JPH1198400A - Controller for photographing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the data of a television lens from a storing means provided at an operating unit side, to obtain lens information from a remote universal head side, and to derive effective photographic information such as a photographic distance or a picture angle from the information. SOLUTION: A database for storing the data of each kind of equipment of a television lens is provided by a storing means 22, and lens information such as lens equipment kind information or focus position data is obtained from remote universal heads PT1... side on which the television lens are loaded through a communicating means 24. Then, photographic information such as a photographic distance or a picture angle is derived in an operation unit 20 based on the corresponding data and the lens information, and the photographic information is displayed on a display means, or an automatic zoom control function or the like for holding the size of a subject projected on a screen to be constant regardless of the movement of the subject is realized so that operability can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a photographing device, and more particularly to a control device for controlling a pan / tilt operation, focus and zoom of a camera by remote control from an operation unit equipped with a television camera such as a remote control pan head system. The present invention relates to a control device of a photographing device having a function of performing

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a television lens for business use or broadcasting does not have an interface function for notifying photographing information such as a photographing distance and an image angle to the outside. Therefore, in such a system using a TV lens, it is not possible to obtain effective shooting data from the TV lens side for controlling the lens, and the photographer can adjust the zoom, focus, iris, etc. while watching the image displayed on the monitor. Each is operated with an independent operation amount.

[0003]

However, a function that does not change the size of the object shown on the screen even if the object being photographed moves and the shooting distance changes (zoom clip function).
In order to reduce the burden on the photographer and improve the operability, such as a function of correcting a focal shift caused by zooming, it is essential to acquire photographing information such as a photographing distance and an image angle.

In particular, in the field of a remote control pan head system using a communication line, a large amount of command signal is transmitted from the operation unit to the pan head side, so that a large amount of lens data is received from the pan head side. There is a problem that it is difficult. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a function of displaying photographing information so that an operator can easily perform photographing and realizing a function for automatically assisting a burden on the operator. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device control device.

[0005]

According to the present invention, at least one of a focus, a zoom, and an iris of the television lens is achieved by using an operation unit connected to a photographing device equipped with the television lens. A control device for controlling the operation of the photographing device, the lens information including at least one of a TV lens model, a focus position, a zoom position, and an aperture value from the photographing device side to the operation unit side. Notification means for notifying, and storage means provided on the operation unit side, in which the specification data on the performance of the TV lens is stored,
Based on the specification data stored in the storage unit and the lens information notified from the notification unit, at least one of a shooting distance, a subject size, a focal length, an image angle, and a depth of field is determined. Computing means for deriving photographing information including the photographing information.

According to the present invention, the operation unit provides a database containing the specification data of the TV lens in the storage means, and obtains the lens information from the photographing device equipped with the TV lens by the notification means. Then, based on these specification data and lens information, shooting information such as a shooting distance, a subject size, a focal length, an image angle, and a depth of field is derived by calculation.

Thus, the operation unit can easily obtain effective photographing information such as a photographing distance and an image angle. Further, the photographing information is utilized in the operation unit, and the photographing information is displayed on the display unit, and the zoom of the television lens is adjusted so that the size of the subject reflected on the screen is constant regardless of the movement of the subject. Automatic control is also possible. In addition, it is also possible to obtain the correction amount of the focus movement due to zooming based on the photographing information, and to automatically correct the focus of the television lens according to the correction amount.

Thus, the burden on the operator can be reduced by providing photographing information display means, automatic zoom control means for keeping the size of the subject constant, or automatic focus correction means for correcting focus movement due to zooming. Thus, operability can be improved. In addition, by storing the specification data relating to a plurality of types of TV lenses in the storage means and constructing a database, it is possible to control various types of TV lenses with one operating unit. In particular, it is possible to configure a system in which a plurality of photographing devices equipped with different types of TV lenses are connected to one operation unit, and one operation unit can simultaneously control a plurality of photographing devices. It becomes possible.

The present invention is particularly effective when applied to a remote control head system in which a remote control head (Pan / Tilt Head) equipped with a television camera is remotely controlled by an operation unit.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a control device for a photographing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which a control device of a photographing device according to the present invention is applied to a remote control pan head system. The remote control head system 10 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a plurality of remote control heads PT1 and P
.., PTn (n is a natural number of 2 or more), an operation unit 20 for operating the remote control heads PT1, PT2,. Means 22;
Consists of The specification data here refers to various data related to the performance of the television lens, such as focus distance data, zoom focus and image angle data, and depth of field data.

Then, each of the remote control heads PT1, PT2,
, PTn are connected to the operation unit 20 via communication means (for example, a telephone line) 24, and the operation unit 20 can freely read and use the data stored in the storage means 22. I have. The remote control heads PT1, PT2, ..., PTn
Each has a pan driving unit and a tilt driving unit for panning and tilting a camera (not shown in FIG. 1), and these driving units are controlled by the operation unit 20. In addition, remote control heads PT1, PT2,
.., PTn have focus driving means, zoom driving means, and iris driving means for performing respective operations of focusing, zooming, and iris of the television lens, and each driving means operates in response to a control signal from the operation unit 20. I do.

Remote control heads PT1, PT2,..., PTn
The TV lens mounted on the camera has detection means (for example, a potentiometer) for detecting a focus position, a zoom position, and an iris position, respectively.
Is provided, and the detection value of each potentiometer is
4 to the operation unit 20 side. The information such as the focus position may be always notified to the operation unit 20 side, or only when a change in the position is detected (only at the time of change).
You may make it notify.

Further, each television lens has means for outputting information (lens model information) capable of specifying (identifying) its model.
When the operation of the remote control head is started, the lens unit information of the corresponding TV lens is notified to the operation unit 20 side. The operation unit 20 includes operation units such as a joystick, a focus control knob, and a zoom control lever for instructing a pan / tilt operation of the remote control head, and an operation signal corresponding to the operation of these operation units is an operation target. , PTn.

A plurality of remote control heads PT1, PT2,
.., PTn can be freely set by selecting means (for example, operating a selection switch on the operation unit 20), and the setting can be changed at any time. I can do it. An image captured by each television camera can be observed through a monitor (not shown), and the operator (operator) checks the image projected on the monitor while checking the joystick, the focus control knob, and the joystick of the operation unit 20. A desired subject can be photographed by operating a zoom control lever or the like.

The storage means 22 connected to the operation unit 20 stores specification data relating to a plurality of TV lens models, and stores specification data for each TV lens model in a database. On the other hand, the operation unit 20 can read necessary data from a database stored in the storage means 22 and has a memory for temporarily storing the read data.

The operation unit 20
Based on the specification data obtained from the storage means 22 and the lens information (detection value of the potentiometer indicating the focus position and the like and the lens model information) obtained from the remote control heads PT1, PT2,. An arithmetic unit for calculating photographing information such as an image angle is provided.

Further, the operation unit 20 can calculate the actual size of the subject and the amount of correction of the focus movement due to zooming based on the photographing information obtained by the calculation means. A control signal for automatically controlling the zoom and focus of the TV lens is output to the remote control head according to the received data. Next, the operation of the remote control head system configured as described above will be described.

When one of the remote control heads PT1, PT2,... To be operated is selected by a selection switch provided on the operation panel of the operation unit 20, the selected remote control head (eg, remote control head PT1) is selected. The operation unit 20 is notified of lens model information of the mounted TV lens. On the operation unit 20 side, a database containing specification data for each model of the TV lens is provided by the storage means 22. Based on the lens model information, the specification data of the corresponding model is stored in the storage means 22. It can be obtained easily.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, when a subject (for example, a person) 30 is photographed by the camera 26 mounted on the remote control head PT1, the focus position data and the zoom position of the television lens 28 are obtained from the remote control head PT1. Data (lens information) such as data and aperture value is notified to the operation unit 20 side. The operation unit 20 uses the lens information and the specification data to derive effective shooting information such as a shooting distance, a focal length, and an image angle.

The photographing information thus derived is utilized in the operation unit 20, and, for example, all or a part of the derived photographing information is displayed on a display means (not shown) provided on the operation unit 20 side. Thereby, the photographer can easily confirm the photographing information, and the operability is improved. Next, a function (zoom clip function) for keeping the size of the subject 30 shown on the screen constant regardless of the movement of the subject 30 will be described as an example of a usage mode of the shooting information.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the subject 30 is photographed by the camera 26, the subject 30
From the point a 'to the point a', the focal length of the television lens 28 also moves from the point a to the point a '. However, when the zoom position (angle of view) is the same, the range indicated by the size h is photographed at the position of the point a, but only the range indicated by the size h 'is photographed at the position of the point a'. The subject 30
There is a problem that cannot be captured sufficiently.

In order to solve such a problem, in the remote control pan head system of this example, the focal length data of the lens at the point a, the focal length data of the lens at the point a ', and the subject 30 at the point a with the size of h. Angle of view Δ when capturing,
The angle of view Δ ′ for photographing the subject at the point a ′ in FIG. 3 with the size of h ″ can be obtained based on the specification data on the lens angle of view of the television lens 28.

Therefore, if the change in the angle of view from the angle of view Δ to Δ ′ is automatically zoomed in accordance with the movement of the focal length,
The size of the subject 30 on the screen can be kept constant. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of control of the zoom clip function.
The 0 side and the right side are the remote control pan head side, and how the information is transmitted between them is shown. It should be noted that the vertical direction in the figure indicates the passage of time, and indicates how time passes downward.

When the operator manually operates the focus control knob of the operation unit 20 in accordance with the movement of the subject 30, a command for a focus movement amount corresponding to the operation amount is transmitted to the remote control head. On the remote control pan head side, the focus driving means of the television lens 28 is driven based on this command, and the focus is moved to the designated focus position.

Then, new focus position data is notified from the remote control platform to the operation unit 20. The operation unit 20 reads the television lens 2 from the database stored in the storage unit 22.
Then, the specification data relating to the focal length of No. 8 is obtained, and based on the specification data, the value of the actual focal length is obtained from the focus position data.

Further, the operation unit 20 acquires specification data relating to the angle of view of the television lens 28 from the database stored in the storage means 22, and stores the specification data and the value of the actual focal length obtained earlier. From this, the amount of change in the angle of view of the subject 30 is calculated. Then, an angle-of-view correction amount is calculated from the angle-of-view change amount, and a command for a zoom movement amount corresponding to the obtained angle-of-view correction amount is output to the remote control head.

In this manner, a zoom clip function that can keep the size of the subject 30 on the screen constant is realized. Various modes other than those described above can be used for the use of the shooting information. For example, it is also possible to obtain the correction amount of the focus movement due to zooming based on the photographing information, and to automatically correct the focus of the television lens according to the correction amount.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a remote control pan head system has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. Can be widely applied to devices having a function of controlling

[0029]

As described above, according to the control apparatus of the photographing equipment according to the present invention, the information on the specification data of the television lens is obtained from the database stored in the storage means provided on the operation unit side. Therefore, effective photographing information such as a photographing distance and an image angle can be easily derived based on the specification data and the lens information obtained from the photographing device.

Even if a lens capable of outputting lens information appears in the future, this method can be applied to an old lens that cannot output the information. Furthermore, various functions for utilizing the photographing information in the operation unit, displaying the photographing information on the display means, and automatically assisting the operation load can be realized. Thereby, the operability of the photographing device can be improved.

In addition, by storing data relating to various types of television lens models in the storage means and constructing a database, a single operation unit can control various types of television lenses. In particular, it is possible to configure a system in which a plurality of photographing devices equipped with different types of TV lenses are operated by one operation unit.

It is also possible to easily provide a customized use form utilizing the above functions desired by individual users.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control pan head system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where an object is photographed by a camera mounted on a remote control head;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram used to explain a zoom clip function;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a flow of control of a zoom clip function.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 remote control head system 20 operation unit (corresponding to operation unit) 22 storage means 24 communication means 26 camera 28 television lens 30 subject PT1, PT2, PTn remote control head (corresponding to photographing equipment)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A control of a photographing device for controlling an operation of the photographing device including at least one of focus, zoom, and iris of the television lens using an operation unit connected to the photographing device equipped with the TV lens. In the apparatus, a notifying means for notifying lens information including at least one of a model of a TV lens, a focus position, a zoom position, and an aperture value from the photographing device side to the operation unit side; A storage unit in which the specification data relating to the performance of the lens is stored, and based on the specification data stored in the storage unit and the lens information notified from the notification unit, a shooting distance, a size of a subject, a focal length, Computing means for deriving photographing information including at least one of an image angle and a depth of field. Control device for imaging apparatus characterized by. 2. The control device for a photographing device according to claim 1, wherein display means for displaying photographing information derived by said arithmetic means is provided on the operation unit side. 3. An automatic zoom control for controlling a zoom of the television lens based on photographing information derived by the calculating means so that the size of the subject reflected on the screen is constant regardless of the movement of the subject. 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising means. 4. An automatic focus correcting means for obtaining a correction amount of a focal shift due to zooming based on the photographing information derived by said calculating means, and correcting a focus of said television lens according to said correction amount. The control device for a photographing device according to claim 1. 5. The storage means stores specification data on a plurality of types of TV lenses, and based on the lens information on the TV lens type notified from the notification means, the specifications of the corresponding model. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the data is used. 6. The operation unit is connected to a plurality of photographing devices equipped with different types of television lenses, and is configured such that one operation unit can operate the plurality of photographing devices. The control device for a photographing device according to claim 5. 7. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a remote control pan head having a drive unit for panning and tilting the television camera is used as the photographing device.