Underwater camera systems and underwater devices

Abstract

To provide an underwater camera system and an underwater device, capable of applying the imaging position of a camera 10 under water to a captured image.SOLUTION: An underwater camera system S100 includes the camera 10 for photographing an object under water and generating the captured image, first positioning means for positioning the absolute position of an on-water device 20 located on water, second positioning means for positioning a relative position between an underwater device 30 connected to the camera 10 and the on-water device 20, a position specification part for calculating an underwater position which is the absolute position of the underwater device 30 under water on the basis of the absolute position of the on-water device 20 positioned by the first positioning means and the relative position positioned by the second positioning means, and a transmission part for transmitting the underwater position calculated by the position specification part to the camera 10. The camera 10 stores the underwater position received from the transmission part in association with the captured image photographed within a predetermined time before and after a time point when the underwater position is received.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater camera system and an underwater device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a photograph taken with a digital camera includes data such as the date and time of shooting, GPS information (latitude, longitude), and the model name of the camera (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In water, the position cannot be detected by GPS. Therefore, in the conventional technology, the position of the camera cannot be measured underwater, and there is a problem that information on the shooting position cannot be added to the captured image of the camera.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to provide an underwater camera system and an underwater device capable of adding the imaging position of a camera underwater to a captured image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An underwater camera system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image; a first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a surface device located on the water; a second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device; a position determination unit that calculates an underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device underwater, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means; and a transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, wherein the camera stores the underwater position received from the transmission unit in association with the image captured within a predetermined time before and after the time the underwater position was received.

[0007] The transmitting unit may transmit the underwater position to the camera in response to the camera's shutter button being pressed.

[0008] The transmitting unit may be configured not to transmit the underwater position to the camera if the elapsed time between pressing the shutter button and pressing the shutter button again is less than or equal to a threshold.

[0009] The position identification unit continuously identifies the underwater position of the underwater device, and the transmission unit may be configured not to transmit the second underwater position to the camera if the distance between the first underwater position of the underwater device at a first time and the second underwater position of the underwater device at a second time is less than a threshold.

[0010] The transmitting unit may transmit a positioning error to the camera indicating that the positioning unit was unable to determine the underwater position of the underwater device for a certain period of time or longer, and the camera may store the positioning error in association with an image captured within a predetermined time period before and after the time the positioning error was received.

[0011] The transmitting unit transmits a positioning error to the camera indicating that the positioning unit was unable to determine the underwater position of the underwater device for a certain period of time or longer. The camera may then store the elapsed time from the time the first underwater position was received to the time the positioning error was received, along with the first underwater position received before the positioning error was received, in association with an image captured within a predetermined time before and after the time the positioning error was received.

[0012] The position identification unit identifies the underwater position of the first underwater device connected to the underwater first camera and the underwater position of the second underwater device connected to the underwater second camera as the underwater devices. The transmission unit transmits the underwater position of the second underwater device along with the underwater position of the first underwater device to the first camera when the distance between the underwater position of the first underwater device and the underwater position of the second underwater device is less than a threshold. The first camera may store the underwater position of the first underwater device and the underwater position of the second underwater device in association with the captured image.

[0013] An underwater device in one embodiment of the present invention is an underwater device attached to a camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image of it, and comprises a position determination unit that calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device underwater, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by a first positioning means that measures the absolute position of the surface device located on the water surface, and the relative position determined by a second positioning means that measures the relative position between the surface device and the underwater device, and a transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention provides an underwater camera system and underwater device that can assign the camera's imaging position underwater to the captured image. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This figure shows an underwater camera system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an underwater camera system. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of how an underwater camera system works. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the underwater camera system of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] <First Embodiment> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an underwater camera system S100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the underwater camera system S100. The underwater camera system S100 comprises a camera 10, a surface device 20, and an underwater device 30.

[0017] In this embodiment of the underwater camera system S100, (1) first, the surface device 20 determines its absolute position using, for example, GPS satellites; (2) then, the underwater device 30 determines the relative position between the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30 using, for example, acoustic positioning technology, and calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device 30, based on the determined relative position and the absolute position of the surface device 20. The underwater device 30 notifies the nearby camera 10 of the calculated underwater position. (3) After receiving the underwater position, the camera 10 stores the underwater position information in association with the captured image. Although GPS satellite positioning is not possible underwater, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the underwater device 30 can calculate its absolute position underwater, and the camera 10 can store the underwater position information in association with the captured image.

[0018] (Camera 10) Camera 10 includes a shutter button 11, an imaging unit 12, a control unit 13, and a storage unit 14. Camera 10 captures images of an object underwater and generates captured images. Camera 10 is connected to the underwater device 30 in a communication manner.

[0019] The shutter button 11 is a button pressed by the user. The shutter button 11 is, for example, a physical button. The shutter button 11 may also be a button on the screen displayed on the display of the camera 10. The imaging unit 12 has a lens, an imaging element, etc., and generates a captured image of the object. The storage unit 14 stores the captured image generated by the imaging unit 12.

[0020] The control unit 13 controls the operations of each part of the camera 10. When the shutter button 11 is pressed, the control unit 13 transmits a shutter signal to the underwater device 30 via a communication interface (not shown).

[0021] The control unit 13 receives the underwater position of the surface device 20 transmitted by the underwater device 30 as described later, and stores the underwater position in the storage unit 14 in association with the captured image. Specifically, the control unit 13 stores the underwater position in association with the captured images taken within a predetermined time before and after the time when the camera 10 receives the underwater position from the underwater device 30. For example, when shooting is performed within a predetermined time after the control unit 13 receives the underwater position, the control unit 13 associates the underwater position with the captured image.

[0022] The control unit 13 may associate the underwater position with the captured image before reception instead of the captured image taken after receiving the underwater position. For example, when the underwater device 30 transmits the underwater position to the camera 10 in response to the pressing of the shutter button 11, the control unit 13 may associate the received underwater position with the captured image generated by the pressing of the shutter button 11.

[0023] When the captured image is not taken within a predetermined time before and after the time when the camera 10 receives the underwater position from the underwater device 30, the control unit 13 does not associate the captured image with the underwater position.

[0024] (Surface device 20) The surface device 20 is installed, for example, on a facility or vehicle on the water and communicates with the underwater device 30. The surface device 20 is installed, for example, on a ship. The surface device 20 has a first positioning means 21, a control unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

[0025] The first positioning means 21 determines the absolute position of the watercraft 20. Specifically, the first positioning means 21 obtains the latitude and longitude (for example, position information (x1, y1)) of the watercraft 20 by communicating with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellites (hereinafter also referred to as GNSS satellites).

[0026] The control unit 22 controls the operation of each part of the surface device 20. The control unit 22 transmits the absolute position of the surface device 20 acquired by the first positioning means 21 to the underwater device 30 via the communication unit 23.

[0027] The communication unit 23 is a communication device capable of underwater communication. The communication unit 23 is, for example, a known acoustic communication device.

[0028] (Underwater device 30) The underwater device 30 is, for example, a device attached to the camera 10. The underwater device 30 has a second positioning means 31, a control unit 32, and a communication unit 33. The second positioning means 31, the control unit 32, and the communication unit 33 are housed, for example, in a housing. Note that "the underwater device 30 is attached to the camera 10" does not necessarily mean that the underwater device 30 is mechanically fixed to the camera 10. The underwater device 30 only needs to be located in the vicinity of the camera 10 and in a position where the underwater device 30 can be substantially considered to be the position of the camera 10. As an example, the underwater device 30 is preferably provided within 1 m of the camera 10. The underwater device 30 is separate from the camera 10 and is not fixed to it, but may be connected in a way that allows for communication by wire or wireless.

[0029] The second positioning means 31 determines the relative position between the underwater device 30 and the surface device 20. In Figure 2, the second positioning means 31 is depicted as a single component installed on the underwater device 30, but the second positioning means 31 may be any device capable of determining the relative position between the underwater device 30 and the surface device 20. The second positioning means 31 may also be installed on the surface device 20.

[0030] The second positioning means 31 may be, for example, a device consisting of a master unit and a slave unit that performs acoustic positioning underwater. For acoustic positioning, SSBL (Super Short Baseline (also known as USBL: Ultra Short Baseline)) positioning technology can be used. In this embodiment, the master unit is provided in the underwater device 30 and the slave unit is provided in the surface device 20. Conversely, the master unit may be provided in the surface device 20 and the slave unit may be provided in the underwater device 30.

[0031] Acoustic positioning is performed, for example, as follows: First, the master unit emits sound underwater, and when the slave unit receives this sound, it emits a sound in response. The master unit receives the sound from the slave unit using multiple microphones and calculates the direction of the slave unit, which is the source of the sound, and the distance between the master unit and the slave unit. In this way, the relative positions between the devices are determined. Alternatively, the master unit can receive sounds that the slave unit emits intermittently, and the master unit can calculate the direction of the slave unit and the distance between the master unit and the slave unit.

[0032] The second positioning means 31 only needs to be capable of determining the position of the underwater device 30 relative to the surface device 20, and may be, for example, an inertial navigation device. The inertial navigation device continuously measures the acceleration of a moving object and calculates the path of movement from a predetermined reference point. The inertial navigation device may be, for example, installed inside the housing of the underwater device 30.

[0033] The communication unit 33 transmits information to other devices and receives information from other devices. The communication unit 33 communicates with the surface device 20, for example, by acoustic communication. The communication unit 33 also communicates with the camera 10, which is connected by a wired or wireless connection. The underwater device 30 and the camera 10 are connected, for example, by a wired cable. If the underwater device 30 and the camera 10 are configured to be placed together in the internal space of, for example, a waterproof cover (not shown), the underwater device 30 and the camera 10 may be connected by, for example, optical wireless communication including infrared communication, Bluetooth®, or wireless LAN.

[0034] (Control Unit 32) The control unit 32 is a processor including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and functions as a location identification unit 321 and a transmission unit 322 by executing a computer program. In this example, the location identification unit 321 is provided in the underwater device 30, but in other embodiments of the present invention, the surface device 20 may have the location identification unit 321.

[0035] The positioning unit 321 determines the position of the underwater device 30. Since the underwater device 30 cannot communicate with GNNS satellites underwater, it is not possible to directly determine the absolute position of the underwater device 30 underwater. Therefore, the positioning unit 321 calculates the underwater position of the underwater device 30 based on the absolute position of the surface device 20 determined by the first positioning means 21 and the relative position determined by the second positioning means 31.

[0036] Specifically, the positioning unit 321 calculates the underwater position of the underwater device 30 by adding a difference corresponding to the relative position between the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30 to the absolute position of the surface device 20. For example, if the absolute position of the surface device 20 is (x1, y1) and the relative position between the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30 is (Δx, Δy), the positioning unit 321 calculates (x1 + Δx, y1 + Δy) as the underwater position (x2, y2). In this way, the positioning unit 321 can calculate the absolute position of the underwater device 30 even underwater. Although the underwater position is described as (x2, y2) here, as will be described later, the depth of the underwater device 30 can also be measured underwater, so the underwater position may be calculated as a three-dimensional position including the depth z.

[0037] The positioning unit 321 continuously calculates the underwater position of the underwater device 30 at predetermined time intervals, for example. The positioning unit 321 calculates the underwater position at intervals of 1 second, for example.

[0038] The transmitting unit 322 transmits the underwater position determined by the positioning unit 321 to the camera 10 via the communication unit 33. The transmitting unit 322 transmits the underwater position to the camera 10 continuously at predetermined time intervals, for example, in the same way as positioning by the positioning unit 321.

[0039] The underwater position identified by the position identification unit 321 is used, for example, to indicate the location underwater where the photograph was taken. In light of this use of the underwater position, it is conceivable that underwater position information is unnecessary when the shutter button 11 is not pressed and the camera 10 is simply moving underwater.

[0040] Therefore, the transmitting unit 322 may, for example, transmit the underwater position to the camera 10 only when the camera 10's shutter button 11 is pressed, rather than continuously transmitting the underwater position. Specifically, the transmitting unit 322 transmits the underwater position to the camera 10 when the underwater device 30 receives the shutter signal transmitted by the camera 10 when the shutter button 11 is pressed. With this configuration, the frequency of communication between the underwater device 30 and the camera 10 is reduced, which suppresses battery drain in the camera 10 and the underwater device 30, allowing the camera 10 and the underwater device 30 to be used underwater for a long period of time.

[0041] (Action taken when shutter button 11 is pressed multiple times) For example, in diving, a user may remain in the same position underwater and take multiple photos of the target object. In such cases, since the underwater position of the underwater device 30 does not change, there is no need to communicate each time the shutter button 11 is pressed.

[0042] Therefore, the transmitting unit 322 may be configured not to transmit the underwater position to the camera 10 if, for example, the elapsed time from when the shutter button 11 is pressed until it is pressed again is less than or equal to a threshold. For example, if the threshold is set to 5 seconds, even if the shutter button 11 is pressed multiple times within 5 seconds, the transmitting unit 322 will transmit the underwater position only once at the time the shutter button 11 is first pressed, and will not transmit the underwater position thereafter. This configuration also reduces the communication frequency between the underwater device 30 and the camera 10, so that the camera 10 and the underwater device 30 can be used underwater for a long period of time.

[0043] (Operation when the amount of movement of the underwater device 30 is small) The transmission of the underwater position from the underwater device 30 to the camera 10 may be performed according to the amount of movement of the underwater device 30. If the user remains in the same position underwater and photographs the object multiple times, even if the underwater position identified by the position identification unit 321 is slightly different, it is assumed that the object can be considered to have been photographed at substantially the same underwater position. If the distance between the first underwater position and the second underwater position identified by the position identification unit 321 is, for example, about 1m, these underwater positions can be considered to be the same.

[0044] Therefore, the transmitting unit 322 may be configured not to transmit the second underwater position to the camera 10 if the distance between the first underwater position of the underwater device 30 at the first time and the second underwater position of the underwater device 30 at the second time is less than a threshold. This configuration also reduces the communication frequency between the camera 10 and the underwater device 30, allowing the camera 10 and the underwater device 30 to be used underwater for extended periods.

[0045] The distance threshold is, for example, a pre-set default value. The control unit 32 may accept a value entered by the user as the modified threshold and perform the above operation with the modified threshold.

[0046] (Saving positioning errors) Underwater, it is conceivable that communication between the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30 may not function correctly, making it impossible to determine the relative positions of the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30. If such a positioning error occurs, the camera 10 may associate and save information about the positioning error with the captured image.

[0047] Specifically, the transmitting unit 322 transmits a positioning error to the camera 10 indicating that the underwater position could not be calculated if the positioning unit 321 is unable to determine the underwater position of the underwater device 30 for a certain period of time or longer. The control unit 13 of the camera 10 then stores the received positioning error in association with the captured image. The control unit 13 of the camera 10 associates the positioning error with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the positioning error was received.

[0048] With this configuration, information about positioning errors, where positioning was not performed correctly, is added to the captured image, allowing the user to retrospectively confirm that the image was taken under conditions where the underwater position could not be calculated.

[0049] Furthermore, camera 10 may store, along with positioning error information, the underwater position of the underwater device 30 that was already received before the positioning error was received (for example, the underwater position received within a predetermined time before the positioning error was received), in association with the captured image. With such a configuration, although not the exact position, it becomes possible to know the approximate location where the captured image was taken.

[0050] In the above case, if the underwater position of the underwater device 30 that camera 10 had already received was, for example, the position received a few minutes earlier, then there is a possibility that the underwater position (first underwater position) and the underwater position actually captured (second underwater position) may differ significantly. Even if the positions are misaligned in this way, if information on the elapsed time is provided, it can be helpful for the user to retrospectively understand the positional relationship between the first underwater position and the second underwater position. Therefore, camera 10 may store the first underwater position received before the positioning error was received, along with the elapsed time from the time the first underwater position was received to the time the positioning error was received, in association with the captured images taken within a predetermined time before and after the time the positioning error was received.

[0051] (Example of operation) Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the underwater camera system S100. An example of the operation of the underwater camera system S100 configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Note that although step S4, which determines whether the underwater position has been correctly determined, is shown as an example in this flowchart, this step is not essential in the present invention.

[0052] First, in step S1, the first positioning means 21 communicates with GNSS satellites to determine the absolute position of the surface device 20. The control unit 22 of the surface device 20 transmits the absolute position of the surface device 20 acquired by the first positioning means 21 to the underwater device 30.

[0053] Next, in step S2, the second positioning means 31 of the underwater device 30 determines the relative position between the surface device 20 and the underwater device 30, for example by acoustic positioning.

[0054] Next, in step S3, the position determination unit 321 of the control unit 32 calculates the underwater position of the underwater device 30 by adding the difference corresponding to the relative position determined by the second positioning means 31 to the absolute position of the surface device 20 received from the surface device 20.

[0055] Next, in step S4, the transmitting unit 322 determines whether the underwater position has been correctly determined. If the answer in step S4 is Yes, then in step S5a, the transmitting unit 322 transmits the underwater position to the camera 10.

[0056] Next, in step S6a, the camera 10 receives the underwater position transmitted by the underwater device 30 and stores the underwater position in association with the captured image.

[0057] On the other hand, if the answer in step S4 is No, in step S5b, the transmitting unit 322 of the underwater device 30 transmits a positioning error to the camera 10 indicating that the positioning unit 321 was unable to determine the underwater position for a certain period of time or longer. Then, in step S6b, the camera 10 associates the positioning error transmitted by the underwater device 30 with the captured image and saves it.

[0058] Through the above series of steps, the underwater camera system S100 can calculate the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device 30 in the water, even in underwater areas where positioning by GNSS satellites is impossible, and the camera 10 can associate and save that underwater position with the captured image.

[0059] (Effects of the S100 underwater camera system) As described above, the underwater camera system S100 can calculate the underwater position of the underwater device 30 and save that underwater position in association with the captured image. Therefore, the user can retrospectively confirm the shooting position of the captured image.

[0060] <Second Embodiment> Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the underwater camera system of the present invention. In the embodiment described above, the positioning unit 321 was provided on the underwater device 30, but the positioning unit may be provided on the surface device 20. Furthermore, one embodiment of the underwater camera system of the present invention may include multiple underwater devices 30, such as when multiple users take pictures underwater using the camera 10.

[0061] The underwater camera system S101 shown in Figure 4 comprises multiple cameras 10, a surface device 20, and multiple underwater devices 30. Since the basic functions of the cameras 10, surface devices 20, and underwater devices 30 are the same as those of the embodiments described above, the differences from the embodiments described above will be explained below.

[0062] Multiple cameras 10 are provided, including a first camera 10a, a second camera 10b, and a third camera 10c. A first underwater device 30a, a second underwater device 30b, and a third underwater device 30c are attached to each camera 10, respectively.

[0063] The surface device 20 includes a first positioning means 21, a control unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a second positioning means 24. The second positioning means 24 corresponds to the second positioning means 31 in Figure 1 and determines the relative position between the surface device 20 and each underwater device 30.

[0064] The control unit 22 includes a position identification unit 221 and a transmission unit 222. The position identification unit 221 corresponds to the position identification unit 321 in Figure 1 and calculates the underwater positions of the multiple underwater devices 30. For example, the position identification unit 221 identifies the underwater positions of the first underwater device 30a, the second underwater device 30b, and the third underwater device 30c, associating them with the identification information of each underwater device.

[0065] Here, for example, in diving where multiple users are submerged, information on whether other users were near a particular user when a specific object is photographed can be useful. Therefore, in the configuration shown in Figure 4, as an example, the transmitting unit 222 transmits the underwater position of both the first underwater device 30a and the second underwater device 30b to the first camera 10a via the first underwater device 30a when the distance between the underwater position of the first underwater device 30a and the underwater position of the second underwater device 30b, as determined by the position identification unit 221, is less than a threshold. Specifically, the transmitting unit 222 transmits the underwater position of the second underwater device 30b in association with the identification information of the second underwater device 30b.

[0066] The underwater device 30 comprises a control unit 32 and a communication unit 33. The control unit 32 has an acquisition unit 323 and a transmission unit 322. The acquisition unit 323 receives information transmitted by the surface device 20. The acquisition unit 323 of the first underwater device 30a acquires, for example, the underwater position of the first underwater device 30a and the underwater position of the second underwater device 30b, which are transmitted by the surface device 20 in association with the identification information of the first underwater device 30a.

[0067] The transmitting unit 322 transmits the underwater position of the first underwater device 30a and the surface position of the second underwater device 30b, acquired by the acquisition unit 323, to the first camera 10a. The first camera 10a stores the underwater positions of the first underwater device 30a and the second underwater device 30b in association with the captured image.

[0068] With this configuration, the first camera 10a can associate and save the underwater position of other cameras (more precisely, underwater devices) that were nearby when it photographed a certain object with the captured image.

[0069] <Variation> In the embodiment described above, latitude and longitude information was used as an example of the underwater position of the underwater device 30. However, in the underwater camera system S100, the depth of the underwater device 30 may also be measured, the underwater device 30 may transmit depth information to the camera 10, and the camera 10 may store that depth information in association with the captured image.

[0070] Furthermore, the underwater device 30 may have a sensor device that measures at least one of the turbidity, salinity, and current in the water, and the measured information of at least one of the turbidity, salinity, and current may be transmitted to the camera 10, which may store the information associated with the captured image.

[0071] In the embodiments described above, the underwater position was illustrated as being calculated to determine the imaging position. However, the ability to continuously calculate and record the underwater position of the underwater device 30 means that the movement path of a user carrying the underwater device 30 can be tracked underwater. Therefore, in one embodiment of the underwater camera system S100 of the present invention, the camera 10 may store the time-series information of multiple underwater positions calculated by the underwater device 30 in association with the captured image.

[0072] According to the present invention, since the underwater position of the underwater device 30 can be calculated, in the underwater camera system S100, when the underwater device 30 arrives at a preset target latitude, longitude, and / or depth, the underwater device 30 may, for example, notify the camera 10 or issue an alert. When the camera 10 receives a notification from the underwater device 30, it may automatically take an image or issue an alert to the user prompting it to take an image.

[0073] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0074] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10 Cameras 11 Shutter button 12 Imaging Unit 13 Control Unit 14 Storage section 20 Water equipment 21 First positioning means 22 Control Unit 23 Communications Department 24. Second positioning means 30 Underwater equipment 31. Second positioning means 32 Control Unit 33 Communications Department 221 Location identification part 222 Transmitter 321 Location identification part 322 Transmitter 323 Acquisition Department S100, S101 Underwater Camera System

Claims

1. A camera that photographs objects underwater and generates captured images, A first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a floating device located on the water, A second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device, A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means, A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The camera stores the underwater position received from the transmitting unit in association with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the underwater position was received. The transmitting unit transmits the underwater position to the camera in response to the camera's shutter button being pressed, and The transmitting unit shall not transmit the underwater position to the camera if the elapsed time between pressing the shutter button and pressing the shutter button again is less than or equal to a threshold. Underwater camera system.

2. A camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image, A first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a floating device located on the water, A second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device, A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means, A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The camera stores the underwater position received from the transmitting unit in association with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the underwater position was received. The position-determining unit continuously determines the underwater position of the underwater device, The transmitting unit shall not transmit the second underwater position to the camera if the distance between the first underwater position of the underwater device at the first time and the second underwater position of the underwater device at the second time is less than a threshold. Underwater camera system.

3. A camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image, A first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a floating device located on the water, A second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device, A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means, A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The camera stores the underwater position received from the transmitting unit in association with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the underwater position was received. The transmitting unit transmits a positioning error to the camera indicating that the positioning unit was unable to determine the underwater position of the underwater device for a certain period of time or longer. The camera stores the positioning error in association with an image captured within a predetermined time period before and after the time the positioning error was received. Underwater camera system.

4. A camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image, A first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a floating device located on the water, A second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device, A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means, A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The camera stores the underwater position received from the transmitting unit in association with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the underwater position was received. The transmitting unit transmits a positioning error to the camera indicating that the positioning unit was unable to determine the underwater position of the underwater device for a certain period of time or longer. The camera stores, along with the first underwater position received before the positioning error was received, the elapsed time from the time the first underwater position was received to the time the positioning error was received, in association with the captured images taken within a predetermined time before and after the time the positioning error was received. Underwater camera system.

5. A camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image of it, A first positioning means for determining the absolute position of a floating device located on the water, A second positioning means for determining the relative position between the underwater device connected to the camera and the surface device, A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by the first positioning means and the relative position determined by the second positioning means, A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The camera stores the underwater position received from the transmitting unit in association with the captured image taken within a predetermined time period before and after the time the underwater position was received. The position-determining unit identifies the underwater position of the first underwater device connected to the first underwater camera and the underwater position of the second underwater device connected to the second underwater camera, The transmitting unit transmits to the first camera the underwater position of the second underwater device along with the underwater position of the first underwater device when the distance between the underwater position of the first underwater device and the underwater position of the second underwater device is less than a threshold. The first camera stores the underwater position of the first underwater device and the underwater position of the second underwater device in association with the captured image. Underwater camera system.

6. An underwater device that can be attached to a camera that photographs an object underwater and generates an image of it. A position determination unit calculates the underwater position, which is the absolute position of the underwater device in the water, based on the absolute position of the surface device determined by a first positioning means that measures the absolute position of the surface device located on the water, and the relative position determined by a second positioning means that measures the relative position between the surface device and the underwater device. A transmission unit that transmits the underwater position calculated by the position determination unit to the camera, Equipped with, The transmitting unit transmits the underwater position to the camera in response to the camera's shutter button being pressed, and The transmitting unit shall not transmit the underwater position to the camera if the elapsed time between pressing the shutter button and pressing the shutter button again is less than or equal to a threshold. Underwater equipment.

Images