gimbal camera

Abstract

This application provides a PTZ camera, comprising: a first housing having a first chamber; a second housing having a second chamber, the second housing being rotatably connected to the first housing; a first drive unit disposed within the first chamber and connected to the second housing, for driving the second housing to rotate relative to the first housing along a first axis; a camera module disposed within the second chamber; and a main control chip disposed within the first chamber and electrically connected to the camera module, the main control chip being able to abut against the housing of the first drive unit for heat dissipation through the housing of the first drive unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to surveillance and security technology, and more particularly to a PTZ camera. Background Technology

[0002] A PTZ camera is an intelligent device used in security monitoring, typically capable of flexible rotation in both horizontal and vertical directions. A PTZ camera consists of multiple mechanical and electronic modules, including a drive unit, camera module, main control chip, and communication interface.

[0003] In related technologies, PTZ cameras employ a spherical rotating structure, with the camera module and main control circuit board integrated within the rotating ball head. These are connected to an interface board in a fixed base via multiple sets of flexible cables for power supply and data transmission. The drive system includes drive motors, used to control the horizontal rotation of the ball head and the pitch movement of the camera module.

[0004] In the aforementioned related technologies, because the main control chip is located inside the rotating ball head, there is a lack of effective heat dissipation path, which can easily lead to overheating during long-term operation. Secondly, there are multiple cables between the ball head and the base, and there may be signal crosstalk between different cables. In addition, the flexible cable is repeatedly bent during rotation, which can easily cause a decrease in signal integrity or even cable breakage, affecting the overall reliability and service life of the machine. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a PTZ camera, including: a first housing having a first chamber; a second housing having a second chamber, the second housing being rotatably connected to the first housing; a first drive unit disposed in the first chamber and connected to the second housing, for driving the second housing to rotate relative to the first housing along a first axis; a camera module disposed in the second chamber; and a main control chip disposed in the first chamber and electrically connected to the camera module, the main control chip being able to abut against the housing of the first drive unit for heat dissipation through the housing of the first drive unit.

[0006] The PTZ camera provided in this application embodiment achieves efficient heat dissipation by moving the main control chip into the first cavity of the first housing and directly attaching it to the housing surface of the first drive unit, thereby improving the overall performance and user experience of the PTZ camera.

[0007] In some embodiments, the PTZ camera further includes a main control circuit board, which is fixedly disposed in the first cavity, and the main control chip is disposed on the main control circuit board; the camera module includes an image sensor, which is connected to the main control chip through the main control circuit board.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first driving unit further includes a first output terminal, which is connected to the second housing to drive the second housing to rotate; the main control circuit board is spaced apart from the first driving unit along a first direction, and the main control chip can abut against the outer surface of the housing of the first driving unit near the second housing along the first direction; the main control circuit board is provided with a first opening, and the first output terminal passes through the first opening; wherein the first direction is consistent with the extension direction of the first axis.

[0009] In some embodiments, the first driving unit includes a first output terminal, which is connected to the second housing to drive the second housing to rotate; the main control circuit board is spaced apart from the first driving unit along a second direction, and the main control chip can abut against the outer surface of the housing of the first driving unit along the second direction; the second direction is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first axis.

[0010] In some embodiments, the PTZ camera further includes a heat-conducting medium disposed between the main control chip and the housing of the first drive unit.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing of the first drive unit is made of a metal material, and the thermally conductive medium is thermally conductive silicone grease or a thermally conductive pad.

[0012] In some embodiments, the PTZ camera further includes a communication cable connected to the image sensor and the main control chip; and a protective layer covering the outside of the communication cable.

[0013] In some embodiments, the PTZ camera further includes a plurality of connectors, the first housing having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of connectors, the plurality of openings communicating the first chamber with the external environment, and at least a portion of the connectors being exposed to the external environment through the openings; the plurality of connectors being fixed on the main control circuit board; or, the PTZ camera further includes an interface board, the plurality of connectors being disposed on the interface board, and the interface board being connected to the main control circuit board.

[0014] In some embodiments, the pan-tilt camera further includes a sealing ring disposed between the opening and the connector.

[0015] In some embodiments, the camera module is rotatably connected to the second housing, and the PTZ camera further includes a second drive unit disposed in the second cavity. The second output terminal of the second drive unit is connected to the camera module and is used to drive the camera module to rotate along a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

[0016] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a PTZ camera in related technologies;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the PTZ camera provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the pan-tilt camera provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a PTZ camera provided in another embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the connectors on the main control circuit board in the PTZ camera provided in this application embodiment. Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the connectors on the main control circuit board in the PTZ camera provided in this application embodiment. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0024] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments should not be regarded as limitations on this application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] This application provides a PTZ camera. To facilitate understanding, before introducing the technical solution of this application, the relevant technologies and their existing problems will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a pan-tilt camera in related technologies. Figure 1 The pan-tilt camera 100 includes: a base module 110, a rotating ball head module 120, and a drive unit 130.

[0027] The base module 110 can be fixedly installed on a wall or bracket, providing support, power supply and communication interface.

[0028] The rotating ball head module 120 is rotatably connected to the base module, allowing the rotating ball head module to rotate horizontally relative to the base module.

[0029] The rotating ball head module 120 includes an image sensor 121, a lens module 122, and a main control chip 123. The image sensor 121 is connected to the lens module 122, which focuses light onto the image sensor 121. The image sensor 121 converts the collected light signal into an electrical signal based on the photoelectric effect. The main control chip 123 is connected to the image sensor 121 and the drive unit, and is used to control the PTZ camera.

[0030] exist Figure 1 In the technical solution shown, the image sensor 121 and the main control chip 123 are typically integrated on the main control circuit board 140, which is located on one side of the lens module 122 along the optical axis direction of the lens module 122.

[0031] The rotating ball head module 120 also includes a mounting bracket 124, on which the image sensor 121, lens module 122, and main control chip 123 are all fixed. The mounting bracket 124 is rotatably connected to the outer housing of the rotating ball head module 120, allowing it to pitch and swing relative to the housing.

[0032] The drive unit includes a first drive unit 131 and a second drive unit 132. The first drive unit 131 is disposed inside the base module 110, and its output end is connected to the rotating ball head module 120 to drive the rotating ball head module 120 to rotate in the horizontal direction. The second drive unit 132 is disposed inside the rotating ball head module 120, and its output end is connected to the mounting bracket 124 to drive it to pitch and swing.

[0033] The base module 110 has multiple openings 111, each corresponding to a connector 141 for connection to the main control circuit board 140. These connectors include universal serial interfaces and Ethernet interfaces, among others.

[0034] As one possible implementation, the base module 110 is also provided with an interface board 150, which is connected to the main control circuit board 140 via a flexible cable (such as a flexible printed circuit board or a braided shielded cable) to enable power supply and data transmission to the pan-tilt camera.

[0035] The pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras mentioned above have many problems, mainly in the following aspects:

[0036] First, during the operation of the PTZ camera, the temperature of the main control chip is high (up to 75–120℃), while the internal space of the ball head is limited, making it impossible to install a large heat sink; relying solely on a thermal pad + conventional heat sink results in low heat dissipation efficiency. When in a high-temperature environment for a long time, the main control chip will frequently reduce its frequency, affecting video encoding performance, and may even cause crashes or system instability.

[0037] Secondly, in order to improve heat dissipation performance as much as possible, additional components such as thermal grease, heat sinks, and fans are required, which increases the overall cost.

[0038] Third, high-speed signals such as USB and Ethernet, as well as analog signals such as audio signals, are transmitted from the rotating ball head to the base via flexible connecting cables. The connection between the base and the rotating ball head is susceptible to mechanical vibration and torsional deformation, which can lead to problems such as disconnection, delay, packet loss, and bit errors. At the same time, the signal transmission process is also susceptible to electromagnetic interference.

[0039] Fourth, the flexible connection cable runs parallel to USB and Ethernet cables inside the camera, exposed in moving parts, creating a loop antenna effect that generates spatial radiation and receives external interference. This leads to crosstalk between signals from different cables, causing image stuttering, remote control response delays, and high signal error rates.

[0040] Fifth, the repeated bending of the connecting wires at the rotating joints over a long period of time causes solder joint breakage, copper wire fatigue, and insulation layer damage, leading to increased equipment failure rate, higher maintenance costs, and decreased user satisfaction.

[0041] In summary, the related technologies have significant shortcomings in terms of cost, heat dissipation, signal integrity, and overall reliability. In view of the above problems, this application provides a PTZ camera, and the technical solution of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of the PTZ camera provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 2 The pan-tilt camera in the device includes: a first housing 210, a second housing 220, a first drive unit 230, a camera module 240, and a main control chip 250.

[0043] The first housing 210 is the housing structure located in the base portion of the pan-tilt camera 200. It is usually a fixed part and does not move with the rotation of the camera. The first housing 210 has a first chamber 211 inside, which is used to house components such as the first drive unit 230 and the main control chip 250.

[0044] The first housing 210 described above can be made of metal or plastic and has good mechanical stability and thermal conductivity.

[0045] The second housing 220 is the housing of the rotating part in the pan-tilt camera 200. The second housing 220 has a second chamber 221 inside, which is used to install the camera module 240.

[0046] The second housing 220 and the first housing 210 are rotatably connected so that the second housing 220 can rotate relative to the first housing 210 along a first axis, the direction of which can be the same as the vertical direction, at which time the second housing 220 can rotate in the horizontal direction.

[0047] The second housing 220 and the first housing 210 can be rotatably connected by bearings, gears or other rotary transmission mechanisms, allowing the camera to rotate freely in the horizontal direction.

[0048] The first drive unit 230 is disposed in the first chamber 211 of the first housing 210 and connected to the second housing 220, thereby driving the second housing 220 to move along the first axis.

[0049] In this embodiment of the application, the first driving unit 230 is fixed inside the first chamber 211 of the first housing 210. For example, the first driving unit 230 can be connected to the first housing 210 by means of bonding or threaded connection.

[0050] The first drive unit 230 described above can be, for example, a DC motor, a stepper motor, or a servo motor. The output end of the first drive unit 230 can be connected to the second housing 220 through a transmission mechanism such as a gear or coupling, thereby driving the second housing 220 to rotate.

[0051] The camera module 240 is used for image acquisition and typically includes components such as a lens module and an image sensor. The camera module 240 is installed in the second chamber 221 of the second housing 220. When the second housing 220 rotates, the camera module 240 rotates synchronously, thereby adjusting the camera's viewing angle.

[0052] The main control chip 250 is connected to the camera module 240 and serves as the core control unit of the PTZ camera 200. The main control chip 250 has image processing capabilities and can further process the data collected by the camera module 240. The main control chip 250 is located within the first chamber 211 and is configured to abut against the housing of the first drive unit 230.

[0053] For more details, see Figure 3 For example, the main control chip 250 can be attached to the plane where the output terminal of the first drive unit 230 is located.

[0054] It is understandable that in the application scenario of the technical solution of this application, the main control chip 250 will generate a lot of heat under long-term high-load operation, while the first drive unit 230 drives the second housing 220 to rotate at a low frequency and a slow rotation speed, and the first drive unit 230 itself generates less heat, so unidirectional heat transfer is achieved between the main control chip 250 and the housing of the first drive unit 230.

[0055] By attaching the main control chip 250 to the surface of the housing of the first drive unit 230, the housing of the drive unit can be used as a passive heat dissipation structure, thus constructing a composite heat dissipation structure of "main control circuit board 260 - housing of first drive unit 230". This allows the heat generated by the main control chip 250 to be quickly dissipated to the external environment, further effectively reducing the operating temperature of the main control chip 250. Compared with related technologies, the technical solution provided in this application does not require a separate heat sink, achieving a low-cost heat dissipation upgrade.

[0056] In summary, the PTZ camera 200 provided in this application embodiment achieves efficient heat dissipation by moving the main control chip 250 into the first chamber 211 of the first housing 210 and attaching it to the housing surface of the first drive unit 230, thereby improving the overall performance and user experience of the PTZ camera 200.

[0057] It should also be noted that, in the technical solution of this application, the main control chip 250 can be directly attached to the housing of the first drive unit 230, or it can be indirectly attached to the housing of the first drive unit 230 through a thermally conductive medium. This application embodiment does not specifically limit this. The specific scheme for indirect heat dissipation through a thermally conductive medium will be described in detail later.

[0058] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a PTZ camera 200 provided in another embodiment of this application, see reference. Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the PTZ camera 200 further includes a main control circuit board 260, which is disposed in the first chamber 211, and the main control chip 250 is disposed on the main control circuit board 260.

[0059] The main control circuit board 260 is a circuit board structure used to carry and connect electronic components. It is typically composed of an insulating substrate and copper foil. This circuit board structure is used to realize the transmission and processing of electrical signals. In the embodiments of this application, the circuit board structure used to carry and connect electronic components not only serves as a mounting platform for the main control chip 250, but also undertakes the task of signal connection between key components such as image sensors and drive units.

[0060] The aforementioned camera module includes an image sensor. With the main control chip 250 mounted on the main control circuit board 260, the image sensor is connected to the main control chip 250 via the main control circuit board 260, thereby reducing the risk of signal crosstalk.

[0061] An image sensor is one of the core components of a camera module, used to convert light signals into electrical signals, and then generate digital image data. An image sensor can be a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor.

[0062] In this embodiment, the image sensor is connected to the main control chip 250 via the main control circuit board 260, resulting in a shorter signal path and more stable signal transmission. Furthermore, the main control circuit board 260 can also integrate other peripheral interfaces and control logic modules, thereby further enhancing the system's functional expandability and maintainability.

[0063] In some embodiments, see Figure 4 The first drive unit 230 also includes a first output terminal 231, which is used to connect to the second housing 220 to drive the second housing 220 to rotate. As described above, the first drive unit 230 is a mechanism for driving the second housing 220 to rotate, and the first output terminal 231 can be a power output interface of the first drive unit 230, such as an output shaft or gear.

[0064] The main control circuit board 260 and the first drive unit 230 are spaced apart along a first direction. The main control circuit board 260 is provided with a first opening 261. The first output terminal 231 of the first drive unit 230 passes through the first opening 261. The first direction is consistent with the extension direction of the first axis.

[0065] The first opening 261 is a through hole reserved on the main control circuit board 260. After the first output terminal 231 passes through the through hole, the surface of the main control circuit board 260 can approach the outer surface of the second housing 220 along the first direction of the first drive unit 230. The main control chip 250 disposed on the main control circuit board 260 can abut against this surface.

[0066] When the first axis is a vertical axis, the main control circuit board 260 and the first drive unit 230 are stacked vertically, the main control circuit board 260 is horizontally oriented, and the main control chip 250 is attached to the upper surface of the first drive unit 230.

[0067] By making an opening in the main control circuit board 260 so that the first output terminal 231 of the first drive unit 230 can pass through, the size of the PTZ camera 200 along the first direction is reduced while ensuring that the main control chip 250 is in contact with the housing of the first drive unit 230.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first drive unit further includes a first output terminal for connecting to the second housing to drive the second housing to rotate. The first output terminal may be a power output interface of the first drive unit.

[0069] The main control circuit board and the first drive unit are spaced apart along the second direction, so that the main control chip can abut against the outer surface of the housing of the first drive unit along the second direction.

[0070] With the first axis being vertical, the main control circuit board and the first drive unit are spaced apart in the horizontal direction, the main control circuit board 260 is vertically oriented, and the main control chip is attached to the side wall of the first drive unit.

[0071] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 The PTZ camera 200 also includes a heat-conducting medium 270, which is disposed between the housing of the main control chip 250 and the first drive unit 230.

[0072] In this embodiment, the thermally conductive medium 270 is a material used to enhance heat conduction efficiency, possessing high thermal conductivity and low thermal resistance. This material can quickly transfer heat from the heating element (main control chip 250) to the heat dissipation structure (motor housing).

[0073] By setting the heat-conducting medium 270, a heat dissipation path of "main control chip 250 - heat-conducting medium 270 - first drive unit 230 shell" is constructed, which increases the effective heat dissipation area and heat dissipation efficiency.

[0074] In addition, since the thermally conductive medium 270 can fill the tiny gap between the main control chip 250 and the housing of the first drive unit 230, reducing the contact thermal resistance, the heat can be distributed more evenly across the entire heat dissipation surface, thus avoiding local overheating.

[0075] Compared to traditional methods that use air convection or small-area heat sinks, the solution of placing a thermally conductive medium 270 between the housing of the main control chip 250 and the first drive unit 230 can significantly reduce the junction temperature of the main control chip 250 under the same ambient temperature. For example, the temperature of the main control chip 250 can be controlled at around 60°C. This solution reduces the temperature of the main control chip 250 by about 30°C compared to conventional solutions.

[0076] In some embodiments, the housing of the first drive unit 230 is made of a metal material, such as aluminum, copper, or steel. These metal materials have good thermal conductivity and mechanical strength, and can quickly conduct heat from the heat source to the external environment.

[0077] In the solution of this application, a metal material is selected as the housing of the first drive unit 230, and the natural thermal conductivity of the metal material is used to replace the traditional small heat sink or active heat dissipation device, thereby achieving low-cost and efficient heat dissipation.

[0078] The aforementioned thermally conductive medium 270 disposed between the housing of the first drive unit 230 and the main control chip 250 is thermally conductive silicone grease, thermally conductive pad, or other thermally conductive material.

[0079] Thermal grease is a silicone-based paste material commonly used to fill gaps between electronic components and enhance heat conduction. It possesses excellent thermal conductivity and insulation properties. The function of thermal grease is to create a good thermal contact surface between the main control chip 250 and the metal casing of the first drive unit 230, reducing interfacial thermal resistance and improving heat transfer efficiency. For example, when high-power chips are bonded to metal casings, without the use of thermal grease, the surface roughness between the chip and the casing may lead to poor local contact, thus affecting the overall heat dissipation effect.

[0080] Thermal pads are flexible materials made of silicone or other polymers, internally doped with thermally conductive fillers (such as zinc oxide, aluminum nitride, etc.), possessing both thermal conductivity and cushioning properties. Compared to thermal grease, thermal pads are easier to install, maintain, and reuse, making them suitable for scenarios requiring frequent disassembly and reassembly. In this application, thermal grease or thermal pads can be flexibly selected as the thermal medium 270 based on actual assembly requirements and heat dissipation levels to optimize the heat dissipation path and ensure long-term operational reliability.

[0081] Based on the aforementioned technical means, by making the housing of the first drive unit 230 into a metal material and combining it with thermal grease or thermal pads as the thermal conductive medium 270, the heat generated by the main control chip 250 can be rapidly conducted to the surface of the housing, and then naturally dissipated through the overall structure of the base. This not only avoids the cost and space occupation issues associated with adding an extra heat dissipation module, but also significantly improves the overall heat dissipation efficiency and operational stability of the device, making it particularly suitable for PTZ network camera equipment that operates under high load for extended periods. Furthermore, this design simplifies structural complexity and improves the manufacturability and maintainability of the product.

[0082] In some embodiments, refer back Figure 2 The PTZ camera 200 also includes a communication cable 280.

[0083] The communication cable 280 is used to connect the image sensor and the main control chip 250 to transmit the electrical signals collected by the image sensor to the main control chip 250 for processing.

[0084] The communication cable 280 may be, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or other types of cable.

[0085] For example, the communication cable 280 is a shielded flexible printed circuit board, which has an additional shielding layer compared to traditional printed circuit boards, thus preventing electromagnetic interference. When applied to the pan-tilt camera 200, it can effectively reduce signal crosstalk and improve signal integrity.

[0086] One end of the aforementioned communication cable 280 is located inside the first housing 210, and the other end is located inside the second housing 220. When the second housing 220 rotates, it will cause the flexible circuit board to twist. At the same time, since it passes through the connection between the first housing 210 and the second housing 220, when the second housing 220 rotates, the communication cable 280 is also at risk of rubbing against the first housing 210 and / or the second housing 220.

[0087] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, in order to prevent the communication cable 280 from being physically damaged and affecting the signal transmission, a protective layer is also provided on the outside of the communication cable 280.

[0088] A protective layer wraps around the outside of the communication cable 280, providing mechanical protection and environmental isolation. It is typically made of abrasion-resistant, fire-retardant, and moisture-proof soft fabric or flexible material, preventing physical damage or environmental influences to the communication cable 280 inside the camera. Furthermore, the protective layer provides additional electromagnetic shielding to a certain extent, further enhancing the camera's electromagnetic shielding performance. For example, the protective layer can be a cut-resistant sheath or a wire harness sheath. As a possible implementation, when the communication cable 280 is an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and the FPC is wide, to increase the cable's lifespan, the cable can be divided into multiple wire harnesses, with each harness individually sheathed. In other words, the aforementioned protective layer can include multiple cut-resistant sheaths or wire harness sheaths.

[0089] By using the above-mentioned technical means, connecting the image sensor and the main control chip 250 with a communication cable 280 and setting a protective layer, signal interference can be effectively reduced and transmission quality can be improved, thereby improving the stability of image processing and thus improving the overall performance and reliability of the PTZ camera 200.

[0090] In some embodiments, the pan-tilt camera 200 further includes a plurality of connectors 290, and the first housing 210 has a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of connectors 290. The plurality of openings connect the first chamber 211 to the external environment, and at least a portion of the connectors 290 is exposed to the external environment through the openings.

[0091] In this embodiment, connector 290 is a component used to achieve electrical connection between circuits. For example, connector 290 may be a USB female connector, an Ethernet female connector, an HDMI female connector, or a memory card female connector, etc. The PTZ camera can connect to external devices through multiple connectors 290, such as connecting to an external power supply via a USB female connector, establishing a network connection with an external device via an Ethernet interface, and performing read / write operations on the memory card via the memory card female connector.

[0092] See Figure 5 As one implementation, multiple connectors 290 can be mounted on the main control circuit board 260. More specifically, multiple connectors 290 can be soldered onto the main control circuit board 260. In this way, all signal lines are routed inside the first housing 210, without passing through rotating joints; because they are far from moving parts, vibration and wear caused by the rotation of the second housing 220 are avoided, thereby enhancing the reliability of the connectors 290.

[0093] Meanwhile, the direct connection between connector 290 and main control circuit board 260 reduces intermediate transfer links, and the relevant lines exist only on the main control circuit board 260. This can minimize the trace length and greatly improve EMI suppression and signal quality.

[0094] Taking USB connection as an example, fixing the USB interface female socket to the main control circuit board 260 can support users to use longer USB cables, thereby greatly improving the user's installation freedom. For example, in the related technical solutions, the USB interface female socket is connected to the main control circuit board 260 through the interface board, resulting in a maximum supported USB cable length of two meters. However, the technical solution of this application can support USB cables with a maximum length of three meters.

[0095] Furthermore, this integrated layout of the main control circuit board 260 and connector 290 is beneficial for the transmission of high-speed signals. For example, differential traces, shielding layers, and terminating matching resistors can be set on the main control circuit board 260 to improve the integrity of high-speed signals.

[0096] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Two different layouts of multiple connectors 290 on the main control circuit board 260 are shown. Figure 5 On the main control circuit board 260 shown, multiple connectors 290 are spaced apart along the circumference of the main control circuit board 260; Figure 6 On the main control circuit board 260 shown, multiple connectors 290 are arranged in a straight line with intervals.

[0097] As another implementation, the pan-tilt camera 200 may also include an interface board with multiple connectors 290 mounted on it. These connectors 290 are connected to the main control circuit board 260 via the interface board. Expanding the interface via the interface board allows for the addition of more connector types or quantities without altering the original main control circuit board 260, offering good flexibility and scalability.

[0098] In some embodiments, the PTZ camera 200 further includes a sealing ring disposed between the opening of the first housing 210 and the connector 290.

[0099] The aforementioned sealing ring is installed in the gap between the opening edge and the connector 290 to fill the gap and prevent liquid leakage. This sealing ring can be made of rubber, silicone, or other elastic and aging-resistant materials, and can adapt to connectors 290 of different sizes while maintaining good fit. This ensures that even under vibration, temperature changes, or mechanical stress, the connector 290 remains stably fixed to the housing and effectively prevents dust, moisture, or foreign matter from entering the first chamber 211.

[0100] According to the above technical means, by setting a sealing ring between the opening and the connector 290, effective isolation from the external environment can be achieved, thereby improving the protection performance and connection stability of the equipment, and thus enhancing the reliability and service life of the whole machine.

[0101] In some embodiments, the camera module 240 is rotatably connected to the second housing 220, and the PTZ camera 200 further includes a second drive unit disposed in the second chamber 221 for driving the camera module 240 to rotate along the second axis.

[0102] In this embodiment, the camera module 240 and the second housing 220 can be connected by a rotary joint, so that the camera module 240 can rotate around the second axis within a certain angle range.

[0103] The second drive unit is an actuator for driving the camera module 240 to rotate around a second axis. The second drive unit may include a motor or a servo motor. The second drive unit is connected to the main control circuit board 260 and can receive control signals from the main control circuit board 260 to drive the camera module 240 to rotate in the pitch direction.

[0104] The second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. With the first axis being the aforementioned vertical axis, the second axis extends horizontally. At this time, the camera module 240 can perform pitch motion around the second axis while the second housing 220 rotates horizontally. In practical applications, under the action of the first drive unit 230 and the second drive unit, the entire PTZ camera 200 can achieve independent rotation in both horizontal and vertical directions, thereby enhancing the spatial coverage and flexibility of the PTZ camera 200.

[0105] It is understood that in this application, "multiple" refers to two or more, and other quantifiers are similar. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, or B alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0106] It is further understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various types of information, but this information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another, and do not indicate a specific order or degree of importance. In fact, expressions such as "first," "second," etc., are completely interchangeable.

[0107] It is further understood that the terms “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” and “outer,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this embodiment and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0108] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0109] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0110] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the claims.

[0111] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pan-tilt camera, characterized in that, include: The first shell has a first chamber; The second housing has a second chamber and is rotatably connected to the first housing; A first drive unit is disposed within the first cavity and connected to the second housing, for driving the second housing to rotate relative to the first housing along a first axis; The camera module is located in the second chamber; The main control chip is disposed in the first cavity and electrically connected to the camera module. The main control chip can abut against the housing of the first drive unit to dissipate heat through the housing of the first drive unit.

2. The PTZ camera according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a main control circuit board, which is fixedly disposed in the first cavity, and the main control chip is disposed on the main control circuit board; The camera module includes an image sensor, which is connected to the main control chip via the main control circuit board.

3. The PTZ camera according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first driving unit further includes a first output terminal, which is connected to the second housing to drive the second housing to rotate; The main control circuit board is spaced apart from the first driving unit along a first direction, and the main control chip can abut against the outer surface of the housing of the first driving unit along the first direction near the second housing. The main control circuit board is provided with a first opening, and the first output terminal passes through the first opening; The first direction is consistent with the extension direction of the first axis.

4. The PTZ camera according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first driving unit includes a first output terminal, which is connected to the second housing to drive the second housing to rotate; The main control circuit board is spaced apart from the first driving unit along the second direction, and the main control chip can abut against the outer surface of the housing of the first driving unit along the second direction; The second direction is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first axis.

5. The pan-tilt camera according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, It also includes a heat-conducting medium disposed between the main control chip and the housing of the first drive unit.

6. The PTZ camera according to claim 5, characterized in that, The housing of the first drive unit is made of metal, and the thermally conductive medium is thermally conductive silicone grease or thermally conductive pad.

7. The pan-tilt camera according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The pan-tilt camera also includes: A communication cable is provided to connect the image sensor and the main control chip. A protective layer is fitted over the outside of the communication cable.

8. The pan-tilt camera according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of connectors, the first housing having a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of connectors, the plurality of openings communicating the first chamber with the external environment, and at least a portion of the connectors being exposed to the external environment through the openings; The multiple connectors are fixed on the main control circuit board; or, The PTZ camera also includes an interface board, on which the plurality of connectors are disposed, and the interface board is connected to the main control circuit board.

9. The pan-tilt camera according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a sealing ring disposed between the opening and the connector.

10. The pan-tilt camera according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The camera module is rotatably connected to the second housing. The PTZ camera also includes a second drive unit disposed in the second cavity. The second output terminal of the second drive unit is connected to the camera module and is used to drive the camera module to rotate along a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis.

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