driving means are arranged and housed so as to be engaged with a gear, and the second housing is rotatably supported in a horizontal plane. Second supporting means, second driving means for rotating the second housing, and an external device on the back surface of the back portion. A third housing having a connector for connection, a storage means, and a control means for controlling the video signal processing means, the first drive means, and the second drive means, The rotatable range of the first support means is such that the first casing can be rotated from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. When the first casing is rotated to a substantially horizontal position, the first casing is stored in the recessed space, and when the first casing is rotated to a substantially vertical position, the first casing is The second support means is configured so as to project into the space in front of the second housing and the second support means can rotate the second housing in a horizontal plane, and the storage means includes the first and second storage means. The most suitable zoom for the lens means to capture an image of a document subject when the housing of No. 1 is rotated to a substantially vertical position. Setting data for setting the lens means to the zoom ratio is stored in advance, and the control means sets the setting means from the storage means according to an operation of rotating the first casing to a substantially vertical position. An electronic conference camera unit for reading data and performing control to set the lens means to a predetermined zoom ratio.