JPH08166618A - Camera and remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the complication of operation and to enable the operation free from unnatural feeling, regardless of the operating position of a remote controlled by turning a camera backward, stopping it or turning it forward at the time of receiving a signal for hanging the direction of the camera from a remote control device. CONSTITUTION: This camera is provided with a signal receiving part (j) for receiving the signal (k) by infrared rays emitted by the remote control device, a discriminating part (i) for discriminating whether the signal from the image receiving part (j) is one from the front surface or one from the rear surface, a microcomputer (f), an RC resistor 1, a motor (h) for turning the camera (a) and a control part (g) controlling the motor (h). The remote control device for instructions to change the direction of the camera (a) turns the direction into the signal (K) to transmit it to the camera (a), and the camera discriminates that the signal (k) is issued from which position viewing from the camera (a) and is reversely rotated, not rotated or normally rotated in accordance with the discriminated result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera, a general photographing camera and a video camera which require a photographer to operate the camera separately.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-335623, an invention for remotely controlling the direction of a camera has been proposed. However, when the direction d3 of the remote control device b shown in FIG. 12 is directed to the camera a and the button d is pressed, when the operator operates the camera a while standing on the position shown in FIG. 11 (a). If the camera is set to rotate in the direction of d1, the camera will rotate in the direction of d1 even if the camera is operated while standing in the position shown in FIG. Gave to.

[0003]

As described above, according to the position of the operator who operates the remote control device, the conventional camera has the following features.
There was a problem that the rotation direction of the camera was different.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is a remote operation that solves the complexity of the operation and can realize an operation that is comfortable to the user regardless of the position operated by the remote operator. An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a camera remotely operated by the device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 according to the present application comprises means for changing the direction of a camera and a remote control device for changing the direction of the camera. A discriminating means for discriminating whether the signal is transmitted from the front side or the rear side of the camera, and when the signal for changing the direction of the camera is received from the remote control device, the direction of moving the camera is reversed or stopped according to the discriminating means. The invention according to claim 3 has a signal generating means for generating a plurality of signals indicating the direction of the camera.

In the above structure, the remote control device for instructing to change the direction of the camera transmits the direction to the camera as a signal, and the camera transmits the signal from which position as seen from the camera. It has an action of discriminating whether or not it is issued and reversing, stopping or rotating the direction of moving the camera according to the discrimination result.

Further, the invention of claim 2 according to the present application is
A means for changing the direction of the camera, a determination means for determining whether the signal from the remote control device for changing the direction of the camera is transmitted from the front or the back of the camera, and a signal for changing the direction of the camera from the remote control device. When receiving, it comprises means for reversing, stopping or rotating forward the direction of moving the camera according to the discriminating means, and means for transmitting the photographing frame area of the camera in real time. The invention has a signal generating means for generating a plurality of signals indicating the direction of the camera and a means for displaying the photographing frame area of the camera in real time.

In the above structure, the remote control device for instructing to change the direction of the camera transmits the direction to the camera as a signal, and the camera determines from which position the signal is seen from the camera. The action to reverse, stop, or forward the direction of moving the camera so that the direction of moving the camera matches the direction of the shooting frame area display displayed on the remote control device according to the determination result To have.

[0009]

1 to 9 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric circuit in a main portion of a camera a which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
j is a receiving unit for receiving a signal k by infrared rays emitted from the remote control device, i is a determining unit for determining whether the signal of the receiving unit j is from the front or the back of the camera, and f is a microcomputer l.
Is an RC register, h is a motor for rotating the direction of the camera, and g is a control unit for controlling this motor h.

This embodiment is a system roughly composed of a camera a and a remote controller b, as in FIG. 11 of the conventional example. As shown in FIG. 12, the remote controller b has a button d for moving the camera direction to the right side of the screen, a button c for moving the camera direction to the left side, and a button e for releasing the shutter.

By pressing each button of the operating member bt of the remote control device b, the pulse generating circuit r of FIG. 4 generates three types of pattern signals as shown in FIG. 5 via the LEDs. Seeing these as serial signal data, 1
Hexadecimal notation defines FF, AA, and CO, respectively.

These emitted pulses are generated as pulses of light from the LED to the outside by the circuit shown in FIG.

The following description will explain the operation when the button d in the remote control device b shown in FIG. 12 is pressed, that is, when an instruction to shift the screen to the right is given.

These emitted pulses are received at two light receiving portions from the direction of k1 or k2 shown in FIG. 2, a sensor member m1 made up of a photodiode arranged on the rear surface of the camera, and a photodiode arranged on the front surface of the camera. Is guided to and received by the sensor member m2.

The received signal is a receiving portion j for receiving the infrared signal k emitted by the remote control device shown in FIG. 1 and a discrimination for discriminating whether the signal of the receiving portion j is from the front side or the rear side of the camera. The signal is processed in the part i.

The signal processing circuit of the discriminating section i has the structure shown in FIG. 6. First, the optical signal incident on the photodiode PD1 is converted into a voltage by the circuit of the sensor member m1 and input to the amplifier circuit AMP1. To be done. On the other hand, the optical signal incident on the photodiode PD2 is converted into a voltage by the circuit of the sensor member m2 and input to the amplifier circuit AMP2.

Thereafter, these signals are amplified into signals S1 and S2, respectively. The signal waveform at this time is as shown in FIG. 7 because, for example, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the front surface of the camera a, the input signal to the receiving circuit of the sensor member m2 is larger than the input signal to m1. To S
The signal of S2 is larger than that of 1. On the contrary, for example, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the rear surface of the camera a, the input signal to the receiving circuit of the sensor member m1 is larger than the input signal to m2, and as shown in FIG.
1 is a larger signal.

Here, S1 and S2 are calculated as "S1-S2" by the operation circuit OP2 shown in FIG.
A waveform of 1 is obtained. The signal waveform at this time becomes a downward signal as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the front surface of the camera a. Conversely, for example, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the rear surface of the camera a, the input signal to the receiving circuit of the sensor member m1 is m.
Since it is larger than the input signal to 2, the signal becomes an upward signal as shown in FIG.

The signal S21 is input to the comparison circuit Comp2 and compared with the voltage V1, and the result appears as the signal FB. For example, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the front surface of the camera a, FB becomes H level, and conversely, when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the rear surface of the camera a,
FB becomes L level.

At the same time, the signals S1 and S2 are transmitted to the arithmetic circuit O.
The operation of “S1 + S2” is performed by P1, and S11
Is obtained. The signal waveforms at this time are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 both when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the front surface of the camera a and when the remote control device b transmits a signal from the rear surface of the camera a, for example. Similar shaped waveforms are obtained as shown.

The signal S11 obtained here is the comparison circuit Co.
It is input to mp1 and compared with the voltage V2, and the output signal RC becomes H level or L level depending on whether it is larger or smaller than V2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the RC signal becomes a serial signal of any one of hexadecimal notation "FF", "AA" and "CO" by the button of the operating member bt to be pushed.

This signal is input to the microcomputer f in FIG.
The value is stored in the RC register, and interrupt processing is given to the microcomputer f.

The microcomputer f can control the motor h to rotate normally, reversely or stop by giving a signal F / R to the control part g which is the motor control circuit of FIG.

The rotation axis of the motor h is the gear p shown in FIG.
The gear p2 also meshes with the gear p1 having a shaft fixed to the platform n, and the gear p2 is the gear p2.
It is possible to rotate around in both directions. This rotation allows the camera a to change its shooting direction to the direction d1 or d2 shown in FIG.

When any button is pressed from the remote control device b, a signal is transmitted and the above-mentioned serial signal is received, an interrupt occurs in the processing in the microcomputer f. At that time, the processing of the microcomputer f follows the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the operation of the microcomputer f when the right button of the remote control device is pressed from the front of the camera will be described.
When the above interrupt signal is generated in the microcomputer f (S
1), the process proceeds to S2. In the process S2, the signal FB is determined. At this time, since the signal FB is at the H level, the processing S3
Then, the type of the signal sent from the remote device stored in the RC register is determined (S3). At this time, the serial signal FF is stored in the RC register, so the program proceeds to step S4. In process S4, the microcomputer f sends a signal F / R to the motor control circuit g to drive the motor h and move the entire camera to d1 shown in FIG. 11 (a). Then, the series of interrupt processing ends.

Next, the operation of the microcomputer f when the left button of the remote control device is pressed from the front of the camera will be described.
When the above-mentioned interrupt occurs in the microcomputer f (S1), the process proceeds to S2. In the process S2, the signal FB is determined.
At this time, the signal FB is at the H level, so the process proceeds to step S3,
The type of the signal sent from the remote device stored in the RC register is determined (S3). At this time, since the serial signal AA is stored in the RC register, the program proceeds to step S7. In process S7, the contents of the RC register are discriminated again, and the process proceeds to process S8. In step S8, the microcomputer f
Sends a signal F / R to the motor control circuit g to drive the motor h and move the entire camera to d2 shown in FIG. 11 (a). Then, the series of interrupt processing ends.

The operation of the microcomputer f when the right button of the remote control device is pressed from the rear side of the camera will be described.
When the above-mentioned interrupt occurs in the microcomputer f (S1), the process proceeds to S2. In the process S2, the signal FB is determined.
At this time, since the signal FB is at the L level, the process proceeds to step S5,
The type (RC = AA?) Of the signal sent from the remote device and stored in the RC register is determined (S5). At this time, the serial signal FF is stored in the RC register, so the program proceeds to step S9. R again in step S9
The contents of the C register are discriminated (RC = CO?) And the process S is executed.
Proceed to 11. In process S11, the microcomputer f sends a signal F / R to the motor control circuit g to drive the motor h and move the entire camera to d1 shown in FIG. 11B. Then, the series of interrupt processing ends.

Further, the operation of the microcomputer f when the left button of the remote control device is pressed from the rear side of the camera will be described. When the above interrupt occurs in the microcomputer f (S
1), the process proceeds to S2. In the process S2, the signal FB is determined. At this time, the signal FB is at the L level, so the process S5
Then, the type of the signal sent from the remote device stored in the RC register is determined (RC = AA?). At this time, since AA is stored in the RC register, the program proceeds to processing S6. In step S6, the microcomputer f sends a signal F / R to the motor control circuit g to drive the motor h and move the entire camera to d2 shown in FIG. 11 (b). Then, the series of interrupt processing ends.

Correspondence between Embodiment and Invention In the above embodiment, the rotation axis of the motor h is also the rotation axis of the gear p2 shown in FIG. 3, and the gear p2 has a gear fixed to the platform n. It meshes with p1, and the gear p2 can rotate in both directions around the gear p2. This rotation allows the camera a to change its shooting direction to the direction of d1 or d2 shown in FIG. 11, which corresponds to the means for changing the direction of the camera of the present invention, and is also shown in FIG. The signal processing circuit (FIG. 6) of the discriminating section i corresponds to the discriminating means for discriminating whether the signal from the remote control device in the present invention is transmitted from the front side or the rear side of the camera, and from the microcomputer f shown in FIG. The point of controlling the motor h in the forward direction, the reverse point or the stop by giving a signal F / R to the control unit g which is a motor control circuit is to reverse the direction of moving the camera according to the discrimination means in the present invention. It corresponds to a means for stopping or rotating in the normal direction, and further, giving a signal F / R from the microcomputer f to the control section g is equivalent to the means for transmitting the photographing frame area of the camera of the present invention in real time. To.

Further, in the embodiment, by pressing each button of the operating member bt of the remote control device b, three kinds of pattern signals "FF" and "A" are output from the pulse generating circuit r of FIG.
The points of generating "A" and "CO" correspond to the signal generating means for generating a plurality of signals instructing the direction of the camera in the present invention, and further, the button d of the operation member bt shown in FIGS. c and e correspond to means for displaying the shooting frame area of the camera in real time in the present invention.

The above is the correspondence relationship between each configuration of the embodiments and each configuration of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments, and the functions shown in the claims or It goes without saying that any structure may be used as long as the functions of the structure of the embodiment can be achieved.

Further, the present invention may combine the above-mentioned embodiments or their technical elements as required.

In addition, the present invention may be applied to a device in which all or part of the configuration of the claims or the embodiments forms one device or is combined with another device. May be an element that constitutes the.

The present invention can also be applied to image recording media other than films.

The present invention also relates to various types of cameras such as single-lens reflex cameras, lens shutter cameras, video cameras,
Further, the present invention can be applied to optical devices other than cameras and other devices, devices applied to those cameras and optical devices and other devices, and elements constituting these devices.

[0038]

As described above, according to each of the claims of the present invention, the complexity of the operation shown in the conventional example can be solved, and the remote operator can operate regardless of the position to operate, and there is no discomfort. Realize the operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera that constitutes an embodiment of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] Receiving members m1 and m when the camera a is viewed from the bottom surface
FIG.

FIG. 3 is a mechanism diagram for rotating the orientation of the camera a in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remote control device that constitutes an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining how the pulse signal of FIG. 4 changes depending on the pressed buttons c, d, and e.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a signal processing circuit of a determination unit that receives a signal transmitted from a remote control device and determines whether the signal is from the back or front of the camera.

FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram showing a typical signal state shown in FIG. 6 when the remote control device is operated from the front of the camera.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing a typical signal state shown in FIG. 6 when the remote control device is operated from the rear surface of the camera.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process controlled by a microcomputer f.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating rotation directions of a remote control device and a camera according to a conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining rotation directions of a remote control device and a camera of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 f microcomputer g control unit h motor i determination unit j reception unit m1, m2 sensor member n pan head p1, p2 gear q power supply r pulse generation circuit Tr1, Tr2 transistor bt operation member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A means for changing a direction of a camera, a judging means for judging whether a signal from the remote operation device for changing the direction of the camera is transmitted from the front surface or the back surface of the camera, and the remote operation device A camera, comprising means for reversing, stopping, or rotating the direction of moving the camera in response to the signal for changing the direction according to the determination means. 2. A means for changing the direction of the camera, a judgment means for judging whether a signal from the remote operation device for changing the direction of the camera is transmitted from the front surface or the back surface of the camera, and the remote operation device It is characterized by comprising means for reversing, stopping or forward rotating the direction of moving the camera in response to the signal for changing the direction, and means for transmitting the photographing frame area of the camera in real time in response to the signal for changing the direction. camera. 3. A remote control device comprising a signal generating means for generating a plurality of signals indicating the orientation of a camera. 4. A remote control device comprising: a signal generating means for generating a plurality of signals indicating the orientation of the camera; and a means for displaying a photographing frame area of the camera in real time.