Communication system

Abstract

This communication system integrates the control system and reduces the operator's burden by using a return switch or record switch provided on an operating device such as a zoom demand connected to the lens to control the transmission, call line selection, or call on the intercom. [Solution] Based on a signal corresponding to a return switch or record switch provided on an operating device connected to the lens, the control unit controls at least one of the following: the transmission state of the intercom circuit, the selection of the call line, or the generation of a call signal. The detection unit and control unit are provided in a communication device, a separate interface device, or an operating device. In an optical transmission configuration, the lens is connected to an optical transmission device, which supplies power to the lens and controls the iris. In a configuration without optical transmission, the detection unit converts the signal detected by the detection unit into a transmission on / off control signal corresponding to the transmission switch input of the intercom device and outputs it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system that performs communication control using an operating device connected to a lens.

Background Art

[0002] At the shooting site of a broadcast camera or a professional video camera, an operating device such as a zoom demand is connected to the lens, and a zoom operation or the like is performed by a photographer. On the other hand, an operator such as a photographer uses a communication device such as an intercom to talk to other staff (such as a producer or an engineer) for production progress and technical adjustment.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In a conventional system, the operation system of the intercom (such as a transmit switch) and the operation system of the lens (such as a zoom demand) were provided independently. Therefore, while performing a shooting operation, the operator had to reach for another switch and operate it when a call was necessary, and the operation system was complicated and burdensome for the operator.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a communication system that can integrate the operation system, improve the convenience of the operator, and reduce the burden by performing communication control using the operation system of the lens.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To solve the above problems, a communication system according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication system that performs communication control based on the operation of a return switch or a record switch provided on an operating device connected to a lens, and is characterized by comprising: a detection unit that detects a signal corresponding to the return switch or the record switch; and a control unit that controls at least one of the transmission state of the intercom circuit, the selection of a call line, or the generation of a call signal based on the signal detected by the detection unit.

[0006] The aforementioned operating device may be a zoom demand control.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the communication system further comprises a communication device connected to the lens, and the detection unit and the control unit are provided within the communication device and the signal is detected via the lens.

[0008] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the communication system may further include a separate interface device connected to the lens or the operating device, and the detection unit and the control unit may be provided within the interface device and detect the signal via the lens.

[0009] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the detection unit and the control unit may be provided within the operating device.

[0010] The control unit can switch between a push-to-talk operation, which enables the transmit state only while the return switch or record switch is pressed, and a toggle operation, which maintains the transmit state, depending on the pressing time or operation method of the return switch or record switch.

[0011] The control unit may be able to select one of a plurality of call lines in response to the return switch and the record switch. The plurality of call lines include, for example, an engineer line and a producer line.

[0012] The control unit may generate a call signal in response to the operation of the return switch or the record switch, and the call signal may be transmitted to the base unit and notified by at least one of the illumination of an indicator lamp or the sounding of a buzzer.

[0013] The control unit may be able to switch the function of the return switch or the record switch between the intercom transmission control function and the calling function.

[0014] The communication in the aforementioned communication system may utilize optical communication, IP communication, wired communication, or wireless communication. In one embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which the communication device is configured as an optical transmission device using optical communication, in which case the lens is connected to the optical transmission device. The optical transmission device may include a power supply unit that supplies power to the lens and a lens control unit that controls the iris of the lens.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to configurations that do not involve optical transmission. In this case, the control unit can convert the signal detected by the detection unit into a transmission on / off control signal corresponding to the transmission switch input of the intercom device and output it. The intercom device may be a two-wire intercom circuit or a four-wire intercom circuit.

[0016] In the configuration using the interface device, the interface device may be connected between the lens and the intercom device, or between the operating device and the intercom device.

[0017] Furthermore, a display device may be connected to the communication system as needed, and the display device may display camera images, return images, or SDI video signals. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, since intercom control or call control can be performed by using an existing return switch or record switch provided in an operating device connected to a lens, the operation system can be integrated and the convenience for the operator can be improved.

[0019] In addition, since it can be compatible with any of a built-in communication device type, a separate interface device type, and a built-in operating device type, it can be applied to both retrofitting to existing equipment and new integrated productization.

[0020] Furthermore, since it can be compatible with both a configuration using optical transmission and a configuration not using optical transmission, the application range can be expanded.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is an overall block diagram of a communication system including an optical transmission configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram of a configuration not using optical transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a connection configuration diagram between a communication device and a lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0023] The communication system of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a camera device 1, a lens 2, a zoom demand 3, a communication device 4, a base device 5, and a display device 6.

[0024] The zoom demand 3 is connected to the lens 2 and is an operating device for performing a zoom operation, a return operation, and a record operation on the lens 2. The zoom demand 3 is provided with a RET button 3a and a REC button 3b.

[0025] Lens 2 is connected to communication device 4. Communication device 4 includes a detection unit 4a, a control unit 4b, an intercom circuit 4c, a power supply unit 4e, and a lens control unit 4f. Communication device 4 is a device for transmitting and receiving information with a base device 5 or the like, and various communication methods such as optical communication, IP communication, wired communication, or wireless communication can be used as its communication method. In the present embodiment (FIG. 1), communication device 4 is configured as an optical transmission device that performs optical communication, and has a function of connecting the camera device 1 and the base device 5 with an optical fiber or the like to transmit video signals and control signals.

[0026] Communication device 4 detects a signal corresponding to the RET button 3a or the REC button 3b of zoom demand 3 via lens 2, and uses this as a trigger to control the transmission state of intercom circuit 4c, select a call line, or generate a call signal. In the present embodiment, detection unit 4a provided in communication device 4 detects the signal, and control unit 4b executes communication control.

[0027] Control unit 4b can execute a toggle operation to hold the transmission state during a short press and a push-to-talk operation to enable the transmission state only during a long press according to the pressing time or operation mode of the RET signal or REC signal.

[0028] In addition, control unit 4b can select different call lines according to either the RET button 3a or the REC button 3b. For example, the RET button 3a may correspond to an engineer line, and the REC button 3b may correspond to a producer line.

[0029] Furthermore, control unit 4b can generate a call signal according to the operation of the RET button 3a or the REC button 3b. When base device 5 receives the call signal, it notifies by lighting display lamp 5a or sounding buzzer 5b.

[0030] The control unit 4b can switch the function of the RET button 3a or REC button 3b between the intercom transmission control function and the calling function.

[0031] Intercom circuit 4c is compatible with either a 2-wire or 4-wire intercom circuit.

[0032] The communication device 4 includes a power supply unit 4e that supplies power to the lens 2, and a lens control unit 4f that controls the iris of the lens 2. This allows the communication device 4 to supply power to the lens 2 and control its iris.

[0033] The communication device 4 may also be provided with a mode switching switch (not shown) for switching the function of the RET button 3a or the REC button 3b. This allows the operator to arbitrarily switch between "normal mode," where the button is used for its original return video switching function and recording start / stop function, and "intercom mode," where it is used for the intercom's communication control function. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that both the original function and the intercom function are activated simultaneously in conjunction with a single button operation.

[0034] The display device 6 is a display device that is connected to the camera device 1 or the communication device 4 as needed, and displays camera images, return images, or SDI video signals.

[0035] As shown in Figure 2, the present invention is also applicable to configurations that do not involve optical transmission. In this case, the zoom demand 3 or a separate interface device 7 detects a signal corresponding to the RET signal or REC signal and outputs a transmission on / off control signal corresponding to the transmission switch input of the intercom device 8.

[0036] When using the interface device 7, the interface device 7 may include a detection unit 7a and a conversion / control unit 7b. The detection unit 7a detects the RET signal or the REC signal via the lens 2, and the conversion / control unit 7b generates a transmission on / off control signal based on the detected signal and outputs it to the intercom device 8.

[0037] This allows the zoom demand 3 or interface device 7 to be connected and used as an alternative input device to the transmit on / off switch provided on the intercom device 8. In other words, even without optical transmission, the transmit state of the intercom can be controlled by operating the RET button 3a or the REC button 3b.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the communication device 4 can be configured to be directly connected to the lens 2. In this case, the power supply unit 4e within the communication device 4 supplies power to the lens 2, and the lens control unit 4f outputs an iris control signal to the lens 2.

[0039] In the embodiments described above, the examples mainly described were those in which the detection unit and control unit are provided in the communication device 4 (Figure 1) or in the interface device 7 (Figure 2). However, the function for detecting the RET signal or REC signal and performing intercom control or call control may also be provided within the zoom demand 3.

[0040] By providing the aforementioned function within the Zoom Demand 3, a compact, integrated product can be constructed. On the other hand, by providing the aforementioned function in a separate interface device 7, it can be retrofitted to an existing Zoom Demand.

[0041] Thus, according to the present invention, the RET button 3a or REC button 3b provided on the zoom demand 3 can be used as a trigger for intercom control or call control that is different from its original purpose, and a communication system applicable to both optical transmission configurations and non-optical transmission configurations can be realized. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1: Camera device 2: Lens 3: Zoom Demand 3a: RET button 3b: REC button 4: Communication device 4a: Detection unit 4b: Control Unit 4c: Intercom circuit 4e: Power supply section 4f: Lens control unit 5: Base device 5a: Indicator lamp 5b: Buzzer 6:Display device 7: Interface device 7a: Detection unit 7b: Conversion / Control Unit 8: Intercom device

Claims

1. A communication system that performs communication control based on the operation of a return switch or record switch provided on an operating device connected to the lens of a broadcast or professional video camera, A detection unit that detects a signal corresponding to the return switch or the record switch via the lens, A control unit that controls at least one of the following based on the signal detected by the detection unit: the transmission state of the intercom circuit, the selection of the call line, or the generation of a call signal. Equipped with, A communication system characterized in that the detection unit and the control unit are provided in a separate communication device connected to the lens, or in a separate interface device connected to the lens or the operating device.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, The aforementioned operating device is a communication system characterized by being a zoom demand device.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, A communication system characterized in that the detection unit and the control unit are provided within the communication device.

4. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, A communication system characterized in that the detection unit and the control unit are provided within the interface device.

5. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The control unit is characterized by switching between a push-to-talk operation, which enables the transmission state only while the return switch or the record switch is pressed, and a toggle operation, which maintains the transmission state, depending on the pressing time or operation mode of the return switch or the record switch.

6. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The control unit is characterized in that it can select one of a plurality of call lines in accordance with the return switch and the record switch.

7. A communication system according to claim 6, The communication system is characterized in that the plurality of telephone lines include engineer lines and producer lines.

8. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The control unit generates a call signal in response to the operation of the return switch or the record switch, characterized in that it is a communication system.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, A communication system characterized in that the aforementioned call signal is transmitted to a base device, and the base device notifies the caller by at least one of the illumination of an indicator lamp or the sounding of a buzzer.

10. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, The communication system is characterized in that the control unit can switch the function of the return switch or the record switch between an intercom transmission control function and a calling function.

11. A communication system according to claim 3, The communication system is characterized in that the communication device is an optical transmission device to which the lens is connected.

12. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, This includes configurations that do not involve optical transmission. A communication system characterized in that the control unit converts the signal detected by the detection unit into a transmission on / off control signal corresponding to the transmission switch input of the intercom device and outputs it.

13. A communication system according to claim 12, The communication system is characterized in that the intercom device corresponds to a two-wire intercom circuit or a four-wire intercom circuit, and the transmission on / off control signal is input to the transmission switch input of the intercom device.

14. A communication system according to claim 12, The detection unit and the control unit are provided within the interface device. The communication system is characterized in that the interface device is connected between the lens and the intercom device, or between the operating device and the intercom device.

15. A communication system according to claim 11, The optical transmission device is a communication system characterized by comprising a power supply unit that supplies power to the lens and a lens control unit that controls the iris of the lens.

16. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, A communication system characterized by using either optical communication, IP communication, wired communication, or wireless communication.

17. A communication system according to claim 1 or claim 2, A communication system characterized in that a display device is connected to the communication system as needed.

18. A communication system according to claim 17, The communication system is characterized in that the display device displays camera images, return images, or SDI video signals.

Images