JPH08265623A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reduce the number of wires interconnecting a camera and a tripod. CONSTITUTION: A control circuit 24 of a video camera 10 receives an external control signal via a communication circuit 22 to control the entire sections. That is, the control circuit 24 drives a panning motor 34 with a panning motor drive circuit 36 with respect to panning and drives a tilt motor 38 with a tilt motor drive circuit 40 with respect to tilting. Each of the motors 34, 36 is provided with a means interrupting a drive current to prevent further motor driving when each motor reaches a drive limit. A universal head 32 is provided with the drive circuits 36, 40 and the motors 34, 38. The drive circuits 36, 40 may be provided to the camera 10.

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,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image input device whose pan and tilt can be externally controlled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the progress and spread of computers, image processing technology and communication technology, images, especially moving images can be processed by a personal computer or the like and can be transmitted to a remote place via a network. For example, videophones, video conferencing (or video conferencing) and video mail are typical uses.

For example, as an image input device used for a video conference, a video camera is placed on a pan / tilt pan which can be freely panned and tilted, and a shooting azimuth (pan angle and tilt angle) and a magnification (zoom value) are externally supplied. Specifically, a configuration is known that allows remote control from a computer to be connected or another computer via a network.

That is, in the conventional image input device, as shown in FIG. 9, a video camera 210 is provided with a camera CPU 212, and a pan / tilt head 2 which is a pan / tilt rotary base.
A pan head CPU 216 is provided in the video camera 210
Camera head 216 to camera 2
12, a serial communication line 218 for transferring a status signal in the reverse direction, a power line 220 for supplying power from the camera platform 214 to the camera 210, and the camera 2
At least three electric wires of a video signal line 222 for taking out a video signal output from 10 are connected.

A serial communication line (normally, RS232 standard is used) 224 and a power supply line 226 for inputting a control command from an external computer to the outside of the platform 214 and returning a status signal. , And at least three of the video signal lines 228 for video output are output. The power supply circuit 230 in the camera platform 214 converts the power source (usually AC power) from the power source line 226 into an appropriate DC voltage and supplies it to each unit in the camera platform 214, and at the same time, the camera 210 via the power source line 220. Also supply. The video signal line 222 is directly connected to the video signal line 228.

With such a configuration, the external computer sends camera control commands for pan, tilt, zoom and focus, and various inquiry commands to the pan head CPU 216 via the control line 224 of the RS232C interface. The pan head CPU 216 drives a pan motor and a tilt motor (not shown) to rotate the pan and tilt to a specified angle. For video camera functions such as zoom and focus,
The PU 216 is connected to the camera CPU 212 via the communication line 218.
, And control to a desired zoom value or the like.

[0007]

However, in the conventional example,
There are the following problems. That is, the video camera 210
If the CPUs 212 and 216 are provided on both the platform and the platform 214, it becomes expensive. When the camera-side CPU controls the platform, the number of control lines for controlling the platform increases (for example, two pans and two tilts and two reset switches are required). Then, at least 8 wires are required in total.)
0 and video signal line 222 are required. The wires 218, 220, 222 must be flexibly arranged to accommodate not only the large number of wires, but also the rotation of the platform 214 to pan and tilt the video camera 210. When considering the rotation of the platform 214 in a free or wide angle range, it is necessary to consider the signal and power transmission means so as not to interfere with the rotation of the platform 214, but the number of signal lines is large. And can not be easily realized.

It is an object of the present invention to present an image input device which eliminates such inconvenience.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image input device which requires less electric wires for connecting the camera and the platform.

[0010]

An image input device according to the present invention comprises an image pickup means for converting an optical image into an electric signal, an azimuth change means for changing the azimuth of image input by the image pickup means, and an external control device. It is characterized by comprising a communication circuit for communication and a control means for controlling the image pickup means and the azimuth changing means in accordance with a control signal from an external control device via the communication circuit.

The azimuth changing means includes a pan motor, a pan motor drive circuit for driving the pan motor in accordance with a control signal from the control circuit, and a pan rotation end detection for detecting arrival at the pan rotation end. Means, and a pan motor energization interruption means for interrupting energization to the pan motor in order to prevent a pan exceeding the pan rotation end according to the detection output of the pan rotation end detection means, a tilt motor, and the control. According to a control signal from the circuit, a tilt / motor drive circuit for driving the tilt motor, a tilt rotation end detecting means for detecting arrival at the tilt rotation end, and a tilt output according to the detection output of the tilt rotation end detecting means. The tilt / motor energization interrupting means interrupts the energization of the tilt motor to prevent the tilt exceeding the rotation end.

[0012]

By the above means, the CPU is provided in both the image pickup section and the platform.
It becomes unnecessary to provide. The wire connecting the camera and the platform is only required to have the motor control line and the power supply line or the drive current line, so that the number of wires can be reduced.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side view of its appearance.

The video camera 10 includes a photographing lens 12, an image pickup device 14 for converting an optical image formed by the photographing lens 12 into an electric signal, and an image pickup device 1 similarly to a normal video camera.
4 is provided with a signal processing circuit 16 for processing the output of the camera signal as a camera signal and an encoder 18 for converting the output of the signal processing circuit 16 into a video signal of a predetermined standard format. The camera 10 further includes a power supply circuit 20 that supplies each unit with AC power supplied from the outside into a predetermined DC voltage, a communication circuit 22 for communication such as an external computer, and the outside via the communication circuit 22. A control circuit 24 is provided for controlling each part in accordance with the communication. That is, in this embodiment, the camera 10
To the outside, a video signal line 26 for outputting the video output of the encoder 18 to the outside, a power supply line 28 for supplying AC power from the outside to the power supply circuit 20, and communication for connecting the communication circuit 22 and an external computer or the like. Line 30 is out.

On the platform 32, a pan / motor device 34 for rotating the camera 10 in the left / right direction, a pan / motor drive circuit 36 for rotationally driving the pan / motor device 34 in accordance with a control signal from the control circuit 24, and the camera 10 are provided. A tilt motor device 38 that rotates in the vertical direction and a tilt motor drive circuit 40 that drives the tilt motor device 38 to rotate according to a control signal from the control circuit 24 are provided. As a result, between the camera 10 and the platform 32, logically, a control signal line 42 for transmitting a control signal from the control circuit 24 to the pan motor drive circuit 36 and a tilt signal from the control circuit 24.
Control signal line 4 for transmitting a control signal to the motor drive circuit 40
It suffices if there are two signal lines of 4. The pan / motor drive circuit 36 and the tilt / motor drive circuit 40
May be provided on the side of the camera 10, and even in that case, the number of signal lines connecting the camera 10 and the platform 32 may be the same, but the pan motor drive circuit 36 and the tilt motor drive circuit 40 may be installed in the camera 10. If it is provided on the side, there is an advantage that the control signal lines 42 and 44 can be made one by multiplexing the control signals.

In the present embodiment, the control circuit 24 controls the functions of the camera 10 such as focus and zoom according to the control command supplied from the outside through the control signal line 30, and pans and tilts the platform 32. Also control.

3 and 4 show a first configuration example of the pan motor device 34 and the tilt motor device 38. FIG.
4 shows a configuration example of the pan motor device 34, and FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the tilt motor device 38. Drive voltage input terminal 50
Motor drive voltages from drive circuits 36 and 40 are applied between a and 50b and input terminals 52a and 52b, respectively. Reference numerals 54a and 54b denote DC motors for panning and tilting, respectively, and drive voltage input terminals 50a and 5b.
0b is a normally closed switch 56a, 56b and a diode 58.
drive voltage input terminals 52a, 5 connected to one input terminal of motors 54a, 54b via a parallel circuit of a, 58b.
2b is a normally closed switch 60a, 60b and a diode 62.
It is connected to the other input terminal of the motors 54a and 54b through a parallel circuit of a and 62b. Diodes 58a, 58
The anodes of b; 62a and 62b are connected to the input terminals 50a and 50b; 52a and 52b, respectively.

The normally closed switch 56a is installed so that the pan 32 (or the camera 10) is opened when the pan 32 (or the camera 10) reaches the end of the pan 32 and the normally closed switch 60a opens the pan 32 to the right. It is installed so that it is opened when it reaches the end of the bread. On the other hand, the normally closed switch 56b is
The platform 32 is installed so as to be opened when it is tilted downward and reaches its end, and the normally-closed switch 60b is opened when the platform 32 is tilted upward and reaches its end. Is installed.

3 and 4 have the same circuit configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the drive circuit 36 applies a positive drive voltage to the input terminal 50a with respect to the input terminal 52a, a drive current flows in the direction of arrow 64 via the switch 56a, the motor 54a, and the switch 60a. It is now assumed that the camera 10 pans to the right. When the end of the right pan is reached, the switch 60a is opened, so that no drive current flows through the motor 54a and the motor 54a stops regardless of the drive voltage applied between the terminals 50a and 52a. That is, the pan stops at the right rotation end.

On the contrary, when the drive circuit 36 applies a negative drive voltage to the input terminal 50a with respect to the input terminal 52a, the diode 62a, the motor 54a and the switch 5 are connected.
A drive current flows in the direction of arrow 66 through 6a. This causes the camera 10 to pan leftward. The switch 60a is closed when it reaches a predetermined position. When the end of the left pan is reached, the switch 56a is opened, so the terminal 50
Regardless of the drive voltage applied between a and 52a, the drive current stops flowing in the motor 54a and the motor 54a stops. That is, the pan stops at the left rotation end.

Terminal 50a (50b) and terminal 52a (52
If the applied voltage between the motor 54a and
(54b) is stopped.

5 and 6 show a second configuration example of the pan motor device 34 and the tilt motor device 38. Figure 5
6 shows a configuration example of the pan motor device 34, and FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the tilt motor device 38.

The drive circuit 3 is provided between the drive voltage input terminals 70a, 70b and the input terminals 72a, 72b, respectively.
The motor drive voltage from 6, 40 is applied. 74a,
74b is a DC motor for panning and tilting respectively, and driving voltage input terminals 70a, 70b are npn transistors 76a, 76b and diodes 78a, 78b.
connected to one of the input terminals of the motors 74a and 74b via the parallel circuit of b, and the drive voltage input terminals 72a and 72b are
Similarly, the motor 74a, via the parallel circuit of the npn-type transistors 80a, 80b and the diodes 82a, 82b,
Connect to the other input terminal of 74b.

The emitters of the transistors 76a and 76b and the anodes of the diodes 78a and 78b are both connected to the input terminals 70a and 70b, and the transistors 76a and 76b are connected.
The collector of b and the cathodes of the diodes 78a and 78b are both connected to one input terminal of the motors 74a and 74b. Similarly, the emitters of the transistors 80a and 80b and the anodes of the diodes 82a and 82b are both connected to the input terminals 72a and 72b, and the transistors 80a and 8b are connected.
The collector of 0b and the cathodes of the diodes 82a and 82b are both connected to the other input terminal of the motors 74a and 74b.

The input terminals 70a and 70b are also connected to the gates of the transistors 76a and 76b through normally closed switches 84a and 84b, diodes 86a and 86b and resistors 88a and 88b, which are opened at one rotation end of pan and tilt, respectively. Connecting. Similarly, the input terminals 72a, 72b
Are normally closed switches 90a and 90b and diodes 92a and 9a that are opened at the other rotation ends of pan and tilt, respectively.
2b and resistors 94a and 94b to form a transistor 80
It is connected to the gates of a and 80b. The normally closed switch 84a is similar to the switch 56a, and the platform 32 (or the camera 10).
Is installed so that it opens when it pans to the left and reaches its end.
Similar to a, the pan head 32 is installed so as to be opened when it pans to the right and reaches its end. Like the switch 56b, the normally closed switch 84b is installed so as to be opened when the camera platform 32 is tilted downward and reaches its end, and the normally closed switch 90b is installed like the switch 60b. Is installed so that it is released when it tilts upward and reaches its end.

5 and 6 have the same circuit configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. At intermediate pan angles, both switches 84a and 90a are closed. It is assumed that the drive circuit 36 applies a positive drive voltage to the input terminal 70a with respect to the input terminal 72a. At this time, the transistor 80a becomes conductive and the transistor 76a becomes non-conductive. Therefore, from the input terminal 70a to the diode 78a,
A drive current flows through the motor 74a and the transistor 80a to the input terminal 72a, that is, in the direction of arrow 96.
It is now assumed that the camera 10 pans to the right. When the end of the right pan is reached, the switch 90a is opened, so that the transistor 80a becomes non-conductive and the terminal 70a,
Motor 74 regardless of the drive voltage applied between 72a.
The drive current ceases to flow through a, and the motor 74a stops. That is, the pan stops at the right rotation end.

On the contrary, when the drive circuit 36 applies a negative drive voltage to the input terminal 70a with respect to the input terminal 72a, the transistor 76a becomes conductive and the transistor 80a.
a becomes non-conductive. Therefore, a drive current flows from the input terminal 72a to the input terminal 70a via the diode 82a, the motor 74a and the transistor 76a, that is, in the direction of the arrow 98. The camera 10 now pans to the left. When the end of the left pan is reached, the switch 84a is opened, so that regardless of the drive voltage applied between the terminals 70a and 72a, the drive current stops flowing through the motor 74a and the motor 74a stops. That is, the pan stops at the left rotation end.

Terminal 70a (70b) and terminal 72a (72
If the voltage applied between the motor 74a and
(74b) is stopped.

7 and 8 show a third configuration example of the pan motor device 34 and the tilt motor device 38. Figure 7
8 shows a configuration example of the pan motor device 34, and FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the tilt motor device 38. In the configuration shown here, a photo interrupter or a photo coupler is used to detect the pan end and the tilt end.

Motor drive voltages from drive circuits 36 and 40 are applied between the drive voltage input terminals 110a and 110b and the input terminals 112a and 112b, respectively. 1
14a and 114b are DC motors for pan and tilt, respectively, and drive voltage input terminals 110a and 110
b is a motor 1 through a parallel circuit of npn-type transistors 116a and 116b and diodes 118a and 118b.
14a and 114b, and the drive voltage input terminals 112a and 112b are connected to the npn transistors 120a and 120b and the diodes 122a and 1b.
It is connected to the other input terminals of the motors 114a and 114b via a parallel circuit of 22b.

The emitters of the transistors 116a and 116b and the anodes of the diodes 118a and 118b are both connected to the input terminals 110a and 110b, and the collectors of the transistors 116a and 116b and the diode 118 are connected.
The cathodes a and 118b are both motors 114a and 11b.
4b is connected to one of the input terminals. Similarly, the emitters of the transistors 120a and 120b and the diode 122
The anodes of a and 122b are both input terminals 112a and 1
12b, the collectors of the transistors 120a and 120b and the cathodes of the diodes 122a and 122b are both connected to the other input terminals of the motors 114a and 114b.

The input terminals 112a and 112b are connected to the gates of the transistors 116a and 116b through the forward-direction diodes 124a and 124b and the collector-emitter of the phototransistors 126a and 126b, respectively.
Forward diodes 128a and 128b, resistor 130
a, 130b and the light emitting diodes 132a, 132b are connected to the input terminals 110a, 110b. Light emitting diodes 132a and 132b and phototransistor 12
Reference numerals 6a and 126b constitute a photo interrupter or a photo coupler, and their optical paths are closed at the end of the left pan and the end of the lower tilt, respectively.

Similarly, the input terminals 110a and 110b are
Forward diodes 134a, 134b and phototransistors 136a, 136b are connected to the gates of transistors 120a, 120b via collectors / emitters, and forward diodes 138a, 138b, resistors 140a, 140b and light emitting diodes 142a, 1b are connected.
It is connected to the input terminals 112a and 112b via 42b. The light emitting diodes 142a and 142b and the phototransistors 136a and 136b constitute a photointerrupter or a photocoupler, and their optical paths are
It is configured to be closed at the end of the right pan and the end of the upper tilt, respectively.

Since FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 have the same circuit configuration, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the drive circuit 36 applies a positive drive voltage to the input terminal 110a with respect to the input terminal 112a at an intermediate angle of pan. At this time, the diode 142a emits light, and the phototransistor 136a receives the light and becomes conductive, and as a result, the transistor 120a becomes conductive. As a result, the input terminal 11
Drive current flows from 0a to the input terminal 112a, that is, in the direction of arrow 144, through the diode 118a, the motor 114a, and the transistor 120a. It is now assumed that the camera 10 pans to the right.

When the end of the right pan is reached, the light path between the light emitting diode 142a and the phototransistor 136a is interrupted and the transistor 136 becomes non-conductive, and thus the transistor 120a becomes non-conductive. As a result, the drive current stops flowing through the motor 114a regardless of the drive voltage applied between the terminals 110a and 112a, and the motor 114a stops. That is, the pan stops at the right rotation end.

On the contrary, it is assumed that the drive circuit 36 applies a negative drive voltage to the input terminal 110a with respect to the input terminal 112a. At this time, the diode 132a emits light, and the phototransistor 126a receives the light and becomes conductive, and as a result, the transistor 116a becomes conductive. Thereby, from the input terminal 112a to the diode 122a,
A drive current flows through the motor 114a and the transistor 116a to the input terminal 110a, that is, in the direction of arrow 146. This causes the camera 10 to pan leftward.

When the end of the left pan is reached, the light path between the light emitting diode 132a and the phototransistor 126a is interrupted and the transistor 126 becomes non-conductive, and thus the transistor 116a becomes non-conductive. As a result, the drive current stops flowing through the motor 114a regardless of the drive voltage applied between the terminals 110a and 112a, and the motor 114a stops. That is, the pan stops at the left rotation end.

Terminal 110a (110b) and terminal 112a
When the applied voltage between (112b) and (112b) is set to zero, the motor 114a (114b) is stopped.

[0040]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a CPU for both the camera and the platform, so that the present invention can be provided at a low cost. Also, since the number of wire rods connecting the camera and the platform can be reduced, this is also useful for reducing the manufacturing cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external side view of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a first configuration example of a pan motor device 34.

FIG. 4 is a first configuration example of a tilt motor device 38.

FIG. 5 is a second configuration example of the pan motor device 34.

FIG. 6 is a second configuration example of the tilt motor device 38.

FIG. 7 is a third configuration example of the pan motor device 34.

FIG. 8 is a third configuration example of the tilt motor device 38.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: video camera 12: shooting lens 14: image sensor 16: signal processing circuit 18: encoder 20: power circuit 22: communication circuit 24: control circuit 26: video signal line 28: power line 30: communication line 32: pan head 34: Pan motor device 36: Pan motor drive circuit 38: Tilt motor device 40: Tilt motor drive circuit 42, 44: Control signal lines 50a, 50b; 52a, 52b: Input terminal of drive voltage 54a: Pan Motor 54b: Tilt motor 56a, 56b: Normally closed switch 58a, 58b: Diode 60a, 60b: Normally closed switch 62a, 62b: Diode 64: Right pan drive current direction 66: Left pan drive current direction 70a, 70b; 72a and 72b: input terminals for driving voltage 74a: pan motor 74b: tilt motor 7 a, 76b: transistor 78a, 78b: diode 80a, 80b: transistor 82a, 82b: diode 84a, 84b: normally closed switch 86a, 86b: diode 88a, 88b: resistor 90a, 90b: normally closed switch 92a, 92b: diode 94a , 94b: resistor 96: right pan drive current direction 98: left pan drive current direction 110a, 110b; 112a, 112b: drive voltage input terminal 114a: pan motor 114b: tilt motor 116a, 116b: transistor 118a, 118b: diode 120a, 120b: transistor 122a, 122b: diode 124a, 124b: diode 126a, 126b: phototransistor 128a, 128b: diode 130a, 130b: Anti-132a, 132b: Light emitting diode 134a, 134b: Diode 136a, 136b: Phototransistor 138a, 138b: Diode 140a, 140b: Resistor 142a, 142b: Light emitting diode 144: Right pan drive current direction 146: Left pan drive current direction 210: video camera 212: camera CPU 214: pan head 216: pan head CPU 218: serial communication line 220: power line 222: video signal line 224: serial communication line 226: power line 228: video signal line 230: power circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for converting an optical image into an electric signal, an azimuth change means for changing an azimuth for inputting an image by the image pickup means, a communication circuit for communicating with an external control device, and an external device via the communication circuit. An image input device comprising: a control unit that controls the image pickup unit and the azimuth changing unit according to a control signal from the control unit. 2. The orientation changing means includes a pan motor,
According to the detection output of the pan motor drive circuit that drives the pan motor according to the control signal from the control circuit, the pan rotation end detection unit that detects arrival at the pan rotation end, and the pan rotation end detection unit, A pan motor energization cutoff unit that cuts off the power supply to the pan motor to prevent a pan exceeding the pan rotation end, a tilt motor, and a tilt that drives the tilt motor according to a control signal from the control circuit. The motor drive circuit, the tilt rotation end detecting means for detecting that the tilt rotation end is reached, and the tilt motor to prevent the tilt exceeding the tilt rotation end according to the detection output of the tilt rotation end detecting means. The image input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a tilt motor energization interruption means for interrupting energization of the motor.