KR19980047385A - Imaging device with alarm function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having an alarm generating function. In general, imaging devices such as camcorders (sometimes referred to as video cameras) and cameras should be photographed with the eyes close to the viewfinder, so the user may not be sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment. During shooting, a collision with a human body or an object often occurs. Accordingly, in order to solve this problem, the present invention detects the distance between the human body and the object located in the vicinity of the imaging device, and compares the detected distance value with a preset reference distance value and outputs the comparison result. Way; Alarm generating means for generating a predetermined alarm signal; And a controller for controlling a driving state of the alarm generating means according to the comparison result output from the distance detecting means. Therefore, the user can easily respond to changes in the surroundings while photographing the subject, thereby preventing collisions with the surrounding human body and objects in advance.

Description

Imaging device with alarm function

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having an alarm generating function. More particularly, when a subject is photographed using the image pickup apparatus, an alarm signal is generated by detecting a distance between a human body and an object around the image pickup apparatus, thereby generating a warning signal. The present invention relates to an imaging device having an alarm generation function capable of preventing contact and collision with an adjacent human body and an object.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, an image pickup device 1 such as a camcorder and a camera is equipped with a view finder 2 capable of checking a photographing state of a subject. The normal viewfinder 2 is used for an image pickup device (typically, a 'Charge Coupled Device (CCD)') by light incident through a lens (not shown) of the image pickup device 1. Display the image to be formed.

Since the imaging device 1 such as a camcorder and a camera tends to be smaller and lighter in response to consumer demand that the user should be able to easily carry it, the size of the viewfinder 2 is also limited. Therefore, as the viewfinder 2 is downsized, the size of the display window mounted on the viewfinder 2 is also downsized. Therefore, when the user wants to check the photographing state of the subject through the viewfinder 2, the eyes of the user It should be in close contact with the viewfinder 2.

In this case, while the user is photographing the subject, it is impossible to visually check the movement of the human body and the object other than the viewing angle (30 °) range that can be captured by the imaging device. Therefore, a collision with a human body and an object around a user frequently occurs, and therefore, a user may not accurately photograph a subject, and a user or another person may be injured.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to equip an image pickup apparatus with a distance detecting means and an alarm generating means to generate a predetermined alarm signal when a human body and an object approach a point adjacent to the image pickup apparatus. The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus having an alarm generating function that enables a user to easily cope with a change in surroundings even while photographing a subject.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a conventional imaging device;

2 is a schematic block diagram of an imaging device having an alarm generating function according to the present invention;

3 is an exploded perspective view of an infrared sensor and an imaging device applied to the present invention;

4 is a perspective view showing the combined state of FIG.

5A and 5B are left side and right side views of the imaging device shown in FIG. 4;

6 is a plan view of an image capturing apparatus showing a sensing range that an infrared sensor can detect according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols used in major parts of drawing

1: imaging device 3: infrared light emitting unit

4: infrared light receiving unit 5: infrared light emitting control unit

6: amplifying unit 7: arithmetic processing unit

8: comparator 9: controller

10: alarm unit 11: alarm generating unit

12: groove 13: infrared sensor

14: fastening member

A feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the distance to detect the distance to the object located in the vicinity of the image pickup device to compare the detected distance value and a predetermined reference distance value and output the comparison result Sensing means; Alarm generating means for generating a predetermined alarm signal; And a controller for controlling a driving state of the alarm generating means according to the comparison result outputted from the distance detecting means.

In the above-mentioned feature of the present invention, the distance detecting means is mounted at predetermined positions on the left and right sides of the imaging device, and is composed of an infrared light emitting portion capable of emitting infrared rays and an infrared light receiving portion receiving the reflected infrared rays. sensor; An arithmetic processor configured to calculate a distance to the object by using the infrared rays sensed by the infrared sensor; And a comparison unit comparing the distance value calculated by the operation processor with the preset reference distance value and outputting a logic signal to the controller according to the result of the comparison.

In addition, the infrared sensor is preferably installed at any position except the mounting position and the front end and the rear end of the imaging device.

In addition, the infrared sensor is accommodated in a groove formed at a predetermined position on the left and right sides of the imaging device, and fastened by a fastening member.

In addition, the infrared sensor, it is preferable to be able to detect the object within the range from the boundary of the maximum visible range that can be captured by the imaging device to the boundary of the user's shooting position.

The operation processor may calculate the distance of the object by using a time difference between the time when the infrared rays are emitted from the infrared sensor and the time when the reflected infrared rays are received by the infrared sensor and the moving speed of the infrared rays.

In addition, the calculation processing unit may calculate the distance of the object by using the angle difference is reflected by the object is reflected by the infrared light emitted from the infrared sensor.

In addition, between the infrared sensor and the processing unit, it is preferable to further include an amplifier for amplifying the infrared light received by the infrared sensor to a predetermined size.

In addition, the alarm generating means may be configured as a visual display means that can be visually recognized by the user through the view finder attached to the imaging device.

In addition, the alarm generating means may be constituted by an acoustic display means which is mounted at a predetermined position of the image pickup apparatus and that the user can recognize visually.

The apparatus may further include an alarm generation selection switch mounted at a predetermined position of the imaging device so as to select whether the alarm generation function of the imaging device is driven or stopped.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Preferred embodiments of an imaging device having an alarm generation function according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 shows a schematic block diagram of an imaging device having an alarm generating function according to the present invention. In Fig. 2, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 denote the same parts.

2, an infrared light emitting unit 3 for emitting infrared rays, an infrared light receiving unit 4 for receiving infrared rays reflected by surrounding human bodies and objects, and an infrared light controlling the light emitting states of the infrared light emitting unit 3. The light emission control unit 5, the amplifying unit 6 for amplifying the infrared light received by the infrared light receiving unit 4 to a predetermined size, and the infrared signal amplified by the amplifying unit 6 are calculated according to a predetermined calculation process. An arithmetic processing unit 7 for calculating a distance from a surrounding human body and an object; a comparison unit 8 for comparing a distance value calculated by the arithmetic processing unit 7 with a set reference distance value; and an infrared emission control unit 5 Controller 9 for outputting a predetermined control signal for generating a predetermined alarm signal according to the result of comparison by the comparison section 8 and controlling the driving state of the controller; Alarm generating unit 11 for controlling the driving state of the (10) It is configured.

Here, the above-described alarm 10 is mounted on the viewfinder 2 and visual display means (eg, a light emitting diode (LED)) that is visualized to be visually recognized by the user, a message displayed on the viewfinder. Etc.) or acoustic display means (e.g., speaker, buzzer) which is mounted at a predetermined position of the imaging device 1 to generate a warning sound that can be perceived by the user.

Incidentally, the infrared light emission control unit 5, the amplifier 6, the arithmetic processing unit 7, the comparison unit 8, the controller 9 and the like shown in FIG. 2 are already provided in the conventional imaging device 1. Because of the components, these components can be shared without the need for additional mounting.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, the mounting structure of the infrared light emitting unit 3 and the infrared light receiving unit 4 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the groove 12 is formed in the longitudinal direction at the left and right predetermined positions of the image pickup device 1, and has a shape corresponding to the groove 12, and has an infrared light emitting unit 3. After the infrared sensor 13 in which the infrared light receiving unit 4 is integrated is accommodated in the recess 12, it is fixed by a fastening member 14 such as a bolt or the like. 4 is a perspective view of the image capturing apparatus 1 equipped with the infrared sensor 13.

Here, the infrared sensor 13 may be mounted at any position except for the position at which the user attaches the imaging apparatus 1, the rear end of the imaging apparatus 1, and the front end of the imaging apparatus 1. That is, when the user mounts the infrared sensor 13 at the point where the imaging device 1 is mounted, the infrared sensor 13 may misjudge the user's hand to the surrounding human body and objects, so that the mounting It is preferable not to mount the infrared sensor 13 at the position. In addition, since the user is located at the rear end of the imaging device 1, it is preferable that the infrared sensor 13 is not mounted in this case as well. In addition, since the user can visually confirm through the viewfinder 2 at the front end of the imaging device 1, it is not necessary to mount the infrared sensor 13. Therefore, the shape of the infrared sensor 13 may have a shape in which the left and right sides are asymmetric with each other, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The operation of the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described.

The detection range of the infrared sensor 13 mounted on the left and right sides of the imaging device 1 according to the present invention is as shown in FIG. That is, it is desirable to be able to detect a wide range from the boundary region of the detectable range (30 °) of the viewfinder 2 to the boundary region of the user's shooting position.

Here, the method of the present invention using the infrared sensor 13 is a method similar to the auto focusing system (Auto Focusing System) attached to the conventional imaging device 1, the present invention is limited to that employing the near infrared method Explained. However, any method for measuring the distance between the human body and the object located in the vicinity of the near-infrared method proposed in the present invention can be easily modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention. Self-explanatory

The near-infrared light system includes an infrared light emitting unit 3 and an infrared light receiving unit 4 independent of the lens of the imaging device 1, and the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 3 is reflected by the subject to reflect the infrared light receiving unit 4. When the received light is received, the distance of the subject is measured using a time or angle at which the received infrared light is reflected back.

The controller 9 controls the infrared light emission control unit 5 to control the infrared light emission unit 3 to emit infrared light. Infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 3 according to the control signal of the infrared light emitting controller 5, and when the emitted infrared light is reflected by the surrounding human body and an object, the infrared light receiving unit 4 receives the reflected light.

Since the infrared light received by the infrared light receiving unit 4 is radiated through the air, its size is sensitively changed by the reflection surface of the surrounding human body and the object. In general, since the reflected infrared rays are very weak signals, amplification processing through the amplifier 6 is required.

The infrared signal amplified by the amplifying section 6 is arithmetic processed by the arithmetic processing section 7. Here, the method of calculating the distance by the calculation processing unit 7 can be roughly divided into two methods. In the first method, the difference between the time at which the infrared light is emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 3 and the time at which the infrared light reflected by the surrounding human body and object is received at the infrared light receiving unit 4 is obtained. The second method is to calculate the distance using the angle at which the infrared rays emitted from the infrared light emitting unit 3 and reflected by the reflecting surface are incident on the infrared light receiving unit 4. have. In the present invention, both of the above-described distance calculation methods can be applied. Since these methods have already been introduced in the conventional auto focus control method of the imaging device 1, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The distance value calculated by the calculation process of the calculation processing unit 7 is input to the comparison unit 8 and compared with the reference distance value. Here, the reference distance value represents the minimum proximity distance at which the alarm should be generated, and the reference distance value may be set by the user.

The comparator 8 compares the distance value applied from the arithmetic processing unit 7 with a preset reference distance value and outputs a logic signal of logic 'high' or 'low' state to the controller 9 according to the comparison result. do. The controller 9 controls the alarm generator 11 according to the logic signal applied from the comparator 8, and the alarm generator 11 drives the alarm 10 in accordance with the control signal of the controller 9. Will be controlled. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the human body and the object has approached by the alarm signal generated from the alarm 10.

On the other hand, the imaging device 1 according to the present invention may further include an alarm generation selection switch (not shown) to prevent the continuous alarm signal from being generated in a crowded area. That is, when the alarm generation function is driven, the alarm is continuously generated in the photographing apparatus when the user photographs in the congested area. Therefore, when it is desired to photograph in such a congested area, it is necessary to stop the alarm generation function. Therefore, when the alarm generation selection switch is installed at any position of the imaging device 1 and the alarm generation selection switch is connected to the controller 9, the alarm generation function of the imaging device 1 is switched according to the switching state of the alarm generation selection switch. Can be performed selectively.

As a result, according to the imaging apparatus having an alarm generating function according to the present invention, the imaging apparatus is provided with a distance detecting means for detecting that a human body and an object are close to each other and an alarm generating means at the same time, so that the human body and the object around the set distance. By generating a predetermined alarm signal as the approach within, there is an advantage that the user can easily cope with changes in the surroundings even while photographing the subject.

In addition, since the user can confirm that the surrounding human body and objects approach, there is an advantage that can prevent the collision with the surrounding human body and objects during the shooting.

Claims (11)

Distance sensing means for sensing a distance to an object located around the imaging device, comparing the detected distance value with a preset reference distance value, and outputting the comparison result; Alarm generating means for generating a predetermined alarm signal; And And a controller for controlling a driving state of the alarm generating means in accordance with the comparison result output from the distance detecting means. The method according to claim 1, wherein the distance detecting means, Infrared sensors each mounted at predetermined positions on the left and right sides of the imaging device, the infrared sensor including an infrared light emitting unit capable of emitting infrared rays, and an infrared light receiving unit receiving the reflected infrared rays; An arithmetic processor configured to calculate a distance to the object by using the infrared rays sensed by the infrared sensor; And And a comparison unit for comparing the distance value calculated by the operation processor with the preset reference distance value and outputting a logic signal to the controller according to the result of the comparison. . The method according to claim 2, wherein the infrared sensor, And an mounting position of the imaging device and any position except for the front end and the rear end. The method according to claim 2, wherein the infrared sensor, And an alarm generating function, which is accommodated in a groove formed at a predetermined position on the left and right sides of the image pickup device and fastened by a fastening member. The method according to claim 2, wherein the infrared sensor, And the object can be detected within the range from the boundary of the maximum visible range that can be captured by the imaging device to the boundary of the shooting position of the user. The method according to claim 2, The calculation processing unit, Imaging with an alarm generating function, characterized in that to calculate the distance of the object by using the time difference between the time the infrared light is emitted from the infrared sensor and the time the reflected infrared light is received by the infrared sensor and the moving speed of the infrared light. Device. The method according to claim 2, The calculation processing unit, And the infrared ray emitted from the infrared sensor to calculate the distance of the object by using an angle difference reflected by the object and received by the infrared sensor. The method according to claim 2, between the infrared sensor and the calculation processing unit, And an amplifier for amplifying the infrared light received by the infrared sensor to a predetermined size. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alarm generating means, And a visual display means which can be visually recognized by a user through a view pin attached to the image pickup device. The method according to claim 1, wherein the alarm generating means, And an audible display means mounted at a predetermined position of the image pickup device and being audible display means that can be perceived by a user. The method according to claim 1, And an alarm generation selection switch mounted at a predetermined position of the image pickup device so as to select whether the alarm generation function of the image pickup device is driven or stopped.