JPH10229511A - Monitor camera equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide monitor camera equipment in which a user builds up freely the system constitution suitable for the purpose of the user. SOLUTION: In a terminal camera part 11 a TV camera 21 and a lens part 22 are controlled based on a command from a terminal control part 23 and a video signal is outputted. The terminal control part 23 gives a rotary command to a rotary part 24 that holds the TV camera 11 to rotate the TV camera 21 to a horizontal or a vertical direction. Rotary information and lens setting information are inputted to the terminal control part 23 to control the lens part 22 and the rotary part 24 and a video signal from the TV camera 21 is combined with a line control input output part 27 via a slip ring part 26. The line control input output part 27 is connected to an operation part set to an external monitor room or the like via a transmission line and a serial input and a parallel input from the operation part are supplied to the line control input output part 27 to generate a serial output in relation to the control contents or the like of the terminal control part 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system for monitoring factories, stores, and the like unattended.
In particular, the present invention relates to a surveillance camera device capable of simplifying a system change such as adding a monitoring part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional surveillance camera system, a camera unit constructed by mounting a television camera having a lens mechanism on a swivel unit is appropriately housed in a special housing, and is mounted at a predetermined position indoors or outdoors. The scene of the specified area is captured. In this case, a command is given to the turning device to turn the camera unit horizontally and vertically,
The selected imaging area is monitored by video. At the time of this monitoring operation, a predetermined portion is specified by using a horizontal or vertical scanning surface and a zoom mechanism of a lens, and enlargement monitoring can be performed.

[0003] Here, a terminal control section, a transmission section, a power supply section, a terminal board and the like are set in the camera section, respectively.
Each is constituted by a separate design concept. When constructing a set of surveillance systems, these components are assembled together to suit each purpose to form a set of camera units. A transmission line is installed in the control section, and an operation section corresponding to each camera section is set in the control section, so that the overall configuration of the system is inevitably increased in size and the price is inevitably increased.

[0004] That is, a terminal camera unit independently configured in a system includes a first terminal configured by a television camera having a lens mechanism and a turning device equipped with the television camera. Then, the first terminal is installed at a predetermined monitoring position, and is set so that a predetermined monitoring area is imaged by a television camera. For such a first terminal, a second terminal connected to the terminal via a transmission line is set, and the second terminal is set in a monitoring room or the like, and sends a control command to the camera unit. It is provided with a control unit for generating the signal and a transmission unit for transmitting a signal to the outside. Even when a plurality of camera units are set, the second terminal is set corresponding to each camera unit, and a monitoring image from each camera unit is displayed on a monitor screen installed in a monitoring room.

[0005] Therefore, for example, when adding a surveillance camera, a first terminal provided with an additional camera unit is installed at a predetermined monitoring position, and a second terminal corresponding to this camera unit is prepared and monitored. Room, the first terminal and the second
To the terminal with a transmission line. In other words, it becomes necessary to increase the number of monitoring command rooms as well as the number of monitoring cameras, and the modification of the monitoring system becomes complicated.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points. For example, the terminal camera unit, the transmission (communication) unit, and the display (monitor) unit are functioned independently. , So that the system can be constructed by selecting each of them partially. The user can freely select each part, and the system can be easily constructed according to the purpose, and expansion and the like can be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a surveillance camera device that can be easily modified.

[0007]

A surveillance camera device according to the present invention holds a television camera provided with a lens mechanism for taking a surveillance image by a turning means for turning the imaging direction in horizontal and vertical planes. Terminal control means for supplying an imaging condition signal to the television camera and for giving a turning command to the turning means, further provided with presetting means subordinate to the terminal controlling means, an output video signal from the television camera, the terminal control means From the line control input / output means via the slip ring means. Here, the TV camera, the turning means, the terminal control means,
The camera unit is constituted as a single unit by integrally incorporating a preset unit, a slip ring unit, and a line control input / output unit, and the input / output unit of the camera unit is connected to a serial and parallel unit via a transmission line. Is input. The plurality of camera units are appropriately configured, and the plurality of camera units are connected to a set of control units via the transmission line, and an operation unit is set for the set of control units, and the plurality of camera units are set. A serial or parallel command signal is supplied to each of the units. Further, the camera unit is provided with an image memory unit to which an image pickup video signal output from the television camera is supplied, and the video signal is stored in a frame unit based on a command from the input / output unit. Here, the control unit may be provided with a personal computer that generates a serial signal.

[0008] In the surveillance camera device configured as described above, a television camera, a turning device, a terminal control device, a preset device, a slip ring device, and a line control input / output device are integrated in a camera portion constituting the terminal. For example, when adding, it is only necessary to install this camera unit at a predetermined location and install a transmission line between the camera unit and the monitoring room. That is, the first terminal and the second terminal of the related art are integrally configured as a terminal camera unit, and the first terminal camera is selected according to the purpose, and is appropriately connected to the monitoring room as needed. In addition to installing a transmission line, a control system, a monitor, and the like in the monitoring room can freely select a configuration suitable for the system. That is, the terminal camera unit, the transmission (communication) unit, and the display (monitor) unit are independently functioned, and the system can be constructed by selecting each of them in a partial manner. The system can be easily and inexpensively constructed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates a basic configuration of a surveillance camera device according to the present invention.
An operation unit 12 that issues an operation command to the terminal camera unit 11
And a monitor unit 13 for displaying a captured image, and an AC adapter 14 for supplying power. Then, the terminal camera section 11 is installed at a predetermined monitoring position, and the captured video signal is supplied to the video monitor section 13 via the video cable 15. Further, a signal from the operation unit 12 is supplied to the terminal camera unit 11 via the command cable 16, and the monitor unit 13 is appropriately installed in a monitoring room. AC
The adapter 14 is set near the terminal camera unit 11.

When a surveillance system is constituted by such a device, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of terminal camera units 111,
, And a plurality of terminal camera units 111, 112,
, A set of control units 17 commonly used is set. The control unit 17 is installed in a monitoring room, and has an operation unit 12 and a monitor unit 13 attached thereto. Here, the operation unit 12 is composed of, for example, a control system such as a personal computer for collectively controlling the terminal camera units 111, 112,... Or a manual input device such as a keyboard or a touch panel for performing an artificial input. The control output from the control unit is sent to the terminal camera units 111, 112,... As serial data.

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of one terminal camera unit 11. A TV (television) camera 21 is provided with a lens unit 22 having, for example, a zoom mechanism. The TV camera 21 and the lens unit 22 are both controlled based on a command from the terminal control unit 23, and are turned based on the control contents.
In addition, a zooming operation of the lens unit is performed, an imaging operation is performed, and a video signal based on the imaging operation is output. That is, the terminal control unit 23 gives a turning command to the turning unit 24. The turning unit 24 controls a turning mechanism that supports the TV camera 21, and turns the TV camera 21 horizontally and vertically. By controlling, the imaging direction is scanned and the imaging target is specified as appropriate. A preset unit 25 is subordinate to the terminal control unit 23, and the turning information and the lens setting information set in the preset unit 25 are input to the terminal control unit 23.

A video signal from the TV camera 21 is supplied to a slip ring unit 26, and an output signal from a terminal control unit 23 is supplied to the slip ring unit 26. The slip ring unit 26 controls the terminal control unit 23. A command signal is input. The slip ring unit 26 has a function of transmitting a signal between rotating parts, and has a function of deriving a video signal from the turned TV camera 21 and the like. Then, a video output signal is output from the slip ring unit 26, sent out to a transmission line (video cable) 15 composed of a coaxial cable or the like (not shown), and supplied to a video monitor unit.

A line control input / output unit 27 is connected to the slip ring unit 26. This line control input / output unit 27
Is connected to a control unit or an operation unit set externally via a transmission line 16 serving as a command cable, supplied with a serial input or a remote control or a parallel input from a single adjacent operation unit, and a terminal control unit. Generates a serial output related to the control contents of 23.

Here, the functional mechanism shown in FIG.
All are stored and set inside, for example, a dome-shaped casing, and the dome-shaped casing is attached and set at the installation position of the surveillance camera. Then, for example, the TV camera 21 attached to the turning mechanism is turned inside the transparent dome, and the imaging direction is scanned. That is, the terminal camera section is constituted only by the dome-shaped casing, and video signals and serial and parallel data are transmitted and received using the communication function built in the camera section.

Here, the terminal control unit 23 will be described. The terminal control unit 23 includes a logic circuit and hardware necessary for driving the TV camera 21, the lens unit 22, and the turning unit 24. In response to this, a necessary drive signal is supplied to a load such as the turning unit 24, for example. Specifically, it converts the control serial data sorted by the line control input / output unit 27 into parallel logic information in accordance with a predetermined sequence, and controls power (current) for driving a load.

The line control input / output unit 27 includes, for example, a parallel interface corresponding to operation of a contact and the like and a serial interface for communication input. Are automatically switched.

The serial control signal from the control unit is passed as it is, and the parallel input from the operation unit is converted into a serial signal and sent to the slip ring unit 26. When a serial signal is being received from the serial interface, the internal state signal from the terminal control unit 23 is output as a serial signal. Here, as a communication format for serial input, for example, a standard system of a cyclic digital transmission system with a transmission speed of 2.400 bps is adopted. Here, when the serial signal and the parallel signal are generated simultaneously, the parallel signal is prioritized, and the camera unit is controlled based on the parallel input signal.

Preset unit 25 coupled to terminal control unit 23
Can be combined with the direction (horizontal and vertical directions) of the TV camera 21 and the function (smooth, focus) of the lens unit 22 and can store, for example, up to 64 ways (positions). According to the control command, the TV camera 21 is directed to the preset storage mode.

The serial / parallel automatic conversion switching function will be described. FIG. 4 shows the concept of the function. A parallel input and a serial input are supplied to a line control input / output unit 27, and the line control input / output unit 27 is supplied with a logical switch SW. An ID number for specifying the TV camera 21 is set in the camera number setting section 30.

The greatest feature of the terminal TV camera 21 is that it has versatility. Therefore, in addition to the serial interface for multiplex control generally found in this type of camera, the terminal camera alone can be used. It has a direct control interface (parallel interface) that can operate.

Here, the serial interface is for remote control by a personal computer or the like, and the parallel interface is for remote operation or independent (only one unit).
It is considered to correspond at the time of use. The serial / parallel input / output terminals are functionally provided separately. The control command can be freely performed from any position, and the switching can be automatically determined by the line control input / output unit 27 inside the terminal camera unit 11, and the parallel input has priority.

The control content is such that in addition to the normal basic control of the TV camera 21, the lens unit 22, and the turning unit 24, an arbitrary camera can be selected from a plurality of camera systems. Preset control that operates according to the determined mode is also possible.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which a surveillance system is constructed using such a terminal camera unit 11.
Are set, and these terminal camera units 111, 112,... Are connected to the personal computer 31 via a pair of transmission lines of a common monitoring line 15 and a command line 16.
Are connected in parallel. Then, the serial signal generated by the personal computer 31 is transmitted to a plurality of terminal camera units 111, 112,.
, And serial signals from the terminal cameras 111, 112,... Are input to the personal computer 31, and the terminal cameras 111, 112,.

FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the line control input / output unit 27 and the camera number setting unit 30 by the flow of operation. First, at step 301, it is determined whether or not the inputs are parallel. If it is determined in step 301 that the input is a parallel signal, the flow advances to step 302 to convert the parallel input into a serial signal.

If it is determined in step 301 that the input is not a parallel signal, the flow advances to step 303 to confirm that the input is a serial signal. This step 303
If it is confirmed that the input is serial, the flow advances to step 304 to determine whether or not the camera number of the input signal matches the camera number of the setting unit 30, and if it is determined that both match, If so, the process proceeds to step 305, where the status signal is set to the output state.

If it is determined in step 301 that the input is parallel, and if the parallel input is converted to a serial signal in step 302, the flow advances to step 306 to output the serial signal to the terminal control unit 23. Then, the process proceeds to step 306, where the output processing is performed.

That is, when a serial signal and a parallel signal are input simultaneously, the parallel signal is processed with priority. Then, if the parallel input is converted to a serial signal in step 302, step 30
Proceeding to 6, the serial signal is output to the terminal control unit 23, and the status signal obtained in step 305 is processed in step 306.

FIG. 7 illustrates the second embodiment. The video signal output from the slip ring unit 26 is supplied to a memory unit 28 composed of a plurality of frame memories. In the memory unit 28, a frame image specified by the video signal captured by the terminal camera unit 11 is stored in frame units based on a command from the line control input / output unit 27. For example, the monitoring video is intermittently read or stored in accordance with a timing based on a command. The frame video signal stored in the memory unit 28 is read out in frame units and output as a video signal. Here, the memory unit 28 may be configured by a single frame memory.

In order to record all the moving images captured by the terminal camera section 11, a VTR is usually used, or there is a case where it is not necessary to record all the long-time recorded images. Further, there may be a case where it is desired to monitor a change state of a monitoring target for a long time. In such a case, it is effective to output a frame image obtained by capturing the captured image at a specified cycle, which is effective in saving the power of the VTR tape and simplifying the monitoring operation. Further, a sensor mechanism or the like may be installed in the place of the monitoring unit, and the frame memory may be driven based on the detection output of the sensor mechanism, and the frame image may be recorded according to the specified condition.

The memory section 28 is controlled to be written and read in accordance with a command from the line control input / output section 27, and a video signal is digitally written in the frame memory. The digital read-out video signal from the frame memory is digitally recorded in the frame memory in the control unit 17 of the monitoring room, and has a great effect on the refinement of the still image specified thereby.

[0031]

As described above, according to the surveillance camera apparatus according to the present invention, the terminal cameras attached to specified positions such as pillars and ceilings each have important functions. The surveillance camera system is completed by connecting to the common system in the surveillance room via the transmission line. That is, the terminal camera unit, the transmission (communication) unit,
The three independent display (monitor) units are functionalized so that the system can be constructed by selecting each of them in a partial manner. The user can freely select each unit. System can be easily constructed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a basic configuration of a monitoring camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the monitoring camera device system.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a control unit of the device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a line control input / output unit of the control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a monitoring system using a plurality of terminal cameras.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of line control.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 111, 112, terminal camera, 12 operation unit, 13 monitor unit, 14 AC adapter, 21 TV camera, 22 lens unit, 23 terminal control unit, 24 turning unit, 25 preset unit ,
26… Slip ring part, 27… Line control input / output part, 28…
Memory part, 30… Camera number setting part.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A television camera provided with a lens mechanism for capturing a surveillance image, turning means for holding the television camera and turning the imaging direction in a horizontal and vertical plane, and transmitting an imaging condition command to the television camera. And a terminal control means for giving a turning command to the turning means; a preset means subordinate to the terminal control means for setting an imaging condition of the television camera and a control command for the turning means; Slip ring means for transmitting an output video signal, a status signal from the terminal control means, and a command signal to the terminal control means, and line control input / output means for inputting / outputting the command signal and the status signal to / from the slip ring means The television camera, turning means, terminal control means, preset means, slip ring means, and line control The camera unit is integrally formed with a control input / output unit and is constituted by a single housing. The input / output unit of the camera unit receives serial and parallel command signals via a transmission line. A surveillance camera device characterized in that: 2. A camera system comprising a plurality of camera units, wherein the plurality of camera units are connected to a set of control units via the transmission line, and an operation unit is set for the set of control units. 2. The surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein a command is given to each of the plurality of camera units. 3. An operation unit comprising: serial command generation means for giving a command signal to each of the camera units; and parallel command generation means for giving a command signal to a specific camera unit selected from the plurality of camera units. The surveillance camera device according to claim 2, which is configured to include. 4. The camera unit is provided with an image memory unit to which an image pickup video signal output from the television camera is supplied, and stores the video signal in a frame unit based on a command from the input / output unit. The surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein 5. The surveillance camera device according to claim 4, wherein said image memory means includes a frame memory capable of recording an image of at least one frame. 6. The camera unit is provided with a camera number setting unit that records a unique camera number for recognizing the camera unit, and a camera unit that specifies a command signal input via the transmission line. 2. The surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein camera number information for designating is provided.