Imaging device

Abstract

Provided is an imaging apparatus including: at least one imaging unit configured to be rotatable by a driving mechanism and movable in a circumferential direction; an illumination device; a cover configured to cover the imaging unit and the illumination device; and a light-blocking member, at least a portion of the light-blocking member being arranged between the imaging unit and the illumination device and arranged in contact with the cover. The light-blocking member is retractable away from the cover by driving of the driving mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to camera equipment, and more particularly to camera equipment capable of adjusting the camera direction electrically. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the demand for camera equipment capable of wide-range imaging has increased. Among such camera equipment, there exists a type where multiple camera units are capable of shifting and moving in a circumferential direction centered on the central axis of the housing. Furthermore, there are camera equipment equipped with an illumination device to capture clear video in the dark. U.S. Patent Application No. 2020 / 0174343 discloses a construction in which an auxiliary light unit including the illumination device can be mounted within a camera body comprising multiple camera units.

[0003] There are also imaging devices in which the lighting device is arranged in the same space as the camera unit. When the lighting device is arranged in the same space as the camera unit, a light-shielding member needs to be provided between the camera unit and the lighting device to prevent reflected light from the lighting device from entering the transparent protective cover. As a useful technique for such a light-shielding member, U.S. Patent No. 10,612,663 discloses a gasket that blocks light so that reflected light from the protective cover does not reach the lens barrel in an imaging device including multiple camera units.

[0004] However, in the configuration disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 2020 / 0174343, the size of the housing may increase because the lighting is arranged in a space separate from the camera unit. On the other hand, the configuration disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 10,612,663 can prevent the increase in size. However, when motorization is implemented to remotely adjust the camera direction of the camera unit, the friction between the protective cover and the gasket may be a significant load. As a solution to these problems, it is conceivable to retract the light-shielding member electrically when adjusting the field of view of the camera unit. However, when an actuator is installed separately to retract the light-shielding member, the cost may increase, and the size of the main body may increase. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a technique that enables the simple construction of a retractable light-shielding component while preventing the size of the camera device, which is capable of changing the camera direction, from increasing.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a camera device includes: at least one camera unit configured to rotate by a drive mechanism and movable in a circumferential direction; an illumination device; a cover configured to cover the camera unit and the illumination device; and a light-shielding member, at least a portion of which is disposed between the camera unit and the illumination device and arranged to contact the cover. The light-shielding member is retractable away from the cover by being driven by the drive mechanism.

[0007] Other features of the invention will become clear from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view showing a camera device according to an embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the top shell unit.

[0010] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom shell unit.

[0011] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view showing the camera unit.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing the camera unit.

[0013] Figure 6A and Figure 6B This is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the camera unit to describe a method for retracting the locking light-shielding unit.

[0014] Figure 7A and Figure 7B This is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the camera unit to describe a method for unlocking the retractable mechanism of the light-shielding unit. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the dimensions, materials, relative positions, etc., of the constituent elements described in the following embodiments are arbitrary and can be varied according to the construction of the device to which the embodiments of the present invention apply and various conditions. Cables or components not directly related to the embodiments of the present invention will not be described or shown. Furthermore, for ease of description, the shape of components, etc., will be described in a simplified form in some cases.

[0016] Example

[0017] In the embodiments, examples of camera devices to which the present invention is applicable will be described. Figure 1This is an exploded perspective view showing a camera device 1 according to an embodiment. The camera device 1 includes a top housing unit 3 and a bottom housing unit 4. The top housing unit 3 is fixed to the bottom housing unit 4 by fastening screws 2. A gasket (not shown) is arranged between the top housing unit 3 and the bottom housing unit 4 to prevent rainwater or dust from entering the camera device 1.

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the top housing unit 3. The top housing unit 3 includes a top housing 5, a protective cover 6, and a protective cover bracket 7. The protective cover 6 is a transparent component such as polycarbonate and protects the plurality of camera units 9 (described later) from rain, dust, or external impacts. The protective cover 6 and the flange 6a are located between the top housing 5 and the protective cover bracket 7. A gasket (not shown) is arranged between the top housing 5 and the protective cover 6 to prevent rain or dust from entering the camera device 1.

[0019] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom shell unit 4. The bottom shell unit 4 includes a camera unit bracket 8, multiple camera units 9, a shifting base 10, a bottom shell 11, and multiple infrared illumination units 12. In an embodiment, the camera device 1 includes, for example, three camera units 9 and three infrared illumination units 12, but the camera device 1 may include one or more camera units 9 and one or more infrared illumination units 12. The more camera units 9 included in the camera device 1, the wider the range that can be captured at one time.

[0020] The imaging unit 9 includes a lens barrel 902 (imaging unit), which includes an image sensor and a lens group (both not shown), and a protrusion 914 is located between the imaging unit support 8 and the shifting base 10. The imaging unit 9 holds the lens barrel 902 in a rotatable tilt position and can be shifted and moved on the shifting base 10. The tilting referred to here is a rotation in the vertical direction and circumference of an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens barrel 902, and the shifting is a circumferential movement about the central axis A of the imaging device 1.

[0021] The infrared illumination unit 12 includes an infrared illumination device 12a and is fixed to the camera unit 9, which will be described in detail below.

[0022] The shift base 10 includes a spur gear 10a and is fixed to the base shell 11. A printed circuit board (not shown) is arranged between the shift base 10 and the base shell 11, on which a video engine for processing the output signal of the image sensor or a network engine for network communication is mounted.

[0023] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view showing the camera unit 9. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing the camera unit 9. For ease of description, Figure 4The image shows an infrared illumination unit 12 fixed to the camera unit 9. The lens barrel 902 is fixed to the lens barrel bracket 904.

[0024] The lens barrel support 904 is held tilted relative to the tilting base 907. The lens barrel support 904 includes: a helical gear 904a for tilting, a light-blocking unit 904b for initial alignment via a light blocker 908 (described later), and a pressing unit 904c with a protruding shape. A front cover 903 and a rear cover 905 are fixed to the lens barrel support 904. The rear cover 905 includes a pressing unit 905a with a protruding shape. That is, the lens barrel support 904, the front cover 903, and the rear cover 905 serve as holding units for holding the lens barrel 902.

[0025] The aforementioned infrared illumination unit 12 is arranged in the space covered by the protective cover 6. The infrared illumination unit 12 is tilted to be linked with the tilt of the corresponding lens barrel 902. The infrared illumination unit 12 is preferably fixed to, for example, the lens barrel bracket 904, such that the illumination direction of the infrared illumination device 12a is substantially matched with the imaging direction of the lens barrel 902. Therefore, the illumination direction of the infrared illumination device 12a can be substantially matched with the imaging direction of the lens barrel 902, regardless of the displacement position and tilt angle of the lens barrel 902, thus preventing uneven illumination and reducing power consumption. For example, the drive mechanism for tilting the lens barrel 902 can be used to tilt the infrared illumination device 12a without fixing the infrared illumination unit 12 to the lens barrel bracket 904 to be linked with the tilt of the lens barrel 902 and the infrared illumination device 12a. Alternatively, a different drive mechanism for tilting than that for the lens barrel 902 can be used to be linked with the tilt of the lens barrel 902 and the infrared illumination device 12a by control.

[0026] The inclined base 907 includes a first inclined base 9071 and a second inclined base 9072, and a locking member 909 is arranged between the first inclined base 9071 and the second inclined base 9072.

[0027] The first tilting base 9071 is provided with a tilting motor unit 906 and a light interrupter 908.

[0028] The tilting motor unit 906 includes a stepper motor 906a and a worm gear 906b. The worm gear 906b is press-fitted into and assembled in the output shaft of the stepper motor 906a. The worm gear 906b engages with the helical gear 904a of the lens barrel support 904, thus the stepper motor 906a can be used as a power source to tilt the lens barrel 902 together with the lens barrel support 904. That is, the tilting motor unit 906 is a drive mechanism for tilting.

[0029] The light interruptor 908 is soldered onto a flexible substrate (not shown) and activated by conduction. Initial tilt alignment is performed by detecting the position of the light-shielding unit 904b of the lens holder 904 between the light-emitting and light-receiving portions of the light interruptor 908. That is, the light interruptor 908 acts as a detector for detecting the tilt angle. After the initial tilt alignment, the tilt angle is determined based on the number of drive pulses of the stepper motor 906a.

[0030] A variable speed motor unit 912 and a variable speed gear unit 913 are arranged in the second inclined base 9072. The variable speed motor unit 912 includes a stepper motor 912a and a worm gear 912b. The variable speed gear unit 913 includes a helical gear 913a and a spur gear 913b. The worm gear 912b is pressed into and assembled in the output shaft of the stepper motor 912a. The worm gear 912b engages with the helical gear 913a, and the spur gear 913b engages with the spur gear 10a of the aforementioned shifting base 10. Therefore, the stepper motor 912a can be used as a power source to shift the lens barrel 902 together with the second inclined base 9072.

[0031] The second inclined base 9072 includes four guide rods 9072a and a guide groove 9072b. A light-shielding unit force spring 910 is arranged around each guide rod 9072a. A light-shielding unit 901, provided to shield the light of the infrared illumination device 12a, is loosely mounted on the guide rod 9072a. In this embodiment, the light-shielding unit 901 is arranged, for example, to cover the lens barrel 902. The top shell unit 3 is mounted on the bottom shell unit 4, and the light-shielding unit force spring 910 is compressed, causing the light-shielding unit 901 to be pushed along the guide rod 9072a towards the protective cover 6. A protective cover adhesive surface 901a, formed of an elastic member such as rubber, is adhered to the inner surface of the protective cover 6. Therefore, reflected light from the infrared illumination device 12a in the protective cover 6 does not reach the lens barrel 902, and thus the light is shielded. The elastic member, such as rubber (the protective cover adhesive surface 901a of which is molded) can be integrated with the frame 901d formed of resin.

[0032] A locking member 909 is disposed in a guide groove 9072b and is sandwiched between a first inclined base 9071 and a second inclined base 9072. A locking member force spring 911 is compressed and disposed between the second inclined base 9072 and the locking member 909. The locking member force spring 911 pushes the locking member 909 backward along the guide groove 9072b to hold the locking member 909 in contact with the first inclined base plate 9071.

[0033] Figure 6A and Figure 6B This is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the camera unit 9 to describe the method of retracting the locking light-shielding unit 901. Figure 7A and Figure 7BThis is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the camera unit 9 to describe the method of unlocking the retraction mechanism of the light-shielding unit 901. In the following text, the values ​​of the up / down, front / back, positive / negative tilt directions, and tilt angle are as follows: Figure 6A , Figure 6B , Figure 7A and Figure 7B As shown. That is, using camera unit 9 as a reference, the direction of the mounting surface is downward, the direction opposite to the mounting surface is upward, the camera direction with a tilt angle of 0 degrees is forward, and the direction opposite to this camera direction (forward) is backward.

[0034] In this embodiment, when the camera unit 9 is capturing an image, for example, the tilt angle that can be set when adjusting the field of view, which prevents vignetting due to the top shell 5 or the light-shielding unit 901, is assumed to be in the range of +10 degrees to +120 degrees. For example, the tilt range that can be rotated to retract the light-shielding unit 901 when adjusting the field of view is assumed to be in the range of -20 degrees to +125 degrees. The tilt angle can be calculated based on the number of drive pulses of the stepper motor 906a after the initial tilt alignment of the light blocker 908. The tilt angle or the rotatable tilt range that can be set when adjusting the field of view is adjusted by firmware.

[0035] First, when the light-shielding unit 901 is retracted, it tilts in the negative rotation direction, and the tilt is carried out to a tilt angle of -20 degrees, which is the negative end of the rotatable tilt range.

[0036] Specifically, such as Figure 6A As shown, at a tilt angle of 0 degrees, the pressing unit 904c of the lens barrel support 904 contacts the pressed unit 901c of the light-shielding unit 901. When tilted further in the negative rotation direction from this state, the pressing unit 904c of the lens barrel support 904 presses down on the pressed unit 901c of the light-shielding unit 901, causing the light-shielding unit 901 to retract downward along the guide rod 9072a. At this time, when the inclined surface of the locking pawl 901b of the light-shielding unit 901 contacts the inclined surface of the locking pawl 909a of the locking member 909, a forward force is applied to the locking pawl 909a, and the locking member 909 begins to slide forward along the guide groove 9072b. When the lens barrel support 904 rotates to a tilt angle of -20 degrees, the inclined surface of the locking pawl 901b does not contact the inclined surface of the locking pawl 909a. Therefore, the locking member force spring 911 pushes the locking member 909 backward along the guide groove 9072b. like Figure 6BAs shown, locking claw 901b engages with locking claw 909a and maintains a locked state, which is the state in which the light-shielding unit 901 is retracted away from the protective cover 6. Therefore, even when the lens barrel support 904 is not pressed against the pressing unit 904c, the light-shielding unit 901 is held in the retracted position, and there is a gap between the protective cover adhesion surface 901a of the light-shielding unit 901 and the protective cover 6. Therefore, using the stepper motor 906a for tilting as a power source, the light-shielding unit 901 can be retracted away from the protective cover 6. For example, no friction occurs between the light-shielding unit 901 and the protective cover 6 during displacement, and the lens barrel 902 can be moved and tilted electrically, allowing the field of view to be adjusted. When the field of view adjustment is completed, the tilt angle after field of view adjustment, calculated based on the number of drive pulses of the stepper motor 906a after the initial tilt alignment, is stored in the firmware. In the description, the tilt angle after field of view adjustment is assumed to be +45 degrees.

[0037] Subsequently, when the retracted light-shielding unit 901 returns to its initial position, the lens barrel support 904 tilts in the positive rotation direction to a tilt angle of +125 degrees, which is the positive end of the rotatable tilt range.

[0038] Specifically, such as Figure 7A As shown, at a tilt angle of +122 degrees, the pressing unit 905a of the rear cover 905 contacts the pressed unit 909b of the locking member 909. When the lens barrel support 904 is tilted further in the positive rotation direction from this state, the pressing unit 905a of the rear cover 905 presses forward against the pressed unit 909b of the locking member 909, causing the locking member 909 to slide forward along the guide groove 9072b. When the lens barrel support 904 rotates to a tilt angle of +125 degrees, the engagement between the locking claw 901b of the light-shielding unit 901 and the locking claw 909a of the locking member 909 is released. Therefore, as Figure 7B As shown, the light-shielding unit force spring 910 pushes the light-shielding unit 901 back along the guide rod 9072a toward the protective cover 6, so that the adhesive surface 901a of the protective cover is adhered to the inner surface of the protective cover 6. Then, when the lens barrel support 904 tilts in the negative rotation direction to the stored tilt angle of +45 degrees after adjusting the field of view, the locking member 909 is pushed backward by the locking member force spring 911 along the guide groove 9072b and held at the position where the locking member 909 contacts the first tilting substrate 9071.

[0039] In the embodiments, locking the light-shielding unit at the negative end of the rotatable tilt range is described as a mechanism for unlocking the light-shielding unit at the positive end of the rotatable tilt range, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, a mechanism with the opposite relationship can be used, or a mechanism for locking and unlocking at the same end can be used. A configuration can be used in which locking or unlocking occurs when the lens barrel 902 tilts beyond a range of tilt angles that can be set when adjusting the field of view, although this range is not the end.

[0040] In the above configuration, in a camera device that can electrically adjust the field of view and includes multiple camera units arranged in a circumferential direction, the light-shielding member can be retracted even without a separate actuator for retracting the light-shielding member.

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, but the invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the invention's spirit. The light-shielding unit 901 preferably has a configuration that covers the lens barrel 902, but other configurations can also be used. For example, at least a portion of the light-shielding unit 901 is arranged between the lens barrel 902 and the infrared illumination device 12a, and the surface corresponding to the protective cover adhesion surface 901a is arranged to adhere to the protective cover 6. In such an arrangement, a configuration can be used in which the light-shielding unit 901 is able to block reflected light from the infrared illumination device 12a in the protective cover 6, so that the reflected light does not reach the lens barrel 902. A stepper motor 906a for tilting can be used as a power source to retract the light-shielding unit 901 away from the protective cover 6; a stepper motor for panning or for rotation about the optical axis can also be used.

[0042] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-009533, filed on January 25, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A camera device, comprising: At least one camera unit is configured to be able to rotate by a drive mechanism and to move in a circumferential direction; lighting fixtures; A cover is configured to cover the camera unit and the lighting device; as well as A light-shielding member, at least a portion of which is disposed between the camera unit and the lighting device, and arranged to contact the cover. The light-shielding member can be retracted away from the cover by being driven by the drive mechanism. When the camera unit tilts beyond a preset tilt range or when the camera unit tilts to the end of the tilt range, the light-shielding member retracts away from the cover.

2. The camera device according to claim 1, in, The camera device includes multiple camera units, and The plurality of camera units are arranged along the circumferential direction.

3. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, The light-shielding component is arranged to cover the camera unit.

4. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, The lighting device includes an infrared lighting device.

5. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, The lighting devices are arranged to correspond to each camera unit.

6. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein, The lighting device tilts as the corresponding camera unit tilts.

7. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising: A holding unit, configured to hold the camera unit, When the camera unit is tilted to a predetermined position, a portion of the holding unit comes into contact with a portion of the light-shielding member, causing the light-shielding member to retract away from the cover.

8. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising: A locking member is configured to maintain the light-shielding member in a retracted state away from the cover.

9. The camera device according to claim 8, wherein, When the camera unit tilts beyond a preset tilt range, the state of the light-shielding member, which is held in a retracted state by the locking member, is released. In the retracted state, the light-shielding member retracts away from the cover.

10. The camera device according to claim 8, further comprising: A holding unit, configured to hold the camera unit, When the camera unit is tilted to a predetermined position, a portion of the holding unit contacts a portion of the locking member, thereby releasing the retracted state of the light-shielding member.

11. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising: The detector is configured to detect tilt angles.

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