Imaging unit drive device, control method for imaging unit drive device, and program

Abstract

To provide a universal head system capable of preferably controlling operations of the universal head system in accordance with a connection state of an external apparatus to be connected to the universal head system.SOLUTION: An imaging part driving device includes a base part, a rotation part configured to make an imaging part for imaging the base part rotatable, and a control part for controlling rotation of the rotation part. Each of the base part and the rotation part has a connector part connectable to an external apparatus by a wire, and the control part acquires a detection result of a connection state of the connector part provided in the base part, and a detection result of a connection state of the connector part provided in the rotation part. Rotation operation by the rotation part is changed between when wire connection is performed by the connector part provided in the base part and when wire connection is performed by the connector part provided in the rotation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0005] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device capable of pivoting an imaging unit.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a pan-tilt system equipped with an imaging device and capable of pivoting the imaging device in at least one of the pan, tilt, and roll directions is known. In such a pan-tilt system, there is a type in which a cable can be connected to a connector provided on the exterior for communicating a video signal captured by the imaging device, power to the pan-tilt system, and a control signal.

[0003] In such a pan-tilt system, the connected cable may get entangled with the pan-tilt system due to the pivoting of the imaging device, thereby inhibiting the operation of the pan-tilt system. Therefore, in order to prevent the above problem, when a cable is connected to the pivoting part of the pan-tilt system, a method of restricting the rotation angle has been proposed in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the pan-tilt system described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to avoid the problem that the cable winds around the pan-tilt system when the cable is connected to the pivoting part. However, the configuration in which various external devices such as cables can also be connected to the base part has not been considered.

[0006] Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a tripod head system in which external devices can be connected to both the base and the swivel section, and which can suitably control the operation of the tripod head system according to the connection status of the external devices connected to the tripod head system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides an imaging unit drive device comprising a base portion, a swivel portion configured to allow the imaging unit to swivel relative to the base portion, and a control unit for controlling the swivel of the swivel portion, wherein each of the base portion and the swivel portion has a connector portion that allows wired connection to an external device. The control unit includes an installation determination unit that determines whether the base portion is fixed to the installation surface, and if the installation determination unit determines that the base portion is not fixed, the control unit restricts the rotational movement of the swivel portion based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector portion provided on the base portion, and if the installation determination unit determines that the base portion is fixed, the control unit restricts the rotational movement of the swivel portion based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector portion provided on the swivel portion. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a tripod head system that can suitably control the operation of the tripod head system according to the connection status of external devices connected to the tripod head system. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Block diagram of the tripod head system in Example 1 [Figure 2] Perspective view of the tripod head system in Example 1 [Figure 3] Perspective view of the rotator unit in Example 1 [Figure 4] Perspective view of the pan / tilt head system when the cable is connected in Example 1 [Figure 5] Diagram illustrating the installation of the tripod head system at the installation location in Example 1. [Figure 6] This figure shows the pan / tilt head system in Example 1 in a state where it has been panned to a predetermined angle. [Figure 7] Rear view of the tripod head system in Example 1 [Figure 8] Control flowchart of the pan operation in Example 1 [Figure 9] Right side view of the tripod head system in Example 1 [Figure 10]This figure shows the pan / tilt head system in Example 1 in a state where it has been tilted to a predetermined angle. [Figure 11] Front view of the tripod head system in Example 1 [Figure 12] Control flowchart for tilt and roll operation of the pan / tilt head system in Example 1 [Figure 13] Perspective view of the tripod head system in Example 2 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (Example 1) (Overall explanation of the tripod head system) The configuration of the tripod head system in this embodiment will be explained using Figures 1 to 3. In this explanation, the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 are defined as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, respectively, and rotations around the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined as rotations in the tilt, pan, and roll directions, respectively. In the tripod head system of this embodiment, the surface viewed from the front of the lens (the surface viewed from the Z direction in Figure 2) is called the front, and the surface opposite the front is called the back. The surface viewed from the right of the front is called the right side, the surface viewed from the left of the front is called the left side, the surface viewed from above the front is called the top, and the surface viewed from below the front is called the bottom.

[0011] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the pan / tilt head system 1002 of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the pan / tilt head system consists of an operator 1001 and the pan / tilt head system 1002. When a user operates the operator 1001, an operation command corresponding to the operation is transmitted from the operator 1001 to the pan / tilt head system 1002, which is connected via a network. The pan / tilt head system 1002 performs control according to the content of the operation command, thereby enabling remote control of the pan / tilt head system 1002 from the operator 1001.

[0012] The pan-tilt system 1002 includes a pan-tilt device 1004 and a camera (imaging device) 1003 fixed to the pan-tilt device 1004. The pan-tilt device 1004 includes a communication unit 1017 that receives a video signal from the camera 1003, performs video processing, and receives an operation command from an operating device, and a pan-tilt head 1010 that pivots the camera 1003 in the tilt, pan, and roll directions.

[0013] The communication unit 1017 has an interface CPU 1026, a video processing unit 1027 that processes a video signal from the camera 1003, and a communication unit 1028 that communicates with the operating device. The pan-tilt head 1010 has a drive control CPU 1029, motors 1008a to c that pivot the camera 1003 fixed to the fixed base in the roll, tilt, and pan directions respectively, and motor control units 1030a to c that can control each of the motors 1008a to c.

[0014] An operation command from the operator 1001 is received by the communication unit 1028 of the communication unit 1017 after passing through the network and then sent to the interface CPU 1026. When the content of the operation command is a pan drive control command, a drive command is sent from the communication unit 1017 to the pan-tilt head 1010, and by giving a command to the pan control unit 1030a via the drive control CPU 1029, the pan motor 1008a is driven. Similarly, when it is a tilt drive control command, the tilt motor 1008b is controlled via the tilt control unit 1030b. When it is a roll control command, the roll motor 1008c is controlled via the roll control unit 1030c. When it is a control command such as zoom or focus, a control signal is transmitted from the interface CPU 1026 to the camera 1003, and control is performed so that zooming, focusing, etc. are driven inside the camera. Also, the video processing unit 1027 acquires video data captured by the camera 1003, performs various data processes, and then sends the video data to the interface CPU 1026. The interface CPU 1026 sends the video data sent from the video processing unit 1027 and communication data sent from various devices of the pan-tilt system 1002 to the operator 1001 to the outside via the communication unit 1028 on a single transmission path.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pan-tilt system 1002 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2(a) is a front perspective view, and (b) is a rear perspective view. As shown in FIG. 2, the pan-tilt device 1004 includes a rotator unit 1007 having a fixed base 1006 capable of fixing the camera 1003 to the top surface 1005. The pan-tilt device 1004 further has a pan-tilt head 1010 provided with a handle portion 1009 at the upper part, and a base 1011 provided with an interface capable of fixing the pan-tilt device 1004 to the installation position at the bottom surface. The pan-tilt head 1010 drives the internal pan motor 1008a, tilt motor 1008b, and roll motor 1008c based on the operation command from the operator 1001, so that the fixed base 1006 and the camera 1003 fixed to the fixed base 1006 can be pivoted in the tilt, pan, and roll directions with respect to the base 1011. Note that the pan-tilt device 1004 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to pivot without limitation in the rotation angle in the tilt direction and the pan direction.

[0016] Next, the connectors provided on each exterior part will be described. These connectors allow the tripod head unit 1004 to be connected to external devices via a wired connection. First, the rear of the camera 1003 and the communication unit 1017 are equipped with a camera connector 1018 and a communication unit rear connector 1019, to which cables for mutual communication can be connected. Next, the front of the communication unit 1017 and the tripod head 1010 are equipped with a communication unit front connector 1020 and a head front connector 1021, to which cables for mutual communication can be connected. In addition, the rear of the tripod head 1010 is equipped with a head rear upper connector 1022 that can be connected to an external network, and a head rear lower connector 1023 that is connected to the base 1011 by a cable and allows mutual communication. Furthermore, the rear of the base 1011 is equipped with a base upper connector 1024 that can communicate with the head rear lower connector 1023, and a base lower connector 1025 to which connectors for an external network and power supply can be connected. Furthermore, the connector section has an integrated connection detection unit, which is a detection means for detecting when a cable is connected. This allows for automatic detection of whether a cable is connected and enables the connection status to be transmitted to the interface CPU 1026, which will be described later, as appropriate.

[0017] Next, the rotator unit 1007 will be described with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3(a) shows a perspective view of the rotator unit 1007, and (b) shows an exploded perspective view. The rotator unit 1007 includes a roll holder 1012 fixed to the pan / tilt head 1010, and a mounting base 1006 that is held so as to be rotatable relative to the roll holder 1012 in the roll direction and for fixing the camera 1003. The camera 1003 can be fixed to the top surface 1005 of the mounting base 1006 by camera fixing screws 1014 via elongated holes 1013. In addition, a communication unit 1017 is fixed to the bottom surface 1015 of the mounting base 1006 by multiple fixing screws 1016. The communication unit 1017 is electrically connected to the pan / tilt device 1004, the camera 1003, and the network via a cable or wireless communication means described later, enabling various signals to be communicated with each other. In this embodiment, the pan / tilt head 1004 primarily controls various motors, while the communication unit 1017 primarily communicates with the camera 1003, the pan / tilt head 1010, and the control unit 1001, and processes the video data acquired from the camera 1003.

[0018] (Instructions for cable connection) Next, using Figure 4, the method for connecting cables, which are external devices of the pan / tilt head system 1002 in this embodiment, will be explained. Figure 4 is a perspective view when cables are connected to all the connector parts shown in Figure 2, with (a) being a front perspective view and (b) being a rear perspective view. As shown in Figure 4(a), a communication unit cable 1031, which connects the front connector 1020 of the communication unit and the front connector 1021 of the head, can be connected to the front of the pan / tilt head system 1002. Also, as shown in Figure 4(b), a camera cable 1032, which connects the camera connector 1018 and the rear connector 1019 of the communication unit, and a head cable 1033, which connects the lower rear connector 1023 of the head and the upper connector 1024 of the base, can be connected to the rear of the pan / tilt head system 1002. In addition, an external head cable 1034 and an external base cable 1035, which can be connected to a network and an external power supply, can be connected to the upper rear connector 1022 of the head and the lower rear connector 1025 of the base, respectively. Thus, a total of five cables can be connected to the tripod head system 1002.

[0019] (Explanation of how to set up the tripod head system) Next, using Figure 5, we will explain the installation method for fixing the bottom surface of the base 1011 to the installation location (installation surface 1036). Figure 5(a) is a bottom view of the base 1011, (b) shows the state before attaching the tripod head system 1002 to the installation surface 1036, and (c) shows the state after attaching the tripod head system 1002 to the installation surface 1036. As shown in Figure 5(a), the bottom surface of the base 1011 is equipped with a tap 1038 that can be fastened with a screw 1037 provided on the installation surface 1036, and a pressure sensor 1039 which is a grounding detection means for detecting whether or not the base 1011 is grounded on the installation surface 1036. As shown in Figure 5(b), when installing the tripod head system 1002 on the installation surface 1036, the user holds the handle 1009 and aligns the position so that the positions of the screw 1037 on the installation surface and the tap 1038 on the base substantially coincide in the X-axis and Z-axis directions. Subsequently, the user turns on the power to the pan / tilt head unit 1004 and instructs it to perform the installation operation. This instruction may be input not only via the control unit 1001, but also via operation buttons or the like provided on the main body of the pan / tilt head unit 1004. When the installation operation is instructed, the pan motor 1008a is driven by a panning motion, which rotates the pan / tilt head 1010 relative to the base unit 1011. Since the user holds the pan / tilt head 1010 in place by gripping the handle unit 1009, it is actually the base unit 1011 that rotates. This rotation causes the tap 1038 on the base 1011 to be screwed into the screw 1037 on the mounting surface 1036, and ultimately the pan / tilt head system 1002 can be electrically fixed to the mounting surface 1036 as shown in Figure 5(c). If the screwing amount of the screw 1037 on the mounting surface 1036 is specified, the system may be configured to drive the pan by an amount corresponding to that screwing amount. However, if the system is set to automatically stop panning according to the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 1039, it is possible to fix the pan / tilt head system 1002 to the mounting section 1036 with a suitable tightening torque, even if there are variations in the amount of screwing in. Furthermore, the direction of panning must be the direction in which the tap 1038 is screwed into the screw 1037, and it is preferable that the direction of panning (clockwise or counterclockwise) is predetermined, but it may also be possible to change this by user operation.

[0020] (Regarding the control method for panning when a cable is connected) Next, we will explain in detail the panning operation when the cable is connected using Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a right side view (Figure 6(a)) and a top view (Figure 6(b)) when the panning operation is performed at a predetermined angle with the head external cable 1034 and head cable 1033 connected. As shown in Figure 6, when the panning operation is performed, the tripod head 1010 rotates relative to the base 1011. As a result, the relative distance between the lower rear connector 1023 of the head (the connector on the tripod head side to which the head cable 1033 is connected) and the upper base connector 1024 (the connector on the base side to which the head cable 1033 is connected) increases with rotation. Consequently, the excess length of the head cable 1033 stretches, and depending on the rotation angle, the head cable 1033 may be pulled, which may cause malfunctions in the panning operation or lead to the head cable 1033 becoming detached or damaged. Similarly, with respect to the head external cable 1034, the lack of excess length can cause it to be pulled or interfere with the pan head 1010 as shown in part A of Figure 6(b), potentially leading to malfunctions in panning or the cable connector coming loose. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7, when the head cable 1033 and the head external cable 1034 are not connected, no interference or pulling of the cables will occur no matter how much panning is performed, so there is no risk of malfunctions in panning or cable damage.

[0021] Furthermore, when attempting to electrically fix the tripod head system 1002 to the mounting surface 1036 by the panning motion described above, a malfunction occurs when the base external cable 1035 is connected, as shown in Figure 7. Specifically, because the base 1011 rotates relative to the tripod head 1010 held by the user, the base external cable 1035 rotates together with the base 1011, potentially causing it to twist and break.

[0022] The above summarizes the problems that may occur when connecting cables before and after installation. During installation, if at least one of the head cable 1033 and the base external cable 1035 is connected to the connectors (1024, 1025) on the base 1011, problems may occur depending on the angle of panning and the excess cable length. After installation, if at least one of the head cable 1033 and the head external cable 1034 is connected to the connectors (1022, 1023) on the pan head 1010, problems may occur depending on the angle of panning and the excess cable length.

[0023] Therefore, the pan head system 1002 of this embodiment changes its panning operation depending on the status of the cable connection to the connector. The control flow of the panning operation in this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the control method of the panning operation in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the panning operation is controlled by determining whether or not to restrict the panning operation using information on whether or not the pan head system 1002 is installed on the mounting surface and which connector the cable is connected to. This flow is executed after the interface CPU 1026 has collected various information.

[0024] First, in step S2, it is determined whether the pan / tilt head system 1002 is installed on the installation surface 1036 based on the pressure detection result of the pressure sensor 1039 on the base 1011. This determination is an installation determination for the pan / tilt head system 1002, and the interface CPU 1026 functions as an installation determination unit by making this determination, and changes the subsequent processing according to the determination result. If pressure is detected, it is determined that the system is installed and the process proceeds to step S3, and if no pressure is detected (as in Figure 5(b), when the bottom surface is floating), it is determined that the system is not installed and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S3, it is determined whether the head cable 1033 and the head external cable 1034 are connected to the head-side connectors, the head rear upper connector 1022 and the head rear lower connector 1023, by collecting the detection results of the connector connection detection unit. If it is detected that the cables are connected to at least one of the head rear upper connector 1022 and the head rear lower connector 1023, the process proceeds to step S5, and if no connection is detected to either, the process proceeds to step S6.

[0025] In step S5, Alert A is generated via the control unit 1001 or the like to inform the user that a cable that may interfere with panning is connected, and after the warning notification, the system proceeds to step S7. Alert A not only informs the user that a cable is connected, but also prompts the user to choose whether or not to restrict panning during shooting. The location of the connector to which the cable is connected may also be notified. In step S7, the system waits for the user to choose whether or not to restrict panning. When the user operates the control unit 1001, the control unit 1001 sends an instruction to the pan-head system 1002 indicating whether or not to restrict panning, depending on the user's selection. If the pan-head system 1002 (interface CPU 1026) receives an instruction from the control unit 1001 to restrict the operation, the system proceeds to step S8; if it receives an instruction not to restrict the operation, the system proceeds to step S6.

[0026] If the process proceeds to step S8, the flow terminates after executing a process to limit the panning angle to a predetermined angle to prevent malfunctions caused by tangled or pulled cables. When limiting the operating angle, installation is performed by the user manually rotating the entire pan / tilt head system 1002, or, if the mounting surface 1036 or screw 1037 is rotatable, by rotating it to fasten the screw 1037 and tap 1038. On the other hand, if the process proceeds to step S6, the flow terminates without any particular restriction on the panning angle, similar to when no cable connection is detected.

[0027] If it is determined in step S2 that the installation has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether the head cable 1033 and the base external cable 1035 are connected to the base-side connectors, the base upper connector 1024 and the base lower connector 1025, by collecting the detection results from the connector connection detection unit. If it is detected that the cable is connected to at least one of the base rear upper connector 1024 and the base rear lower connector 1025, the process proceeds to step S11; if no connection is detected to either, the process proceeds to step S9.

[0028] In step S11, after generating alert B, the system proceeds to step S7 and performs subsequent processing based on user instructions. Alert B is a warning that a cable that may interfere with the motorized installation is connected, and further prompts the user whether or not to limit the panning motion during the installation operation. The location of the connector to which the cable is connected may also be notified. If the user requests a limit on the panning motion in step S7, the system will not rotate beyond the limited angle, and the user is instructed to either perform the installation manually or disconnect the cable and restart the process from step (S2).

[0029] On the other hand, when the process transitions to step S9, the interface CPU 1026 instructs the tilt control unit 1030b and the roll control unit 1030c to fix the rotator unit 1007, thereby restricting its movement during the installation process. This ensures stable operation during the installation. After the tilt and roll fixing process, the process transitions to step S10, where the pan operation is set to allow rotation without angle restrictions, and this flow is terminated. In this case, after the completion of this flow, the automatic installation process, as explained using Figure 5, is initiated to install the pan / tilt head system.

[0030] The above describes the method for controlling the panning motion in this embodiment. As shown in the above flow chart, the connector used to determine whether to restrict the panning motion is changed depending on whether the pan head system 1002 is installed on the mounting surface 1036 or during installation. This makes it possible to perform panning motion according to the cable connection status and to take preventative measures to avoid cable malfunctions caused by panning motion.

[0031] This flow chart is just one example, and parts of the flow may be omitted or their combinations and order may be changed. Furthermore, although this embodiment does not specifically mention the power required to drive the pan / tilt head unit 1004, power can be supplied from a battery (not shown), the head external cable 1034, the base external cable 1035, etc. Also, while a pressure sensor is used to detect whether or not it is installed, other methods such as a distance sensor or brightness detection may be employed.

[0032] (Regarding the control method for tilt and roll movements when a cable is connected) Next, the tilt and roll operations will be explained in detail using Figures 9 to 11. Figure 9 is a right side view of the tripod head system 1002, Figure 10(a) is a right side view of the state after tilting by a predetermined angle from the state in Figure 9, and Figure 10(b) is a corresponding top view. Also, Figure 11(a) is a front view of the tripod head system 1002, and Figure 11(b) is a front view of the state after rolling by a predetermined angle from the state in Figure 11(a).

[0033] As shown in Figure 9, when the tilt operation is not performed, the communication unit cable 1031 is connected to the front connector 1020 of the communication unit and the front connector 1021 of the head with excess length. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 10, when the tilt operation is performed to a predetermined angle, the distance between the front connector 1020 of the communication unit and the front connector 1021 of the head increases, and the communication unit cable 1031 is gradually pulled. This may cause tilt operation malfunction, cable disconnection, or damage. In addition, as shown in part B of Figure 10(b), the ball head 1010 and the communication unit cable 1031 may interfere with each other, which may hinder the tilt operation.

[0034] Next, regarding the roll motion, in the state without roll rotation as shown in Figure 11(a), the communication unit cable 1031 is located at a distance from the lens portion of the camera 1003. However, depending on the roll rotation angle, it is possible that the communication unit cable 1031 may appear in the field of view of the camera 1003, as shown in Figure 11(b).

[0035] It is anticipated that the aforementioned problems caused by the cable connection may occur in combination during tilt and roll operations.

[0036] (A suitable method for controlling tilt, roll, and zoom movements when a cable is connected.) To avoid the above problems, a preferred control flow for tilt and roll movements in this embodiment will be described next with reference to Figure 12. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the control method for tilt and roll movements in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the flow determines whether or not to restrict tilt and roll movements based on information such as whether or not there is a cable connection to the connector and the camera's field of view information, and then decides whether or not to restrict tilt and roll movements. In this embodiment, various information is collected and processed by the interface CPU 1026.

[0037] First, in step S12, the interface CPU 1026 determines whether the communication unit cable 1031 is connected based on connection detection information from the front connector 1020 of the communication unit and the front connector 1021 of the head. If it is determined that the communication unit cable 1031 is not connected, the process proceeds to S13, and the tilt, roll, and zoom operations are not restricted, and the flow ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the communication unit cable 1031 is connected, the process proceeds to S14, where it is determined whether there is a possibility of the cable appearing in the image based on the rotation angle information of the tilt and roll and the field of view information of the camera 1003. If there is no possibility of the cable appearing in the image, the process proceeds to step S15, where the user is notified of an alert C indicating that there is a possibility of cable tension, and then the process proceeds to step S17. If there is a possibility of the cable appearing in the image, the process proceeds to step S16, where the user is notified of an alert D indicating that there is a possibility of cable tension and that the cable may appear in the image, and then the process proceeds to step S17. After transitioning to step S17, if the user requests operation restrictions, the process proceeds to step S18, where it executes the process of applying predetermined restrictions to tilt, roll, zoom, etc., and then terminates the flow. On the other hand, if the user requests no operation restrictions, the process proceeds to step S13, where it executes the process of not applying operation restrictions and then terminates the flow.

[0038] Furthermore, the aforementioned predetermined operation restrictions can include limitations on the roll and tilt operation angles, as well as stopping the camera's zoom operation toward the wide-angle side. Appropriate operation restrictions can be selected and combined as needed. Similarly, it is possible to implement a control flow that combines these restrictions with the detection results of the pan operation detection means mentioned earlier.

[0039] By implementing the above control measures, it becomes possible to avoid malfunctions of the tripod head due to tilt, roll, and zoom operations, as well as damage to cables and the cables appearing in the video feed.

[0040] The above describes the tripod head system in this embodiment. By performing the control flow described above, even when the tripod head system has multiple cable connection points, it is possible to determine in advance the possibility of malfunctions occurring during tilt, pan, roll, zoom operations, etc., based on the cable connection status and the type of external device connected. Based on this determination, the user can then choose whether or not to restrict the operation. As a result, it is possible to avoid malfunctions and cable damage associated with tripod head operation, as well as prevent cables from appearing in the video.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the pan / tilt head device 1004 is equipped with a camera mounting base, and the pan / tilt head system 1002 is configured by fixing the camera to the mounting base. However, the camera and the pan / tilt head device may be configured as an integrated unit. In this case, the pan / tilt head device is equipped with a camera instead of a mounting base. Furthermore, whether the camera and the pan / tilt head device are configured as separate units as in the embodiment, or as an integrated unit, the camera functions as an imaging unit that performs imaging, and the pan / tilt head device functions as an imaging unit drive device that drives the imaging unit.

[0042] Furthermore, if restrictions are placed on the operating angle, the range of the angle restriction can be pre-set by the user as appropriate, taking into account the cable length, etc., or a uniform value may be set. Also, in this embodiment, the tilt and pan rotations are designed to be able to rotate without angle restrictions, but the same can be applied to a tripod head system where the rotation angle is predetermined to be limited. In addition, although the means for detecting whether or not a cable is connected is integrally formed on the various connectors, a method of determining whether or not various cables are connected based on the electrical connection status of the tripod head system may also be used.

[0043] (Example 2) (Explanation of the tripod head system configuration) Next, the configuration of this embodiment will be described using Figures 13(a) and 13(b). Figure 13(a) is a forward perspective view of the pan / tilt head system in this embodiment, and Figure 13(b) is a rear perspective view of the same embodiment.

[0044] In this embodiment, various external devices such as a lens accessory 2001, a servo unit 2002, an external recorder 2003, and an external battery 2004 are added to the tripod head system of Embodiment 1. The other components are the same as in Embodiment 1, and the same reference numerals are used for the same parts, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0045] Lens accessory 2001 is an optical filter, an external device (external accessory) that, when attached to the front of the lens of camera 1003, primarily provides effects such as magnification, polarization, and color changes to the captured image. Servo unit 2002 is a drive accessory that has a motor inside, and a gear section (not shown) connected to the motor is connected to the magnification ring (so-called zoom ring) on ​​the mounting part of camera 1003, enabling the motorized operation of the camera's magnification group (zoom lens group), etc. External recorder 2003 is electrically connected to camera 1003 via electrical contacts (not shown), and is capable of recording images captured by camera 1003 inside the recorder. External battery 2004 is connected to the upper connector 1022 on the back of the head, and is capable of supplying power to the tripod head device 1004. When the external battery 2004 is connected, the tripod head unit 1004 can perform pan-tilt operations, as well as control and operate various connected devices, even when the head external cable 1034 and base external cable 1035 are not connected. A detailed explanation of the communication method between the external accessories and the tripod head unit is omitted, but in this embodiment, the tripod head unit 1004 can detect whether the external accessories are connected to the connection points using electrical contacts or mechanical contacts. In addition, a sub-camera (second imaging unit) that captures images at a wider angle than the camera 1003 can also be attached as an external accessory.

[0046] (Explanation of how the tripod head mechanism changes when accessories are connected) Next, we will explain the state and operation of the tripod head unit 1004 when various accessories are attached. When any of the above accessories are connected to the tripod head unit 1004, the center of gravity balance and the inertia during tripod head rotation change compared to when no accessories are connected. Specifically, when the lens accessory 2001, servo unit 2002, or external recorder 2003 are connected, the center of gravity of the tilt swivel section changes, which changes the drive torque required for tilting. Similarly, the inertia also changes, so the drive torque required for acceleration and deceleration also changes accordingly. The same applies to panning, and if the battery 2004 is connected, in addition to the changes in the tilt swivel section mentioned above, the inertia of the pan swivel section due to the addition of the battery 2004 will also change. Therefore, the acceleration and deceleration torque required for panning will change when accessories are connected.

[0047] As described above, the drive torque required for pan-tilt rotation and the amount of power that can be supplied to the pan-head device 1004 change depending on the connection status of the accessories and the presence or absence of the battery 2004.

[0048] (Explanation of the operation of the tripod head when accessories are connected) Next, the operation method of the tripod head unit 2004 when an accessory is connected will be explained. When an accessory is connected, the tripod head unit 1004 detects which accessory is connected using the detection means described above. Based on the detection result, the drive control CPU 1029 calculates the power required for driving from a table data that has been stored in advance, which determines the required drive torque when the accessory is connected. If the calculated power can be covered by the amount supplied to the tripod head unit 1004, it commands each control unit 1030 to perform the desired rotation operation without any particular restrictions. On the other hand, if it is determined that the calculated power cannot be covered by the amount supplied to the tripod head unit 1004, restrictions are placed on the components of the tripod head unit 1004 so that it can be controlled within the range of the power that can be covered. Specifically, in order to reduce power consumption, the operating speed is limited to a low speed, or various camera settings related to imaging operations are changed to settings that consume less power. Camera settings that consume less power include, for example, lowering the number of pixels, lowering the frame rate, and lowering the frequency of AF / AE. Conversely, depending on the combination of accessories that are attached, the center of gravity balance, etc., may work to the advantage of the drive torque. In that case, there will be more headroom in terms of power limitations, making it possible to increase the upper limit of the swivel mechanism's operating speed or change the camera settings to settings that allow for higher-quality shooting.

[0049] Furthermore, if the base external cable 1035 is connected and the tripod head unit 1004 is receiving power from an external source, and the battery 2004 is connected, the amount of power that can be supplied to the tripod head unit 1004 may increase. In that case, the tripod head unit 1004 can be considered to be capable of outputting higher power, and the upper limit of the operating speed may be increased, similar to when it works to the advantage of the drive torque, or the camera settings may be changed to settings that consume more power than when the battery is not connected, but enable higher quality shooting.

[0050] In the above explanation, the required drive torque when an accessory is connected is calculated using pre-stored table data. However, it is also acceptable to use a separate detection means to detect weight changes and center of gravity changes, and to detect the accessory connection status from the results and calculate the required torque. Furthermore, the user may be allowed to select which operations or settings to restrict on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the connected accessories are not limited to those described in this embodiment; similar results can be obtained even when, for example, an external wireless unit or a second camera capable of shooting at a different angle of view than camera 1003 is connected. By using the above configuration, it becomes possible to optimally change the operation of the tripod head device 1004 in accordance with the result of accessory connection detection.

[0051] Furthermore, in configurations where the tripod head and camera are integrated, and power can be supplied from the tripod head to the camera, if an external battery is connected to the camera, less power will be supplied, or no power supply may be necessary at all, compared to when an external battery is not connected. Therefore, when the tripod head detects that an external battery is connected to the camera, it may change settings that increase power consumption, such as increasing the upper limit of the operating speed.

[0052] (modified version) In the above embodiment, a cable connection was shown to enable communication. However, power may be supplied from an external device (battery, not shown), or some or all of the communication may be performed wirelessly by connecting internal or wireless external devices to each interface. In that case, the detection means should be able to determine whether or not a cable is connected.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described in detail above based on preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are also included in the present invention. Some of the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1002 Tripod Head System 1003 Camera 1004 Panhead device 1007 Rotator Unit 1010 Tripod Head 1011 Base 1017 Communication Unit 1019 Communication unit rear connector 1020 Communication Unit Front Connector 1021 Head front connector 1022 Head rear upper connector 1023 Head rear lower connector 1024 Base top connector 1025 Base lower connector 1031 Communication Unit Cable 1032 Camera Cable 1033 Head Cable 1034 Head external cable 1035 Base External Cable

Claims

1. The base part, A rotating part configured to allow the imaging part to rotate relative to the base part, An imaging unit drive device comprising a control unit that controls the rotational movement of the rotation unit and the imaging movement of the imaging unit, Each of the base portion and the swivel portion has a connector portion that allows for wired connection to an external device, The base portion is equipped with an installation determination unit that determines whether or not it is fixed to the installation surface. The control unit is characterized in that, if the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is not fixed, it restricts the rotational movement of the swivel unit based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector provided on the base unit, and if the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is fixed, it restricts the rotational movement of the swivel unit based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector provided on the swivel unit.

2. The aforementioned turning motion is, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is at least one of the rotation angle and rotation speed of the rotation unit.

3. The control unit, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational operation by the rotational unit is changed by changing the upper limit of the rotational angle of the rotational unit.

4. The control unit notifies the user of a warning based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector part provided on the base part and the detection result of the connection status of the connector part provided on the swivel part. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation operation is changed in response to user operation after notification of the warning.

5. The control unit, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational operation of the rotational unit is changed according to the type of external device connected by the connector unit.

6. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 5, characterized in that the external equipment is at least one of the following: a communication unit with an operating device, an external battery, a servo unit for electrically operating the zoom of the imaging unit, an optical filter attached to the imaging unit, a second imaging unit that captures images at a wider angle than the angle of view of the imaging unit, and an external recorder.

7. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit changes the settings of the imaging unit according to the type of external device connected by the connector.

8. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the control unit changes the settings of the imaging unit so that the power consumption of the imaging unit is changed according to the type of external device connected by the connector unit.

9. The control unit acquires information indicating the field of view of the imaging unit, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper limit of the rotation angle of the rotation unit is changed based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector unit provided in the rotation unit and the information indicating the field of view.

10. The control unit, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 9, characterized in that the upper limit value is changed such that the wider the field of view of the imaging unit, the smaller the upper limit value becomes.

11. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is not fixed, the control unit restricts the rotational movement of the swivel unit if a cable is connected to the connector provided on the base unit, and does not restrict the rotational movement of the swivel unit if a cable is not connected to the connector provided on the base unit.

12. The imaging unit drive device according to Claim 1, characterized in that when the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is fixed, the control unit restricts the rotational movement of the rotation unit if a cable is connected to the connector provided on the rotation unit, and does not restrict the rotational movement of the rotation unit if a cable is not connected to the connector provided on the rotation unit.

13. The base part, A rotating part configured to allow the imaging part to rotate relative to the base part, An imaging unit drive device comprising a control unit for controlling the rotation of the aforementioned rotating unit, Each of the base portion and the swivel portion has a connector portion that allows for wired connection to an external device, The system includes an installation determination unit that determines whether or not the base portion is fixed to the installation surface, The control unit is characterized in that, if the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is not fixed, it notifies the user of a warning prompting them to choose whether or not to restrict the rotational movement of the rotational unit based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector provided on the base unit, and if the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is fixed, it notifies the user of the warning based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector provided on the rotational unit.

14. The control unit acquires information indicating the field of view of the imaging unit, The imaging unit drive device according to claim 13, characterized in that it notifies the warning based on the detection result of the connection status of the connector portion provided in the rotating portion and the information indicating the field of view.

15. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit, when the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is not fixed, notifies the user of a warning prompting them to choose whether or not to restrict the rotational movement of the rotation unit if a cable is connected to the connector provided on the base unit, and does not notify the user of the warning if a cable is not connected to the connector provided on the base unit.

16. The imaging unit drive device according to claim 13, wherein the control unit, when the installation determination unit determines that the base unit is fixed, notifies the user of a warning prompting them to choose whether or not to restrict the rotational movement of the rotation unit if a cable is connected to the connector unit provided on the rotation unit, and does not notify the user of the warning if a cable is not connected to the connector unit provided on the rotation unit.

17. The imaging unit drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 16, wherein the rotating unit comprises a fixed base to which an imaging device can be fixed as the imaging unit, and the imaging device fixed to the fixed base is rotated.

18. The imaging unit drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and 9 to 16, characterized in that the rotating unit has an imaging device as the imaging unit.

Images