JPH0799604A - Picture input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the picture input device which eliminates the need of changing the position of an object at each time of changing the field angle of the object by expanding/contracting an arm by a required length in accordance with its turning at the time of turning the arm to change the height of a camera head. CONSTITUTION:When the object of a document or the like is desired to be projected larger, an arm 3 and a camera head 2 are set to close-up positions (shown by continuous lines). At this time, the arm 3 is contracted by an expanding/contracting means while turning. That is, the arm 3 is contracted to shorten the distance between fulcrums 8 and 9. The angle of turning of the arm 3 is about 45 deg., and the arm 3 is expanded/contracted only within this range. A bellows rubber 28 with which the expanding/contracting means of the arm 3 is covered has the length increased/reduced in accordance with expansion/contraction of the arm 3. Thus, the positional deviation of the camera head from a document base is eliminated, and the conventional troublesome work that the position of the object is changed at each time of changing the field angle of the object is unnecessary.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for displaying an input subject, especially an original, on the screen of a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 (used in combination with an embodiment), FIG. 14 and FIG.
A conventional image input device will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, 50 is a lens, 51 is a camera head, 52 is an arm, 53 is a post, 54 is a document table, 55 is a right illumination device R, and 56 is a left illumination device L.

A camera head 51 having a lens 50
Is rotatable about the fulcrum A66 in a certain range so that the arm 5 can rotate.
It is pivotally supported by 2. The arm 52 is pivotally supported by the post 53 so as to be rotatable in a certain range in the vertical direction about the fulcrum B67. Further, the post 53 is pivotally supported on the document table 54 so as to be pivotable in a vertical direction about a fulcrum C68 so as to be able to rise and fall. Then, the camera head 51, the arm 52,
The post 53 is adapted to be locked at a predetermined position when it is rotated about a fulcrum A66, a fulcrum B67, and a fulcrum C68.

Reference numeral 62 denotes an unlock button A, which can be released from the locked state of the camera head 51 by pressing the button. 63 is an unlock button B, 64
Is a lock release button C, and the lock state of the arm 52 and the post 53 can be released by pressing the respective buttons.

The illuminating device R55 and the illuminating device L56 are rotatably supported on the document table 54 so as to be vertically rotatable within a certain range, and further provided with a free stop mechanism so that they can be stopped at any angle during the rotation. . Reference numeral 59 is a video monitor connected to the image input device, and displays a document or the like placed on the document table 54.

Camera head 51, arm 52, post 5
3, the illuminating device R55, and the illuminating device L56 are each locked in the positions shown in FIG. 14 during normal use. Camera head 51 and arm 52 at this time
Hereinafter, the lock position of is referred to as a first position. Platen 54
A power supply SW57 of the image input device main body and a lighting SW58 of the lighting device are provided adjacent to one side surface. Reference numeral 60 is a document, 61 is an operation panel, which is provided with a focus button, a zoom button, and the like.

Next, an operation procedure at the time of capturing an image of a document will be described.

When the power SW 57 is turned on, the image pickup state is set. At this time, the white balance is automatically taken. Subsequently, the operator places the document 60 to be imaged on the document table 54 at approximately the center thereof. As a result, the document table 54
The original 60 placed on the screen is displayed on the screen of the monitor 59.

When the subject such as the original 60 is desired to be enlarged, as shown in FIG. 15, the lock release button B63 is pushed and the arm 52 is rotated in the direction of arrow R about the fulcrum B67 to lock it at a predetermined position. To do. Next, the lock release button A62 is pressed to rotate the camera head 51 in the direction of arrow S about the fulcrum A66 to lock it at a predetermined position. The lock position of the camera head 51 and the arm 52 at this time is hereinafter referred to as a second position.

In this way, the original table 5 of the camera head 51 is
By adjusting the height from 4, the size (angle of view) of the subject such as the document 60 displayed on the screen of the monitor 59 can be changed. Since a focus button is provided on the operation panel 61, when the height of the camera head 51 is adjusted to change the angle of view of the subject, the focus can be focused on the subject by pressing this.

When there are few light sources near the main body of the image input device and the original document 60 displayed on the monitor 59 is difficult to see, the illumination SW 58 is turned on to turn on the illumination devices R55 and L56 to supplement the light sources.

When stored, as shown in FIG. 6, the camera head 51 and the arm 5 are arranged so that they can be easily carried anywhere.
2, post 53, lighting device R55 and lighting device L56
Fold. In addition, the carrying handle 33 is pulled out when carrying.

[0014]

However, in the conventional image input device, when changing the angle of view of the subject, as described above, the arm 52 is rotated to move the camera head 51 to the first position. And the second position has to be changed. However, as shown in FIG. 16, since the length L of the arm 52 is fixed, the horizontal position of the optical axis k of the camera head 51 with respect to the document table 54 is the first position and the second position.
The position D is displaced by the distance D. If such a shift occurs, the image pickup position of the subject placed on the document table 54 shifts, and the operator has to move the position of the subject each time, which is very troublesome.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and eliminates the positional deviation of the camera head with respect to the original table, and therefore the position is not changed every time the angle of view of the subject is changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device that can be completed.

[0016]

According to the present invention, when the height of the camera head is changed between the first position and the second position by the rotation of the arm, the arm is required to interlock with the rotation. Is configured to be expanded and contracted to prevent the position from being displaced with respect to the document table even when the camera head is changed between the first position and the second position.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Explained by.

1 and 2 show the configuration of the image input apparatus of the embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a lens, 2 is a camera head, 3 is an arm, 4 is a post, 5 is a document table, 6 is an illumination device R, and 7 is an illumination device L.

The camera head 2 having the lens 1 is pivotally supported on the arm 3 so as to be rotatable within a certain range around a fulcrum A8. The arm 3 is pivotally supported by the post 4 about the fulcrum B9 so as to be rotatable in a certain range in the vertical direction, and is expandable and contractable at a predetermined angle within the rotation range by an expansion / contraction means described later. . Further, the post 4 is pivotally supported on the document table 5 so as to be pivotable up and down about a fulcrum C10 so as to be vertically movable.

The camera head 2 and the arm 3 can be locked in three positions of a normal position, a close-up position and a storage position by a locking means (not shown). Further, the post 4 is configured to be locked in two positions, a normal position and a storage position, by a locking means (not shown).

Reference numeral 11 denotes a lock release button A, which can be released from the locked state of the camera head 2 by pressing it. Reference numeral 12 denotes a lock release button B, and 13 denotes a lock release button C, which can release the locked state of the arm 3 and the post 4 by pressing the respective buttons.

The illuminating device R6 and the illuminating device L7 are the original table 5
In addition, a free stop mechanism is provided that is pivotally supported within a certain range and can be stopped at any angle during the rotation. A power source SW 15 of the image input device main body and an illumination SW 16 of the illumination device are provided adjacent to each other on one side of the document table 5. Reference numeral 17 denotes an operation panel provided on the front surface of the document table 5, which is provided with a focus button, a zoom button and the like. A video monitor 14 is connected to the image input device, and displays a subject such as a document placed on the document table 5.

Next, an operation procedure at the time of capturing an image of a document will be described.

First, the camera head 2, the arm 3 and the post 4 are locked at the positions shown in FIG. Further, the illumination device R5 and the illumination device L7 are set at the positions shown in FIG. Camera head 2 at this time
The lock position of the arm 3 and the position shown by the chain line in FIG. 2 are called the first position (normal position).

When the power supply SW15 is turned on, the image pickup is possible. At this time, the white balance is automatically obtained, the focusing of the lens 1 is automatically operated, and the document table 5 is focused. Subsequently, when the operator places a subject such as the original document 45 to be imaged on substantially the center of the original platen 5, the subject such as the original document 45 placed on the original platen 5 is displayed on the screen of the monitor 14. At this time,
By operating a zoom button provided on the operation panel 17, a subject such as a document can be adjusted to a desired size. Further, since the operation panel 17 is provided with auto and manual focus buttons, it is possible to focus on a desired portion when capturing a subject such as a three-dimensional object during operation.

When a subject such as an original document is desired to be enlarged, the arm 3 and the camera head 2 are set to the close-up position (solid line position) shown in FIG. The position of the camera head 2 and the arm 3 at this time is called a second position.
Further, at this time, the arm 3 is contracted by the expansion / contraction means described later while rotating. That is, the arm 3 contracts and the distance between the fulcrum A8 and the fulcrum B9 decreases. The rotation angle of the arm 3 in the first position and the second position is about 45 °,
The arm 3 is configured to expand and contract only in this range. Reference numeral 28 is a bellows rubber that covers the expansion and contraction means of the arm, and expands and contracts its length according to the expansion and contraction of the arm 3.

According to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the arm 3
The expansion / contraction means will be described.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the camera head 2 and the arm 3 in the first position, FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 3 seen from the direction of arrow H, and FIG. 5 is a view of the camera head 2 in the second position. It is a side view of the arm 3.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, 18 is a post frame, 19 is an arm frame a, and 20 is an arm frame b. The arm frame a19 is rotatably supported by the post frame 18 by a shaft 21. Further, since the shaft 21 is fixedly engaged with the post frame 18 by the D-cut shape, the post frame 1
It cannot rotate with respect to 8. A pair of slide shafts 23 are provided on both side surfaces of the arm frame b20 and engage with elongated holes 22 formed on both side surfaces of the arm frame a19. Therefore, the arm frame b
20 is configured to be slidable within a certain range with respect to the arm frame a19.

24 is a sector gear, 25 is a planetary gear, 26
Is a rack. The sector gear 24 is the D of the shaft 21.
The post frame 18 is fixedly engaged in the cut shape.
It is provided integrally with. The planetary gear 25 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 27 provided on the arm frame a19 and meshes with the sector gear 24 at a predetermined angle. The rack 26 is provided integrally with the arm frame b20 and meshes with the planetary gear 25. Further, the arm frame b20 is biased with a certain amount of force in the direction of arrow I by a biasing means (not shown).

Next, the extension / contraction operation of the arm 3 will be described.

When the camera head 2 and the arm 3 are locked by the locking means (not shown) at the first position shown in FIG. 3 (the position shown by the chain line in FIG. 2), the length L of the arm 3 is maximum. Becomes Unlock button B12 (Figs. 3 and 4)
(Not shown), the arm 3 is unlocked and rotated in the direction of arrow J. Then, the planet gears 25 meshing with the sector gears 24 are
Rotate around 7 in the direction of arrow K. As the planetary gear 25 rotates, the rack 26 meshed with it moves in the direction of arrow Q. Along with this, the arm frame b20 also moves in the same direction. The arm frame b20 is
A pair of slide shafts 23 provided on both side surfaces of the arm frame a19 slide the slot 22 to gradually move. As the arm 3 rotates in this way, the length L of the arm 3 gradually decreases.

Further, when the arm 3 is further rotated, as shown in FIG.
The second position shown in FIG. Further, when the arm 3 is locked in the second position, the sector gear 24
The meshing of the planetary gear 25 and the planetary gear 25 is disengaged. When the mesh is disengaged, the arm frame b is pressed by a biasing means (not shown).
One of the sliding shafts 23 provided on both side surfaces of 20 abuts on one end 22a of the elongated hole 22 of the arm frame a19,
The length L of the arm 3 is minimized. At this time, the movement amount of the arm frame b20 after the disengagement is set to the minimum so that the sector gear 24 and the planetary gear 25 always engage with the same tooth during the engagement.

Then, when the camera head 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow M, the setting of the camera head 2 and the arm 3 in the second position is completed. As a result, the position of the camera head 2 at the two positions of the first position and the second position is
It substantially coincides with the document table 5. That is, the horizontal position of the optical axis k of the camera heads 2 at both positions with respect to the document table 5 is substantially coaxial, as shown in FIG.

When the arm 3 is rotated from the second position to the first position, the above operation is reversed.

If there are few light sources near the main body of the image input apparatus and the subject projected on the monitor 11 is difficult to see, the illumination SW 13 shown in FIG.
6. The light source is supplemented by turning on the lighting device L7.

Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, the procedure for storing the image input device when it is set in the normal position will be described.

In FIG. 1, first, the illumination devices R6 and L are provided.
7 is rotated in this order in the direction of arrow H and returned to the document table 5. Next, press the release button A11 and press the camera head 2
Rotate in the direction of arrow N to set it in the storage position. Next, the release button B12 is pressed to rotate the arm 3 in the arrow P direction. Then, the arm 3 is rotated by the expansion / contraction means to the close-up position while contracting. When the arm 3 is rotated to this position, the release button B12 is pressed again to rotate the arm 3 in the same direction to set the arm 3 in the storage position. Finally, the release button C13 is pressed to return the post 4 to the document table.

FIG. 6 shows the image input device thus set in the housed state. By setting it like this, you can easily carry it anywhere. When carrying, pull out the carrying handle 33. Assembling at the time of use is performed by the procedure opposite to the operation at the time of storing.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the arm 3 is used.
Is configured to expand and contract for a predetermined length in conjunction with its rotation,
Although the optical axis of the lens 1 is configured to substantially match at the two positions of the first position and the second position, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, a means for detecting the rotation angle (rotation amount) of the arm 3, a means for expanding and contracting the arm 3, and a means for rotating the camera head 2 are provided, and according to the rotation angle of the arm 3. , The amount of expansion and contraction of the arm 3 and the rotation angle of the camera head 2 are controlled so that the lens 1 always faces the platen side at any angle in the rotation range of the arm 3 between the first position and the second position. , And the optical axes k can be made to substantially coincide with each other.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Explained by. In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, 1
00 is a free stop means (not shown in FIG. 7) provided on the shaft of the shaft 21 so that the arm 3 can be stopped at any angle in its rotation range.
The free stop means 100 generally uses a frictional force such as felt, but the free stop means 100 is not limited to this, and may use viscosity such as oil.

101 is a first for expanding and contracting the arm 3.
Pulse motor. The first pulse motor 101 is
It is attached to the arm frame a19 by means not shown. 102 is a motor gear press-fitted into the rotary shaft of the first pulse motor 101, 103 is a planetary gear, 1
Reference numeral 04 is a rack. The planetary gear 103 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 105 provided on the arm frame a <b> 19 and meshes with the motor gear 102.
The rack 104 is integrally provided with the arm frame b20 and meshes with the planetary gear 103.

Reference numeral 106 is a second pulse motor for rotating the camera head 2. Second pulse motor 10
6 is attached to the arm frame b20 by means not shown. 107 is the second pulse motor 106
The motor gear is press-fitted into the rotation shaft of the reference numeral 109, and the D-cut shaft 109 is fixedly engaged with the camera head 2. The camera head 2 is pivotally supported by the arm frame b20. Reference numeral 108 is a rotary gear integrally provided on the shaft 109. The rotating gear 108 and the motor gear 107 are adapted to mesh with each other. Reference numeral 110 is a resistance substrate fixed to the post frame 18 and provided on the axis of the shaft 21. A variable resistance element 112 is formed on the surface of the resistance substrate 110, and is formed in an arc shape with a certain distance from the axial center of the shaft 21.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a contact piece fixed to the arm frame a19, which is a variable resistance element 112 of the resistance substrate 110.
(Not shown in FIG. 8). Further, by rotating the arm 3, the contact piece 111 fixed to the arm frame a19 moves on the variable resistance element 112 of the resistance substrate 110, whereby the resistance value is changed. There is. When the arm 3 is in the first position, the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 is the maximum, and when the arm 3 is rotated in the arrow T direction, the resistance value is set to gradually decrease.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG.
The resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 and its change state (increase / decrease in resistance value) are sent to the syscon 150, whereby the rotation amount and the rotation direction (forward rotation, reverse rotation) of the first pulse motor 101 and the second pulse motor 106. ) Is in control.

Next, the expansion / contraction operation of the arm 3 and the rotation operation of the camera head 2 will be described.

When the camera head 2 and the arm 3 are in the first position, the length L of the arm 3 becomes maximum. When the arm 3 is rotated from the first position in the direction of arrow T by a predetermined angle, the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 gradually decreases as described above. This causes the first pulse motor 101 to move in the direction of arrow U toward the second pulse motor 10
6 is a system controller 15 so that it rotates in the direction of arrow V.
Controlled by 0. Further, when the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 is changing in the direction of increasing, it is controlled so as to rotate in the direction opposite to the above-mentioned rotation direction.

When the first pulse motor 101 is driven in the direction of arrow U according to the control signal from the system controller 150,
The rotational force is transmitted to the motor gear 102, the planet gears 103, and the rack 104. As a result, the arm frame b20 provided integrally with the rack 104 moves in the direction of the arrow W to contract the arm 3.

When the second pulse motor 106 is driven in the direction of arrow V according to the control signal, the rotational force is transmitted to the motor gear 107 and the rotating gear 108. As a result, the shaft 1 provided integrally with the rotating gear 108
The rotational force is transmitted to 09 to rotate the camera head 2 in the arrow X direction. The expansion / contraction amount of the arm 3 and the rotation amount of the camera head 2 are regulated by controlling the rotation amounts of the first pulse motor and the second pulse motor by the syscon 150.

Control of the rotation amount of the first pulse motor 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

The amount of expansion and contraction of the arm 3 naturally varies depending on the position where the arm 3 rotates. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the arm 3 is moved from the first position to the second position by one.
When rotated by 0 ° and from the second position in the first direction 1
The amount of expansion and contraction of the arm 3 at that time is different from when it is rotated by 0 °.

Therefore, in the case where the optical axis k of the lens is always substantially coincident with each other in the rotation range between the first position and the second position,
The amount of rotation of the first pulse motor 101 is controlled so that the amount of rotation is variable according to how many resistance values the variable resistance element 112 changes at that time.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the relative relationship between the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 and the rotation amount of the first pulse motor 101.

For example, assuming that the resistance value of the variable resistance 110 when the arm 3 is at the first position is a and the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112 when it is at the second position is d, the variable resistance element 112 is When the resistance value changes from a to b (or b to a), the rotation amount of the first pulse motor 101 is e,
The amount of rotation when changing from c to d (or the amount of change from d to c) (the same amount as changing from a to b) is f, and the system controller 150 rotates in an appropriate amount according to the change in the resistance value at that time. Is controlled by.

Next, the control of the rotation amount of the second pulse motor 106 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the rotation angle of the camera head 2 when the camera head 2 is constantly rotated toward the platen in the rotation range between the first position and the second position. The rotation angle is the same as that of the arm 3. For example, when the arm 3 is rotated 35 ° from the second position to the first position, the rotation angle of the camera head 2 is also the same 35 °. Become. That is, the rotation angle of the arm 3 is detected based on the amount of change in the resistance value of the variable resistance element 112, and the arm 3 is rotated by the same angle.
The rotation amount of the second pulse motor 106 is controlled by the syscon 150.

As a result, the camera head 2 in the rotation range between the first position and the second position always directs the lens toward the document table. And the camera head 2
By co-operating the rotation of the arm 3 with the expansion and contraction of the arm 3,
In the range of rotation between the first position and the second position as shown by 3, the optical axis k of the lens 1 is always held substantially coaxially.

The variable resistance element 112 according to another embodiment.
It has been described that the resistance value of 1 is maximum when the arm 3 is in the first position, but the resistance value is not limited to this.

Further, since the expansion / contraction operation of the arm 3 and the rotation operation of the camera head 2 are performed electrically, there is a possibility that a malfunction may occur in the apparatus in which the power source SW of the apparatus main body is provided on the side surface of the document table as in the above embodiment. There is. For this reason, for example, when the post 4 is assembled, the power is turned on,
The above-mentioned problem can be solved by providing the power supply SW that becomes FF.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the height of the camera head is changed between the first position and the second position by the rotation of the arm, the arm is configured to expand and contract by a required length in association with the rotation. The position of the head with respect to the platen is eliminated, and therefore, it is not necessary to perform the conventional troublesome work of changing the position every time the angle of view of the subject is changed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image input device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the camera head and arm in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the extension / contraction means of the arm in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of FIG. 3 viewed from a direction of an arrow H.

5 is a side view of the expansion / contraction means in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a stored state of the image input apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view of arm expanding / contracting means and camera head rotating means in another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of FIG. 7 viewed from the arrow Z direction.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of first and second pulse motors according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of an extension / contraction operation of an arm in another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a correlation graph of the variable resistance and the first pulse motor in another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a rotation operation of a camera head according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram of a camera head in another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a conventional image input device.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a camera head and an arm in a conventional example.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the positional deviation of the camera head in the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 lens 2 camera head 3 arm 4 post 5 document table 6 lighting device R 7 lighting device L 14 TV monitor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A camera head, an arm for axially supporting the camera head, a post for axially supporting the arm, and a document table for axially supporting the post, and the height of the camera head is increased by rotating the arm. In the image input device for adjusting, when the arm is rotated to change the height of the camera head, the arm is interlocked with the rotation so that the camera head is not displaced with respect to the document table. An image input device characterized by being configured to expand and contract by a required length.