Surveillance camera equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a surveillance camera device that can reduce the effects of sunlight and rainfall and can be easily attached to existing support structures such as utility poles. [Solution] The surveillance camera device 1 comprises a solar cell panel 11 having a light-receiving area on its first plate-shaped surface 11a, a power storage control device 12 connected to the solar cell panel 11 for controlling power storage, a battery 13 for storing power boosted or stepped down by the power storage control device 12, and an imaging camera 14 that captures images of the monitoring area using power supplied from the battery 13 via the power storage control device 12. The power storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are respectively arranged on the second surface 11b side, which is the back side of the first surface 11a of the solar cell panel 11, and the entire device, including the solar cell panel 11, is integrated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a surveillance camera device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a surveillance camera device has been proposed in which a solar panel and an imaging camera are installed on a support installed on the ground surface, and a storage battery that stores electric power generated by the solar panel is used to supply driving power to the imaging camera and a wireless communication device (see, for example, Patent Document 1, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the surveillance camera device according to the above-described conventional technology needs to install a dedicated support column made of a steel pipe pole or the like on a concrete foundation buried in the ground, and cannot be attached to existing utility poles or streetlight poles installed on roads or the like. Further, in the surveillance camera device according to the above-described conventional technology, there is a concern that the imaging camera attached to the support column may be exposed to direct sunlight and become hot, or the visibility may be reduced when raindrops directly hit the lens of the imaging camera during rainy weather.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a surveillance camera device that can reduce the influence of sunlight and rainfall and can be easily attached to an existing support column such as a utility pole.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The surveillance camera device according to the present invention comprises a solar cell panel having a light-receiving area on a plate-shaped first surface, a power storage control device connected to the solar cell panel for controlling power storage, a storage battery for storing power boosted or stepped down by the power storage control device, and an imaging camera that captures images of the monitoring area using power supplied from the storage battery via the power storage control device. The power storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera are respectively arranged on the second surface side, which is the back side of the first surface of the solar cell panel, and the entire device, including the solar cell panel, is integrated.

[0007] With this configuration, the energy storage control device, battery, and imaging camera are positioned on the second side, which is the back side of the first side of the solar panel, respectively. This reduces the effects of heat from direct sunlight on each part of the electrical system and maintains the temperature environment. It also prevents raindrops from directly hitting the lens of the imaging camera during rainfall, thus avoiding a decrease in visibility due to the accumulation of raindrops. Furthermore, since the entire device, including the solar panel, is integrated, it can be easily attached to poles and other structures. Thus, it provides a surveillance camera device that can reduce the effects of sunlight and rainfall and can be easily attached to existing poles such as utility poles.

[0008] Furthermore, the energy storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera are arranged so as to be completely hidden by the solar panel when viewed from the first side of the solar panel.

[0009] With this configuration, the energy storage control device, battery, and imaging camera are reliably protected from sunlight and rainfall by the solar panel, thus ensuring that the effects of heat are reduced and the decrease in visibility during rainfall is prevented.

[0010] Furthermore, the device includes a box-shaped case that houses the energy storage control device and the battery, and the case is attached and fixed to the second surface of the solar panel.

[0011] With this configuration, the box-shaped case housing the energy storage control device and battery is attached and fixed to the second side of the solar panel, thus ensuring that the energy storage control device and battery are not exposed to direct sunlight while integrating them with the solar panel.

[0012] Furthermore, the imaging camera is attached and fixed to the second surface of the solar panel.

[0013] With this configuration, in addition to the box-shaped case housing the energy storage control device and battery, the imaging camera is also mounted and fixed to the second surface of the solar panel. This allows for the integration of the entire device while preventing raindrops from directly hitting the lens of the imaging camera during rainfall, thus avoiding a decrease in visibility due to the accumulation of raindrops.

[0014] Furthermore, the imaging camera is attached and fixed to the side of the case.

[0015] With this configuration, the imaging camera is mounted and fixed to the side of the case, allowing for a compact, integrated design of the entire device through the case.

[0016] Furthermore, the solar cell panel is provided with a side shielding plate that extends downward from the second surface in a plate shape, located at a predetermined position on the outer periphery side relative to the power storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera on the second surface side.

[0017] With this configuration, a side shielding plate extends downward from the second surface at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the second surface of the solar panel relative to the energy storage control device, battery, and imaging camera. This prevents direct sunlight and raindrops from hitting the electrical components from diagonally above or from the side, thus more reliably reducing the effects of sunlight and rainfall. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the overall configuration of a surveillance camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]It is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the monitoring camera device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the monitoring camera device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a front view showing the monitoring camera device according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a plan view showing the monitoring camera device according to the second embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the monitoring camera device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] <Configuration of the First Embodiment> First, the configuration of the monitoring camera device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the monitoring camera device 1, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration.

[0021] The monitoring camera device 1 is a device installed on an outdoor pillar or the like for monitoring. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it includes a solar panel 11, a power storage control device 12, a storage battery 13, and an imaging camera 14. When the monitoring camera device 1 is installed on a pillar P where normal sunlight is ensured, for example, it is designed to guarantee 24-hour continuous operation and three-day continuous operation in rainy weather, enabling the high-load imaging camera 14 to operate stably for 24 hours continuously for one year.

[0022] The solar panel 11, also referred to as a solar photovoltaic panel or a solar panel, is a known power generation device that generates electricity by receiving sunlight. The solar panel 11 is configured in a plate shape presenting a rectangle in plan view and has a light receiving area on the first surface 11a that becomes the upper surface in the installation state.

[0023] The energy storage control device 12 is an electrical and electronic circuit device connected to the solar panel 11 to perform energy storage control, and is connected to the battery 13 and the imaging camera 14. Specifically, the energy storage control device 12 is configured to include a step-up / step-down controller 12a and a charger / discharger 12b.

[0024] The step-up / step-down controller 12a is a control circuit that controls the output voltage of the solar panel 11 to a predetermined voltage, and is connected to the solar panel 11 and the charger / discharger 12b. By controlling the output voltage of the solar panel 11 to a predetermined voltage using the step-up / step-down controller 12a, it becomes possible to charge the storage battery 13 via the charger / discharger 12b even in rainy weather or with only light at night.

[0025] The charger / discharger 12b is connected to the step-up / step-down controller 12a, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14. It charges the battery 13 with power output from the step-up / step-down controller 12a, and operates the imaging camera 14 by discharging power stored in the battery 13. The charger / discharger 12b may also be configured to allow for the addition of battery terminals, enabling the expansion of the battery 13.

[0026] The storage battery 13 is a known storage battery capable of storing electricity, and a lithium-ion battery or the like can be suitably used. The electricity generated by the solar panel 11 is adjusted to a predetermined voltage by the step-up / step-down controller 12a of the energy storage control device 12 and charged to the storage battery 13 via the charger / discharger 12b.

[0027] The imaging camera 14 is a known imaging device capable of capturing images of the monitoring range, and is composed of an electronic camera using a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor. The imaging camera 14 performs imaging operations using power supplied from the storage battery 13 via the charger / discharger 12b of the power storage control device 12. The imaging camera 14 may also be configured to include an infrared illumination function, depending on the installation environment.

[0028] Furthermore, the imaging camera 14 is equipped with a communication unit 14a. The communication unit 14a is a communication interface that connects to the Internet network and performs wireless communication with a monitoring display device (not shown) installed at the monitoring center. The communication unit 14a includes, for example, a 4G LTE communication module and an LTE antenna. The communication unit 14a may also be configured to support Wi-Fi and 5G. At the monitoring center, the monitoring range can be remotely monitored by viewing the video transmitted wirelessly from the communication unit 14a on the monitoring display device.

[0029] Here, the energy storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are respectively arranged on the second surface 11b side, which is the back side of the first surface 11a of the solar cell panel 11, and the entire device, including the solar cell panel 11, is integrated.

[0030] More specifically, the energy storage control device 12 and the battery 13 are housed in a box-shaped case 20, and the case 20 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar cell panel 11 by any method such as engagement, fitting, screwing, or adhesive. The imaging camera 14 is attached and fixed to the side of the case 20 by any method such as engagement, fitting, screwing, or adhesive. The top surface of the case 20 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar cell panel 11 by any method such as engagement, fitting, screwing, or adhesive, thereby integrating the entire device including the solar cell panel 11, the energy storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14.

[0031] Furthermore, on the second surface 11b side of the solar cell panel 11, a side shielding plate 22 is provided at a predetermined position on the outer periphery side relative to the energy storage control device 12, the storage battery 13, and the imaging camera 14, extending downward from the second surface 11b in a plate-like shape. In this embodiment, the side shielding plate 22 is provided so as to surround the imaging camera 14 and the case 20 on three sides: the left and right sides and the rear side of the solar cell panel 11. Therefore, direct sunlight and raindrops from diagonally above or from the side can be prevented from directly hitting the electrical components on both the left and right sides and the rear side of the solar cell panel 11.

[0032] Furthermore, the rear side shielding plate 22 is provided with mounting brackets 21, 21 at two locations, top and bottom. Each mounting bracket 21 comprises a bracket 21a and a band 21b. The bracket 21a is screw-fastened to the rear side shielding plate 22. The band 21b is wrapped around the support column P, with one end locked to the bracket 21a and the other end fastened to the bracket 21a with a bolt and nut to secure it to the support column P. In other words, the entire integrated surveillance camera device 1 can be easily attached to the support column P at the desired height via the mounting brackets 21, 21 fixed to the side shielding plate 22. Note that the type of support column P is not limited, and in addition to support columns installed specifically for the surveillance camera device 1, existing utility poles, telephone poles, streetlamp poles, signpost poles, etc., may also be used.

[0033] <Summary of the First Embodiment> As is clear from the above detailed description, the surveillance camera device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a solar cell panel 11 having a light-receiving area on its plate-shaped first surface 11a, a power storage control device 12 connected to the solar cell panel 11 for controlling power storage, a battery 13 for storing power boosted or stepped down by the power storage control device 12, and an imaging camera 14 that captures images of the monitoring area using power supplied from the battery 13 via the power storage control device 12. The power storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are respectively arranged on the second surface 11b side, which is the back side of the first surface 11a of the solar cell panel 11, and the entire device, including the solar cell panel 11, is integrated.

[0034] With this configuration, the energy storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are respectively located on the second surface 11b side, which is the back side of the first surface 11a of the solar panel 11. This reduces the effects of heat from direct sunlight on each part of the electrical system and maintains the temperature environment conditions. It also prevents raindrops from directly hitting the lens of the imaging camera 14 during rainfall, thus avoiding a decrease in visibility due to the accumulation of raindrops. Furthermore, since the entire device, including the solar panel 11, is integrated, it can be easily attached to a support pole P or the like. Thus, it is possible to provide a surveillance camera device 1 that can reduce the effects of sunlight and rainfall and can be easily attached to existing support poles such as utility poles.

[0035] Furthermore, the energy storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are positioned so as to be completely hidden by the solar panel 11 when viewed from the first surface 11a side of the solar panel 11.

[0036] With this configuration, the energy storage control device 12, the battery 13, and the imaging camera 14 are reliably protected from sunlight and rainfall by the solar panel 11, thus reliably preventing the reduction of heat effects and the decrease in visibility during rainfall.

[0037] Furthermore, it includes a box-shaped case 20 that houses the energy storage control device 12 and the storage battery 13, and the case 20 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar panel 11.

[0038] With this configuration, the box-shaped case 20 housing the energy storage control device 12 and the battery 13 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar panel 11, so that direct sunlight is reliably prevented from hitting the energy storage control device 12 and the battery 13, while integrating them with the solar panel 11.

[0039] Furthermore, the imaging camera 14 is attached and fixed to the side (specifically, the front side) of the case 20.

[0040] With this configuration, the imaging camera 14 is attached and fixed to the side of the case 20, allowing for a compact integration of the entire device via the case 20.

[0041] Furthermore, the solar cell panel 11 is provided with a side shielding plate 22 that is located at a predetermined position on the outer periphery of the second surface 11b side relative to the energy storage control device 12, the storage battery 13, and the imaging camera 14, and extends downward from the second surface 11b in a plate shape.

[0042] With this configuration, the side shielding plate 22 extends in a plate shape downward from the second surface 11b at a predetermined position on the outer periphery side of the second surface 11b of the solar cell panel 11, relative to the energy storage control device 12, the storage battery 13, and the imaging camera 14. This prevents direct sunlight and raindrops from hitting the electrical components from diagonally above or from the side, thereby more reliably reducing the effects of sunlight and rainfall.

[0043] <Configuration of the second embodiment> Next, the configuration of the surveillance camera device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. The block diagram in Figure 3 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the surveillance camera device 2, and Figure 5 is a top view. Components identical to those of the surveillance camera device 1 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations of them are omitted.

[0044] In the first embodiment described above, the imaging camera 14 was attached and fixed to the side of the case 20. However, in this embodiment, the imaging camera 14 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar cell panel 11 by any method such as engagement, fitting, screwing, or adhesive.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the imaging camera 14 is a so-called dome camera, in which the camera body is covered with a light-transmitting hemispherical dome, and is mounted facing downwards on the second surface 11b of the solar cell panel 11, enabling imaging in all 360 degrees.

[0046] <Summary of the second embodiment> In this embodiment as well, if the same configuration as in the first embodiment is used, the same effects will be achieved.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the imaging camera 14 is attached and fixed to the second surface 11b of the solar panel 11, similar to the box-shaped case housing the energy storage control device 12 and the storage battery 13. This allows for the integration of the entire device while preventing raindrops from directly hitting the lens of the imaging camera 14 (in this embodiment, the dome covering the camera part) during rainfall, thus avoiding a decrease in visibility due to the accumulation of raindrops.

[0048] <Variation> This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of this invention. For example, the imaging camera 14 may be any device having an imaging function, and cameras suitable for surveillance cameras such as dome cameras and PTZ cameras can be used.

[0049] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the storage battery 13 is housed inside the case 20. However, when using a larger storage battery 13, the storage battery 13 may be placed separately outside the case 20. In that case, for example, the storage battery 13 may be directly attached and fixed to the support column P below the solar panel 11 using fittings similar to the mounting fittings 21. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 1. Surveillance camera device (first embodiment) 2. Surveillance camera device (second embodiment) 11 Solar panels 11a 1st page 11b Side 2 12 Energy storage control device 12a Step-up / Step-down Controller (Energy Storage Control Device) 12b Charger / discharger (power storage control device) 13. Storage Battery 14 Imaging Cameras 20 cases 22 Side shield plate P-post

Claims

1. A solar cell panel having a light-receiving area on its first plate-shaped surface, A power storage control device connected to the aforementioned solar panel and performing power storage control, A battery that stores the power boosted or stepped down by the aforementioned power storage control device, An imaging camera that captures images of the monitoring area using power supplied from the aforementioned battery via the aforementioned power storage control device, Equipped with, A surveillance camera device in which the energy storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera are respectively arranged on the second surface side which is the back side of the first surface of the solar cell panel, and the entire device including the solar cell panel is integrated.

2. The surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera are arranged such that they are completely hidden by the solar panel when viewed from the first side of the solar panel.

3. The system comprises a box-shaped case housing the energy storage control device and the battery, The surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein the case is attached and fixed to the second surface of the solar panel.

4. The surveillance camera device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging camera is attached and fixed to the second surface of the solar panel.

5. The surveillance camera device according to claim 3, wherein the imaging camera is attached and fixed to the side of the case.

6. The surveillance camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the solar cell panel is provided with a side shielding plate that is located at a predetermined position on the outer periphery side of the second surface relative to the power storage control device, the storage battery, and the imaging camera, and extends downward from the second surface in a plate shape.

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