Camera platform apparatus

Abstract

To provide a universal head device for improving the cooling efficiency of a power supply substrate.SOLUTION: A camera platform device 100 that rotates an imaging device 200 includes a housing 103 provided with a door 105 that can be opened and closed, driving devices 106 and 107 that are installed in the housing 103 and rotate the imaging device 200, a duct 106 that is formed by an inner surface of the door 105 and box-shaped members 113 and 115 provided on the inner surface and in which power supply substrates 109 to 111 are accommodated, a fan 114 provided in the duct 116, and an opening 117 provided in the duct 116.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pan head device for rotating an imaging device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a pan head device that is equipped with an imaging device such as a digital video camera and performs pan and tilt operations, as the image resolution increases, the imaging device itself and the power supply board that supplies power to the imaging device tend to generate more heat. Pan head devices installed outdoors generally have a sealed structure for dustproof and waterproof performance, making it difficult to exhaust the air inside the pan head device that has been heated by the heat to the outside. Therefore, there is a need for a way to efficiently cool the air inside the pan head device without exhausting it to the outside. Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which two fans are installed inside the housing of the camera platform, which allows heat inside the housing to be agitated and improves cooling efficiency by air convection. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5117362 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the inside of the housing is used as a single air passage to cool the tilt motor, pan motor, and power supply. In this case, the cooling efficiency of the power supply decreases, and there is a possibility that the power supply will not be cooled sufficiently.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a camera platform device that improves the cooling efficiency of a power supply board. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The pan head device of the present invention is a pan head device for rotating an imaging device, and is characterized by comprising a housing with an openable and closable door, a drive device for rotating the imaging device installed within the housing, a duct formed by the inner surface of the door and a box-shaped member provided on the inner surface, and accommodating a power supply board, a fan provided in the duct, and an opening provided in the duct. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pan head device that improves the cooling efficiency of the power supply board. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a camera platform device and an imaging device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing a camera platform device and an imaging device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a camera platform device and an imaging device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram showing the inner surface of a head cover of the camera platform device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a head cover of the camera platform device according to the first embodiment is closed. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the flow of wind in the camera platform device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the flow of wind in the camera platform device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the flow of wind in the camera platform device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment A first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a pan head device 100 and an imaging device 200 according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a pan head system according to the first embodiment. In describing this embodiment, the directions indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2 are defined as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, respectively, and rotation around the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction is defined as rotation around a pan axis (pan drive) and rotation around a tilt axis (tilt drive), respectively.

[0010] 1 and 2, an imaging device 200 is mounted on a camera platform device 100. The imaging device 200 can be panned and tilted by operating the camera platform device 100, making it possible to capture images at various angles of view.

[0011] The camera platform device 100 includes a head 101 to which the imaging device 200 is attached, and a base 102 that supports the head 101. Hereinafter, the side where the head 101 is located will be defined as the top in the Y-axis direction, and the side where the base 102 is located will be defined as the bottom. The head 101 includes a head main body 103 that serves as a housing, and a head cover 105 that serves as a door attached to the head main body 103 via hinges 104, and has an airtight structure for dustproof and waterproof performance. A pan drive unit 106 and a tilt drive unit 107 are installed inside the head main body 103. The pan drive unit 106 and the tilt drive unit 107 each correspond to the drive device referred to in the present invention. The base 102 is a base that can fix the camera platform device 100 to a tripod or the like.

[0012] The imaging device 200 includes a camera with an imaging element, a lens, a microphone, a wiper, a camera control board, a lens control board, a microphone control board, etc. The imaging device 200 may be an existing digital video camera or the like, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3 , the pan / tilt head system includes a pan / tilt head device 100, an imaging device 200, and a controller 300 connected to each other via a network so that they can communicate with each other. When an operator operates the controller 300, an operation command corresponding to the operation is transmitted from the controller 300 to the pan / tilt head device 100 via the network. The pan / tilt head device 100 performs control in accordance with the operation command, thereby enabling remote control of the pan / tilt head device 100 from the controller 300. Specifically, the pan / tilt head device 100 drives a pan drive unit 106 and a tilt drive unit 107 based on an operation command from the controller, thereby enabling the imaging device 200 to rotate about a tilt axis and about a pan axis relative to the base 102. In addition, an operation command is transmitted to the imaging device 200 via the pan / tilt head device 100, enabling remote control of the imaging device 200 from the controller 300.

[0014] The camera platform device 100 includes a head substrate 108 that controls a pan motor 106a included in the pan drive unit 106 and a tilt motor 107a included in the tilt drive unit 107. The head substrate 108 is installed inside the head main body 103. An operation command from the controller 300 is sent to the head substrate 108 via a network. When the operation command is a pan drive control command, the head substrate 108 drives the pan motor 106a, which is the drive source, by giving a command to the pan motor 106a. When the operation command is a tilt drive control command, the head substrate 108 drives the tilt motor 107a, which is the drive source, by giving a command to the tilt motor 107a. Note that servo motors capable of detecting control current are used for the pan motor 106a and the tilt motor 107a. In addition, the pan motor 106a and tilt motor 107a are equipped with encoders to measure the current rotation angle, and if the rotation angle deviates from the intended rotation angle, the encoders provide feedback to the command, thereby enabling the rotation angle to be controlled as intended.

[0015] The camera platform device 100 also includes an imaging device power supply board 109 that supplies power to the imaging device 200, a motor power supply board 110 that supplies power to the motors 106a and 107a, and a system power supply board 111 that serves as the power source for the entire system. The power supply boards 109 to 111 are installed inside the head cover 105, as will be described in detail later. Separating the power supply boards by function makes it easier to manage power consumption. The camera platform 100 also includes an image processing board 112 that processes images captured by the image capturing device 200. The image processing board 112 is installed inside the base .

[0016] 2, the head cover 105 can rotate around a hinge 104 to open and close the opening of the head main body 103. By opening the head cover 105, it is possible to access the pan drive unit 106, tilt drive unit 107, head substrate 108, and the like inside the head main body 103. For example, when switching the switch on the head substrate 108 during maintenance, or when it is desired to perform work while observing the operating status inside the head 101, the head cover 105 is structured to be easily opened.

[0017] FIG. 4 shows the inner surface (hereinafter referred to as the back surface) of the head cover 105, with the power supply boards 109 to 111 seen through. 4, a power supply board fixing metal plate 113 is installed on the back surface of the head cover 105, in other words, on the surface facing the inside of the head body 103 when the head cover 105 is closed. An imaging device power supply board 109, a motor power supply board 110, and a system power supply board 111 are fixed to this power supply board fixing metal plate 113. The three power supply boards 109 to 111 are arranged between the power supply board fixing metal plate 113 and the back surface of the head cover 105, and are indicated by virtual lines (dotted lines) in FIG.

[0018] The power supply board fixing metal plate 113 has a generally L-shaped bottom portion (extending portion 113a) extending to one side (toward the hinge 104). The imaging device power supply board 109 and the system power supply board 111 are arranged side by side and vertically long above the power supply board fixing metal plate 113. Furthermore, the motor power supply board 110 is arranged horizontally and vertically long below the power supply board fixing metal plate 113 in an area including the extending portion 113a.

[0019] The left and right ends 113b and the bottom end 113c of the power supply substrate fixing metal plate 113 are bent and connected to the rear surface of the head cover 105. In addition, a fan fixing metal plate 115 is provided between the top end of the power supply substrate fixing metal plate 113 and the rear surface of the head cover 105. A fan 114 is installed on the fan fixing metal plate 115. In this manner, the power supply substrate fixing metal plate 113 and the fan fixing metal plate 115 form a box-shaped member. The box-shaped member has side surfaces formed by bending the left and right ends 113b and the bottom end 113c of the power supply substrate fixing metal plate 113, and side surfaces formed by the fan fixing metal plate 115.

[0020] In this way, the back surface of the head cover 105 and the box-shaped members (power supply board fixing sheet metal 113, fan fixing sheet metal 115) provided on the back surface form a duct 116 that houses the power supply boards 109-111. An opening 117 is formed in the duct 116 in an area that includes the upper side of the extending portion 113a of the power supply board fixing sheet metal 113. The fan fixing sheet metal 115 has a slope that slopes downward from the back surface of the head cover 105 toward the power supply board fixing sheet metal 113. This allows the fan 114 to be directed toward the inside of the head main body 103 while reducing the thickness of the duct 116 in the Z-axis direction toward the inside of the head main body 103, and enables air to flow efficiently through the duct 116.

[0021] The power supply boards 109 to 111 and the fan 114 are connected to the head board 108, the image processing board 112, and the imaging device 200 via harnesses (not shown).

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the pan head device 100 with the head cover 105 closed, and is a perspective view of the head cover 105. When head cover 105 is closed, a space is secured on one side (hinge 104 side) of duct 116 inside head main body 103. Pan motor 106a of pan drive unit 106 and tilt motor 107a of tilt drive unit 107 are disposed in this space.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of wind in the pan head device 100, and like FIG. 5, shows the pan head device 100 with the head cover 105 closed, and is a perspective view of the head cover 105. By driving the fan 114, the wind W drawn into the duct 116 from the fan 114 passes between the imaging device power supply board 109 and the system power supply board 111, hits the motor power supply board 110, and changes its flow direction from downward to sideways (towards the hinge 104). In this way, the wind W blown into the duct 116 from the fan 114 flows reliably around the power supply boards 109-111 which generate a lot of heat. Furthermore, the wind W flowing inside the duct 116, which is a narrower space than the inside of the head main body 103, has a relatively high flow rate, and therefore hits the power supply boards 109-111 with the high flow rate, ensuring heat transfer and effectively cooling the power supply boards 109-111.

[0024] The wind W flowing through the duct 116 is exhausted into the inside of the head main body 103 through an opening 117 formed in the extension portion 113a. The pan motor 106a and the tilt motor 107a are arranged in the direction that the opening 117 faces when the head cover 105 is closed. This allows the wind W exhausted into the inside of the head main body 103 through the opening 117 to diffuse the heat of the pan motor 106a and the tilt motor 107a into the inside of the head main body 103. In this way, the air around the pan motor 106a and the tilt motor 107a is replaced, which can promote cooling of the pan motor 106a and the tilt motor 107a.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the pan head device 100, and is a perspective view of the power supply boards 109 to 111, the power supply board fixing metal plate 113, and the fan fixing metal plate 115 from FIG. The airflow W exhausted from the opening 117 of the duct 116 into the head main body 103 flows upward from the hinge 104 side toward the center and is then sucked back into the fan 114 for circulation. In this way, the head substrate 108 is placed as a predetermined substrate on the circulation path of the airflow W generated inside the head main body 103 by driving the fan 114. This allows the airflow W to flow over the front and back surfaces of the head substrate 108, thereby diffusing the heat of the head substrate 108 into the head main body 103. In this way, the air around the head substrate 108 is replaced, and it is possible to promote cooling of the head substrate 108. Note that as the airflow W circulates inside the head main body 103, its heat is transferred to the head main body 103, where heat is exchanged with the outside air.

[0026] As described above, by driving the fan 114, the air drawn into the duct 116 from the fan 114 cools the power supply boards 109-111, and then is exhausted into the head main body 103 through the opening 117. Since the duct 116 that forms an air passage for cooling the power supply boards 109-111 is provided inside the head main body 103 in this way, it is possible to provide a pan head device 100 that improves the cooling efficiency of the power supply boards 109-111. Moreover, power supply boards 109-111 are housed in duct 116, and are arranged separately from pan drive unit 106 and tilt drive unit 107, resulting in a structure that is less likely to cause thermal influence between them. Moreover, power supply boards 109-111 are housed in duct 116, and are designed to be difficult to touch from outside duct 116, which also has the effect of reducing the risk of electric shock when head cover 105 is opened.

[0027] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The following description will focus on differences from the first embodiment, and components similar to those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described again. In the first embodiment, the fan 114 is a fan that draws air into the duct 116. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the fan 114 is a fan that exhausts air from the duct 116. For example, the direction in which the fan 114 is attached may be reversed from that in the first embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the flow of wind in the pan head device 100, and like FIG. 6, shows the pan head device 100 with the head cover 105 closed, and is a perspective view of the head cover 105. In the second embodiment, the direction of the airflow W is opposite to that in the first embodiment. Specifically, by driving the fan 114, the airflow W drawn into the duct 116 from the opening 117 passes near the motor power supply board 110, changes its flow direction from sideways to upward, and passes between the imaging device power supply board 109 and the system power supply board 111. In this way, the airflow W flowing into the duct 116 from the opening 117 reliably flows around the power supply boards 109-111, which generate a large amount of heat. Furthermore, the airflow W flowing inside the duct 116, which is a narrower space than the inside of the head main body 103, has a relatively high flow rate. Therefore, the airflow W with a high flow rate hits the power supply boards 109-111, reliably transferring heat, and effectively cooling the power supply boards 109-111.

[0029] As described above, by driving the fan 114, the air drawn into the duct 116 from the opening 117 cools the power supply boards 109-111, and then is exhausted from the fan 114 into the inside of the head main body 103. Since the duct 116 that forms an air path for cooling the power supply boards 109-111 is provided inside the head main body 103 in this way, it is possible to provide a pan head device 100 that improves the cooling efficiency of the power supply boards 109-111. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the fan 114 on the exhaust side of the duct 116 is located at the upper part inside the head body 103, so that it is possible to reliably diffuse the air at the upper part of the head body 103. This has the effect of preventing the warmed air from accumulating at the upper part inside the head body 103.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, the above embodiments are merely illustrative of specific examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by these embodiments. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its technical concept or main features.

[0031] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) A pan head device for rotating an imaging device, a housing provided with an openable / closable door; a drive device installed in the housing for rotating the imaging device; a duct formed by an inner surface of the door and a box-shaped member provided on the inner surface, the duct accommodating a power supply board; a fan provided in the duct; and an opening provided in the duct. (Configuration 2) the fan is a fan that draws air into the duct, The pan head device described in configuration 1 is characterized in that by driving the fan, the air drawn into the duct from the fan cools the power supply board and then is exhausted into the housing through the opening. (Configuration 3) the fan is a fan that exhausts air from the duct, The pan head device described in configuration 1 is characterized in that by driving the fan, the air drawn into the duct from the opening cools the power supply board and then is exhausted from the fan into the housing. (Configuration 4) The pan head device according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, wherein a drive source included in the drive device is disposed in a direction in which the opening faces when the door is closed. (Configuration 5) The box-shaped member is configured to include a power supply board fixing metal plate for fixing the power supply board, and an end of the power supply board fixing metal plate is bent and connected to the inner surface. (Configuration 6) the fan is installed on one of the side surfaces of the box-shaped member, The pan head device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the side surface on which the fan is installed is an inclined surface. (Configuration 7) 7. The pan head device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, wherein a predetermined substrate is disposed on a circulation path of air generated in the housing by driving the fan. (Configuration 8) 8. The camera platform device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, wherein the power supply board includes a power supply board that supplies power to the imaging device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 100: camera platform, 101: head, 102: base, 103: head body, 104: hinge, 105: head cover, 106: pan drive unit, 106a: pan motor, 107: tilt drive unit, 107a: tilt motor, 108: head board, 109: imaging device power supply board, 110: motor power supply board, 111: system power supply board, 113: power supply board fixing metal plate, 114: fan, 115: fan fixing metal plate, 116: duct, 117: opening, 200: imaging device

Claims

1. A pan head device for rotating an imaging device, a housing provided with an openable / closable door; a drive device installed in the housing for rotating the imaging device; a duct formed by an inner surface of the door and a box-shaped member provided on the inner surface, the duct accommodating a power supply board; a fan provided in the duct; and an opening provided in the duct.

2. the fan is a fan that draws air into the duct, The camera head device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the fan is driven, the air drawn into the duct from the fan cools the power supply board and is then exhausted into the housing through the opening.

3. the fan is a fan that exhausts air from the duct, The camera head device according to claim 1, characterized in that, by driving the fan, the air drawn into the duct from the opening cools the power supply board, and then is exhausted from the fan into the housing.

4. 4. The camera platform device according to claim 1, wherein a drive source included in the drive device is disposed in a direction in which the opening faces when the door is closed.

5. The pan head device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the box-shaped member is composed of a power supply board fixing metal plate for fixing the power supply board, and the end of the power supply board fixing metal plate is bent and connected to the inner surface.

6. the fan is installed on one of the side surfaces of the box-shaped member, 4. The camera platform device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface on which the fan is installed is an inclined surface.

7. 4. The camera platform device according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined substrate is disposed on a circulation path of air generated in the housing by driving the fan.

8. 4. The camera platform device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply board includes a power supply board that supplies power to the imaging device.

Images