Pan tilt device

Abstract

Power can be supplied after detecting the attachment / detachment state of the housing.SOLUTION: A locking unit that supports the housing so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to the apparatus main body, a first connector that is provided in the apparatus main body and supplies a power supply current to the imaging apparatus, a second connector that is provided in the housing and is electrically connected to the first connector, and a detection unit that is provided on the apparatus main body side and detects an attachment state in which the housing is attached to the apparatus main body, the detection means is arranged so that the first connector and the second connector are electrically disconnected after the detection means detects that the housing is detached when the housing is detached from the device body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pan-tilt device. [Background technology]

[0002] A pan-tilt device is equipped with an imaging device such as a television camera. The pan-tilt device performs pan-tilt, focusing, zooming, etc. of the imaging device by remote control. In particular, when the pan-tilt device is installed outdoors, such as on the roof of a building, a mountaintop, or a steel tower, it includes a housing that houses the imaging device and a device main body that holds the housing so that it can perform pan-tilt operations and has a power source, etc.

[0003] The device body and the housing are electrically connected by a connector. To protect them from dust and rainwater when used outdoors, connectors are provided on the contact surfaces of the housing and the device body, and the connectors are electrically connected by swinging the housing down onto the device body.

[0004] In such a pan-tilt device, the power must be turned off when the housing is attached to or detached from the device body for replacement or maintenance of the imaging device. This is because, if the power is not turned off when the attachment or detachment is performed, the terminal pins in the connector connecting the power line and the terminal pins connecting the communication line may come into improper contact, causing a large power current to flow through the communication line, which could damage the electronic components installed therein. Even if no damage occurs, the connection of the communication line may become temporarily uneven during the process of attaching or detaching the housing to or from the device body in a pendulum-like manner, which could cause an abnormality in the signal level and malfunction of the control circuit board. For these reasons, the power to the pan-tilt device must be turned off when attaching or detaching the housing to or from the device body.

[0005] In order to prevent accidental insertion and removal while the power is on, various mechanisms for hot-plugging have been devised for electronic devices other than pan-tilt devices. Patent Document 1 discloses a device having a power supply line and a communication bus line in each of the device main body (rack mount base) and the housing (module). With the technology of Patent Document 1, when the housing is attached to the device main body, the power supply line is connected to turn on the device, and then the communication bus line extending between the device main body and the housing is connected to initialize the circuit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-3142 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the live insertion / removal technology of Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to a camera head to detect the housing. The reason for this is that in a camera head device that uses a large current and in which the housing is attached and detached in an outdoor environment where rain, dust, etc. are expected, simply regulating the order of attachment and detachment while power is supplied to the connector, as in Patent Document 1, cannot ensure safety (there is a risk of current flow or a short circuit when the connector is only partially inserted).

[0008] Therefore, the present invention provides a pan-tilt device that can supply power only after detecting the attached / detached state of the housing (=connector) (current does not flow when the housing is only partially inserted). [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve this problem, for example, the pan-tilt device of the present invention has the following configuration: a housing in which an imaging device is mounted; a device main body that supports the housing rotatably in a tilt direction around a tilt axis and detachably; a locking means having a rotation shaft provided on one of the device body and the housing and extending in a horizontal direction, and a hook means provided on the other of the device body and the housing and hooked onto the rotation shaft, and supporting the housing rotatably around the rotation shaft relative to the device body; a first connector provided on the device body for supplying a power supply current to the imaging device; a second connector provided in the housing and electrically connected to the first connector; a detection means provided on the device body side for detecting an attachment state of the housing to the device body; and The detection means is arranged so that when the housing is removed from the device body, the first connector and the second connector are electrically disconnected after the detection means detects that the housing has been removed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a technology is provided that can supply power only after detecting the attached / detached state of the housing (=connector) (current does not flow when the housing is only partially inserted). [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a pan-tilt device according to an embodiment, viewed obliquely from the front. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the pan-tilt device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a connection portion of the pan-tilt device of the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a process of removing and attaching the housing. [Figure 5] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a process of removing and attaching the housing. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a side view of the housing mounting plate and the housing support plate facing each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0013] (Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pan-tilt device 10 of this embodiment, viewed obliquely from the front. Fig. 2 is a front view of the pan-tilt device 10. The configuration of the pan-tilt device of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

[0014] In the description of this embodiment, the directions indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 are defined as the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction, respectively. Rotation around the X axis is defined as rotation of the pan-tilt device 10 in the tilt direction. Rotation around the Z axis is defined as rotation of the pan-tilt device 10 in the pan direction. Furthermore, in the pan-tilt device 10 of this embodiment, the surface seen from the lens side of the imaging device 15 stored in the housing 11 (the surface seen from the Y direction of the pan-tilt device 10) is defined as the front (-Y side surface). The surface opposite the front is defined as the back (+Y side surface). The surface to the right (-X direction) of an operator looking in the front direction is defined as the right side. The surface to the left (+X direction) of an operator looking in the front direction is defined as the left side. The surface on the upper side (+Z direction) is defined as the top side. The surface on the lower side (-Z direction) is defined as the bottom side.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pan-tilt device 10 includes a housing 11, a device main body 12, and a base 13. The pan-tilt device 10 further includes a housing casing 111, a housing support plate 112, a device main body casing 121, a pan axis 122, a tilt axis 123, a housing mounting plate 125, a hook 1121, a fulcrum pin 1251, a control unit 126, and a fixing screw 14. The housing casing 111 and the housing support plate 112 may be part of the housing 11. The device main body casing 121, the tilt axis 123, and the housing mounting plate 125 may be part of the device main body 12. The hook 1121 and the fulcrum pin 1251 are examples of locking means. The fixing screw 14 is an example of fastening means.

[0016] An imaging device 15 is mounted in the housing 11. The housing 11 is supported by the device body 12 via a tilt shaft 123 extending in the X-axis direction. This allows the housing 11 to be supported rotatable in a tilt direction with respect to the device body 12, with the tilt shaft 123 serving as the axis of rotation. The housing 11 has a housing housing 111 which is a casing. The housing housing 111 stores the imaging device 15 to protect it from external factors that may adversely affect imaging.

[0017] The device main body 12 supports the housing 11 rotatably in the tilt direction and removably. The device main body 12 is supported on the base 13 via a pan axis 122 extending in the Z-axis direction. This allows the device main body 12 to be rotatable in the pan direction relative to the base 13, with the pan axis 122 serving as the axis of rotation. The device main body 12 has a device main body housing 121 which is a casing. The right side of the device main body housing 121 supports a housing mounting plate 125 for connecting the housing 11 via a tilt axis 123. The device main body housing 121 houses a control unit 126.

[0018] The base 13 includes an interface that can fix the pan-tilt device 10 to an installation position. The base 13 is fixed to an installation position such as a structure such as a building or the ground.

[0019] The housing support plate 112 is attached to a housing mounting plate 125 and supports the housing 11. The housing support plate 112 has a bottom surface portion 1125 and a side surface portion 1126. The bottom surface portion 1125 contacts the bottom surface of the housing 11 and supports the housing 11 from below. The bottom end of the side surface portion 1126 is fixed to the left end of the bottom surface portion 1125. The right side surface of the side surface portion 1126 supports the left side surface of the housing 11. The left side surface of the side surface portion 1126 is attached to the housing mounting plate 125.

[0020] The housing mounting plate 125 is attached to the tilt shaft 123. That is, the housing mounting plate 125 is attached to the device main body 12 via the tilt shaft 123.

[0021] One or more fulcrum pins 1251 extend in a horizontal direction (Y direction) intersecting the tilt axis and are attached to the upper end of the housing mounting plate 125. The fulcrum pins 1251 rotatably support the housing 11 on both the front and rear sides. The fulcrum pins 1251 are an example of a rotation axis.

[0022] The hook portion 1121 is provided on the left side of the upper end of the side surface portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112. The hook portion 1121 is disposed at a position corresponding to the fulcrum pin 1251. As a result, when the housing 11 is attached, the hook portion 1121 is hooked onto and locked with the fulcrum pin 1251 provided on the upper end of the housing attachment plate 125 of the device main body 12. As a result, the housing 11 and the housing support plate 112 are held rotatably around the fulcrum pin 1251. Because the hook portion 1121 is simply hooked onto the fulcrum pin 1251, the side surface portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112 can be detached from the housing attachment plate 125.

[0023] When attaching the housing 11 to the device main body 12, the worker tilts the housing 11 and lowers the hook portion 1121 from above to hook it onto the fulcrum pin 1251. In this state, the worker rotates the housing 11 around the fulcrum pin 1251 under its own weight. This brings the side surface portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112 into contact with the housing mounting plate 125. In this contact state, the worker fastens the lower end of the side surface portion 1126 to the lower end of the housing mounting plate 125 with one or more fixing screws 14 to secure them together. In this way, the housing 11 is fixed and attached to the device main body 12.

[0024] In this embodiment, the fulcrum pin 1251 serving as the rotation axis is provided on the device main body 12 side, and the hook portion 1121 serving as the bearing is provided on the housing 11 side, but the arrangement is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the fulcrum pin 1251 is provided on one of the device main body 12 and the housing 11, and the hook portion 1121 is provided on the other of the device main body 12 and the housing 11. For example, the fulcrum pin 1251 may be provided on the housing 11 side, and the hook portion 1121 may be provided on the device main body 12 side.

[0025] The reason for locating the fulcrum pin 1251 and the hook portion 1121 at the upper end is to improve the workability of attaching and detaching the housing 11 to and from the device main body 12. In this embodiment, a large pan-tilt device 10 is assumed to be installed in a high location outdoors. In this assumption, the housing 11 with the imaging device 15 mounted therein is large and heavy, and the number of workers who can perform the attachment and detachment work at a high location on unstable footing is limited. In such a situation, it is not easy for a worker to align the fitting portions of the device main body 12 and the housing 11 while continuing to support the housing 11.

[0026] Therefore, in this embodiment, the fulcrum pin 1251 and the hook portion 1121 are arranged at the upper end. As a result, during installation, the worker hooks the housing 11 onto the fulcrum pin 1251 at the upper end of the device main body 12 to support it, and can slowly lower the housing 11 while lightly supporting it and rotating it around the fulcrum pin 1251 under its own weight. This allows the worker to bring the side portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112 into contact with the housing mounting plate 125 with little load. With the housing and mounting plate 125 in this contact state, the worker can finally fasten them with the fixing screws 14. The removal process is performed by reversing the installation procedure.

[0027] This embodiment employs such a mechanism, so the worker does not need to continue supporting the entire weight of the housing 11, and can bring the housing 11 into contact with the device main body 12 in the appropriate positional relationship and mate the connectors without making any adjustments during installation. If we consider a case where the fulcrum pin 1251 and the hook portion 1121 are located at the lower end, the worker would have to adjust the position so that the connectors mate properly while continuing to support the entire weight of the housing 11 throughout the entire attachment and detachment operation, which would be a heavy burden. For the above reasons, in this embodiment, the fulcrum pin 1251 and the hook portion 1121 are located at the upper ends of the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112, respectively.

[0028] Next, the internal structure for electrically connecting the device main body 12 and the housing 11 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 6. Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view that visualizes part of the internal structure of the connecting portion between the device main body 12 and the housing 11 in Figure 2. Figure 6 is a side view of the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 facing each other. Figure 6(a) is a right side view of the housing mounting plate 125. Figure 6(b) is a left side view of the side portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112. Figures 6(a) and 6(b) are arranged according to the height positional relationship when mounted.

[0029] 3 and 6, the opening 1257 for the device body side connector is an opening formed in the center of the housing mounting plate 125. The location where the opening 1257 for the device body side connector is formed does not have to be the center.

[0030] The housing-side connector opening 1124 is an opening formed in the center of the side surface 1126 of the housing support plate 112. The location where the housing-side connector opening 1124 is formed does not have to be the center. The housing-side connector opening 1124 is disposed in a position facing the device-main-body-side connector opening 1257. Therefore, when the housing 11 is attached to the device main body 12, the housing-side connector opening 1124 and the device-main-body-side connector opening 1257 overlap and are at least partially penetrated.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the pan-tilt device 10 further includes a device body side connector 1252, a device body side power cable 1253, a housing side connector 1122, a housing side cable 1123, an attachment / detachment detection switch 1254, and a waterproof packing 1256.

[0032] The device body side connector 1252 is provided in a device body side connector opening 1257. The device body side connector 1252 holds one end of a device body side power cable 1253.

[0033] The device body side power cable 1253 extends from a power supply board 126 provided inside the device body casing 121 and passes inside the tilt shaft 123. The device body side power cable 1253 passes inside the device body side connector opening 1257 and is connected to the device body side connector 1252 protruding toward the housing 11.

[0034] The housing-side connector 1122 is provided in the housing-side connector opening 1124. The housing-side connector 1122 holds one end of the housing-side cable 1123. When the housing 11 is attached, the housing-side connector 1122 is positioned opposite the device-body-side connector 1252. This electrically connects the housing-side connector 1122 to the device-body-side connector 1252. In this connected state, the device-body-side power cable 1253 and the housing-side cable 1123 are electrically connected, enabling the supply of power current.

[0035] The housing-side cable 1123 is connected to the housing-side connector 1122 that fits into the device body-side connector 1252, and extends into the housing 11. The housing-side cable 1123 passes through the housing-side connector opening 1124, and is connected to the imaging device 15 provided inside the housing casing 111, to supply power current to the imaging device 15. When an operator lowers the housing 11 together with the housing support plate 112 and attaches it to the device body 12, the housing-side connector 1122 fits into the device body-side connector 1252, and they are electrically connected and conduct.

[0036] The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is an example of attachment / detachment detection means. The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects an attachment state in which the housing 11 is attached to the device body 12 and a detached state in which the housing 11 is detached. The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is disposed inside the device body side connector opening 1257, below the device body side connector 1252, i.e., at a position farther from the device body side connector 1252 as viewed from the fulcrum pin 1251. The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 protrudes from the device body side connector opening 1257 toward the housing 11, similar to the device body side connector 1252. The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 has a pusher 1258 protruding toward the housing 11. The pusher 1258 is configured to be movable along the perpendicular direction (X direction) of the housing mounting plate 125. The pusher 1258 is positioned so that it comes into contact with the housing support plate 112 when the housing side connector 1122 and the device main body side connector 1252 are electrically connected, i.e., when the housing 11 is attached, and is not opposed to the opening 1124 for the housing side connector.

[0037] The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is, for example, a mechanical switch that switches the signal it outputs depending on whether the plunger 1258 is pressed in by the housing 11 or not. For example, when the plunger 1258 is pressed in, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 outputs a detection signal indicating that the housing 11 is in an attached state. On the other hand, when the plunger 1258 is not pressed in, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 outputs a detachment signal indicating that the housing 11 is in a detached state. Instead of outputting the detachment signal, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 may stop outputting the detection signal. In this way, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects the attachment of the housing 11 when the plunger comes into contact with and is pressed into the housing 11.

[0038] The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is connected to the control unit 126 provided inside the device main body housing 121 via a switch cable 1255. This allows the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 to transmit a detection signal and a removal signal to the control unit 126 via the switch cable 1255.

[0039] The type of attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is not particularly limited, and may be a PI switch, etc. The method of detecting the state in which the housing 11 is attached to the device main body 12 by the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 may be changed as appropriate.

[0040] Here, when the housing-side connector 1122 and the device body-side connector 1252 are electrically connected, the greatest distance between the device body 12 and the housing 11 (an example of a first distance) is longer than the distance at which the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the device body 12 and the housing 11 have been detached (an example of a second distance). The electrically connected state here includes at least both a state in which all of the multiple connector pins are connected and a partially inserted state in which some of the multiple connector pins are connected. Therefore, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is arranged so that when the housing 11 is detached from the device body 12, the device body-side connector 1252 and the housing-side connector 1122 are electrically disconnected after the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the housing 11 has been detached. Furthermore, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is arranged so that when the housing 11 is attached to the device body 12, the device body side connector 1252 and the housing side connector 1122 are electrically connected before the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the housing 11 is attached. Specifically, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 is arranged at a position farther from the fulcrum pin 1251, which is the rotation axis, than the connectors 1122 and 1252.

[0041] In other words, the device body side connector 1252, the housing side connector 1122 and the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 are arranged so that when the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects the housing support plate 112 of the housing 11, the device body side connector 1252 and the housing side connector 1122 are electrically connected.

[0042] The control unit 126 is responsible for overall control of the pan-tilt device 10. The control unit 126 may be realized by an electronic device including one or more circuits, such as a processor such as a microcomputer, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) including an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The control unit 126 acquires a detection signal from the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254. In response to this, the control unit 126 determines that the housing 11 has been attached and starts supplying power current to the image capture device 15. On the other hand, when the control unit 126 acquires a detachment signal from the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 or no longer acquires the detection signal, it determines that the housing 11 has been detached and stops supplying power current to the image capture device 15.

[0043] The fixing screw hole 141 on the device main body 12 side is located at the lower end of the housing mounting plate 125. The fixing screw hole 141 on the housing 11 side is located at the lower end of the side surface portion 1126 of the housing support plate 112, at a position corresponding to the fixing screw hole 141 on the housing mounting plate 125. As a result, when the housing 11 is attached, the fixing screw hole 141 on the device main body 12 side and the fixing screw hole 141 on the housing 11 side overlap to form a through hole.

[0044] With the above arrangement, the distance from the fulcrum pin 1251, which serves as the center of rotation when the housing 11 is attached or detached, increases in the order of the housing-side connector 1122, the device-main-body-side connector 1252, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254, and the fixing screw hole 141. In other words, the distance from the fulcrum pin 1251 to the device-main-body-side connector 1252 (an example of a third distance) is shorter than the distance from the fulcrum pin 1251 to the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 (an example of a fourth distance).

[0045] The waterproof packing 1256 is fitted into the surface of the housing mounting plate 125 facing the housing 11 so as to surround the device main body side connector opening 1257. As a result, the waterproof packing 1256 seals the areas around the connector openings 1124, 1257 and the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254, so that even when the pan-tilt device 10 is installed in an outdoor environment, it is possible to prevent dust, wind and rain, etc. from entering through the connector openings 1124, 1257.

[0046] In this embodiment, the fixing screw hole 141 is located at the lower end opposite the fulcrum pin 1251, so that the gap formed between the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 by the elasticity of the waterproof gasket 1256 and the reaction force of the plunger 1258 of the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 can be reduced.

[0047] 6, the upper end of housing mounting plate 125 and the upper end of housing support plate 112 are fixed by hook portion 1121 and fulcrum pin 1251, thereby maintaining the distance between the upper ends. The lower end of housing mounting plate 125 and the lower end of housing support plate 112 are fixed by fixing screws 14, thereby maintaining the distance between the lower ends. This makes it possible to maintain the distance between housing mounting plate 125 and housing support plate 112 close between the upper and lower ends, which are positioned on either side of connector openings 1124 and 1257.

[0048] With the above-described arrangement, for example, when the angle formed between the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 is smaller than when the connectors 1122 and 1252 are mated and all connector pins are completely electrically connected, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 can detect that the housing 11 is attached. In this case, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 transmits a detection signal indicating that the housing 11 is attached via the switch cable 1255 to the control unit 126 provided inside the device main body casing 121. Upon receiving the detection signal, the control unit 126 controls the flow of power current from the power supply board through the device main body power cable 1253 to the device main body connector 1252.

[0049] So far, we have described the mechanism and control for detecting the attachment or detachment of the housing 11. Below, we will explain the process of removing the housing 11 from the device main body 12. Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams that explain the process of removing and attaching the housing 11. Figure 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the pan-tilt device 10 maintains electrical continuity between the connectors 1122 and 1252 but detects the removal of the housing 11. Figure 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the pan-tilt device 10 has disconnected the connectors 1122 and 1252 and detects the removal of the housing 11.

[0050] The removal process is performed in the order of Figures 3, 4, and 5. First, in the removal process, the worker loosens and removes the fixing screws 14 that secure the lower ends of the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112.

[0051] With the housing 11 attached to the device main body 12 as shown in FIG. 3 , the worker supports the housing 11 from below and lifts it away from the lower end of the device main body 12, using the fulcrum pin 1251, on which the hook portion 1121 is hooked, as the rotation axis. This results in the state shown in FIG. 4 , and before the electrical connection between the device main body side connector 1252 and the housing side connector 1122 is cut off and they become electrically disconnected, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 switches its detection state and detects the detachment of the housing 11. The attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 transmits a detachment signal indicating that the detachment of the housing 11 has been detected to the control unit 126, or stops transmitting the detection signal. As a result, the control unit 126 determines that the housing 11 has been detached and stops supplying power current to the device main body side power cable 1253.

[0052] 5, when the worker rotates the housing 11 around the fulcrum pin 1251 and further lifts it, the electrical connection between the device body-side connector 1252 and the housing-side connector 1122 is severed. The worker further lifts the housing 11, and when the angle between the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 becomes large enough, the worker lifts the hook portion 1121 that was resting on the fulcrum pin 1251. This allows the worker to completely remove the housing 11 from the device body 12. In this way, this embodiment can cut off the power supply current flowing between the connectors 1122 and 1252 before the electrical connection between the device body-side connector 1252 and the housing-side connector 1122 is severed and the connectors begin to enter a partially inserted state.

[0053] Next, a description will be given of the attachment process for attaching the housing 11 to the pan-tilt device 10. The attachment process is carried out in the order of FIGS.

[0054] 5, in the attachment process, the worker hooks the hook portion 1121 of the housing support plate 112 of the housing 11 onto the fulcrum pin 1251 of the housing attachment plate 125 of the device body 12. At this time, the worker supports the housing 11. In this state, the angle between the housing attachment plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 is sufficiently large, so the device body-side connector 1252 and the housing-side connector 1122 are not completely electrically connected. In this state, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 does not detect that the housing 11 is attached.

[0055] When the worker lowers the housing 11 using the fulcrum pin 1251 as a fulcrum, the housing-side connector 1122 moves in a pendulum-like circular orbit with the fulcrum pin 1251 as the axis of rotation, approaching the device-side connector 1252. As a result, some of the connector pins of the device-side connector 1252 and some of the connector pins of the housing-side connector 1122 become connected, as shown in Fig. 4. In this state, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 does not detect that the housing 11 is attached. Therefore, the control unit 126 does not supply power current, and therefore no current flows between the device-side connector 1252 and the housing-side connector 1122.

[0056] Furthermore, when the worker lowers the housing 11 using the fulcrum pin 1251 as the rotation axis, the device body side connector 1252 and the housing side connector 1122 become completely electrically connected. After this connected state is achieved, when the worker further lowers the housing 11, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the housing 11 is attached and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 126. Upon receiving the detection signal from the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254, the control unit 126 supplies power current from the power source to the device body side power cable 1253. The power current is supplied to the imaging device 15 housed in the housing casing 111 via the device body side connector 1252, the housing side connector 1122, and the housing side cable 1123.

[0057] As the worker continues to lower the housing 11, the side surface 1126 of the housing support plate 112 comes into contact with the housing mounting plate 125. As a result, the housing 11 is supported on its surface by the device main body 12, as shown in Fig. 3. Finally, the worker fastens and secures the housing mounting plate 125 and the housing support plate 112 together with the fixing screws 14, thereby completing the installation of the housing 11.

[0058] As described above, in the pan-tilt device 10 of this embodiment, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the housing 11 is attached. This allows this embodiment to accurately detect the attachment of the housing 11. In this embodiment, the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 provided in the device main body 12 detects the housing 11 by itself, so attachment of the housing 11 can be detected without supplying power current to the housing 11. Furthermore, in this embodiment, after the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 detects that the housing 11 has been removed, the connectors 1122 and 1252 are electrically disconnected. In this way, this embodiment can detect the attachment / detachment of the housing 11 before the disconnection state is reached, so it can supply power current appropriately.

[0059] In this embodiment, the connector openings 1124, 1257 and the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 are arranged in an area sealed by waterproof gasket 1256, thereby reducing damage to the connector openings 1124, 1257 and the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 due to water or the like.

[0060] In this embodiment, the attachment state of the housing 11 is detected when a pusher 1258 of an attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 attached to the device main body 12 is pressed by the housing 11. As a result, this embodiment can detect the attachment and detachment state of the housing 11 without supplying power current to the housing 11 side.

[0061] This embodiment has a control unit 126 that starts and stops the supply of power current based on the detection signal or detachment signal output by the attachment / detachment detection switch 1254 upon detecting the attached state or detached state of the housing 11. This allows this embodiment to supply power current appropriately based on the attached state or detached state of the housing 11.

[0062] In this embodiment, the fulcrum pin 1251 is provided at the upper end, and the fixing screw 14 is provided at the lower end. In this way, since the fulcrum pin 1251 and the fixing screw 14 are provided at both ends, the fixing screw 14 can more firmly fix the housing 11 to the device main body 12.

[0063] As described above, according to this embodiment, control is performed so that power current does not flow between the device body side connector 1252 and the housing side connector 1122 in a partially inserted state where they are not completely connected. Therefore, even if the device body 12 is in a live state, there is no risk of damaging the circuit board, and the housing 11 can be properly attached and detached.

[0064] While live insertion and removal has traditionally been achieved by using multiple connectors, this embodiment realizes a compact mechanism that allows live insertion and removal of cables 1123 and 1253 using a single connector, so that the housing 11 of the pan-tilt device 10 can be easily and quickly attached and detached without the need for larger size.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described in detail above based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Parts of the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0066] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0067] The disclosure of the present specification includes the following pan-tilt device. (Item 1) a housing in which an imaging device is mounted; a device main body that supports the housing rotatably in a tilt direction around a tilt axis and detachably; a locking means having a rotation shaft provided on one of the device body and the housing and extending in a horizontal direction, and a hook means provided on the other of the device body and the housing and hooked onto the rotation shaft, and supporting the housing rotatably around the rotation shaft relative to the device body; a first connector provided on the device body for supplying a power supply current to the imaging device; a second connector provided in the housing and electrically connected to the first connector; a detection means provided on the device body side for detecting an attachment state of the housing to the device body; and The detecting means is arranged so that when the housing is removed from the device body, the first connector and the second connector are electrically disconnected after the detecting means detects that the housing has been removed. A pan-tilt device characterized by: (Item 2) In a state in which the first connector and the second connector are connected, a first distance at which the device main body and the housing are farthest apart is The detection means detects that the device body and the housing have been detached from each other by a distance longer than a second distance. 2. The pan-tilt device according to item 1, (Item 3) A third distance from the rotation axis to the first connector is: shorter than a fourth distance from the rotation axis to the detecting means 3. The pan-tilt device according to item 1 or 2, characterized in that: (Item 4) a sealing means for sealing an area in which the first connector, the second connector and the detecting means are arranged when the housing is attached to the device body; 4. The pan-tilt device according to any one of items 1 to 3, comprising: (Item 5) The detection means detects the attachment of the housing when a pusher provided on the device body comes into contact with the housing. 5. The pan-tilt device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein: (Item 6) a control means for controlling the supply of power current via the first connector and the second connector based on the attachment state; 6. The pan-tilt device according to any one of items 1 to 5, comprising: (Item 7) the locking means is provided on the upper end of the device body and the housing, fastening means provided at the lower end of the device body and the housing for fixing the housing to the device body; 7. The pan-tilt device according to any one of items 1 to 6, comprising:

[0068] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10 Pan-tilt device, 11 Housing, 12 Device body, 14 Fixing screw, 15 Imaging device, 111 Housing case, 122 Pan axis, 123 Tilt axis, 126 Control unit, 141 Fixing screw hole, 1121 Hook portion, 1122 Housing side connector, 1251 Fulcrum pin, 1252 Device body side connector, 1254 Attachment / detachment detection switch, 1256 Waterproof packing, 1258 Pusher.

Claims

1. a housing in which an imaging device is mounted; a device main body that supports the housing rotatably in a tilt direction around a tilt axis and detachably; a locking means having a rotation shaft provided on one of the device body and the housing and extending in a horizontal direction, and a hook means provided on the other of the device body and the housing and hooked onto the rotation shaft, and supporting the housing rotatably around the rotation shaft relative to the device body; a first connector provided on the device body for supplying a power supply current to the imaging device; a second connector provided in the housing and electrically connected to the first connector; a detection means provided on the device body side for detecting an attachment state of the housing to the device body; and The detecting means is arranged so that when the housing is removed from the device body, the first connector and the second connector are electrically disconnected after the detecting means detects that the housing has been removed. A pan-tilt device characterized by:

2. In a state in which the first connector and the second connector are connected, a first distance at which the device main body and the housing are farthest apart is The detecting means detects that the device body and the housing have been detached from each other by a distance longer than a second distance.

2. The pan-tilt device according to claim 1.

3. A third distance from the rotation axis to the first connector is: a fourth distance from the rotation axis to the detecting means; 2. The pan-tilt device according to claim 1.

4. a sealing means for sealing an area in which the first connector, the second connector and the detecting means are arranged when the housing is attached to the device body; The pan-tilt device according to claim 1, further comprising:

5. The detection means detects the attachment of the housing when a pusher provided on the device body comes into contact with the housing.

2. The pan-tilt device according to claim 1,

6. a control means for controlling the supply of power current via the first connector and the second connector based on the attachment state; 2. The pan-tilt device according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. the locking means is provided on the upper end of the device body and the housing, fastening means provided at the lower end of the device body and the housing for fixing the housing to the device body; 2. The pan-tilt device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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