KR20110034293A - Apparatus and method for adjusting focus of monitoring camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An apparatus and method for adjusting a focus of a surveillance camera are provided to prevent a focus error occurring when switching a day photographing mode into a night photographing mode. CONSTITUTION: An iris(23) adjusts the incident ray quantity of a camera, and a driving unit adjusts the open degree of the iris. A control unit controls the operation of the driving unit when a focus adjustment mode of the surveillance camera, and performs the manual focus adjustment operation in a state that the iris is maximally opened. The control unit controls the operation of a signal processing unit(28) to output a guidance message which notifies the maximum open state of the iris.

Description

Apparatus and method for adjusting focus of monitoring camera}

The present invention relates to, for example, a focus adjusting apparatus and method applied to various types of surveillance cameras installed at a specific place to photograph a subject.

In general, a surveillance camera installed at a specific place photographs a subject located at a corresponding place and outputs the same to a digital video recorder (DVR) located at the center.

Meanwhile, recently, an infrared camera (IR-Camera) has been developed and released to allow a subject to be photographed normally even at night, where the ambient brightness is dark, for example, as shown in FIG. 1. The camera 100 is provided with a focus ring 10 for allowing a user to manually adjust the position of the focus lens.

Accordingly, the user who installs the infrared camera 100 in a specific place, by manually rotating the focus ring 10, performs a manual focus adjustment operation to variably adjust the position of the focus lens.

On the other hand, the infrared camera is mainly installed in the day (Night), the ambient brightness is bright than the night (Night), the ambient brightness is dark, for example, as shown in Figure 2, during the day, high luminance (High Luminance) state In order to reduce the amount of incident light from the camera, the amount of opening of the iris is automatically reduced.

On the other hand, since it is in a low luminance state at night, in order to increase the amount of incident light of the camera, since the amount of open IRIS is automatically increased, as shown in FIG. 2, the infrared camera is in the daytime shooting mode. When the night mode is changed to, the distance between the focal points F1 and F2 is changed, thereby causing a fatal error in the focus operation.

In particular, since the infrared camera developed with the focus on night photography causes a fatal error in night photography due to the above reason, it is urgently required to prepare an efficient solution for this.

The present invention, for example, even if the user installs a surveillance camera such as an infrared camera (IR-Camera) developed with the focus on night shooting in the day (Day), as if installed in the night (Night) It is to provide a device and method for adjusting the focus of the surveillance camera to prevent the focus error (Focus Error) occurs when switching from the weekly shooting mode to the night shooting mode.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for adjusting a focus of a surveillance camera, the method comprising: opening the iris as much as possible when the focus adjustment mode of the surveillance camera is selected; And performing a manual focus adjustment operation in a state where the iris is opened as much as possible.

The first step may include generating and outputting a menu screen for selecting a focus adjustment mode when the surveillance camera is turned on, and then opening the iris as much as possible when the focus adjustment mode is selected.

The first step may include generating and outputting a guide message informing that the iris is opened as much as possible.

The method may further include outputting a captured image while variably adjusting the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step, when the manual focus adjustment operation is completed.

In addition, while varying the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step, characterized in that it generates and outputs a guide message indicating that the focus test,

The surveillance camera is an infrared camera that emits infrared rays for night photographing, and performs manual focus adjustment operation in a state in which a dummy filter is selected and disposed on an optical path among an infrared filter and a dummy filter. ,

In addition, the focus adjustment device in the monitoring camera according to the present invention, the iris for adjusting the amount of incident light of the camera; A drive unit for variably adjusting the amount of opening of the iris; And a control unit configured to control the operation of the driving unit when the focus adjustment mode of the monitoring camera is selected, and to perform a manual focus adjustment operation in a state in which the iris is opened as much as possible.

The apparatus may further include a signal processor configured to generate a menu screen for selecting the focus adjustment mode when the surveillance camera is powered on.

The controller may control the signal processor to generate and output a guide message informing that the iris is in the maximum open state.

When the manual focus adjustment operation is completed, the control unit controls the driving unit to output a photographed image while variably adjusting the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step,

The apparatus may further include a signal processor configured to generate a guide message indicating that the focus test is in progress while varying the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step.

The surveillance camera is an infrared camera that emits infrared rays for night photographing, and performs manual focus adjustment operation in a state in which a dummy filter is selected and disposed on an optical path among an infrared filter and a dummy filter. do.

The apparatus and method for adjusting a focus of a surveillance camera according to the present invention generates and outputs a menu screen for selecting a focus adjustment mode when a surveillance camera such as an infrared camera (IR-Camera) is turned on. After that, when the focus adjustment mode is selected, the manual focus adjustment operation is performed while the iris is opened as much as possible, and when the manual focus adjustment operation is completed, the amount of opening of the iris is previously determined. By outputting the captured image while variablely adjusting the set level, the infrared camera developed for the night shooting is installed in the night where the ambient brightness is low even if the user installs in the day where the ambient brightness is bright. It is effective to prevent the focus error from occurring when switching from the daytime shooting mode to the nighttime shooting mode. Can be prevented.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the focus adjusting apparatus and method of the monitoring camera according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The apparatus and method for adjusting focus according to the present invention may be applied to various types such as, for example, an infrared camera (IR-Camera) developed with a focus on night photographing. As described above with reference, a focus ring 10 for variably adjusting the position of the focus lens is provided.

3, the zoom lens 20, the dummy filter 21, the infrared filter 22, the iris 23, the CD 25, and the analog gain are shown in the infrared camera. 26, A / D converter 27, signal processor 28, interface 29, filter driver 30, iris driver 31, CD driver 32, controller 33, memory 34, a timer 35, an IR-LED unit 36, an IR-LED driver 37, and the like.

On the other hand, the controller 33 refers to the time information counted by the timer 35, and if it is determined that the current time is Day, the filter driver 30 operates to control the infrared filter 22. ) Is disposed between the zoom lens 20 and the iris 23 to block the incidence of infrared rays in the day photographing mode.

On the other hand, the controller 33 refers to the time information counted by the timer 35, and if it is determined that the current time is night, the filter driver 30 is operated to control the dummy, which is a transparent plate. The filter 21 is disposed between the zoom lens 20 and the iris 23 so that the infrared ray is incident in the night photographing mode.

In addition, when it is determined that the current time is night, the controller 33 operates the IR-LED driver 37 to emit at least one IR-LED included in the IR-LED unit 36. In a dark place, the subject may be photographed using infrared rays after being emitted by the IR-LED.

In the controller 33, for example, when the power of the infrared camera is turned on, an operation control of the signal processor 28 is performed so that the user can select a focus adjustment mode. (OSD: On Screen Display) After generating a menu screen of the image, it is displayed on the screen of the user terminal (not shown) or the screen of the digital video recorder (not shown) connected through the interface unit 29 .

In addition, when the user selects a focus adjustment mode through the menu screen, the controller 33 operates the iris driver 31 to open the iris 23 as much as possible. ), The user can perform a manual focus adjustment operation.

On the other hand, in the controller 33, if the infrared filter 22 is disposed between the zoom lens 20 and the iris 23 before the manual focus adjustment operation is performed, the filter driver 31 is turned off. Operation control is such that the dummy filter 21, which is a transparent plate instead of the infrared filter 22, is disposed between the zoom lens and the iris.

That is, even if the user installs the infrared camera in the night, the camera is in a state as if it is installed in the night, so that the manual focus adjustment operation of the infrared camera developed with the focus on night shooting is performed at night. It can be adjusted to suit the shooting, which will be described in detail as follows.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for adjusting a focus of a surveillance camera according to the present invention. As described above, when the power of the infrared camera developed with the focus on night shooting is turned on (S10), The controller 33 controls an operation of the signal processor 28 to generate a menu screen of an OSD image for selecting a focus adjustment mode, and then connects the user terminal connected through the interface unit 29. The output is displayed on the screen or the screen of the digital video recorder (S11).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the menu of the OS video displayed on the screen of the user terminal or the screen of the digital video recorder (OSD_Menu) includes a selection menu item with a message asking whether to adjust the focus. Can be displayed.

In the controller 33, when the user selects the focus adjustment mode through the menu screen or inputs a user key (not shown) included in the infrared camera to select the focus adjustment mode (S12). For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the iris driver 31 is operated to open the iris 23 as much as possible (IRIS Full Open) (S13).

That is, even if the user installs the infrared camera during the day, the iris is opened as large as possible so as to be installed at night, for example, between the zoom lens 20 and the iris 23, When the infrared filter 22 is disposed, the filter driver 30 is operated to control the dummy filter 21, which is a transparent plate, between the zoom lens and the iris.

In the controller 33, when the iris is opened as large as described above, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the signal processing unit 28 is operated to control the image of the corresponding OSD image. The guidance message (OSD_Message) is displayed superimposed on the subject photographed image.

In addition, the controller 33 detects whether the user has completed the manual focus adjustment operation (S14). For example, as described above with reference to FIG. 10), and manually adjust the position of the focus lens appropriately, and then input a user key (not shown) included in the infrared camera, or from a user terminal or the like connected through the interface unit 29 When the command corresponding to the manual focus adjustment is received, the focus test program stored in the memory 34 is executed (S15).

On the other hand, when the focus test execution program is started, the controller 33 controls the iris driver 31 to variably adjust the opening amount of the iris in a predetermined multi-step (for example, steps 1 to 10). In operation S16, the subject photographed image is output and displayed on the screen of the user terminal or the screen of the digital video recorder connected and connected through the interface unit 29.

During the focus test operation as described above, the controller 33 controls the signal processing unit 28 as shown in FIG. 7 to indicate that the focus test is currently in progress. The guide message of the SD image is superimposed on the subject photographed image.

In addition, after the focus test operation is completed, the controller 33 controls the signal processing unit 28 to operate at the focus adjust end as shown in FIG. 7. The menu screen of the corresponding OSD image is displayed. Then, if the end of the focus adjustment operation is requested through the menu screen (S17), the focus adjustment mode is released, and then a general camera photographing operation is performed. (S18).

Accordingly, even if the user installs the infrared camera developed with the focus on night shooting in the day, the camera is in the same state as the night, and the focus error does not occur in the night shooting mode. Will not.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. , Alteration, substitution, addition, or the like.

1 shows a general infrared camera,

2 illustrates an iris state in a day mode and a night mode of a general infrared camera,

3 illustrates a configuration of an embodiment of an infrared camera to which the present invention is applied.

4 illustrates an operation flowchart of an embodiment of a focus adjusting method according to the present invention;

5 illustrates an embodiment of a menu screen and a message of an OSD image displayed according to the present invention;

6 illustrates a state in which the iris is fully open according to the present invention.

7 illustrates an embodiment of a message and a menu screen of an OSD image displayed according to the present invention.

[Description of Drawings]

10: focus ring 20: zoom lens

21: dummy filter 22: infrared filter

23: iris 24: focus lens

25: CD 26: Analog Gain

27: A / D conversion unit 28: signal processing unit

29: interface unit 30: filter driver

31: Iris Driver 32: CD Driver

33: controller 34: memory

35 Timer 36 IR-LED unit

37: IR-LED Driver

Claims (12)

If the focus adjustment mode of the surveillance camera is selected, opening the iris as much as possible; And And performing a manual focus adjustment operation in a state in which the iris is opened as much as possible. The method of claim 1, In the first step, when the power of the surveillance camera is turned on, a menu screen for selecting a focus adjustment mode is generated and output; and, when the focus adjustment mode is selected, the iris is opened as much as possible. How to adjust the focus in The method of claim 1, In the first step, the focus adjustment method of the camera for monitoring, characterized in that for generating and outputting a guide message indicating that the iris is the maximum open state. The method of claim 1, And when the manual focus adjustment operation is completed, outputting a captured image while variably adjusting the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step. The method of claim 4, wherein And generating and outputting a guide message indicating that the focus test is in progress while varying the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step. The method of claim 1, The surveillance camera is an infrared camera that emits infrared rays for night photographing. The surveillance camera performs a manual focus adjustment operation with a dummy filter selected from an infrared filter and a dummy filter on a light path. To adjust the focus on a personal camera. An iris for adjusting an amount of incident light of the camera; A drive unit for variably adjusting the amount of opening of the iris; And When the focus adjustment mode of the monitoring camera is selected, the control unit for controlling the operation of the drive, in the state that the iris is opened as much as possible, including a control unit for performing a manual focus adjustment operation in the surveillance camera, characterized in that configured to Focusing device. The method of claim 7, wherein And a signal processing unit for generating a menu screen for selecting the focus adjustment mode when the surveillance camera is turned on. The method of claim 8, The control unit controls the signal processing unit to generate and output a guide message informing that the iris is in an open state as much as possible. The method of claim 7, wherein When the manual focus adjustment operation is completed, the control unit controls the driving unit to output a captured image while variably adjusting the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step, wherein the focus adjustment device of the monitoring camera . The method of claim 10, And a signal processing unit for generating a guide message informing that the focus test is in progress while varying the opening amount of the iris in a preset multi-step. The method of claim 7, wherein The surveillance camera is an infrared camera that emits infrared rays for night photographing. The surveillance camera performs a manual focus adjustment operation with a dummy filter selected from an infrared filter and a dummy filter on a light path. Focusing device in the camera.

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