Camera device and method for mounting the camera device

Abstract

To enable a device body to be connected to cables without the need for a worker to hold the same with his hand when installing, making it possible to improve the ease of work.SOLUTION: A camera device comprises: an appropriately discoidal base having a hook part and secured to a plane to which it should be secured; a device body in which a camera part and a connector are mounted, and which is provided with a retractable base hinge that engages with the hook part, allowing for the device body to be suspended from the base by locking the base hinge to the hook part; a locking mechanism provided extending over the device body and the base, which rotates the device body in a direction to approach the base using the hook part engaged with the base hinge as a fulcrum and inseparably locks the device body and the base together while the device body is parallel with the base; and a dome cover assembly which is attached to the device body watertightly covering the camera part and the connector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a camera device and a method for mounting a camera device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a surveillance camera in which a cover is attached to a main case using a sliding structure. This surveillance camera includes a main case that holds a camera unit, and a cover that is attached to the main case so as to cover the periphery of the camera unit, and includes a case outer wall disposed in a rear semicircular portion of the case opening edge of the main case, a case hiding rib disposed in a front semicircular portion of the case opening edge and on the inside of the main case from the case outer wall, a cover outer wall disposed in a front semicircular portion of the cover opening edge of the cover, and a cover hiding rib disposed in a rear semicircular portion of the cover opening edge and on the inside of the cover from the cover outer wall. The cover outer wall fits into the case hiding rib from the front side as the cover slides from the front side to the rear side, and the cover hiding rib fits into the case outer wall from the front side as the cover slides from the front side to the rear side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-85922 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a surveillance camera is mounted on a fixed surface such as a ceiling, the worker mounting the surveillance camera may pull a cable (e.g., a LAN (Local Area Network) cable or a power supply cable) from a hole drilled in the ceiling into the main body case from the back side of the main body case and connect it to a connector or the like arranged on the main body. In other words, if the back side of the main body cannot be directly mounted on the ceiling surface in order to pull in the cable, the worker must hold the main body case with his or her hands. In such a mounting method, the worker must hold the main body case with one hand and pass the pulled cable through the main body case with the other hand. For this reason, even when working at a high place facing upwards, both hands cannot be used for cable connection work, and there is a problem that workability is not improved.

[0005] The present disclosure has been devised in consideration of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a camera device and an installation method for a camera device that enables cable connection, etc., without the worker having to support the device body with his or her hands during installation, thereby improving workability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a camera device comprising: a substantially disk-shaped base having a hook portion and fixed to a fixed surface; a device body mounting a camera unit and a connector and including a base hinge that engages with the hook portion and can move back and forth, the device body being capable of being suspended from the base by engaging the base hinge with the hook portion; an engagement mechanism provided across the device body and the base, the device body being rotated in a direction approaching the base, using the hook portion that engages the base hinge as a fulcrum, thereby irremovably engaging the device body with the base in a state in which the device body is substantially parallel to the base; and a dome cover assembly that covers the camera unit and the connector watertightly and is attached to the device body.

[0007] The present disclosure also provides a method for mounting a camera device, including a base mounting step of fixing a substantially disk-shaped base having a hook portion to a fixed surface; a body hanging step of pulling out a base hinge that engages with the hook portion from a device body mounting a camera unit and a connector and engaging the base hinge with the hook portion to suspend the device body from the base; a cable connecting step of connecting a cable to the connector; and a body temporary fixing step of rotating the device body about the hook portion as a fulcrum in a direction approaching the base while retracting the base hinge into the device body, and temporarily fixing the device body and the base so that they cannot be separated from each other via an engagement mechanism provided across the device body and the base with the device body approximately parallel to the base. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, during installation, cable connection and the like can be performed without the worker having to support the device body with his or her hands, thereby improving workability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a camera device according to a first embodiment attached to a ceiling surface; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera device shown in FIG. 1, seen obliquely from below. [Diagram 3] An exploded perspective view of the camera device. [Figure 4] Perspective view of the base fixed to the ceiling surface [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the device body with the base hinge housed in the rear of the main body base; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the device body, showing the rear surface of the body base with the base hinge pulled out; [Figure 7] 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the device body immediately before the hook portion and the L-shaped bent portion are engaged with each other or immediately after the engagement is released; [Figure 8] An enlarged perspective view of the main part of the device body with the L-shaped bent part hooked onto the hook part [Figure 9] An enlarged cross-sectional side view of the main part of the device body during rotation with the hook portion as a fulcrum. [Figure 10] A perspective view of the device body and base in the upside-down position and the direction in which they are fixed to the ceiling surface [Figure 11] Exploded perspective view of the camera unit [Figure 12] A perspective view of the main body base suspended from the base via the base hinge, showing the cable being pulled in. [Figure 13] Rear view of the main base suspended from the base via the base hinge [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a device body in which removal from a base is restricted by a resin spring member engaged with a head of a male screw member; [Figure 15] A cross-sectional side view of the main part of the camera device in which the dome cover assembly and the device body are fully fixed to the base. [Figure 16] A perspective view of the dome cover assembly from the inside [Figure 17] Side view of the device body suspended from the base [Figure 18] State transition diagram until the suspended device body is temporarily fixed DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings as appropriate, an embodiment specifically disclosing a camera device and a mounting method for a camera device according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or duplicate explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Note that the attached drawings and the following explanation are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a camera device 11 according to the first embodiment attached to a ceiling surface 13. The camera device 11 is a so-called surveillance camera that can be installed both indoors and outdoors. However, the camera device 11 does not have to be installed for surveillance purposes. It can be installed outdoors by ensuring particularly high dustproofing and waterproofing. The camera device 11 is a so-called dome type in which a protective cover covering the camera 15 (an example of a camera unit) is a dome cover 17. The dome cover 17 has a hydrophilic coating to provide visibility during rainfall and dirt resistance. Note that the first embodiment illustrates a multi-sensor camera in which a plurality of (for example, four) cameras 15 are covered by the dome cover 17, but the number of cameras 15 may be one.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the camera device 11 shown in Fig. 1, seen obliquely from below. The device body of the camera device 11 is covered by a dome cover assembly 19. The dome cover assembly 19 has a frame housing 21 formed in a substantially annular shape and attached to the device body. In this specification, the term "substantially annular" includes the concept of annular shape. The frame housing 21 fixes the outer periphery of the transparent dome cover 17 to an inner hole 23 in a watertight manner.

[0013] Dome cover 17 covers four camera units 25 mounted on the device body. Each camera unit 25 is provided with one camera 15. Camera unit 25 can rotate camera 15 held by itself in a predetermined direction to orient camera 15 in a desired imaging direction (in other words, the viewing direction).

[0014] A plurality of (for example, six) screw covers 27 are attached to the surface of the frame housing 21 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The screw covers 27 are attached to fixing screw holes. Cover fixing screws for fixing the frame housing 21 to the device body and the base are inserted into the fixing screw holes. Note that an LED cover 29 for covering an LED (Light Emission Diode) for IR (Infrared Ray) light is disposed between adjacent screw covers. In addition, a circular center cover 31 made of a non-transparent material is attached to the center of the dome cover 17 and disposed outside the field of view of each camera 15.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the camera device 11. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base 33 fixed to the ceiling surface 13. The camera device 11 is composed of the base 33, the device body 35, and the dome cover assembly 19. The base 33 has an attachment fitting 37 and a cable hole cover 39. The attachment fitting 37 is formed in a substantially annular plate shape using sheet metal material. In this specification, the substantially annular plate shape is a concept that includes an annular plate shape. A body locking portion 41 that locks the device body 35 is provided on the outer periphery of the attachment fitting 37. A hook portion 43 is formed on the body locking portion 41. The hook portions 43 are formed in a pair, for example, in parallel close to each other with a slight gap in the circumferential direction. The cable hole cover 39 is detachably attached to the opposite side in the diameter direction to the body locking portion 41. The attachment metal fitting 37 is fixed to the ceiling surface 13 by, for example, four attachment fixing screws 45 (see FIG. 4).

[0016] A plurality of (for example, three) main fixing shafts 47 having female threads are fixed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and hang down from the attachment fitting 37. Cover fixing screws that are inserted through fixing screw holes in the frame housing 21 and penetrate the device main body 35 are screwed into and fixed to the main fixing shafts 47. In other words, the device main body 35 is sandwiched between the dome cover assembly 19 and the base 33 and fastened together by the three cover fixing screws.

[0017] A pair of male screw members 49 are fixed to and hang down from the attachment fitting 37 between the main body locking portion 41 and the cable hole cover 39, sandwiching the center of the attachment fitting 37. These male screw members 49 are part of the components of an engagement mechanism, which will be described later, and enable the device main body 35 to be provisionally fixed to the base 33.

[0018] The device body 35 has a body base 51 made of resin or metal and formed into a substantially circular plate shape with substantially the same radius as the base 33. In this specification, the term "substantially circular plate shape" includes the concept of a circular plate shape. The body base 51 mounts components such as the camera unit 25, a connector, and a circuit board.

[0019] A rectangular plate-shaped base hinge 53 is provided on the back surface of the main body base 51 (in other words, the surface facing the ceiling surface 13) so as to be engaged with the main body engaging portion 41 of the base portion 33 and enable the device main body 35 to be suspended from the base portion 33. The base hinge 53 has a pair of L-shaped bent portions 55 at its tip in the advancing direction.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the device main body 35 in which the base hinge 53 is housed on the back of the main body base 51. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the device main body 35, showing the back of the main body base 51 from which the base hinge 53 is pulled out. The base hinge 53 is formed, for example, in a rectangular plate shape using a sheet metal material. The base hinge 53 is slidably attached to the back of the main body base 51, and can freely advance and retreat in the radial direction from the outer periphery of the main body base 51 (see FIG. 6). The base hinge 53 is formed by bending the L-shaped bent portion 55, which engages with the hook portion 43, in the direction opposite to the hook portion of the hook portion 43 so as to face the hook portion 43 at the tip side in the advancing direction. In addition, the base hinge 53 has a hook insertion hole 57, through which the hook portion 43 can pass, formed at the base end side of the L-shaped bent portion 55.

[0021] 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the device body 35 immediately before the hook portion 43 and the L-shaped bent portion 55 are engaged with each other or immediately after the engagement is released. The hook portion 43 is arranged in a J-shape hanging down from the outer periphery of the base portion 33 fixed to the ceiling surface 13. The hook portion of the J-shaped lower end of the hook portion 43 faces radially outward from the base portion 33. With the base hinge 53 protruding from the device body 35, the hook portion 43 is inserted into the hook insertion hole 57 from the surface opposite to the bending direction of the L-shaped bent portion 55.

[0022] 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the device body 35 with the L-shaped bent portion 55 hooked to the hook portion 43. The base hinge 53 is brought into a state where the L-shaped bent portion 55 is hooked to the hook portion 43 by bringing the hook insertion hole 57 close to the hook portion 43 of the base portion 33 and inserting the hook portion 43 into the hook insertion hole 57. This allows the device body 35 to be hung from the base portion 33 with the L-shaped bent portion 55 of the base hinge 53 engaged with the hook portion 43.

[0023] 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of a main part of the device main body 35 during rotation with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum. The L-shaped bent portion 55 slides along the J-shaped inner peripheral surface of the hook portion 43, so that the base hinge 53 can rotate with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum in a direction approaching the base portion 33 while maintaining the locked state. At this time, the base hinge 53 is gradually retracted into the main body base 51 and is drawn into the main body base 51 (in other words, stored).

[0024] Referring again to Figure 5, the base hinge 53 is formed with a pair of parallel elongated holes 59 that are long in the direction in which the base hinge 53 advances and retreats. A fixing screw 61 that is fixed to the device body 35 is inserted into each of the elongated holes 59. The fixing screw 61 is fitted with a washer having a larger diameter than the minor diameter of the elongated hole 59, thereby preventing the base hinge 53 from coming off. In this way, the base hinge 53 is supported so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole 59.

[0025] The pair of L-shaped bent portions 55 are provided at the tips of the pair of parallel arm portions 63. An advancement restriction groove 65 is formed between the pair of parallel arm portions 63. When the base hinge 53 advances in the advance / retract direction by a predetermined distance, the advancement restriction groove 65 has a groove bottom abutted against a stopper 67 standing on the main body base 51, restricting further advancement of the base hinge 53 in the advance / retract direction. The base hinge 53 may also be formed with an auxiliary guide groove 69 that is long in the same direction as the long hole 59. The auxiliary guide groove 69 engages with a guide pin 71 standing on the main body base 51, thereby enabling the base hinge 53 to move linearly with higher accuracy.

[0026] 9, a tension spring 73 is stretched across the base hinge 53 and the device main body 35. For example, a coil spring is suitably used as the tension spring 73. One end of the tension spring 73 is supported by a locking piece 75 of the base hinge 53, and the other end is supported by a locking post 77 of the main body base 51. The tension spring 73 biases the base hinge 53 in a direction retracting toward the inside of the main body base 51.

[0027] 10 is a perspective view of the device body 35 and base 33, upside down relative to the direction in which they are fixed to the ceiling surface 13. The device body 35 has a pan base 79, which is formed with a smaller diameter than the main body base 51, attached concentrically to the main body base 51. The pan base 79 is attached such that its relative rotation with respect to the main body base 51 is restricted. The pan base 79 is fixed to the main body base 51 by a pan base stopper 81 that fits into the center.

[0028] Four camera units 25 are arranged in the circumferential direction on the surface of the pan base 79. Each camera unit 25 is attached via a pan chassis base 83 that is slidable along the circumferential direction of the pan base 79. As a result, each camera unit 25 is pan-rotated together with the pan chassis base 83 in the circumferential direction of the pan base 79 around a pan rotation center 85 that is perpendicular to the center of the pan base 79.

[0029] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the camera unit 25. In the camera unit 25, a pan chassis 87 is attached to a pan chassis base 83. The pan chassis 87 is supported on the pan chassis base 83 so as to be twist rotatable about a twist rotation center 89 in the same direction as the pan rotation center 85. A tilt hinge 91 is attached to the pan chassis 87. The tilt hinge 91 is supported on the pan chassis 87 so as to be tilt rotatable about a tilt rotation center 93 in a direction perpendicular to the twist rotation center 89. The tilt hinge 91 has a pair of tilt shafts 95 rotatably supported in a pair of tilt shaft holes 97 of the pan chassis 87. The camera 15 is attached to the tilt hinge 91. The camera 15 is formed into a substantially spherical shape by a lower cover 99, an upper cover 101, and a substantially hemispherical light-shielding rubber 105 that covers the periphery of a lens 103. The camera 15 is supported on the tilt hinge 91 so as to be freely rotatable in yaw motion about a lens center 107 .

[0030] 10 again. A connector 109 and a power supply unit (not shown) are attached to the device main body 35. The connector 109 is attached to the main body base 51 on the radially outer side of the pan base 79. A cable 111 (e.g., a LAN cable) and a power line 113 are drawn into the device main body 35. The cable 111 and the power line 113 are, for example, routed on the surface of the ceiling surface 13, penetrate the cable hole cover 39 and enter the back surface of the main body base 51, and then penetrate the main body base 51 from the back surface of the main body base 51 and are drawn out to the surface of the main body base 51. Also, when the cable 111 and the power line 113 are led out from inside the ceiling through the ceiling surface 13, for example, they are drawn out directly to the back surface of the main body base 51, and then penetrate the main body base 51 from the back surface of the main body base 51 and are drawn out to the surface of the main body base 51.

[0031] 12 is a perspective view of the main body base 51 suspended from the base 33 via the base hinge 53, showing the midway of cable lead-in. A plurality of (e.g., two) lead-in holes 115 are drilled in the back surface of the main body base 51 for passing the cable 111 and the power line 113 through. A grommet 117 is fitted into the lead-in hole 115. The grommet 117 provides a watertight seal between the cable 111 or the power line 113 and the lead-in hole 115. The plug 119 (see FIG. 10) of the cable 111 and the power line 113 led out to the surface of the main body base 51 are connected to the connector 109 and the power supply unit.

[0032] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the main body base 51 suspended from the base 33 via the base hinge 53. The camera device 11 is provided with an engagement mechanism 121 extending across the device main body 35 and the base 33. The engagement mechanism 121 has a male screw member 49 that hangs down from the base 33 with a head 123 (see FIG. 14) facing downward, and a resin spring member 125. The engagement mechanism 121 rotates the device main body 35 in a direction approaching the base 33 around the hook portion 43 that engages the base hinge 53 as a fulcrum, and engages the device main body 35 with the base 33 in a state in which the device main body 35 is parallel to the base 33. A hole portion 127 into which the male screw member 49 enters when the device main body 35 is parallel to the base 33 is formed in the device main body 35.

[0033] 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the device body 35 in which removal from the base 33 is restricted by the resin spring member 125 engaged with the head 123 of the male screw member 49. The hole 127 is provided with the resin spring member 125 which elastically contacts the entered head 123 to restrict removal of the male screw member 49 from the hole 127. When the head 123 enters the hole 127, the inclined portion 131 of the engagement claw 129 of the resin spring member 125 is pressed by the head 123 and slides to the left in FIG. 14. At this time, an elastic restoring force is accumulated in the spring portion 133. When the head 123 passes the inclined portion 131 of the resin spring member 125, the elastic restoring force of the spring portion 133 causes the engagement claw 129 to slide to the right in FIG. 14 and engage with the neck side of the head 123. As a result, the engagement mechanism 121 holds (temporarily fixes) the device body 35 to the base 33 in a state in which the device body 35 is parallel to the base 33.

[0034] When the temporary fixation of the device body 35 to the base 33 is released, the pressing operation portion 135 of the engagement mechanism 121 is pressed leftward in Fig. 14. This pressing operation releases the engagement between the engagement claw 129 and the head 123. As a result, the device body 35 is again in a hanging state with the base hinge 53 hooked on the hook portion 43.

[0035] 15 is a side cross-sectional view of the main parts of camera device 11 in which dome cover assembly 19 and device body 35 are permanently fixed to base 33. In camera device 11, dome cover assembly 19 is attached to device body 35, covering camera 15 and connector 109 in a watertight manner. Dome cover assembly 19 will ultimately be permanently fixed to device body 35 and base 33, but prior to this, it is provisionally fixed to device body 35. That is, a support post 139 is provided at the center of device body 35, protruding through pan base 79 and having a main body side provisional locking claw 137 at its protruding tip.

[0036] Meanwhile, a dome support 145 is provided at the center of the dome cover 17. The dome support 145 has cover-side temporary locking claws 143 that protrude inward and can be temporarily locked to the body-side temporary locking claws 137 of the support pillars 139. The dome support 145 is fixed to the circular center cover 31 provided at the center of the dome cover 17 by a support fixing screw 147.

[0037] 16 is a perspective view of dome cover assembly 19 as viewed from the inside. Dome cover assembly 19 is assembled (in other words, covered) with device body 35 from below with the inner periphery of the bowl shape facing upward. At this time, dome support 145 standing from dome cover assembly 19 and support column 139 hanging down from device body 35 are inserted coaxially. When dome support 145 is inserted into support column 139, cover side temporary locking claw 143 is temporarily locked with body side temporary locking claw 137, so that dome cover assembly 19 cannot be separated downward (in other words, it will not fall).

[0038] When the dome cover assembly 19 is fixedly installed, it contacts the apparatus main body 35 by being lifted slightly upward. In this state, the annular frame housing 21 of the dome cover assembly 19 is screwed to the apparatus main body 35 and the base 33, enabling permanent installation. Of the cover fixing screws 149 inserted through the six fixing screw holes of the frame housing 21, three are screwed into the apparatus main body 35, and the other three pass through the through holes 151 (see FIG. 13) formed in the main body base 51 of the apparatus main body 35 and are screwed to the permanent fixing shaft 47 of the base 33. An annular plate-shaped dome packing 153 is fixed to the annular inner surface of the frame housing 21 by a dome holder plate 155. The dome packing 153 is formed with an annular lip portion 157 for hermetically sealing the gap with the main body base 51. Thus, the dome cover assembly 19, the apparatus main body 35, and the base 33 are hermetically assembled and fixed integrally to the ceiling surface 13.

[0039] Next, the procedure for attaching the camera device will be described.

[0040] The method for attaching the camera device according to Embodiment 1 includes a base attachment step, a main body suspension step, a cable connection step, a main body temporary fixing step, a dome cover assembly temporary fixing step, and a dome cover assembly permanent fixing step.

[0041] In the base attachment step, a disk-shaped base 33 having a hook portion 43 is fixed to the ceiling surface 13 by an attachment fixing screw 45 (see FIG. 4).

[0042] FIG. 17 is a side view of the apparatus main body 35 suspended from the base 33. In the main body suspension step, a base hinge 53 that locks to the hook portion 43 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 35 on which the camera 15 and the connector 109 are mounted (see FIG. 6). By passing the hook portion 43 through the hook insertion hole 57 of the pulled-out base hinge 53, the base hinge 53 is locked to the hook portion 43, and the apparatus main body 35 is suspended from the base 33 (see FIGS. 8 and 17).

[0043] In the cable connection process, cables 111 and the like are drawn from the back surface of main body base 51 of suspended device main body 35 through drawing hole 115 to the front surface side (see FIG. 12). Cable 111 drawn to the front surface of device main body 35 has plug 119 coupled to connector 109, and is electrically connected to device main body 35 (see FIG. 10).

[0044] Fig. 18 is a state transition diagram until the suspended device body 35 is temporarily fixed. In the device body temporary fixing process, the device body 35 is rotated in a direction approaching the base 33 with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum. At this time, the base hinge 53 gradually retreats into the device body 35 as it rotates. That is, it is pulled in by the biasing force of the tension spring 73 (see the center diagram of Fig. 18). When the device body 35 is in a state parallel to the base 33 (the state shown in the right diagram of Fig. 18), the device body 35 and the base 33 are temporarily fixed in an inseparable manner by the head 123 and the resin spring member 125 of the engagement mechanism 121 provided across the device body 35 and the base 33 (see Fig. 14).

[0045] In the dome cover assembly temporary fixing process, dome support 145 of dome cover assembly 19 is inserted into support column 139 of device body 35. Dome cover assembly 19 is in a hanging state and cannot be separated because cover-side temporary locking claws 143 are temporarily locked to body-side temporary locking claws 137. That is, body-side temporary locking claws 137 and cover-side temporary locking claws 143 shown in FIG. 15 are locked to each other, and dome cover assembly 19 is supported at a position slightly lower (spaced apart) from device body 35.

[0046] In the dome cover assembly main fixing process, the dome cover assembly 19, which is hanging in a provisionally fixed state, is lifted slightly upward so that it comes into contact with the device body 35. In this state, the cover fixing screws 149 inserted into the fixing screw holes of the frame housing 21 of the dome cover assembly 19 are screwed into the device body 35 and the base 33. As a result, the camera device 11 is completed in fixing the dome cover assembly 19, the device body 35, and the base 33 to the ceiling surface 13 as one body.

[0047] Next, the operation of the camera device 11 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0048] The camera device 11 has a substantially disk-shaped base 33 having a hook portion 43 and fixed to a fixed surface (for example, a ceiling surface 13), a device main body 35 on which a camera portion (for example, a camera 15) and a connector 109 are mounted, and which has a base hinge 53 that engages with the hook portion 43 and can move forward and backward, and which can be suspended from the base 33 by engaging the base hinge 53 with the hook portion 43. The camera device 11 has an engagement mechanism 121 that is provided across the device main body 35 and the base 33 and rotates the device main body 35 in a direction approaching the base 33 about the hook portion 43 that engages the base hinge 53 as a fulcrum, thereby engaging the device main body 35 with the base 33 in an inseparable manner when the device main body 35 is substantially parallel to the base 33, and a dome cover assembly 19 that covers the camera 15 and the connector 109 watertightly and is attached to the device main body 35.

[0049] The camera device 11 is provided with a disk-shaped base 33 that is fixed to the ceiling surface 13 alone when installed. A hook portion 43 is formed on the base 33, and the hook portion 43 can be hung when the base 33 is fixed parallel to the ceiling surface 13.

[0050] The device body 35, which has the camera 15 and the connector 109 mounted thereon, is provided with a plate-shaped base hinge 53 that can move forward and backward. In a plan view, the device body 35 has a circular shape with approximately the same radius as the base 33. The base hinge 53 slides in the radial direction of the device body 35 and moves forward and backward in and out of the device body 35.

[0051] This base hinge 53 can be hooked (engaged) to the hook portion 43 of the base 33. The device main body 35 with the base hinge 53 engaged to the hook portion 43 can be supported in a suspended state on the base 33. The suspended device main body 35 simultaneously exposes the front surface on which the camera 15, connector 109, etc. are mounted, and the back surface having the lead-in hole 115 for the cable 111, etc.

[0052] This allows the worker to easily pass the cable 111 from the back to the front of the device body 35 using both hands without having to hold the device body 35 in his / her hands, making it easy and safe to connect the cable 111.

[0053] More specifically, the cable 111 is pulled in so as to have a watertight structure. That is, the cable 111 is passed through a rubber grommet 117 in a watertight manner. The grommet 117 through which the cable 111 has passed is fitted watertightly at its outer periphery into a lead-in hole 115 provided in the device body 35. As a result, the device body 35 is watertightly sealed between the cable 111 and the lead-in hole 115 by the grommet 117. Even though the camera device 11 has such a watertight structure for the cable 111, the device body 35 is supported in a hanging state, so that the grommet 117 can be attached from the front and back of the device body 35 using both hands, and the installation work can be performed safely with good workability compared to when the device body 35 is not supported and is held by hand.

[0054] The device body 35 with the cable 111 retracted is rotated in a direction approaching the base 33, with the hook portion 43 that engages the base hinge 53 as a fulcrum. When the device body 35 is rotated to be parallel to the base 33, the device body 35 is engaged with the base 33, and cannot be separated from the base 33, due to the engagement mechanism 121 provided across the device body 35 and the base 33. As a result, the device body 35 is temporarily fixed to the base 33.

[0055] With the device body 35 temporarily fixed, the connection between the cable 111 and the connector 109 and the adjustment of the angle of view of the camera 15 can be easily performed using both hands.

[0056] After the connection of the cable 111 and the adjustment of the angle of view are completed, the dome cover assembly 19 is attached to the device body 35. The dome cover assembly 19 is fixed to the device body 35 by a plurality of screws. Of the plurality of screws, some of the screws are also directly screwed into the base 33. In this way, the dome cover assembly 19 and the device body 35 are finally fixed to the base 33.

[0057] In addition, in the camera device 11, the device body 35 has an approximately disk-shaped body base 51, and a approximately disk-shaped pan base 79, which is formed with a smaller diameter than the body base 51 and on which a camera unit (e.g., camera 15) is mounted, is concentrically attached to the body base 51, and the connector 109 is arranged on the body base 51 radially outside the pan base 79.

[0058] In this camera device 11, device body 35 has a disk-shaped body base 51. In device body 35, parts such as camera 15, connector 109, and circuit board are mounted on body base 51. Of these, at least camera 15 is formed with a smaller diameter than body base 51 and is installed on pan base 79 attached concentrically to body base 51.

[0059] The camera 15 is mounted on a pan base 79 and is capable of pan, twist, tilt and yaw rotation.

[0060] On the other hand, the connector 109 is attached to the main body base 51 on the outer side away from the pan base 79. That is, the connector 109 is attached to the main body base 51 at a position lower by the thickness of the pan base 79 than if it were attached on top of the pan base 79.

[0061] As a result, the camera device 11 has a low height, and the connector 109, which must be mounted with a large height dimension, is disposed at a low position, thereby reducing the height of the device body 35 and achieving a low profile.

[0062] In addition, in the camera device 11, a pillar 139 is erected in the center of the device main body 35, protruding through the pan base 79 and having a body side temporary locking claw 137 at its protruding tip, and the dome cover assembly 19 is formed in a roughly annular shape and attached to the device main body 35, and has a frame housing 21 that watertightly fixes the outer periphery of the transparent dome cover 17 to the inner hole 23, and a dome support 145 is provided in the center of the dome cover 17, which protrudes toward the inner periphery and has a cover side temporary locking claw 143 that can be temporarily locked to the body side temporary locking claw 137 of the pillar 139.

[0063] In this camera device 11, a support pillar 139 is erected at the center of the device body 35. The support pillar 139 protrudes through the center of the pan base 79 that is concentrically attached to the body base 51. The support pillar 139 has a body-side temporary locking claw 137 at the protruding tip.

[0064] On the other hand, dome cover assembly 19 attached to device body 35 has frame housing 21 formed in an annular shape and attached to device body 35. Annular frame housing 21 fixes the outer periphery of transparent dome cover 17 watertight to inner hole 23. In other words, dome cover assembly 19, in which dome cover 17 and frame housing 21 are integrated, is finally fixed watertight to device body 35 via frame housing 21 with screws or the like.

[0065] Here, the dome cover assembly 19 is temporarily fixed to and supported by the device body 35 before being permanently fixed to the device body 35. That is, the dome cover assembly 19 has a dome support 145 provided at the center of the dome cover 17, protruding toward the inner periphery. Since the dome cover 17 is formed in a bowl shape, the dome support 145 extends axially from the center of the inner periphery. This dome support 145 is outside the angle of view of the camera 15, so it does not need to be made of a transparent material. The dome support 145 has a cover-side temporary locking claw 143 that can be temporarily locked to the body-side temporary locking claw 137 of the support 139.

[0066] The dome cover assembly 19 is assembled to the device body 35, which is temporarily fixed to the ceiling surface 13 via the base 33, from below with the inner circumference side of the bowl shape facing upward. At this time, the dome support 145 standing from the dome cover assembly 19 and the support 139 hanging down from the device body 35 are inserted coaxially. When the dome support 145 is inserted into the support 139, the dome cover assembly 19 is released, and then the cover side temporary locking claw 143 is temporarily locked to the body side temporary locking claw 137, making it impossible to separate. In other words, the dome cover assembly 19 is temporarily fixed in a hanging state between the device body 35 and the device body 35 via the central dome support 145 with a slight gap therebetween. The temporary fixation can be released, for example, by pulling the dome cover assembly 19 strongly.

[0067] When the dome cover assembly 19 is to be fixed, it is lifted slightly upward so that it comes into contact with the device body 35. In this state, the annular frame housing 21 of the dome cover assembly 19 is screwed to the device body 35 and the base 33, enabling the dome cover assembly 19 to be fixed.

[0068] The camera device 11 has a hydrophilic coating on the dome cover 17. The dome cover 17 with a hydrophilic coating on the surface has high visibility during rain and dirt resistance. The dome cover assembly 19 can be supported on the device body 35 by temporary fixation, so that when it is permanently fixed, it can be easily screwed while holding only the frame housing 21. This allows the camera device 11 to be assembled with good workability without getting the dome cover 17 dirty from fingers, and also prevents a decrease in image visibility.

[0069] Furthermore, in the camera device 11, the engagement mechanism 121 has a male screw member 49 that hangs down from the base 33 with its head 123 facing downwards, and the device body 35 is formed with a hole 127 into which the male screw member 49 enters when the device body 35 is parallel to the base 33, and a resin spring member 125 is provided in the hole 127 which elastically contacts the entered head 123 to prevent the male screw member 49 from coming out of the hole 127.

[0070] In this camera device 11, engagement mechanism 121 is composed of male screw member 49 provided on base 33, and resin spring member 125 provided in hole 127 of device body 35. Male screw member 49 hangs down from base 33 fixed to ceiling surface 13, and has head 123 at its hanging end.

[0071] The device body 35 has a hole 127 at a position corresponding to the male screw member 49. The device body 35 is rotated in a direction approaching the base 33, with the hook portion 43 that engages the base hinge 53 as a fulcrum, and when the device body 35 becomes parallel to the base 33, the head 123 of the male screw member 49 is inserted into the hole 127.

[0072] A resin spring member 125 is provided in the hole 127, and the resin spring member 125 is elastically deformed by being pressed by the head 123 of the inserted male screw member 49, and is temporarily moved from the hole 127 to a retreated position. When the head 123 passes the resin spring member 125, the resin spring member 125, which is released from the pressure by the head 123, protrudes again into the inner hole 23 due to its elastic restoring force, and engages with the neck portion of the male screw member 49 above the head 123. In other words, when the device main body 35 tries to rotate in a direction away from the base 33, the resin spring member 125 moves the neck portion of the male screw member 49 toward the head 123 and abuts against the head 123, thereby restricting the head 123 from coming out of the hole 127.

[0073] As a result, device body 35 is temporarily fixed and cannot be separated from base 33. Dome cover assembly 19 is further temporarily fixed to temporarily fixed device body 35. In camera device 11, dome cover assembly 19 is screwed to base 33 with device body 35 sandwiched therebetween, and device body 35 and dome cover assembly 19 are permanently fixed to base 33 as a unit.

[0074] In addition, in the camera device 11, the base hinge 53 has an L-shaped bent portion 55 formed on the tip side in the advancing direction for engaging with the hook portion 43, and a hook insertion hole 57 through which the hook portion 43 can pass is formed on the base end side of the L-shaped bent portion 55.

[0075] In this camera device 11, hook portion 43 formed on base 33 is arranged in a J-shape hanging down from the outer periphery of circular base 33 fixed to ceiling surface 13. The hook portion at the lower end of the J-shape faces radially outward from base 33.

[0076] On the other hand, the base hinge 53 advances in parallel radially outward from a disk-shaped main body base 51 provided on the device main body 35. When the device main body 35 is hooked onto the base portion 33, the device main body 35 is brought close to the hook portion 43 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ceiling surface 13 with the back side facing the base side.

[0077] The base hinge 53 has an L-shaped bent portion 55 formed on the tip side in the advancing direction, the L-shaped bent portion 55 being bent in the opposite direction to the hook portion 43. The base hinge 53 also has a hook insertion hole 57 formed on the base end side of the L-shaped bent portion 55, through which the hook portion 43 can pass.

[0078] Therefore, after the hook insertion hole 57 of the base hinge 53 is brought close to the hook portion 43 of the base 33, the hook portion 43 is inserted into the hook insertion hole 57, so that the L-shaped bent portion 55 is caught by the hook portion 43. As a result, the L-shaped bent portion 55 moves (slides) along the J-shaped inner peripheral surface of the hook portion 43, so that the base hinge 53 can rotate with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum in a direction approaching the base 33 while maintaining the locked state.

[0079] In addition, in the camera device 11, a pair of parallel elongated holes 59 that are long in the forward / backward direction are formed in the base hinge 53, and the base hinge 53 is supported so as to be freely slidable in the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes 59 by fixing screws 61 that are inserted into each of the elongated holes 59 and fixed to the device body 35.

[0080] In this camera device 11, the base hinge 53 has a pair of parallel elongated holes 59 that are long in the forward / backward direction. The base hinge 53 is supported so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes 59 by fixing screws 61 that are inserted into the respective elongated holes 59 and fixed to the device body 35.

[0081] The base hinge 53 is supported by the fixing screws 61 inserted through the pair of elongated holes 59 for its forward and backward movement, allowing for almost linear movement, and the device body 35 suspended from the base 33 is less likely to swing in any direction. This allows for easy connection of the cable 111 to the device body 35.

[0082] In the camera device 11, the base hinge 53 is biased in the backward direction by a tension spring 73 provided across the device body .

[0083] In this camera device 11, the base hinge 53 is biased in the backward direction by a tension spring 73 provided between the device body 35 and the base hinge 53. The base hinge 53 is biased by the tension spring 73 and is housed inside the outer periphery of the main body base 51 except when in the suspended state. When the base hinge 53 is hooked onto the hook portion 43, the load of the device body 35 is applied to the tension spring 73. The tension spring 73 is pulled by the load of the device body 35, and extends in the axial direction, allowing the base hinge 53 to be pulled out. A restoring force is accumulated in the tension spring 73 while the load of the device body 35 is acting on it.

[0084] When the device body 35 is rotated in a direction approaching the base 33 with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum, the load applied from the device body 35 gradually decreases as the load supported by the hook portion 43 increases. Therefore, the tension spring 73 causes the base hinge 53 to move back toward the main body base 51 due to the accumulated elastic restoring force. As a result, when the device body 35 is parallel to the base 33, the base hinge 53 is almost completely housed in the main body base 51.

[0085] As a result, when the camera device 11 temporarily fixes the device body 35 in a suspended state to the base 33, the base hinge 53 can be automatically stored, enabling smooth operation of transitioning the device body 35 to a temporarily fixed state by almost only rotating the device body 35.

[0086] In addition, the method of installing the camera device includes a base mounting process of fixing a disk-shaped base 33 having a hook portion 43 to the ceiling surface 13; a body hanging process of pulling out a base hinge 53 that engages with the hook portion 43 from the device body 35 carrying the camera 15 and the connector 109 and engaging it with the hook portion 43 to suspend the device body 35 from the base 33; a cable connecting process of connecting a cable 111 to the connector 109; and a body temporary fixing process of rotating the device body 35 in a direction approaching the base 33 with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum while retracting the base hinge 53 into the device body 35, so that the device body 35 is parallel to the base 33, and temporarily fixing the device body 35 and the base 33 so that they cannot be separated by an engagement mechanism 121 provided across the device body 35 and the base 33.

[0087] In the mounting method of the camera device according to the first embodiment, the disk-shaped base 33 having the hook portion 43 is fixed to the ceiling surface 13 in the base mounting step.

[0088] In a main body hanging process, device main body 35 equipped with camera 15 and connector 109 is hung from hook portion 43 of base portion 33 fixed to ceiling surface 13. Device main body 35 is hung from base portion 33 by drawing out base hinge 53 and engaging its tip with hook portion 43.

[0089] In the cable connection process, cable 111 is drawn into suspended device body 35. At this time, the front surface on which camera 15, connector 109, etc. are mounted, and the back surface having lead-in hole 115 for cable 111, etc., of suspended device body 35 are simultaneously exposed. Therefore, the worker can easily pass cable 111 from the back surface to the front surface of device body 35 using both hands without holding device body 35 with hands, and can easily and safely perform the work of connecting cable 111.

[0090] After the cable 111 has been drawn in and connected, the device body 35 is rotated in a direction approaching the base 33 with the hook portion 43 as a fulcrum in a body temporary fixing step. The rotated device body 35 finally becomes parallel to the base 33 as the base hinge 53 retreats into the device body 35. The device body 35 arranged parallel to the base 33 is temporarily fixed in place by the engagement mechanism 121 provided across the device body 35 and the base 33, making it unable to separate from the base 33.

[0091] In this camera device installation method, device body 35 is suspended from base 33 fixed to ceiling surface 13, and the front and back surfaces of device body 35 can be simultaneously held in an exposed state. This allows the cable 111 to be easily pulled into lead-in hole 115 opening on the back surface of device body 35, and the cable 111 pulled out can be easily connected to connector 109 provided on the surface of device body 35 with both hands.

[0092] Furthermore, in the method of mounting the camera device, the device body 35 is temporarily fixed in a position approximately equivalent to that during operation during the main body temporary fixing process, so that the angle of view of the camera 15 can be easily adjusted (pan, twist, tilt, and yaw rotations) using both hands.

[0093] Therefore, according to the camera device 11 and the camera device installation method of embodiment 1, it is possible to connect the cable 111, etc., without supporting the device body 35 by hand during installation, thereby improving workability.

[0094] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications, corrections, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the components in the various embodiments described above may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0095] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present disclosure is useful as a camera device and a camera device mounting method that enable cable connection and the like without the worker having to support the device body with his or her hands during installation, thereby improving workability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 11 Camera equipment 13 Ceiling surface 15 Camera 17 Dome cover 19 Dome cover assembly 21 Frame housing 23 Inner Hole 33 Base 35 Device body 43 Hook part 49 Male threaded member 51 Body base 53 Base hinge 55 L-shaped bend 57 Hook insertion hole 59 Slot 61 Fixing screw 73 Tension Spring 79 Panbase 109 Connector 111 Cable 121 Engagement mechanism 123 Head 125 Plastic spring parts 127 Hole 137 Body side temporary locking claw 139 Post 143 Cover side temporary locking claw 145 Dome Support

Claims

1. A substantially disk-shaped base portion having a hook portion and fixed to a fixed surface; a device main body that is equipped with a camera unit and a connector, and has a base hinge that is engaged with the hook portion and can be freely advanced and retreated, and that can be suspended from the base portion by engaging the base hinge with the hook portion; an engagement mechanism that is provided across the device body and the base, and that rotates the device body in a direction approaching the base around the hook portion that engages the base hinge as a fulcrum, thereby engaging the device body and the base in such a state that the device body is substantially parallel to the base; a dome cover assembly that covers the camera unit and the connector in a watertight manner and is attached to the device body; Camera equipment.

2. The device body has a substantially disk-shaped body base, A substantially disk-shaped pan base on which the camera unit is mounted is concentrically attached to the main body base and has a smaller diameter than the main body base. The connector is disposed on the body base radially outward of the pan base. The camera device according to claim 1 .

3. A support pillar is provided at the center of the device body, protruding through the pan base and having a main body side temporary locking claw at its protruding tip, The dome cover assembly has a frame housing formed in a substantially annular shape and attached to the device body, the frame housing watertightly fixing an outer periphery of a transparent dome cover to an inner hole; A dome support is provided at the center of the dome cover, the dome support having a cover-side temporary locking claw that protrudes toward the inner periphery and can be temporarily locked to the main body-side temporary locking claw of the support. The camera device according to claim 2 .

4. The engagement mechanism has a male threaded member depending from the base with a head facing downward, a hole portion into which the male screw member enters when the device body is parallel to the base portion; A resin spring member is provided in the hole portion to elastically contact the head portion that has entered the hole portion and to restrict the male screw member from coming out of the hole portion. The camera device according to claim 1 .

5. The base hinge has an L-shaped bent portion formed on a tip side in a direction of advancement thereof for engaging with the hook portion, and a hook insertion hole through which the hook portion can pass is formed on a base end side of the L-shaped bent portion. The camera device according to claim 1 .

6. A pair of parallel elongated holes that are long in the forward / backward direction are formed in the base hinge, The base hinge is supported by fixing screws that are inserted into the respective elongated holes and fixed to the device body so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes. The camera device according to claim 1 .

7. The base hinge is biased in a backward direction by a tension spring provided across the device body. The camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. a base attachment step of fixing a substantially disk-shaped base having a hook portion to a fixed surface; a main body hanging process of pulling out a base hinge that engages with the hook portion from a main body of the device having a camera unit and a connector mounted thereon and engaging the base hinge with the hook portion to hang the main body of the device from the base portion; a cable connecting step of connecting a cable to the connector; a main body temporary fixing process in which the main body is rotated around the hook portion as a fulcrum in a direction approaching the base, while the base hinge is retracted into the main body, and the main body is temporarily fixed to the base via an engagement mechanism provided between the main body and the base in a state in which the main body is substantially parallel to the base, so that the main body and the base are inseparably fixed to each other. How to install the camera device.

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