Imaging apparatus

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus which is high in visibility of a tally lamp.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus includes: a rotational part that rotates an imaging direction of an imaging part to a pan direction or a tilt direction; and a plurality of tally lamps that indicates any one of an imaging state indicating whether or not an image by the imaging part is performed and a distribution state indicating where or not the image captured by the imaging part is distributed. In a first tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps, at least one part of the first tally lamp is arranged on a surface positioned in the imaging direction of the imaging part. In a second tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps, at least one part of the second tally lamp is arranged on the surface positioned in a direction that is reversed to the imaging direction of the imaging part. In a direction orthogonal to the imaging direction of the imaging part, the imaging apparatus is arranged at a position where the imaging part is sandwiched.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] With the increasing demand for labor saving and remote operation, PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras that can rotate in the pan and tilt directions are becoming more common. Some PTZ cameras are equipped with tally lamps to clearly indicate their own imaging status. When multiple PTZ cameras are used at the same time, the user can tell which PTZ camera is currently imaging by distinguishing the color of the tally lamp.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a video camera device having an operation unit at the rear end of the camera body, in which a pair of tally displays are arranged on the operation panel so as to sandwich all of the operation equipment provided on the operation panel of the operation unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6660261 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device having a tally lamp with high visibility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, an imaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention has a rotating unit that rotates the imaging direction of the imaging unit in a pan direction or a tilt direction, and a plurality of tally lamps that indicate either an imaging state indicating whether imaging is being performed by the imaging unit or a distribution state indicating whether an image captured by the imaging unit is being distributed, and is characterized in that a first tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps is arranged on a surface where at least a portion of the first tally lamp is located in the imaging direction of the imaging unit, and a second tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps is arranged on a surface where at least a portion of the second tally lamp is located in a direction opposite to the imaging direction of the imaging unit, and is arranged in a position that sandwiches the imaging unit in a direction perpendicular to the imaging direction of the imaging unit. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device having a tally lamp with high visibility. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall view of a video camera device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the video camera device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the video camera device. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of tally lamps during tilt rotation of the video camera device. [Diagram 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a tally lamp of a video camera device. [Figure 6] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a tally lamp of a video camera device. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an overall view of a video camera device. [Figure 8] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of tally lamps during tilt rotation of the video camera device. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view of the video camera device as seen from the optical axis direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The embodiment described below is an example of a means for realizing the present invention, and should be appropriately modified or changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. In addition, a configuration may be made by appropriately combining parts of each embodiment described later.

[0010] <First embodiment> Fig. 1 is an overall view of the imaging device according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging device according to the present embodiment.

[0011] The imaging device 1 includes an imaging section 10, a movable section 20, and a base section 30.

[0012] The imaging unit 10 is supported by the movable unit 20 so as to be rotatable about a tilt axis (T shown in FIG. 2). The movable unit 20 is also supported by the base unit 30 so as to be rotatable about a pan axis (P shown in FIG. 2). Therefore, by rotating the imaging device 1 in the tilt direction or pan direction, the angle of the imaging unit 10 can be adjusted, and an image in a desired direction can be captured.

[0013] Here, each surface constituting the housing of the imaging unit 10 will be described. FIG. 1 shows the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis (similar axes are shown in the following figures). For example, in FIG. 1, the front surface of the imaging unit 10 (or imaging device 1) is the surface located in the x-axis direction. The back surface of the imaging unit 10 (or imaging device 1) is the surface located in the opposite direction to the x-axis direction. The top surface of the imaging unit 10 (or imaging device 1) is the surface located in the z-axis direction. The bottom surface of the imaging unit 10 (or imaging device 1) is the surface located in the opposite direction to the z-axis direction. The side surface of the imaging unit 10 (or imaging device 1) is the surface located in the y-axis direction and the opposite direction to the y-axis direction. The x-axis direction can be rephrased as the imaging direction or optical axis direction, the y-axis direction as the horizontal direction, and the z-axis direction as the vertical direction.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a detailed exploded perspective view of the imaging device according to this embodiment, and shows the imaging device disassembled in more detail than FIG.

[0015] The imaging unit 10 includes a lens unit 110 and an imaging element board 120. The lens unit 110 includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, and an aperture unit (not shown) therein, and performs zooming, focusing, and light amount adjustment. The imaging element board 120 is disposed on the rear side of the lens unit 110. The imaging element board 120 includes an imaging element and an image processing processor (GPU), not shown. Light incident on the imaging element via the lens unit 110 is converted into an electrical signal, which is then converted into image information by the image processing processor. The lens frame 130 includes a tilt axis 131, and holds the lens unit 110.

[0016] The front lens cover 140, the upper lens cover 150, and the bottom lens cover 160 cover the lens frame 130 and constitute the exterior of the imaging unit 10. A first tally lamp 170 is fixed to the front lens cover 140. The imaging device 1 has a plurality of tally lamps.

[0017] Of the multiple tally lamps, the first tally lamp 170 includes a first illumination board 171 and a first light-guiding member 172 made of a transparent material. An LED element (not shown) is mounted on the first illumination board 171, and light emitted from the LED element is irradiated via the first light-guiding member 172.

[0018] Among the multiple tally lamps, the second tally lamp 180 includes a second illumination board 181 and a second light guide member 182 made of a transparent material. The second illumination board 181 is equipped with an LED element (not shown), and light emitted from the LED element is irradiated through the second light guide member 182. The tally lamp indicates the imaging status of the imaging device 1. For example, when the LED element emits red light, it indicates that imaging is in progress, and when it emits green light, it indicates that imaging is in standby. Alternatively, the tally lamp may be turned on when imaging is in progress, and turned off when imaging is in standby. The color of the tally lamp may be changed (or turned on / off) depending on whether the imaging device 1 is streaming or not. That is, the condition for changing the color of the tally lamp (or turning on / off) is either of the following two conditions: (1) the imaging device 1 is capturing images, or (2) the video captured by the imaging device 1 is being streamed. The term "streaming" here refers to transmitting to an external device via a network.

[0019] In other words, the tally lamp indicates the imaging state or distribution state of the imaging device 1.

[0020] The movable part 20 includes a pan base 210. A main board 220, a tilt bearing 230, and a tilt motor 240 are arranged on the pan base 210. A central processing unit (CPU) that performs image processing, communication processing, control processing, and the like (not shown) is mounted on the main board 220. A pan cover 250 covers the pan base 210 and constitutes the exterior of the movable part 20.

[0021] The pedestal unit 30 includes a base case 310 and a bottom plate 360 ​​that constitute its exterior. A power supply board 350, a pan motor 340, a base frame 330, and a pan bearing 320 are arranged in this order inside the base case 310 and the bottom plate 360. The power supply board 350 has an external connection terminal 351, and is capable of supplying power and communicating with the outside. The base frame 330 is fixed to the base case 310, and supports the power supply board 350 and the bottom plate 360.

[0022] In this manner, by assembling the imaging section 10, the movable section 20, and the base section 30, the imaging device 1 that can rotate in the pan direction or the tilt direction is configured.

[0023] Specifically, a tilt shaft 131 is formed in the imaging unit 10, and a tilt motor 240 is disposed in the movable unit 20. The tilt motor 240 is a rotating unit that rotates the imaging direction of the imaging unit 10 in the tilt direction. The tilt shaft 131 and the tilt motor 240 are connected, and the tilt shaft 131 is rotatably supported by a tilt bearing 230. As a result, when the tilt motor 240 is driven, a driving force is transmitted to the tilt shaft 131, and the imaging unit 10 is capable of rotating around the tilt shaft (T shown in FIG. 2).

[0024] A pan axis 211 is formed on the movable section 20, and a pan motor 340 is disposed on the base section 30. The pan motor 340 is a rotating section that rotates the imaging direction of the imaging section 10 in the pan direction. The pan axis 211 and the pan motor are connected by 340, and the pan axis 211 is rotatably supported by a pan bearing 320. As a result, when the pan motor 340 is driven, a driving force is transmitted to the pan axis 211, and the movable section 20 is rotatable around the pan axis (P shown in FIG. 2).

[0025] The configuration that enables pan and tilt rotation is not limited, and other configurations include a gear meshing structure and a structure in which elastic parts such as a wave washer are used to bias and fix the structure.

[0026] The arrangement of the tally lamps in the image capture device according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the illumination range of the tally lamps during tilt rotation of the image capture device according to this embodiment.

[0027] As described above, the imaging device 1 has a plurality of tally lamps, and among the plurality of tally lamps, the first tally lamp 170 is disposed on a surface (front) located in the imaging direction of the imaging section 10. That is, when the user looks at the imaging device 1 from the imaging direction (from the front side), the tally lamp is disposed at a position where at least a part of the tally lamp is visible. Among the plurality of tally lamps, the second tally lamp 180 is disposed on a surface (back side) located in the opposite direction to the imaging direction. That is, when the user looks at the imaging device 1 from the opposite direction to the imaging direction (from the back side), the tally lamp is disposed at a position where at least a part of the tally lamp is visible. Furthermore, the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp are disposed at positions facing each other in the vertical direction (z-axis direction).

[0028] In other words, the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp are disposed at positions sandwiching the imaging section 10 in a direction perpendicular to the imaging direction of the imaging section 10 (vertical direction).

[0029] As a result, the first tally lamp 170 illuminates the first illumination region T1, and the second tally lamp 180 can illuminate the second illumination region T2 that is difficult to illuminate with the first tally lamp 170. Since the first tally lamps 170 and the second tally lamps 180 are disposed in substantially opposing positions sandwiching the tilt axis 131 in both the optical axis direction and the vertical direction, at least one of the tally lamps can be viewed without depending on the tilt angle of the imaging unit 10 or the user's viewpoint position. As a result, an imaging device with highly visible tally lamps can be provided.

[0030] In addition, the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 may extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 10 and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. When the imaging unit 10 is tilted when the imaging device 1 is viewed from the optical axis direction, the plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the imaging unit 10 and the plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction can be visually recognized by the performers and the cameraman. The first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 may be formed to protrude from the exterior of the imaging unit 10. This allows the light of the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 to be irradiated in a direction substantially parallel to the exterior of the imaging unit 10. The visibility of the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 is improved.

[0031] It is desirable that the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 are at least partially arranged on a curved or inclined surface. When the imaging unit 10 tilts, the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 are visible from various angles by the performers and the cameraman. By having the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 have a curved or inclined surface, the angle range at which they are easily visible becomes larger, improving the visibility of the tally lamps.

[0032] Second embodiment An imaging device according to this embodiment will be described. The imaging device according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape and arrangement of tally lamps. Note that a description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0033] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the tally lamps of the imaging device according to this embodiment. The first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 extend to the side of the imaging unit 10. As a result, when the user looks at the imaging device 2 from the tilt axis 131 direction, the side of the imaging unit 10 is visible. Therefore, the parts of the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp that extend to the side of the imaging unit 10 are visible. In addition, it is preferable that the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 are disposed at positions that are substantially opposite to each other in the tilt axis 131 direction. With this configuration, the visibility of the tally lamps from both sides of the imaging unit 10 is improved.

[0034] (Third embodiment) The imaging device according to this embodiment has a different number of tally lamps compared to the first and second embodiments. Note that a description of the configuration common to the second embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the second embodiment will be described.

[0035] 6 is an explanatory diagram of the tally lamps of the imaging device according to this embodiment. Two first tally lamps 170 are arranged to extend to three surfaces, the front, top, and side, of the imaging unit 10 of the imaging device 3. Two second tally lamps 180 are arranged to extend to three surfaces, the back, bottom, and side, of the imaging unit 10. When the imaging device 3 is viewed from the tilt axis 131 direction, the first tally lamp 170 and the second tally lamp 180 each extend to both side surfaces of the imaging unit 10, so that the tally lamps can be seen from both side surfaces of the imaging unit 10.

[0036] (Fourth embodiment) The imaging device according to this embodiment is different from the imaging device according to the first embodiment in that it further includes an interchangeable lens. Note that a description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0037] FIG. 7 is an overall view of the imaging device according to this embodiment, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the tally lamps during tilt rotation of the imaging device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a front view of the imaging device according to this embodiment as viewed from the optical axis direction.

[0038] The imaging unit 40, the movable unit 50, and the base unit 60 are assembled together to form a video imaging device 4 capable of pan-tilt rotation.

[0039] The imaging unit 40 is composed of an imaging body 410 and an exchangeable lens 420. A first tally lamp 430 and a second tally lamp 440 are disposed in the imaging body 410. The first tally lamp 430 is disposed on the subject side, and the second tally lamp 440 is disposed in a position substantially opposite the imaging body 410 to the first tally lamp 430 in both the optical axis direction and the vertical direction. This allows the first tally lamp 430 to illuminate the third illumination area T3, and the second tally lamp 440 to illuminate the fourth illumination area T4 that is difficult to illuminate with the first tally lamp 430. Therefore, even when the tilt angle of the imaging unit 10 is 90°, at least one of the tally lamps can be viewed by disposing the two tally lamps in substantially opposite positions across the tilt axis 131 in both the optical axis direction and the vertical direction.

[0040] Therefore, it is possible to provide an imaging device in which the visibility of the tally lamp is high regardless of the pan / tilt angle of the imaging section 10.

[0041] Furthermore, it is desirable that the first tally lamp 430 is disposed outside the outermost diameter D of the lens 420 when the video imaging device 4 is viewed from the optical axis direction. This makes it possible to prevent the visibility of the tally lamp from being impaired by the lens 420 disposed in front of the imaging main body 410.

[0042] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the video imaging device exemplified in the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Imaging device 10. Imaging unit 170 First Tally Lamp 180 Second Tally Lamp

Claims

1. A rotation unit that rotates an imaging direction of the imaging unit in a pan direction or a tilt direction; a plurality of tally lamps each indicating either an imaging state indicating whether or not imaging is being performed by the imaging unit, or a distribution state indicating whether or not an image captured by the imaging unit is being distributed, a first tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps is disposed on a plane in which at least a portion of the first tally lamp is located in an imaging direction of the imaging unit; a second tally lamp among the plurality of tally lamps is disposed on a surface in which at least a portion of the second tally lamp is positioned in a direction opposite to an imaging direction of the imaging unit; The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp are disposed at positions sandwiching the imaging unit in a direction perpendicular to an imaging direction of the imaging unit.

2. 2. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the image pickup unit and substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction.

3. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp extend to a side surface of the image pickup unit.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second tally lamp is disposed at a position substantially opposite to the first tally lamp in the pan direction.

5. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp are formed to protrude from an exterior of the image pickup unit.

6. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp and the second tally lamp are at least partially disposed on a curved or inclined surface.

7. Further comprising an interchangeable lens; 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tally lamp is disposed outside an outermost diameter of the lens.

Images