JPH09284609A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input device with superior operability, where usability is improved. SOLUTION: The device consists of a motor driven pan head 20 being operation control possible by a signal from an external equipment 30 and a camera device 10 converting a subject image into a video signal and outputting it and constituted so as to be traffic possible by connection to the external equipment 30 with a cord-shaped cable 2. Moreover, a cable containing means 40 for containng the cord-shaped cable 2 and a means for connecting and integrating an image input device 1 body to the external equipment 30 are also provided so that the operation of the motor driven pan head 20 is controlled in accordance with the containing operation of the cord-shaped cable 2. Especially, the operation of the motor driven pan head 20 is controlled in accordance with the containing operation of the cord-shaped cable 2 and the posture of the image input device 1 body is shifted to the prescribed posture.

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 provided with an electric pan head for rotatably supporting a camera section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an example of this type of image input device. The image input device 100 includes a camera unit 101.
And an electric pan head 1 for rotatably supporting the camera unit 101.
02. According to the image input device 100, the posture can be controlled from a distant place by remote control by a remote controller device or the like, and the image input device 100 can be used for, for example, a monitoring system or an unmanned photographing system.

In the actual use of the image input device as in the above example, for example, it may be considered that the image input device is connected to a monitor device or the like via a cable in which some electric signal lines are put together and used outdoors. To be In such usage,
It is extremely important to be able to store the cables appropriately in order to improve usability. Conventionally, in consideration of such a case, the cable storage device is provided in the monitor device or the image input device to store the cable, and the image input device can be stored in the monitor device to simplify the storage and carrying. You can

[0004]

However, since the conventional image input apparatus does not always stop in the same posture, the posture of the image input apparatus may be changed depending on the posture when the image input apparatus is stored. It is necessary to re-storable it, which causes a problem that storage work cannot be performed smoothly.

In view of the above situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device having improved usability and excellent handleability.

[0006]

An image input device of the present invention comprises an electric pan head which can be controlled in operation by a signal from an external device, and a camera device which converts a subject image into a video signal and outputs the video signal. An image input device connected to the external device via a cable to communicate with the external device, wherein a cable storing means for storing the cord-like cable and an image input device main body are joined and integrated with the external device. Means for controlling the operation of the electric platform according to the storage operation of the cord-like cable.

Further, in the image input apparatus of the present invention, the operation of the electric pan head is controlled according to the storing operation of the cord-like cable so that the attitude of the image input apparatus main body is shifted to a predetermined attitude. It was done.

Further, in the image input device of the present invention, the operation of the electric pan head is controlled according to the storing operation of the cord-like cable so that the posture of the image input device main body is integrated with the external device. It is designed to shift to an optimal posture.

Further, in the image input device of the present invention, the cable storing means includes an operating member for executing the storing operation of the cord-like cable, and the operation of the operating member is interlocked with the operating member of the electric platform. The operation is controlled.

Further, in the image input device of the present invention, the signal is an electric signal.

In the image input device of the present invention, the signal is an optical signal.

Further, in the image input device of the present invention, the external device is a monitor device.

Further, in the image input device of the present invention, the external device is a recording device.

[0014]

In the present invention, a switch is provided which operates in conjunction with the operation of the switch (cable storing switch) for starting the storing operation of the cord-shaped cable provided in the cable storing means and outputs an electric signal. Then, when the cable storage switch is operated, an electric signal is sent to the control circuit of the electric platform, and when the control circuit receives the control signal, the control circuit controls the attitude of the image input device so that the attitude of the image input device is suitable for storage. The driving servo mechanism is driven.

With such a configuration, the operator can operate the cable storage switch so that the image input device is in a posture suitable for storage, no matter what posture the image input device is stopped. Operate and stop in this position.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an image input device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the image input apparatus according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, the image input device 1 includes a camera device 10 and an electric platform 20 that rotatably supports the camera device 10. In this system example, the image input device 1 is a monitor device 3 as an external device.
It is configured in combination with 0. Image input device 1
The monitor device 30 and the monitor device 30 are electrically connected to each other via the cable 2. The power of the entire system is supplied from the power supply device 3.

The camera unit 10 includes an optical system and a photoelectric conversion unit 1.
1, an auto focus (AF) servo 12 and a zoom (Zoom) servo 13. Further, the electric platform 20 has an attitude control servo 21, a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 22, a memory 23, an image signal processing circuit 24, and a power supply circuit 25. The monitor device 30 also includes a display unit 31, operation switches 32, a microcomputer 33, and a power supply circuit 34.

The cable 2 is a control signal for exchanging control signals between the image signal line for sending the image signal from the image input apparatus 1 and the microcomputer 22 for controlling the image input apparatus 1 and the microcomputer 33 for controlling the monitor apparatus 30. A line and a power line for supplying power to the image input device 1 are included, and these are bundled into a string shape.

In this embodiment, the image information photographed by the camera device 10 and converted into an electric signal is subjected to necessary processing in the image signal processing circuit 24 and then transmitted to the monitor device 30 through the image signal line of the cable 2. And is displayed on the display unit 31 provided in the monitor device 30.

The microcomputer 22 and the microcomputer 33 communicate control signals via control signal lines. The content of the control signal is a control signal in accordance with the operation of the operation switch 32 provided in the monitor device 30 for operating the electric pan head 20 and the focal length of the camera device 10. The control signal transmitted from the microcomputer 33 is input to the microcomputer 22. The microcomputer 22 controls the attitude control servo 2 that controls the attitude of the electric platform 20 according to the content of the transmitted control signal.
1 and a control signal is output to the zoom servo 13 that controls the focal length of the camera device 10. Each servo 21 or 13 that receives the control signal operates to control the attitude of the electric platform 20 or the focal length of the camera device 10.

Here, in the present embodiment, the image input device 1 can be detached from the monitor device 30 as shown in FIG. 2A and used, and the monitor device 30 as shown in FIG. 2B. It can be integrated in the. In this way, the image input device 1 can be compactly stored. It should be noted that when the monitor device 30 is stored in the monitor device 30, as shown in FIG.
As described above, it is possible to take a form (storage posture) suitable for storage.

A cable winding device 40 for accommodating the cable 2 is attached to the monitor device 30 (FIG. 1). This cable winding device 40 is also shown in FIG. 4, and its specific configuration will be described later. To store the image input device 1 in the monitor device 30, the inside of the cable winding device 40 is to be installed. Take up the cable 2 and store it. Then, the image input device 1 is housed by fitting it into the housing portion 30a provided in the monitor device 30 in a posture of facing the front as shown in FIG. The storage portion 30a can be configured by cutting a proper portion of the device body of the monitor device 30 as shown in FIG. 2 (A).

Next, the operation procedure of the system according to the image input apparatus 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the operation flow shown in FIG. Here, first, the cable 2 is wound around the reel 41 in the cable winding device 40 at the time of storage, as shown in FIG. By pulling out the cable 2 from the cable winding device 40, the reel 41 is rotated, and at the same time, the spiral spring 43 whose both ends are fixed to the reel 41 and the shaft 42 is tightened.

The reel 41 is at a proper position, and the claw 4 provided on the cable storage switch 44 is urged by the spring 45.
It is fixed by 4a. The cable storage switch 44 is rotatably supported around a shaft 46. The end of the cable storage switch 44 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A) and FIG. 4, it is arranged so as to be able to be pushed from the outside of the apparatus.

When the cable 2 is stored, by pushing the cable storage switch 44, the cable storage switch 44 fixing the reel 41 is opened with the shaft 46 as a fulcrum against the biasing force of the spring 45. As a result, the claw 44a that has locked the reel 41 is disengaged from the reel 41. The freely rotatable reel 41 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which the cable 2 is pulled out by the elastic energy stored in the spiral spring 43, and the cable 2 can be wound around the reel 41 and stored.

A switch 47 is arranged near the cable storage switch 44 so that the cable storage switch 44 is turned on by pushing the end of the cable storage switch 44 as shown in FIG. The output signal of the switch 47 is electrically connected to the microcomputer 22 through a control signal line in the cable 2 as shown in FIG.

Upon receiving the control signal indicating that the switch 47 has been turned on, the microcomputer 22 refers to the information on the storage attitude of the image input apparatus 1 stored in the memory 23, and refers to the attitude control servo 21 of the electric platform 20. A control signal is output so that the image input device 1 is operated until it is in the stored posture. The attitude control servo 21 operates to control the attitude of the electric platform 20 to bring the image input device 1 into the stored attitude, and thereafter stops the operation.

As a result, even if the posture of the image input apparatus 1 is in an arbitrary posture state as shown in FIG. 2A immediately before the start of the storage work, the storage of the image input apparatus 1 is performed after the cable storage switch 44 is operated. When the work is started, it is possible to take a predetermined predetermined storage posture as shown in FIG. Therefore, during this storage, the image input device 1 can be stored accurately and smoothly in a predetermined portion of the monitor device 30 as shown in FIG.

In the above case, the operation of the switch 47 may be prioritized over the switch for turning ON / OFF the main power supply of the system according to this embodiment. That is, regardless of whether the main power switch is ON or OFF, the operability of the apparatus can be further improved by placing the image input apparatus 1 in the storage posture when the switch 47 is turned ON.

In the above embodiment, the monitor device 3 connected to the image input device 1 via the cable 2 is used.
Although the example of 0 has been described, the device connected to the image input device 1 may be, for example, a magnetic or magneto-optical recording device. Moreover, not only an electrical signal but also an optical signal may be exchanged between the image input device 1 and an external device connected thereto via the cable 2. When communicating optical signals in this way, the cable 2 can be constructed using an optical fiber cable or the like.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the image input device is stopped in any posture, the operator operates the cable storage switch to bring the electric pan head to the optimal posture for storage. Can be transferred. Therefore, when the image input device connected to the external device via the cable is stored in the external device, the image input device can be smoothly and accurately stored, and extremely easy to use and excellent handleability can be realized. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example according to an embodiment of an image input apparatus according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are perspective views of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention when in use, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view during storage.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a posture when the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention is stored.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cable winding device according to an embodiment of the image input device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of the system in the embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing an example of an image input device including a conventional electric platform.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image input device 2 cable 3 power supply device 10 camera unit 11 optical system and photoelectric conversion unit 12 AF servo 13 zoom servo 20 electric pan head 21 attitude control servo 22 microcomputer 23 memory 24 image signal processing unit 25 power supply circuit 30 monitor device 31 display Part 32 Operation Switch 33 Microcomputer 34 Power Supply Circuit 40 Cable Winding Device 41 Reel 43 Spiral Spring 44 Cable Storage Switch 47 Switch

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electric pan / tilt head whose operation is controllable by a signal from an external device, and a camera device which converts a subject image into a video signal and outputs the image signal. The camera device is connected to the external device via a cord cable. An image input device configured to communicate, comprising cable storage means for storing the cord-like cable, and means for joining and integrating the image input device main body with the external device. The image input device is characterized in that the operation of the electric platform is controlled according to the above. 2. The operation of the electric pan / tilt head is controlled according to the storage operation of the cord-like cable to shift the attitude of the image input apparatus main body to a predetermined attitude. 1. The image input device described in 1. 3. The operation of the electric pan head is controlled according to the storing operation of the cord-shaped cable, and the attitude of the image input apparatus main body is shifted to an optimum attitude for joining and integrating with the external device. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
An image input device according to claim 1. 4. The cable accommodating means includes an operating member for executing the accommodating operation of the cord-like cable, and controls the operation of the electric platform in conjunction with the operation of the operating member. The image input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. The image input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the signal is an electric signal. 6. The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is an optical signal. 7. The image input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the external device is a monitor device. 8. The image input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the external device is a recording device.