Lighting device, camera unit, and camera cover

Abstract

The present invention provides an illumination device, a camera unit, and a camera cover that can improve the clarity of images captured by the camera unit, even when the camera unit is located within the light distribution range of the illumination unit. [Solution] The lighting unit comprises a light-emitting part and a camera unit capable of photographing the area around the lighting unit. The camera unit is located between the lens of the camera unit and the light-emitting part of the lighting unit and has a visor that can shield the illumination light from the lighting unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device, a camera unit, and a camera cover.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, from the perspective of improving security around houses in general households and commercial stores, etc., outdoor lighting fixtures capable of incorporating or attaching a security camera are known (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also, a lighting control device capable of imaging the surroundings of a lighting device with a camera unit and detecting an object such as a person from an image captured by the camera unit is known (for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in conventional lighting fixtures, including the outdoor lighting fixtures described in Patent Document 1, that can image the surroundings of the lighting fixture with a camera incorporated or retrofitted to the lighting fixture, when the camera unit is located within the light distribution range of the lighting fixture, light emitted from the lighting fixture is projected onto the lens of the camera unit, resulting in white spots or the like in the captured image, and it may be difficult to discriminate an object from the captured image.

[0006] Furthermore, in conventional lighting fixtures, including the lighting fixture described in Patent Document 2, which detect and identify specific objects such as people and vehicles based on images captured by a camera, there is a risk that the detection and identification of specific objects may not be performed accurately if overexposure or other issues occur in the captured image.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and aims to provide an illumination device, a camera unit, and a camera cover that can improve the clarity of images captured by the camera unit, even when the camera unit is located within the light distribution range of the illumination unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The lighting device according to the present invention comprises a lighting unit having a light-emitting part and a camera unit capable of photographing the area around the lighting unit, wherein the camera unit is located between the lens of the camera unit and the light-emitting part of the lighting unit and has a visor that can shield the illumination light of the lighting unit.

[0009] The camera unit according to the present invention is a camera unit that can be attached to a lighting device body having a light-emitting part, and is configured to be able to photograph the area around the lighting device body when attached to the lighting device body, and is characterized by having a visor portion located between the lens of the camera unit and the light-emitting part of the lighting device, which can shield the illumination light of the lighting device body.

[0010] The camera cover according to the present invention is a camera cover that is attached to an illumination device comprising an illumination unit having a light-emitting part and a camera body capable of photographing the area around the illumination unit, and is characterized in that, when attached to the camera body, it is positioned between the lens of the camera body and the light-emitting part of the illumination unit and is configured to block the illumination light of the illumination unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, even when the camera unit is located within the light distribution range of the illumination unit, it is possible to improve the clarity of the image captured by the camera unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the lighting device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the lighting device according to this embodiment with the camera unit removed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the rotational range of the light-emitting unit and camera unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram showing the camera unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a functional block diagram showing the lighting device according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view showing the camera unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram showing the camera unit of this embodiment with the camera cover transparent. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing the camera cover according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a side view showing the camera cover according to this embodiment. [Figure 10A] This figure shows an example of the settings screen before changing the settings in the target detection process. [Figure 10B] This figure shows an example of the settings screen after changing the settings for each item in the target detection process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The best embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as described in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic diagrams with appropriate emphasis, omissions, and adjustments of proportions to illustrate the present invention, and may differ from the actual shapes, positions, and proportions.

[0014] [Configuration of the lighting device according to this embodiment] First, referring to FIG. 1, the lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment will be outlined. As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a lighting unit 10 having a light emitting unit 12 and a camera unit 100 including a camera unit 110 that can be attached to the lighting unit 10. In the present embodiment, the lighting device 1 is configured to include only one lighting unit 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, but is not limited thereto, and a plurality of lighting devices 1 may be provided.

[0015] In the following description, in the state where the camera unit 100 is attached to the lighting unit 10 according to the present embodiment (that is, the state of FIG. 1), the direction in which the lighting unit 10 is located (the upward direction in FIG. 1) will be described as "upward", and the direction in which the camera unit 100 is located (the downward direction in FIG. 1) will be described as "downward". Further, the direction in which the light emitting unit 12 is located in the lighting unit 10 (that is, the right direction in FIG. 3) will be described as "front", and the opposite direction will be described as "rear". Furthermore, the direction orthogonal to both the above-described vertical direction and the front-rear direction will be described as the "left-right direction". However, the vertical direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction in this specification are merely formal directions defined for convenience of explanation and are not necessarily the same as the vertical direction and the like in the actual use state.

[0016] The lighting device 1 according to the present embodiment can be attached to an arbitrary position in a building or an outdoor installation or the like. Specifically, the lighting device 1 is attached to, for example, the entrance of a house, a side entrance, under the eaves, a gate, a parking lot, or the like. Further, the lighting device 1 may be an apartment house such as an apartment or a condominium, or a welfare facility for the elderly such as a nursing home, a senior housing with services, a group home, or the like, or an entrance or an entrance on each floor of a building where a specific number of people come and go, such as an office building.

[0017] Furthermore, the lighting device 1 is attached to an entrance or on the premises of a building where an unspecified number of people come and go, such as a public facility such as a hospital, a school, an art museum, a museum, and a library, or a restaurant, a retail store, a lodging facility, and a showroom. Still further, it can be attached to streetlights on the road, telephone poles, poles, etc., and can also be installed in a shopping street, a construction site, or the like.

[0018] [Lighting Unit Configuration] The lighting unit 10 is equipped with dimming and color adjustment functions, and is configured to change the illuminance, color temperature, and color of the light-emitting unit 12. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the light-emitting unit 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an internal space, and is equipped with light-emitting elements such as LEDs and organic ELs within this internal space, so that illumination light can be emitted from below. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the light-emitting unit 12 according to this embodiment is connected to the base unit 14 via a lighting-side connection unit 16, and is configured so that the orientation of the light-emitting unit 12 can be adjusted in any direction.

[0019] In this embodiment, the light-emitting section 12 has been described as being formed in a cylindrical shape with an internal space, but it is not limited to this, and various known shapes such as a rectangular tube or a rectangular box can be adopted. Furthermore, since any configuration known in the art can be adopted for the light-emitting section 12, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0020] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lighting unit 10 includes a base portion 14 to which the light-emitting unit 12 and the camera unit 100 (described later) can be attached, and a lighting-side connection portion 16 that connects the base portion 14 and the light-emitting unit 12.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the base portion 14 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with an internal space, and is configured to house the base end of the lighting-side connection portion 16 on the upper side and a part of the camera unit 100, which will be described later, on the lower side. The shape of the base portion 14 is not limited to this, and various shapes such as cylindrical or rectangular can be used.

[0022] The inner surface of the base portion 14 is provided with an illumination-side electronic contact (not shown) that can be electrically connected to the electronic contact on the camera unit side, which will be described later. The illumination-side electronic contact is connected to the wiring of the illumination unit 10, and when the camera unit 100 is attached to the base portion 14, the unit-side electronic contact and the illumination-side electronic contact are electrically connected, thereby supplying power to the illumination unit 10.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lighting-side connection part 16 is configured to rotate 360° horizontally around the base part 14, with respect to an axis perpendicular to the base part 14. Furthermore, the lighting-side connection part 16 is configured to allow the light-emitting part 12 to swivel around an axis horizontal to the base part 14 at any rotational position. By having these configurations in the lighting-side connection part 16, it is possible to arbitrarily change the direction of the illumination light emitted from the light-emitting part 12. Note that the lighting-side connection part 16 may also be configured not to rotate 360° or not to swivel.

[0024] Thus, the lighting unit 10 according to this embodiment is configured to allow the light-emitting unit 12 to move vertically and to rotate, thereby enabling a wide light distribution range for the light-emitting unit 12.

[0025] The lighting unit 10, having the configuration described above, is configured to illuminate the area around the mounting location of the lighting device 1. In this embodiment, the lighting unit 10 is a so-called spotlight, but is not limited to this, and may be various lighting fixtures such as downlights, porch lights, and ceiling lights. In this embodiment, lighting fixtures include not only residential lighting fixtures but also commercial lighting fixtures.

[0026] [Configuration of the camera unit according to this embodiment] As shown in Figure 4, the camera unit 100 includes a camera unit 110 capable of photographing the area around the illumination unit 10, a unit body 102, a camera-side connection unit 104 connecting the unit body 102 and the camera unit 110, and a camera cover 150 including a visor 152 that is located between the lens 122 of the camera body 120 of the camera unit 110 and the light-emitting unit 12 of the illumination unit 10 and can shield the illumination light of the illumination unit 10. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the camera unit 100 includes a control unit 200 capable of controlling the illumination unit 10 and the camera unit 110, and a power supply unit 30. In addition, the camera unit 100 includes a storage unit 300, an illuminance sensor 40, an infrared (IR) LED 50, and a communication unit 60. The camera unit 100 may further include components such as a speaker (not shown) and a microphone (not shown).

[0027] The main unit 102 houses the control unit 200, the power supply unit 30, the storage unit 300, and the communication unit 60. In this embodiment, the control unit 200 and the power supply unit 30 are arranged facing each other, as shown in Figure 6.

[0028] Furthermore, the unit body 102 is provided with unit-side electronic contacts (not shown) that are connected to the wiring of the power supply unit 30. The unit-side electronic contacts are positioned in a location corresponding to the lighting-side electronic contacts of the lighting unit 10. This configuration has the advantage that power can be supplied to the lighting unit 10 from an external power source via the power supply unit 30 simply by attaching the camera unit 100 to the base unit 14, thus simplifying the installation of the camera unit 100.

[0029] The camera-side connection section 104 rotatably connects the camera section 110 to the unit body 102, and is configured to allow arbitrary adjustment of the shooting direction of the camera section 110. The rotation range of the camera section 110 will be described in detail later. Furthermore, since any known configuration in this field can be used for the camera-side connection section 104, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0030] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the camera unit 110 includes a camera body 120 and a camera cover 150 that is attachable to the camera body 120. As shown in Figure 5, the camera body 120 includes a lens 122, an image sensor 124, and an IR cut filter 126 positioned between the lens 122 and the image sensor 124. In addition, the camera body 120 according to this embodiment has a front panel 120a made of infrared-transmitting resin, and an infrared LED 50 is mounted on the inside of the front panel 120a.

[0031] The IR cut filter 126 is configured to cut infrared light in the range of approximately 700 nm to 1000 nm. The IR cut filter 126 is also configured to be switchable ON / OFF by the shooting control unit 252 of the camera control unit 250, which will be described later, in the control unit 200. In this embodiment, the camera unit 110 is configured to capture images in color as a visible light camera with the IR cut filter 126 ON during the day, and to capture images in monochrome (black and white) as an infrared camera with the IR cut filter 126 OFF at night.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the camera cover 150 is located between the lens 122 of the camera body 120 of the camera unit 110 and the light-emitting part 12 of the illumination unit 10, and has a visor portion 152 capable of shielding the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 10. In this embodiment, the camera cover 150 is configured to be detachable from the camera body 120, and when the camera cover 150 is attached to the camera body 120 (camera unit 110), it is configured to shield the camera body 120 from illumination light, sunlight, etc.

[0033] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the camera cover 150 comprises an upper portion 152A capable of covering the upper part of the lens 122 of the camera body 120, and a side portion 152B capable of covering the side of the lens 122. Both the upper portion 152A and the side portion 152B function as a visor portion 152 capable of shielding the illumination light from the illumination unit 10. The camera cover 150 also comprises a lower portion 154 extending inward in the left-right direction from the lower ends of the pair of side portions 152B, and a mounting portion 156 provided at the rear end of the upper portion 152A, which enables the camera cover 150 to be attached to the camera-side connection portion 104.

[0034] The upper portion 152A is configured to be located in front of the front end of the camera body 120 when the camera cover 150 is attached to the camera body 120. This configuration allows the camera body 120 to be shielded from the illumination light from the illumination unit 10, sunlight, etc., that shines from above.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the upper surface portion 152A is formed in a flat plate shape that extends parallel to the upper surface of the camera body 120. This reduces the possibility of the upper surface portion 152A entering the field of view of the camera unit 110. However, the shape of the upper surface portion 152A is not limited to this, and various arbitrary shapes can be adopted as long as they can block the illumination light irradiated from above the camera unit 110, such as the upper surface portion 152A being formed in an arc shape as a whole, or having recesses or protrusions formed in a part of the upper surface portion 152A.

[0036] The side portion 152B is provided at both ends of the top portion 152A, sloping outward in the left-right direction and downward. Similar to the top portion 152A, it is configured to be located in front of the front end of the camera body 120 when the camera cover 150 is attached to the camera body 120. This configuration allows the illumination light from the illumination unit 10 and sunlight shining from the side portion 152B side of the camera unit 110 (the lateral outer side of the camera body 120) to be shielded.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side portion 152B is formed in a tapered shape that gradually narrows from the upper end to the lower end in a side view as shown in Figure 9, in order to reduce the possibility of the side portion 152B entering the field of view of the camera unit 110 and to secure the field of view on the side of the camera unit 110. However, the shape of the side portion 152B is not limited to the shape described above and can be changed to any shape that corresponds to the shape of the camera body 120.

[0038] In the camera cover 150 of this embodiment, the top portion 152A and the side portion 152B described above function as a visor portion 152 capable of shielding illumination light and sunlight emitted from the illumination unit 10. However, it is not limited to this, and it is not necessary to have either the top portion 152A or the side portion 152B. Furthermore, the bottom portion 154, which will be described later, may be configured to shield illumination light from the illumination unit 10 emitted from below the camera body 120 and sunlight reflected from the lower side of the camera body 120. In other words, the bottom portion 154 may also function as a visor portion 152 of the camera unit 110.

[0039] In this embodiment, while the visor portion 152 is configured to shield the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 10, it is preferable that it is configured not to completely shield the illumination light from the illumination unit 10, in order to prevent adverse effects caused by excessive shielding of the illumination light from the illumination unit 10 (for example, the image captured by the camera unit 110 may become dark due to the visor portion 152, which may prevent the object detection processing described later from being properly executed, or the overall aesthetic appearance of the illumination device 1 or camera unit 100 may be reduced due to the length of the camera cover 150).

[0040] The lower portion 154 is formed in a substantially arc shape, curving inward from the lower ends of the pair of side portions 152B in the left-right direction, and is configured to be in contact with the lower surface of the camera body 120. In addition, the lower portion 154 in this embodiment has a notch formed in the center that runs along the front-rear direction. This configuration makes it possible to improve the efficiency when attaching the camera cover 150 to the camera body 120. In this embodiment, the lower portion 154 is configured to be at the same position as the front end of the camera body 120 or behind the front end when the camera cover 150 is attached to the camera body 120. This configuration makes it possible to maximize the field of view on the lower side of the camera unit 110.

[0041] The mounting portion 156 is a semicircular mounting member provided on the rear side of the upper portion 152A, and as shown in Figure 7, it is configured to be tightly attached to the camera-side connection portion 104 that connects the camera portion 110 and the unit body 102. With this configuration, even when the camera portion 110 moves vertically due to the operation of the camera-side connection portion 104, it is possible to more reliably maintain the state in which the camera cover 150 is attached to the camera body 120.

[0042] The camera cover 150, having the configuration described above, is configured to be detachable from the camera body 120. Specifically, the camera cover 150 can be attached to the camera body 120 by sliding it from the front to the rear of the camera body 120 with the inner surface of the camera cover 150 in contact with the outer surface of the camera body 120. At this time, the possibility of the camera cover 150 falling off the camera body 120 can be reduced by attaching the mounting portion 156 of the camera cover 150 to the camera-side connection portion 104. When removing the camera cover 150 from the camera body 120, it can be removed by performing the series of operations described above in the opposite direction, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0043] As described above, the camera cover 150 according to this embodiment is configured to be attached to and detached from the camera body 120 with very simple operation, so even if the camera cover 150 is damaged, it can be easily replaced. In the above description, the camera cover 150 was described as a separate component that can be attached to and detached from the camera body 120, but it is not limited to this, and the camera cover 150 and the camera body 120 may be formed as a single unit. As an example of such a configuration, the top surface or side surface of the camera body 120 may protrude forward to function as a canopy that can shield the illumination light of the illumination unit 10.

[0044] From the viewpoint of enabling the lighting device 1 to stably perform the above-described functions even when installed outdoors, it is preferable that the camera cover 150 having such a configuration be made of a material with excellent durability, for example. Furthermore, it is preferable that the camera cover 150 has light-shielding properties such as not transmitting illumination light or sunlight.

[0045] The camera unit 110, having the configuration described above, is configured to capture images of the area around the lighting unit 10. In this embodiment, the camera unit 110 is configured to be rotatable in the vertical and horizontal directions by the camera-side connection part 104. That is, the camera unit 110 in this embodiment is configured to be rotatable.

[0046] Specifically, the camera unit 110 according to this embodiment is configured to be rotatable up to 50° downward relative to the bottom surface of the unit body 102 via the camera-side connection part 104. In this embodiment, the camera unit 110 is connected so as to face 20° downward relative to the bottom surface of the unit body 102, but is not limited to this.

[0047] Furthermore, the camera unit 110 according to this embodiment is configured to rotate horizontally up to 92° to the left and right via the camera-side connection part 104 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the unit body 102 in a plan view, that is, from the front direction of the unit body 102. In other words, the camera unit 110 according to this embodiment is configured to rotate approximately 180° in the left and right directions.

[0048] Furthermore, the field of view of the camera unit 110 according to this embodiment is preferably about 35° to 75° for the vertical field of view and about 10° to 50° for the horizontal field of view.

[0049] Furthermore, the camera unit 110 is configured to capture images in a direction different from the direction of illumination light from the lighting unit 10. Specifically, the camera unit 110 can be rotated relative to the unit body 102 via the camera-side connection part 104, thereby setting the shooting direction of the camera unit 110 to a direction different from the direction of illumination light from the lighting unit 10.

[0050] With this configuration, for example, the lighting unit 10 illuminates the area around the front door, and the camera unit 110 photographs the area around the parking lot and gate on the property, making it possible to detect a person before they approach the door and turn on the lighting unit 10.

[0051] The power supply unit 30 is configured to be directly connected to an external power supply. In this embodiment, "directly connectable" means that it is directly connected to low-voltage indoor wiring using indoor electrical wires such as so-called F-cables (VVF cables, 600V vinyl-insulated vinyl-sheathed cables) without using wiring connectors such as plugs and outlets.

[0052] The power supply unit 30 has an AC / DC converter (not shown) and is connected to low-voltage indoor wiring, etc. For example, the power supply unit 30 is configured to convert (step down) the AC 100V or AC 200V of the low-voltage indoor wiring to DC 12V and supply power to each part of the lighting device 1, such as the camera unit 110 and the control unit 200. The power supply unit 30 is also configured to supply power to the lighting unit 10 as AC 100V or AC 200V.

[0053] The infrared LED 50 is, for example, an LED light source with a peak wavelength of 850 nm. The infrared LED 50 is controlled to turn on and off by the shooting control unit 252 of the camera control unit 250 of the control unit 200. Specifically, it is configured to turn on when the camera unit 110 takes pictures under low light conditions (nighttime). In this embodiment, the infrared LEDs 50 are arranged in two locations diagonally opposite each other, but the number and arrangement of the infrared LEDs 50 are not limited to this, and various arbitrary numbers and arrangements can be adopted.

[0054] Furthermore, the LED light source for the infrared LED 50 is not limited to the configuration described above; any LED light source with a peak wavelength of approximately 850nm to 940nm can be used, regardless of its configuration.

[0055] The communication unit 60 is configured to connect to the user's smartphone, tablet, PC, smartwatch, or other device, and is configured to send a notification to the user's device when the control unit 200 detects a predetermined object. The communication unit 60 may also send video data or images captured by the camera unit 110 along with the notification. Furthermore, the communication unit 60 is configured to send changes to the object detection sensitivity setting information in the object detection process described later, from the user's device, to the control unit 200.

[0056] With this configuration, users can view video data captured by the camera unit 110 in real time on their own devices. In addition, after receiving a notification that an object has been detected and reviewing the video data and images captured by the camera unit 110, if the user determines that the object detection process was not performed correctly (false detection), they can change the object detection sensitivity setting, as described later, from their own device. Furthermore, when the lighting device 1 detects that a resident has left or returned home, it may notify the devices of other residents or relatives. With this configuration, for example, users can use notifications from the lighting device 1 to check on the status of their children's return home or to monitor elderly people with dementia for wandering.

[0057] In this embodiment, the communication unit 60 is configured to connect to the user's terminal via a router using a wired LAN or 2.4GHz or 5GHz band wireless LAN, but it is not limited to this, and may also connect to devices such as smartphones using the communication functions of mobile communication networks such as 4G, LTE, or 5G, or via telephone lines.

[0058] As shown in Figure 5, the control unit 200 includes a main control unit 210, a lighting control unit 230, a camera control unit 250, and a communication control unit 270. The main control unit 210 is configured to accept the selection of the operating mode of the lighting device 1, the selection of the illuminance threshold setting, and the selection of the recording mode of the recording processing unit 256.

[0059] The lighting control unit 230 includes a lighting control unit 232, a dimming control unit 234, and a color temperature control unit 236. The lighting control unit 232 is configured to control the lighting and extinguishing of the light-emitting unit 12. The dimming control unit 234 is configured to control the illuminance of the light-emitting unit 12. The color temperature control unit 236 is configured to control the color temperature and color of the light-emitting unit 12.

[0060] The lighting control unit 230 is configured to execute lighting control processing that controls the lighting unit 10 based on the object detection processing described later. For example, the lighting control unit 232 is configured to turn on the light-emitting unit 12 of the lighting unit 10 when the image processing unit 254 of the camera control unit 250 detects a predetermined object while the light-emitting unit 12 of the lighting unit 10 is turned off. In addition, the dimming control unit 234 is configured to increase the illuminance of the light-emitting unit 12 of the lighting unit 10 when the image processing unit 254 detects a predetermined object while the light-emitting unit 12 of the lighting unit 10 is lit at low brightness.

[0061] Furthermore, the lighting control unit 230 may flash the light-emitting unit 12 when the image processing unit 254 of the camera control unit 250 detects an abnormality. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to intimidate or warn intruders with flashing light, and also to notify the surroundings of the occurrence of an abnormal situation with light. In addition, if the camera unit 100 includes a speaker (not shown), warnings and notifications can be made with sound in addition to light.

[0062] Furthermore, the lighting control unit 230 is configured to control the lighting unit 10 based on the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40. Specifically, it is preferable that the lighting unit 10 is turned on if the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is determined to be less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 10lx to 50lx) when the lighting unit 10 is off. It is also preferable that the lighting unit 10 is turned off if the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is determined to be above a predetermined threshold when the lighting unit 10 is on. Multiple predetermined thresholds may be registered, for example, 10lx and 30lx, and the system may be configured so that the user can select any predetermined threshold from among the multiple predetermined thresholds.

[0063] By having this configuration, the lighting device 1 can, for example, automatically turn off the lighting unit 10 when it gets light as dawn breaks, and automatically turn on the lighting unit 10 when it starts to get dark in the evening.

[0064] Furthermore, the lighting control unit 230 may control the lighting unit 10 based on data acquired by the camera unit 110. Specifically, for example, if the lighting unit 10 is off and the camera unit 110 determines that the light input level to the image sensor 124 is below a predetermined threshold, the lighting unit 10 is configured to turn on. Also, if the lighting unit 10 is on and the camera unit 110 determines that the light input level to the image sensor 124 is above a predetermined threshold, the lighting unit 10 is configured to turn off.

[0065] The camera control unit 250 includes a shooting control unit 252, an image processing unit 254, and a recording processing unit 256. Here, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to switch the shooting mode of the camera unit 110 between a color shooting mode for shooting in color and a monochrome shooting mode for shooting in monochrome. In this embodiment, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to switch the shooting mode of the camera unit 110 based on the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40. More specifically, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to set the shooting mode to monochrome mode when it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 10 lx to 50 lx), and to set the shooting mode to color mode when it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is above the predetermined threshold.

[0066] Furthermore, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to control the ON / OFF status of the IR cut filter 126 based on the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40. Specifically, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to disable the IR cut filter 126 if it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is less than a predetermined threshold (for example, 10 lx to 50 lx). Conversely, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to enable the IR cut filter 126 if it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

[0067] Furthermore, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to control the on / off of the infrared LED 50 based on the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40. Specifically, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to turn on the infrared LED 50 when it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is below a predetermined threshold. Also, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to turn off the infrared LED 50 when it determines that the measurement value of the illuminance sensor 40 is above a predetermined threshold.

[0068] In other words, in this embodiment, the shooting control unit 252 is configured to switch between a state in which the shooting mode is color mode, the IR cut filter 126 is enabled, and the infrared LED 50 is off, and a state in which the shooting mode is monochrome mode, the IR cut filter 126 is disabled, and the infrared LED 50 is on.

[0069] The image processing unit 254 is configured to perform object detection processing to detect a predetermined object from the video data captured by the camera unit 110. Here, the camera control unit 250 is configured to change the setting of the sensitivity (object detection sensitivity) when detecting an object in the object detection processing.

[0070] The setting of the object detection sensitivity in the object detection process described above can be changed, for example, on a display screen as shown in Figure 10. Preferably, such a display screen is shown on the user's smartphone, tablet, PC, smartwatch, or other device via the communication unit 60. Furthermore, while Figure 10 describes the predetermined object as a human body, it is not limited to this, and the predetermined object may be a moving object.

[0071] As shown in Figure 10, the object detection sensitivity setting in the object detection process is configured to be adjustable in at least three stages. Furthermore, the object detection sensitivity setting in the object detection process is configured to allow separate settings for the object detection sensitivity in color shooting mode and the object detection sensitivity in monochrome shooting mode.

[0072] Specifically, when setting the object detection sensitivity in color shooting mode, the user can change the object detection sensitivity in color shooting mode as shown in Figure 10B by selecting the "Human Detection Sensitivity (Color)" item on the display screen shown in Figure 10A and then selecting a predetermined setting value. In this embodiment, the object detection sensitivity can be selected and changed from three predetermined values ​​that are registered in advance: "Low Sensitivity," "Medium Sensitivity," and "High Sensitivity."

[0073] Specifically, when the target detection sensitivity is set to "high sensitivity," the threshold for recognizing a given object is set low. This makes it less likely for the target object to be not detected (so-called non-detection) during the target detection process, but it also makes it more likely for an object that is not the target to be detected (so-called false detection). Conversely, when set to "low sensitivity," the threshold for recognizing a given object is set high. This makes it less likely for false detections to occur during the target detection process, but it makes it more likely for an object to be not detected. The "medium sensitivity" setting is a sensitivity between the high and low sensitivity settings described above. Note that in the case shown in Figure 10B, the target detection sensitivity setting in color shooting mode has been changed from "medium sensitivity" to "high sensitivity."

[0074] As described above, the target detection sensitivity can be changed in at least three stages, making it possible to arbitrarily change the target detection sensitivity according to the environment in which the lighting device 1 is installed, thereby enabling more accurate target detection processing.

[0075] In the above explanation, the target detection sensitivity was described as being adjustable in three stages from low sensitivity to high sensitivity. However, it is not limited to this, and the system may be configured to allow adjustment in more detail by enabling adjustment in three or more stages, such as five stages. Alternatively, it may be configured to allow adjustment in two stages, or to allow stepless adjustment of the sensitivity.

[0076] Furthermore, the user can change the object detection sensitivity setting in monochrome shooting mode by selecting the "Human Detection Sensitivity (Monochrome)" item on the display screen shown in Figure 10A, as shown in Figure 10B. The object detection sensitivity setting in monochrome shooting mode may be the same as or different from the object detection sensitivity setting in color shooting mode described above. Also, similar to the object detection sensitivity in color shooting mode, it may be configured to be set in three stages, two stages or four or more stages, or it may be configured to allow stepless adjustment of sensitivity. In the example shown in Figure 10, the object detection sensitivity setting in monochrome shooting mode has been changed from "Medium Sensitivity" to "Low Sensitivity".

[0077] As described above, the system is configured to allow the setting of the object detection sensitivity to be changed for both the color shooting mode and the monochrome shooting mode. For example, if object non-detection occurs in the color shooting mode, while false detection of an object occurs in the monochrome shooting mode, as shown in Figure 10B, the sensitivity setting for the color shooting mode can be changed to "high sensitivity" and the setting for the monochrome shooting mode can be changed to "low sensitivity" to enable the object detection process in each shooting mode to function effectively. In other words, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, since the setting values ​​of the object detection sensitivity in the color shooting mode and the monochrome shooting mode can be changed, it is possible to perform object detection in the object detection process more accurately, regardless of the shooting mode of the camera unit 110.

[0078] Furthermore, the camera control unit 250 is configured to perform an object candidate detection process in which, in the object detection process, if it determines that a candidate object has been continuously detected in the video data captured by the camera unit 110 for a predetermined period of time or longer, it detects the candidate object as an object and causes the lighting control unit 230 to execute the lighting control process described above.

[0079] Specifically, the camera control unit 250 is configured to detect whether a candidate object is continuously visible in a predetermined number of frames (images) that make up the video data captured by the camera unit 110, based on the learning data etc. stored in the memory unit 300 during the object candidate detection process. If it determines that a candidate object has been detected continuously in the predetermined number of frames, it detects the candidate object visible in the video data as an object.

[0080] Here, the camera control unit 250 is configured to be able to set and change a predetermined number of frames that serve as the judgment criterion in the object candidate detection process. The setting and changing of the number of frames in the object candidate detection process can be performed on a display screen as shown in Figure 10A, and by selecting the "Human Detection Judgment Frame Count" item on the display screen, the frame count can be changed as shown in Figure 10B. In this embodiment, the frame count can be selected and changed from three predetermined values ​​that are registered in advance: "Few," "Medium," and "Many."

[0081] Specifically, in this embodiment, the image acquisition time for the camera unit 110 is set to 15fps. When the frame rate setting is changed to "few," the system is configured to detect a candidate object as an object in the object detection process if it is determined that a candidate object has been detected for 5 or more consecutive frames within the image acquisition time (15fps). When the frame rate setting is changed to "medium" or "high," the system is configured to set the number of frames to 6 or 7, respectively. That is, when the frame rate setting is "few," the predetermined number of frames is 5; when it is "medium," the predetermined number of frames is 6; and when it is "high," the predetermined number of frames is 7. Note that in the case shown in Figure 10, the frame rate setting has been changed from "medium" to "few."

[0082] Thus, by configuring the target detection process to execute the aforementioned target candidate detection process, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of false detection of the target. Furthermore, by configuring the system to allow setting and changing a predetermined number of frames that serves as the judgment criterion in the target candidate detection process, it is possible to arbitrarily change the setting value if false detection still occurs even after going through the target candidate detection process, or if the target is not detected by the target candidate detection process, thereby enabling the target detection process to be executed more accurately.

[0083] In the above explanation, it was stated that the setting value in the object candidate detection process can be changed in three stages from few to many. However, the system is not limited to this, and it may be configured to allow changes from three or more stages, such as allowing the setting value to be changed from five stages, thereby allowing for more detailed changes to the predetermined number of frames that serve as the judgment criteria in the object candidate detection process. Alternatively, the system may be configured to allow settings from two stages, or to allow the number of frames to be changed and set in a stepless manner.

[0084] Furthermore, while the above description assumes that the setting of the target detection sensitivity and the setting of the predetermined number of frames in the target candidate detection process are performed on a display screen shown on the user's terminal, the system is not limited to this. For example, the camera unit 100 may be provided with means for changing the target detection sensitivity, such as a detection sensitivity switch (not shown) or a predetermined number of frames switch (not shown), thereby enabling the camera unit 110 to change each setting value.

[0085] Furthermore, although the image processing unit 254 was described in the above explanation as detecting a human body from video data, it is not limited to this, and the image processing unit 254 may be configured to detect a predetermined object from the video data. In this case, the predetermined object is a moving object. Specifically, the image processing unit 254 may be configured to detect a moving object from the difference between a background image (reference image) and each frame (image) that constitutes the video data. Here, the background image may be a single image prepared in advance as a background image, or the previous frame may be used as the background image.

[0086] The method for detecting moving objects is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the image processing unit 254 may be configured to detect moving objects from the difference in data capacity of each frame, or it may detect moving objects by edge detection or the like.

[0087] Furthermore, the image processing unit 254 is configured to detect a specific person from the video data when it detects a human body. Specifically, the image processing unit 254 detects a specific person that has been pre-registered by at least one of facial recognition and / or skeletal recognition. The registration information of the specific person may be stored in the storage unit 300, or the registration information on the server may be accessed via the communication unit 60.

[0088] With this configuration, the lighting device 1, for example when used in a residence, can detect when residents leave and return home by pre-registering their authentication information. Furthermore, when a person is detected, if that person does not match any of the pre-registered authentication information, they can be recognized as a visitor. In addition, the lighting device 1 can illuminate the lighting unit 10 when, for example, it detects that a resident has returned home.

[0089] Furthermore, the lighting device 1 can identify the clothing of postal workers and delivery personnel, and notify the user's terminal when mail or packages arrive, or it can work with the intercom to notify people inside the house.

[0090] Furthermore, the image processing unit 254 may detect anomalies from the video data when it detects a predetermined object. For example, when the image processing unit 254 detects a human body, it may detect an anomaly such as a suspicious person based on their clothing, etc. Also, the image processing unit 254 may detect an anomaly if it does not detect the return of a resident who has gone out within a predetermined time. In addition, the image processing unit 254 may detect the occurrence of an abnormal situation such as an accident or incident.

[0091] The recording processing unit 256 is configured to execute a recording process to record video data when the image processing unit 254 detects a predetermined object. Specifically, the recording processing unit 256 encodes the video data at a predetermined frame rate and bitrate, and records an encoding buffer and a file buffer in the main memory 310 of the storage unit 300, which will be described later. It is then configured to record the video data as recording data in the auxiliary storage device 330.

[0092] The communication control unit 270 is configured to manage and control the transmission of notifications and other information sent from the communication unit 60 to the user's terminal. Furthermore, the communication control unit 270 is configured to transmit recorded data or real-time video data from the communication unit 60 when requested by the user's terminal. In addition, the communication control unit 270 is configured to control communication between the communication unit 60 and other lighting equipment, as well as communication between the communication unit 60 and home appliances or housing equipment equipped with communication functions.

[0093] The communication control unit 270 is configured to manage notifications and other information sent from the communication unit 60 to the user's terminal, control transmission, and process changes to setting values ​​based on information received from the user's terminal. Specifically, the communication control unit 270 is configured to send recorded data or video data from the communication unit 60 when the user's terminal requests the transmission of recorded data or real-time video data. Furthermore, the communication control unit 270 is configured to cause the image processing unit 254 to change the setting value based on the changes made when the user's terminal changes the setting value of the target detection sensitivity in the target detection process or the predetermined number of frames in the target candidate detection process.

[0094] The storage unit 300 includes a main memory 310 and an auxiliary memory 330. The main memory 310 stores an encoding buffer for video data captured by the camera unit 110 and a file buffer related to the motion detection sensitivity of the camera unit 110. The main memory 310 also stores programs necessary for controlling each part of the lighting device 1.

[0095] The auxiliary storage device 330 stores the recorded data described above. In this embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 330 is a removable media, but is not limited to that. From the viewpoint of miniaturizing the lighting device 1, a microSD card is preferred for the auxiliary storage device 330, but is not limited to that, and may be an SD card, USB memory, HDD, SSD, etc.

[0096] [Advantages of the lighting device and camera unit according to this embodiment] As described above, the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a lighting unit 10 having a light-emitting unit 12, and a camera unit 110 capable of photographing the area around the lighting unit 10. The camera unit 110 is located between the lens 122 of the camera unit 110 and the light-emitting unit 12 of the lighting unit 10, and has a visor 152 capable of shielding the illumination light of the lighting unit 10.

[0097] The lighting device 1 according to this embodiment has the advantage that, even when the camera unit 110 is located within the light distribution range of the lighting unit 10, the illumination light emitted from the lighting unit 10 can be shielded by the visor unit 152, thereby reducing the possibility of overexposure or other issues occurring in the image captured by the camera unit 110 and improving the clarity of the image.

[0098] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the camera unit 110 is located below the lighting unit 10, and the visor 152 has an upper surface 152A capable of covering the upper part of the lens 122 and a pair of side surfaces 152B capable of covering the sides of the lens 122. By having such a configuration, it is possible to shield the camera unit 110 from illumination light, sunlight, etc., that is irradiated not only from above but also from the sides, which has the advantage of being able to further improve the clarity of the image captured by the camera unit 110.

[0099] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the camera unit 110 comprises a camera body 120 and a camera cover 150 having a visor portion 152, and the camera cover 150 is configured to be detachable from the camera body 120. With this configuration, the above-mentioned advantages can be achieved by retrofitting the camera cover 150 to an existing camera body 120, and if the camera cover 150 is damaged or otherwise damaged, it is possible to replace the camera cover 150, thus providing the advantage of being able to continuously shield the illumination light of the lighting unit 10.

[0100] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the light-emitting unit 12 and the camera unit 110 are each configured to be rotatable. This configuration has the advantage of improving the functionality of the lighting device 1, as it is possible to perform actions such as illuminating the area around the entrance door with the lighting unit 10 and taking pictures of the parking lot and gate area within the residential property with the camera unit 110. In addition, this configuration of the lighting unit 10 and camera unit 110 has the advantage of reducing the possibility of overexposure or other issues occurring in the images captured by the camera unit 110.

[0101] Furthermore, the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment further includes a control unit 200 capable of controlling the lighting unit 10 and the camera unit 110. The control unit 200 is configured to perform object detection processing, which detects a predetermined object from video data captured by the camera unit 110, and lighting control processing, which controls the lighting unit 10 based on the object detection processing. The control unit 200 is also configured to allow the setting of the object detection sensitivity in the object detection processing. With this configuration, it is possible to adjust the object detection sensitivity according to the installation environment of the lighting device 1, thus providing the advantage that the object detection processing can be accurately performed regardless of the installation environment of the lighting device 1.

[0102] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 200 is configured to change the target detection sensitivity setting in at least three stages. This configuration has the advantage that not only specialized technicians but also users can easily change the target detection sensitivity setting according to the installation environment of the lighting device 1.

[0103] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the camera unit 110 is configured to be switchable between a color shooting mode for shooting in color and a monochrome shooting mode for shooting in monochrome, and the control unit 200 is configured to be able to set the target detection sensitivity in the color shooting mode and the target detection sensitivity in the monochrome shooting mode, respectively. By having such a configuration, regardless of the shooting mode of the camera unit 110, it is possible to perform object detection in the object detection process more accurately, which has the advantage.

[0104] Furthermore, in the lighting device 1 according to this embodiment, the control unit 200 is configured to execute lighting control processing when it determines that a candidate object has been continuously detected for a predetermined period of time or longer in the video data captured by the camera unit 110 during the object detection process. This configuration has the advantage of reducing the possibility of lighting control processing being executed due to false detection, and enabling more reliable execution of the object detection process.

[0105] [Differentiation] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the embodiments described above.

[0106] For example, in this embodiment, the visor portion 152 has been described as comprising an upper portion 152A capable of covering the top of the lens 122 and a pair of side portions 152B capable of covering the sides of the lens 122, but it is not limited to this, and the area covered by the visor portion 152 can be arbitrarily changed.

[0107] Furthermore, although the camera cover 150 has been described in this embodiment as being detachable from the camera body 120, it is not limited to this. For example, the camera cover 150 may be detachable from a predetermined location on the camera unit 100, such as the camera-side connection part 104 or the base part 14, or it may be detachable from a predetermined location on the lighting unit 10. Alternatively, the camera cover 150 and the camera body 120 may be configured to be non-detachable.

[0108] Furthermore, although in this embodiment the light-emitting unit 12 and the camera unit 110 are described as being configured to swivel (rotate) by the illumination-side connection part 16 and the camera-side connection part 104, respectively, the embodiment is not limited to this, and either the light-emitting unit 12 or the camera unit 110 may be configured not to rotate, or both may be configured not to rotate.

[0109] Furthermore, although this embodiment has described the control unit 200 as being able to change the setting of the target detection sensitivity in the target detection process, it is not limited to this, and the setting of the target detection sensitivity may not be changeable.

[0110] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes the camera unit 110 as being configured to be switchable between a color shooting mode for shooting in color and a monochrome shooting mode for shooting in monochrome, it is not limited to this, and the shooting mode of the camera unit 110 may be configured not to be switchable.

[0111] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 200 is described as being configured to execute lighting control processing when it determines that a candidate object has been continuously detected in the video data captured by the camera unit 110 for a predetermined period of time or longer during the object detection process. However, it is not limited to this configuration, and the control unit 200 may be configured to execute lighting control processing immediately when an object is detected in the video data captured by the camera unit 110.

[0112] It is clear from the claims that the above-described modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0113] 1: Lighting device 10: Lighting Department 12: Light-emitting part 14: Base 16: Lighting side connection part 30: Power supply section 40: Illuminance sensor 50: Infrared LED 60: Communications Department 100: Camera Unit 102: Unit body 104: Camera-side connection part 110: Camera Department 120: Camera body 120a: Front panel 122: Lens 124: Image sensor 126: IR cut filter 130: Image sensor 150: Camera cover 152: Eave 152A:Top part 152B: Side part 154: Bottom part 156: Mounting part 200: Control Unit 210: Main control unit 230: Lighting Control Unit 232: Lighting control unit 234: Dimming control unit 236: Color Adjustment Control Unit 250: Camera control unit 252: Image capture control unit 254: Image Processing Unit 256: Recording Processing Unit 270: Communication Control Unit 300: Storage section 310: Main memory 330: Auxiliary storage device

Claims

1. A lighting unit having a light-emitting part, A camera unit capable of photographing the area around the aforementioned lighting unit and Equipped with, The camera unit is located between the lens of the camera unit and the light-emitting part of the illumination unit, and has a visor that can shield the illumination light from the illumination unit. A lighting device characterized by the following features.

2. The camera unit is located below the lighting unit. The visor comprises an upper portion capable of covering the top of the lens and a pair of side portions capable of covering the sides of the lens. The lighting device according to feature 1.

3. The camera unit comprises a camera body and a camera cover having the visor portion. The camera cover is configured to be detachable from the camera body. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The light-emitting unit and the camera unit are each configured to be rotatable. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The system further comprises a control unit capable of controlling the lighting unit and the camera unit, The control unit performs an object detection process that detects a predetermined object from the video data captured by the camera unit, A lighting control process that controls the lighting unit based on the target detection process. It is configured to be executable, The target detection sensitivity in the target detection process can be configured to allow changing settings. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The control unit is configured to change the target detection sensitivity setting in at least three stages. The lighting device according to feature 5.

7. The aforementioned camera unit is configured to allow switching between a color shooting mode for shooting in color and a monochrome shooting mode for shooting in monochrome. The control unit is configured to allow setting the target detection sensitivity in the color shooting mode and the target detection sensitivity in the monochrome shooting mode, respectively. The lighting device according to feature 6.

8. The control unit is configured to execute the lighting control process when it determines that a candidate object has been continuously detected in the video data captured by the camera unit for a predetermined period of time or longer during the object detection process. The lighting device according to feature 5.

9. A camera unit that can be attached to the main body of a lighting device having a light-emitting part, When attached to the lighting device body, it is configured to be able to photograph the area around the lighting device body. It has a visor portion located between the lens of the camera unit and the light-emitting part of the illumination device, which can shield the illumination light from the main body of the illumination device. A camera unit characterized by the following features.

10. A camera cover to be attached to a lighting device comprising a lighting unit having a light-emitting part and a camera body capable of photographing the area around the lighting unit, When attached to the camera body, it is positioned between the lens of the camera body and the light-emitting part of the illumination unit, and is configured to block the illumination light of the illumination unit. A camera cover characterized by the following features.

Images