JPH08111809A - Image input device with vibration prevention function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain an excellent image in a visual sense by eliminating shaking of a screen pattern in the case of minute control of a universal head, at start/ stop of the operation of the universal head. CONSTITUTION: Vibration of an image pickup section 1 is detected by a vibration sensor 14, the image pickup section 1 is moved in any direction of upper/ lower/left/right directions by a motor driver 25 and it is controlled by an image pickup section controller 21. Signal from voltage sources controlled by a control signal from the motor driver 25 are added to signals from the sensors 14 at adder circuits 1505, 1512 and a path of an optical signal picked up based on an output signal of the circuits 1505, 1512 or a read position of a video signal to be picked up is corrected by a prism controller 15.

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 such as a video camera device for inputting an image to a computer or the like, and more particularly to an image pickup range of an image pickup camera unit having a pan head and in response to a control signal from the computer or the like. The present invention relates to an image input device that can be changed vertically and horizontally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of image input device has been used as an image input means for image communication using a computer or the like, and in particular, it has been attached to the top or side of a monitor used in a computer to receive control signals from the computer. Accordingly, the image pickup unit is panned / tilted vertically and horizontally.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image input apparatus, it is a top-down control to finely move the motor for driving the platform, and the motor speed is large even for large movements. Since it can't be performed too fast, it takes a long time to display the target place, the operability is not good, and the screen shakes when stopped.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the above-mentioned conventional technique, and an object of the present invention is to perform fine control of the platform and start / stop of the platform operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device with an image stabilization function that eliminates screen shake and provides a visually good image.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to the present invention includes an image pickup section, a vibration detection section for detecting the vibration of the image pickup section, and an image pickup section that moves up and down. A drive unit that moves to at least one of the left and right,
A control unit that controls the drive unit, a calculation unit that calculates a voltage source that increases / decreases a signal from the vibration detection unit based on a control signal of the drive unit, and an optical device that shoots based on an output signal of the calculation unit. It is characterized by comprising a correction unit for correcting the path of a signal or the read position of a captured video signal.

Further, in order to achieve the same object, when the image pickup section is in a pan operation, the correction characteristic of horizontal vibration correction is changed, and the voltage source is increased or decreased by the calculation section.
It is desirable to change the correction characteristic of vibration correction in the vertical direction when the image pickup unit is tilted, and increase or decrease the voltage source by the calculation unit.

Further, in order to achieve the same purpose, when the image pickup section is driven in the horizontal direction, high frequency components of the vertical output signal and the horizontal output signal of the vibration detection section and the high frequency component of the calculation section Correction is performed using the output signal, and when the image pickup unit is driven in the vertical direction, the correction is performed using the high frequency component of the vertical output signal of the vibration detection unit and the output signal of the calculation unit. Is desirable.

[0008]

The vibration of the image pickup section is detected by the vibration detection section, the image pickup section is moved to at least one of up, down, left and right by the drive section, and the drive section is controlled by the control section.
The signal from the vibration detection unit is increased or decreased by the arithmetic unit based on the control signal of the drive unit, and the path of the optical signal to be photographed or the read position of the photographed video signal is corrected based on the output signal of the arithmetic unit. Is corrected by. As a result, fine control of the pan head and shake of the screen at the time of starting / stopping the pan head operation are removed, and a visually good image can be obtained.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The main body 2 is a main component, and the main body 2 is connected to the monitor 50 and the computer 60, respectively.

The image pickup unit 1 includes a vari-angle prism 10,
Photographing lens 11, CCD (imaging device) 12, CCD1
An amplifier 13 that amplifies a video signal from the camera 2 and sends it to the main body 2, and a vibration detection sensor 1 that detects a shake of the imaging unit 1.
4. A prism controller 15 for controlling the vari-angle prism 10 based on an output signal of the vibration detection sensor 14 and a signal from an image pickup unit controller 21, which will be described later, focusing on a subject being imaged, and changing an angle of view. It has a lens controller 16.

The vibration detecting sensor 14 is an X-axis direction vibration detecting sensor 1401 for detecting the lateral vibration of the image pickup section 1.
And a Y-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1402 for detecting the vibration of the image pickup unit 1 in the vertical direction.

The prism controller 15 includes a first amplifier 1501 that amplifies the output signal of the X-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1401, and a first high-pass filter that passes only the high-frequency component of the output signal of the first amplifier 1501. A filter (HPF) 1502, a first amplifier 1501 output signal, and a first high-pass filter 1502 output signal A signal from the first voltage source 1504 is added to the output signals of the first voltage source 1504 and the first high-pass filter 1502, which increase and decrease the output voltage according to the control signals from the switch 1503 and the imaging unit controller 21 to output. First adder circuit 1505, and a first low-pass filter that removes high-frequency components of the signal input from the first adder circuit 1505 L.P.F) 1506, the first
First driver 1507 that amplifies the output signal of the low pass filter 1506 of FIG.
have.

Further, the prism controller 15 has a second amplifier 1508 for amplifying the output signal of the Y-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1402, and a second high level component for passing only the high frequency component of the output signal of the second amplifier 1508. A high-pass filter (HPF) 1509, which selects one of the output signals of the second amplifier 1508 and the output signal of the second high-pass filter 1509 by a control signal from the imaging unit controller 21. Second switch 1510, a second voltage source 1511 for increasing / decreasing and outputting the output voltage according to a control signal from the imaging unit controller 21, and a signal from the second voltage source 1511 for the output signal of the second high-pass filter 1509. And a second low-pass filter that removes high-frequency components of the signal input from the second adder circuit 1512. Filter (L.P.F) 1513, a second driver 151 for driving the variable angle prism 10 amplifies the output signal of the second low-pass filter 1513
Four.

The main body 2 includes an apparatus controller 20 for controlling the entire apparatus, an image pickup controller 21 for controlling the image pickup section 1 based on a signal from the apparatus controller 20,
A communication interface 22 for exchanging information between the device controller 20 and an external computer 60 and the like, and an image signal processing unit for processing an output signal from the amplifier 13 of the image pickup unit 1 and outputting it as an image signal to the outside. Two
3, a memory 24 connected to the device controller 20 for temporarily storing necessary data, a pan motor 26 and a tilt motor 27, which will be described later, for panning and tilting the image pickup unit 1 based on a control signal from the image pickup unit controller 21. A motor driver 25 for driving, a pan motor 26 for rotating the image pickup unit 1 in the pan direction, a tilt motor 27 for rotating the image pickup unit 1 in the tilt direction, an image for outputting an output signal of the image signal processing unit 23 to an external monitor 50 or the like. It has a signal output terminal 28 and a data signal input / output terminal for connecting the communication interface 22 to an external computer 60 or the like.

Next, the operation of the image input device with the image stabilizing function according to this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

First, when the power is turned on, the device controller 20 initializes each unit. That is, it is confirmed whether the computer 60 is connected to the data signal input / output terminal 29 via the communication interface 22 and a signal indicating that the power is turned on is transmitted. In addition, initialization of the image pickup unit 1 and a direction data request for the direction in which the pan motor 26 and the tilt motor 27 are currently facing are issued to the image pickup unit controller 21. In accordance with the instruction, the imaging unit controller 21 issues an instruction to the prism controller 15 to set the position of the vari-angle prism 10 to a neutral position, and issues an instruction to the lens controller 16 to swing the lens controller 16 in the wide direction, for example.

Further, the motor driver 25 rotates the image pickup unit 1 up to the switch provided at the starting position for detecting the pan / tilt position, and the number of motor drive pulses up to the position where the switch is turned on. By moving the same number of steps in reverse, the direction in which the imaging unit 1 is facing is adjusted to the original position, and the position data is sent to the device controller 20 via the imaging unit controller 21. Further, while muting the output signal to the image signal processing unit 23, the photographing light input through the vari-angle prism 10 and the photographing lens 11 is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 12, and the electric signal is converted by the amplifier 13. The amplified signal is sent to the image signal processing unit 23. Image signal processing unit 2
3 adjusts the white balance of the input image signal,
The setting data is sent to the device controller 20 and stored in the memory 24.

The initialization is performed as described above, and when the initialization is completed, the device controller 20 releases the mute of the image signal processing section 23 and outputs the image signal from the image signal output terminal 28.

At the same time when the output of the image signal is started, the device controller 20 instructs the image pickup controller 21 to start the vibration correction. The imaging unit controller 21 outputs a control start command in the vertical and horizontal directions to the prism controller 15. The prism controller 15 uses the detection signal from the vibration detection sensor 14 to detect the vari-angle prism 10.
Is controlled to form an image signal having no shake on the CCD 12.

That is, the vibration in the X-axis direction will be described. The vibration signal detected by the X-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1401 and converted into an electric signal is input to the first amplifier 1501 and amplified by a predetermined amplification value. , The first high pass filter 1502 and the first switch 1503. Since the first switch 1503 is connected to the first amplifier 1501 side when the pan motor 26 of the platform is not operating, the first addition circuit 1505 of the next stage is provided.
The output signal of the first amplifier 1501 is input to. The first adder circuit 1505 has a first switch 1503.
Is output by adding the output voltage of the first voltage source 1504 to the output signal of the first voltage source 1504, but the output voltage of the first voltage source 1504 is the output signal of the first switch 1503, that is, in this case when the platform is not moved. The output signal of the first amplifier 1501 is output to. The output signal of the first addition circuit 1505 is input to the first low pass filter 1506, unnecessary high frequency components are removed, and the first low pass filter 1506 is output.
Is inputted to the first driver 1507, the vari-angle prism 10 is controlled, the vibration in the X direction is canceled, and an image without shake is imaged on the CCD 12.

Regarding the vibration in the Y-axis direction, the vibration signal detected by the Y-axis direction vibration detecting sensor 1402 is similarly processed in the prism controller 15 to control the vari-angle prism 10 in the Y-axis direction. , The vibration in the Y-axis direction is canceled out, and an image without shake is imaged on the CCD 12, and the image signal captured by the CCD 12 is
After being amplified by the amplifier 13 and converted into a standard image signal by the image signal processing unit 23, the image is sent from the output terminal 28 to the monitor 50, and an image without shake is displayed on the screen of the monitor 50.

Now, when a panning (movement of the image pickup section 1 in the X-axis direction) signal is input from the data input / output terminal 29 from the external computer 60, the communication interface 22 receives the signal and inputs it to the device controller 20. To do. The device controller 20 receives the panning signal and outputs a panning command to the imaging unit controller 21.
The imaging unit controller 21 sets the first switch 1503 of the prism controller 15 to the first high-pass filter 150.
Switch to side 2. When the first switch 1503 is switched to the first high-pass filter 1502 side, the imaging unit controller 21 increases the output voltage of the first voltage source 1504, for example.

By switching the first switch 1503 as described above, the vibration correction in the X-axis direction corrects only the high vibration frequency component according to the characteristics of the first high-pass filter 1502. As the voltage of the voltage source 1504 increases, the vari-angle prism 10 forms an image on the CCD 12 by moving the image signal in the X-axis direction as if the image signal moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the platform. At this time, since the platform is not moved in the Y-axis direction, the control state is maintained as it is. At the same time, the image pickup controller 2
1 sends a control signal to the motor driver 25 to rotate the platform in the X-axis direction, and the pan motor 2 in the X-axis direction
6 rotates to rotate the image pickup unit 1.

When the output voltage of the first voltage source 1504 reaches a certain voltage, the voltage is held. At this time the first
Of the video signal on the CCD 12 and the rotation of the pan motor 26 as the voltage of the voltage source 1504 increases
Monitor 50 is the sum of the amount of movement of the video signal on 2
Since it is a moving image of the signal displayed on the screen of the image pickup unit controller 2 so that the total value of the two smoothly increases.
Controlled by 1.

(There are various methods for panning. The first method is to perform panning while the computer 60 is outputting the panning signal, and the second method is to receive the absolute angle of the destination from the computer 60 and pan there.
There is a third method, such as a method and a method of receiving the relative angle of movement from the computer 60 and panning by that amount. However, in this explanation, it is assumed that the first method is used.) While the panning signal is being output from the computer 60 This state continues for a long time, and when the panning signal from the computer 60 disappears, the device controller 20 sends a panning stop command to the imaging unit controller 21. As a result, the imaging unit controller 21 causes the motor driver 2 to
Instruct 5 to decelerate and stop panning. At this time, the motor driver 25 gradually slows the pan operation, and stops so as to finally move by the amount of moving the vari-angle prism 10 at the start of panning.

At the same time, that is, at the same time as the panning deceleration stop instruction, the image pickup controller 21 lowers the output voltage of the first voltage source 1504, and the pan motor 26
When the panning operation of the image pickup unit 1 is completed, the first switch 1503 is switched to the first amplifier 1501 side to return to the control state when the image pickup unit 1 is stopped. . As a result, the prism controller 15 drives the vari-angle prism 10 so as to correct the operation of the pan head, so that the image formed on the CCD 12 is controlled so as to hold the image when the panning is instructed. To be done.

When a tilt signal is input from the computer 60, the same operation is performed except for the difference between the pan motor 26 and the tilt motor 27 and the difference between the X axis and the Y axis. Further, when the computer 60 outputs a diagonal movement command, the above-described two operations are simultaneously performed.

On the other hand, a preset function is a function provided in this type of apparatus. With this preset function, the pan / tilt directions, the zoom amount and the focus distance of the photographing lens 11 stored in advance are stored in the memory 24 together with the identification number, and the computer 60 or the like specifies the preset identification number. Upon receiving the data, the device controller 20 reads the data of the pan / tilt angle, the zoom amount and the focus distance of the photographing lens 11 from the memory 24, and outputs the read data to the imaging unit controller 21. The imaging unit controller 21 controls the current pan / tilt angle and the pan / tilt angle sent from the device controller 20.
The tilt angle is compared with each other, and the respective differences are calculated. If the difference is 0, the vibration correction in the vertical direction and that are operated as they are, and the vibration correction in the non-zero direction and the vertical direction is performed in the same manner as in the above case, the pan motor 26, the tilt motor 27, and the vari-angle prism 10. Control.

When a fine pan / tilt request is made, the pan / tilt movement is moved by first increasing / decreasing the voltages of the first and second voltage sources 1505 and 1511. The prism 10 is used, and then the first and second voltage sources 1 are moved by the moving amount while moving the platform.
The voltages of 505 and 1511 are corrected, and when the movement of the platform is completed, the voltages of the first and second voltage sources 1505 and 1511 are set to 0 V (volt).

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. Is attached. 2 is different from FIG. 1 in that the vari-angle prism 1 in FIG.
0 is provided, the prism controller 15 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the main body 2, and the third amplifier 61 is interposed between the X-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1401 and the first amplifier 1501 of the prism controller 15. What you did, Y
The fourth amplifier 6 is provided between the axial vibration detection sensor 1402 and the second amplifier 1508 of the prism controller 15.
2 is provided, and a memory 231 for temporarily storing the video signal from the amplifier 13 is provided between the amplifier 13 of the image pickup unit 1 and the image signal processing unit 23 of the main body unit 2. The write address generation circuit 232 for controlling the write address of the memory 231 is connected, and the memory 231 and the first and second prism controllers 15 are connected.
Between the drivers 1507 and 1514 of the memory 231
That is, the read address generation circuit 233 for controlling the read address is connected.

The video signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 12 of the image pickup section 1 is amplified by the amplifier 13 and input to the memory 231. The write address generation circuit 232 generates a memory write clock in synchronization with the clock driving the CCD 12 and sequentially writes the video signal output from the amplifier 13 in the memory 231.

Here, when the image pickup unit 1 is not moved by the pan motor 26 and the tilt motor 27, both vibration detection sensors 140 are used as in the first embodiment.
The vibration output from 1,1402 is the driver 1507,1
The read address generation circuit 233 outputs the signal from the memory 231 to increase or decrease the address of the clock read from the memory 231, cancels the vibration of the imaging unit 1, and outputs the image signal processing unit 23.

As in the first embodiment, when the pan motor 26 is in operation, the Y-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1
The output signal of the 402 is used as it is, and the output signal of the X-axis direction vibration detection sensor 1401 is obtained by the first high-pass filter 1502 from the high frequency component of the output signal and the voltage output from the first voltage source 1504. By controlling the output address from the read address generation circuit 233 with the addition signal, a video signal which is always ugly and has little vibration is output.

Further, the same processing is performed by converting the output signals of the first and second amplifiers 1501 and 1508 into digital signals and shifting the read address of the memory 231 by the amount of the digital signals. The first voltage source 1504 The increase / decrease of the voltage output from can also be performed by the same process as the addition / subtraction calculation of the digital signal.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. Is attached. 3 is different from FIG. 2 in that the memory 231 and the write address generation circuit 232 are deleted from the configuration of FIG. 2 and the read address generation circuit 233 is connected to the CCD 12.
The CCD 12 is an image sensor that can specify a read address.

This is the output of the read address generating circuit 233 described in the second embodiment, and the direct CCD
The element address of 12 is selected, amplified by the amplifier 13, converted into a standard image signal by the image signal processing unit 23, and then output to the monitor 50 via the image signal output terminal 28.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the image input device with the image stabilizing function of the present invention, the image movement by the vibration correcting mechanism is performed in cooperation with the pan / tilt operation of the platform so that the photographing is performed. In addition to the smooth movement of the signal, there is an effect that a target video point can be captured and shot faster.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image input device with a vibration isolation function according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging part 14 Vibration detection sensor (vibration detection part) 15 Prism controller (correction part) 25 Motor driver (drive part) 1505 1st addition circuit (calculation part) 1512 2nd addition circuit (calculation part)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup section, a vibration detection section for detecting vibration of the image pickup section, a drive section for moving the image pickup section to at least one of up, down, left and right, and a control section for controlling the drive section, A calculation unit that calculates a voltage source that increases or decreases a signal from the vibration detection unit based on a control signal of the drive unit, and a path correction of an optical signal to be photographed based on an output signal of the calculation unit or reading of a photographed video signal An image input device with an image stabilization function, comprising: a correction unit that performs position correction. 2. A correction characteristic for lateral vibration correction is changed when the image pickup unit is panning operation, and the voltage source is increased or decreased by the arithmetic unit, and a vertical vibration correction is performed when the image pickup unit is tilted. The image input device with a vibration isolation function according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit is changed and the voltage source is increased or decreased by the arithmetic unit. 3. When the image pickup unit is driven in the horizontal direction, correction is performed using high frequency components of the vertical output signal and the horizontal output signal of the vibration detection unit and the output signal of the arithmetic unit. The correction is performed using the high frequency component of the vertical output signal of the vibration detection unit and the output signal of the arithmetic unit when the image pickup unit is driven in the vertical direction. Image input device with anti-vibration function described.