JP2002034032A - Surveillance camera system controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for monitoring camera system, which improves the operability of a monitoring camera system and can suppress the installed area of the overall body of the camera system and a monitoring camera system, using the controller. SOLUTION: The controller for monitoring camera system controls the motion of a connected monitoring camera and causes a display means to display the image taken by means of the camera. The controller is provided with an LCD mounted with a touch panel as the display means and controls the motion of the monitoring camera by operating the touch panel. In addition, setting regarding the monitoring camera system is performed, and when the setting is made, the controller causes the LCD to display set information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system controller in a surveillance camera system for monitoring surrounding conditions through a plurality of surveillance cameras installed indoors or outdoors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, convenience stores, banks, etc.
Surveillance camera systems used in various places are mainly
It comprises a monitoring camera installed at a predetermined place to be monitored, a monitor for displaying an image from the monitoring camera, and a controller for controlling or setting the monitoring camera. The monitor and the controller are often installed at a location remote from the installation location of the monitoring camera. In this specification, the control of the surveillance camera means pan,
This refers to control related to camera operations such as tilt and zoom, and the setting of a surveillance camera mainly refers to settings related to the shooting environment and the like of the surveillance camera.

[0003] Conventionally, while confirming an image displayed on a monitor, a user makes settings with respect to a shooting state of a surveillance camera at a remote place by using a controller, and performs pan, tilt, and zoom operations on the surveillance camera. You are monitoring anywhere.

However, in the above-described surveillance camera system, the user operates the controller at hand, and at the same time, repeats the operation of observing an image displayed on a monitor installed at a position distant from the controller. Become. That is, the user must constantly move the viewpoint between the monitor and the controller. This not only imposes an extra burden on the user, but also causes an operation error and a problem of missing an opportunity to see an important monitoring point. When a plurality of surveillance cameras are installed, the frequency of operation increases, and the number of monitors to be checked also increases, so the above problem becomes more serious.

A conventionally used monitor is a CR monitor.
It is a T type. Therefore, a larger installation area is required. In addition, when the installation area is large, there is a possibility that the time burden of wiring work when performing installation work may increase.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention uses a controller for a surveillance camera system that can improve operability and reduce the installation area of the entire surveillance camera system, and use the controller. An object is to provide a surveillance camera system.

[0007]

Therefore, a surveillance camera system controller according to claim 1 controls the operation of a surveillance camera connected thereto and displays an image photographed by the surveillance camera on a display means. A controller for a surveillance camera system, wherein an LCD as the display means is provided.
(Liquid crystal display) equipped with a touch panel. The operation of the touch panel controls the operation of the surveillance camera. Further, settings relating to the surveillance camera system are also made by operating the touch panel, and at the time of the setting, the setting information is displayed on the LCD.

According to the above arrangement, the user can control the surveillance camera and make various settings on the LCD display means while observing the image from the surveillance camera displayed on the LCD display means of the controller. Become like This eliminates the need for a conventionally required CRT monitor,
A surveillance camera system that can be used even in a small space is provided, and the burden of wiring work during installation work can be reduced. Further, when the controller for a surveillance camera system according to the present invention is used, the user's viewpoint is always fixed to the LCD display means of the controller, thereby preventing operation errors and reducing the burden on the user when controlling the surveillance camera. .

The control of the surveillance camera which can be performed by the surveillance camera system controller according to the present invention includes, for example, pan, tilt, and zoom operations.

[0010] All setting information required for control is formed in a hierarchical structure, and the setting information is preferably displayed on the LCD display means in an interactive manner. This allows the user to
By simply selecting and inputting sequentially displayed contents using the touch panel, accurate and detailed settings can be made.

The surveillance camera system controller according to the present invention can also connect and control a surveillance camera with a silver halide film camera capable of taking a picture using a silver halide film. In this case, the controller can also perform release control on the surveillance camera.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the controller for a surveillance camera system according to the present invention can set the photographing conditions for a surveillance camera with a silver halide film camera.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a surveillance camera system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The monitoring camera system 100 includes the controller 10 and the monitoring camera 30
And a cable 20 for electrically connecting the two.

The controller 10 of this embodiment has a maximum of 3
It is possible to simultaneously control the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C. The number of connectable cameras of the surveillance camera system controller according to the present invention can be changed as necessary. The surveillance cameras 30A to 30C are surveillance cameras capable of not only capturing moving images but also taking photographs using a mounted silver halide film. As such a camera, for example, there is a surveillance camera SC-V3 manufactured by Asahi Optical Co., Ltd., the present applicant. Surveillance cameras 30A-30
C are each installed on an electric pan head (not shown).
Each of the monitoring cameras 30A is driven by driving the electric pan head.
-30C can be panned and tilted. One end of the cable 20 is connected to a connection terminal on the back of the controller 10, and another end is connected to connection terminals of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C via the electric pan head. Then, the cable 20 electrically connects each of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C to the controller 10.

The connection terminals on the back of the controller 10 are assigned numbers in advance. Controller 10
Is the cable 2 inserted into the connection terminal with the lowest number among the connection terminals on the back into which one end of the cable 20 is inserted.
0 is set as the master camera preferentially from the surveillance cameras connected to 0. Then, the video signal transmitted from the set master camera is accepted as an external synchronization signal, and the video signals synchronized with the external synchronization signal are transmitted by the other monitoring cameras. Accordingly, at the time of construction work for installing the monitoring camera system 100, it is possible to eliminate a work process of connecting only a specific master camera to a dedicated connection terminal different from other cameras. Even if the master camera breaks down, the surveillance camera connected to the connection terminal with the next smaller number can be automatically reset to the master camera, and the burden on maintenance can be reduced.

An LCD 1 is provided on the front of the controller 10.
And a power switch 2. The user is LC
By D1, images obtained by arbitrarily operating the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C can be observed. Also, LC
D1 is equipped with a touch panel. Specifically, the touch panel is mounted so as to sense that a portion where a moving image or a button image is displayed on the LCD 1 is touched with a finger or the like. Therefore, as described in detail below, the LCD
By touching a predetermined position on 1 (touch panel), various settings relating to the surveillance camera system can be easily performed. In the following description, touching a predetermined position on the touch panel is expressed as touching a moving image or a button displayed on the LCD 1. The power switch 2 is for turning the power of the controller 10 on and off.
Leave it on.

Hereinafter, an example of control of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C by the controller 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows one mode of a screen displayed on the LCD 1. The screen of the LCD 1 shown in FIG. 2 is an initial screen,
The photographing environment of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C can be set. The initial screen is displayed for a fixed time after the power switch 2 is turned on. The initial screen can also be displayed by touching a setting button e displayed in another screen (see FIGS. 4 to 6).

On the left side of the initial screen shown in FIG. 2, a video button a, a system setting button b, a remaining film number display button c, and a status button d are displayed. When the video button a is touched, a video screen described later is displayed (see FIGS. 4 to 6). Further, by touching each of the buttons b to d other than the video button, settings and information confirmation corresponding to the buttons b to d can be performed. When each of the buttons b to d is touched, the corresponding setting items and the like are displayed on the rightmost portion from the center of the initial screen.

Specifically, when the system setting button b is touched, a setting screen described below is displayed (see FIG. 3). When the user touches the remaining film number display button c, the remaining number of silver halide films mounted on the connected monitoring cameras 30A to 30C is displayed. Status button d
Touching each of the connected monitoring cameras 30A to 30A
Information about C is displayed. The information includes, for example, the operating state of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C connected to each connection terminal, the model name and the serial number, the type of the loaded silver halide film, and the like.

Unless the buttons b to d are touched in particular, most of the right side from the center of the initial screen displays the moving images captured by the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C so that the monitoring location can always be observed. Zoom out.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 3, the monitoring cameras 30A to 30A by the controller 10 which is one of the features of the present invention will be described.
An example of the setting of 30C will be described. In the description of this setting, only one monitoring camera 30A is connected to the controller for convenience.

The present invention employs an interactive method in which all input information required for setting is displayed on a screen. Each of the setting items has a hierarchical structure such that when information related to the first setting item is input, a second setting item corresponding to the information input in the first setting item is displayed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of transition of a screen displayed by touching the system setting button b. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the system setting button b is touched, information on various settings is displayed in a space on the right side of the screen. The contents that can be set by touching the system setting button b include, for example, a suspicious switch setting, a setting relating to the priority order of the connection terminals when determining the master camera described above, and a swing setting of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C. (See FIG. 3 (1)). Hereinafter, the setting of the suspicious switch will be described in detail.

The suspicion switch is a switch for instructing a camera to release a photograph when a suspicious situation related to a crime or the like occurs while observing a moving image. In FIG. 3 (1), when the suspicious switch button is touched, a screen shown in FIG. 3 (2) is displayed.

FIG. 3B shows a screen for setting a photographing method performed when the suspicion switch is turned on. FIG.
In (2), a photographing method can be selected and set from two types of single photographing and continuous photographing. Single-shot shooting refers to a shooting method in which once the suspect switch is turned on, one frame of shooting is performed. The continuous shooting refers to a shooting method in which shooting is continuously performed while the suspect switch is kept turned on, a shooting method in which shooting is continuously performed for a predetermined number of times by pressing the suspect switch once, and the like.

In FIG. 3B, one of the displayed buttons is touched to set an arbitrary photographing method. Here, it is assumed that single shooting is selected. Then, a screen shown in FIG. 3 (3) is displayed on LCD1.

FIG. 3C shows a screen for confirming the set contents. If there is an error in the settings, the previous screen (FIG. 3B) can be displayed again by pressing the No button. Here, the user touches the Yes button to perform single-shot shooting. When the Yes button is touched, a screen shown in FIG. 3 (4) is displayed on LCD1.

FIG. 3D shows a photographing screen. Screen, the moving image P _A monitoring camera 30A is captured are displayed. Each time the user touches a release button (suspicion switch) at the lower center of the screen, a release instruction is transmitted from the controller 10 to the monitoring camera 30A. Surveillance camera 30A that has received the release signal performs photography using a silver halide film. Thus, a single shot of the moving image P _A that is currently displayed is completed.

After the photographing is completed, by touching the completion button at the lower center of the photographing screen (FIG. 3 (4)), FIG.
Can be redisplayed.

The above is an example of the interactive setting of the present invention. In the above description, only the setting when single shooting is selected on the setting screen of FIG. 3 (2) is described. However, even when continuous shooting is selected on the same screen, it corresponds to the selected content. The interactive setting screen is displayed sequentially.

When the continuous shooting is selected, as described above, a screen for selecting a shooting method by pressing and holding the suspicious switch or a shooting method by pressing the suspicious switch once, A setting screen or the like is displayed.

The above-described interactive setting screen is not limited to this, and more setting contents may be provided hierarchically. This allows the user to make more detailed settings. For example, when there are a plurality of monitoring cameras connected to the controller 10, FIG.
Between (2) and (3), a setting screen for selecting which surveillance camera is to be set can be displayed.

It should be noted that the controller 10 may only set the suspicious switch. For example, there is a case where shooting is performed using a remote control release button that exists independently of the controller 10. Therefore, FIG.
When the user confirms the setting contents (touches the Yes button), the initial screen (FIG. 2) can be displayed again without displaying the photographing screen shown in FIG. 3 (4).

Next, a configuration example of a screen (video screen) for observing a moving image captured by the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C will be described with reference to FIGS.

Each of the video screens shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is automatically switched from the initial screen (FIG. 2) and displayed after a certain period of time has elapsed since the power switch 2 was turned on. The video screen can also be displayed by touching the video button a in the initial screen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the monitoring cameras 30A to 30C.
Video P_A, P_B, P_CIs displayed in an evenly sized frame
It is a video screen of a structure. Any video (here, video
Statue P _ATo the left or right from the center.
Then, pan the surveillance camera 30A in the corresponding direction.
Moving image P in the direction_AScrolling
Can be. Similarly, the moving image P_AIs approximately upward from the center
Is the direction corresponding to surveillance camera 30A
Moving image P in the direction traced_AScrow
Can be Various operations such as pan and tilt
By performing on the LCD 1, the subject to be observed moves.
Tracking the subject very easily and accurately when
can do.

Furthermore the moving image _{P A, P B,} in the vicinity _{P C,} + button and - buttons are disposed. Any moving image (here, a moving image P _A) in the vicinity + or - each time to touch button can also be zoomed in or out a moving image P _A. Since the zoom operation can be performed on the LCD 1, even when the subject to be observed is small or wide, the subject can be displayed in a desired size very easily.

LCD such as pan, tilt and zoom
1 are performed on the moving image P_A, P _B, P_CAny of
Is displayed on the LCD 1 (for example, FIG. 5 and FIG.
6) is an operation that can be performed at any time.
You. Therefore, it is not an operation that can be performed only on the video screen shown in FIG.
No.

Further, by touching an arbitrary moving image,
The moving image P on the LCD 1_AIncrease the display ratio of
Can be FIG. 5 shows a moving image in the video screen shown in FIG.
Statue P _AThe image displayed on LCD1 by touching
3 shows an image screen. The video screen shown in FIG.
P_B, P_CVideo P while leaving the display frame of_ADisplay frame
It has an enlarged screen configuration. Further, FIG. 6 is similar to FIG.
Moving image P in the video screen shown _AL by touching
4 shows a video screen displayed on CD1. Image shown in FIG.
The plane is another moving image P_B, P_CIs not displayed and the moving image P_Aof
Only the maximum frame is displayed. like this
Quickly display the video screens shown in Figs. 5 and 6
Indicates that the object to be observed frequently appears in only one
This is very effective for identifying the subject.

The above is the description of the video screen. The operation method on the video screen is not limited to the above method. For example, the video screen shown in FIG. 4 can be switched to the video screen shown in FIG.

The above is the embodiment of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist.

In the above description, the controller 10 has described only the suspicious switch setting, that is, the setting relating to the release, with respect to the silver halide film camera function of the surveillance camera. It is not limited to this. For example, the shutter speed, aperture value, exposure value, and the like at the time of shooting may be arbitrarily set. Thus, photographing can be performed in consideration of the environment of the installation location of the monitoring camera, and photographing can be performed under arbitrary photographing conditions required by the user.

In the above embodiment, a surveillance camera with a photographic function using a silver halide film is used as a surveillance camera.
The present invention is not limited to this, and a surveillance camera without the photo function can be used.

The description of all the screens described above is merely an example of the configuration. Therefore, the actual screen displayed on the LCD 1 of the controller 10 can have an arbitrary screen configuration by a user operation or setting. For example, the arrangement of buttons displayed on each screen can be changed. In each video screen, moving images P _A , P
_B, and the space at the bottom of the P _C, and the release button for each surveillance cameras, it is also possible to display the film remaining number that is loaded in each of the monitoring cameras at all times.

Although not described above, the LCD 1
It is preferable that a button for improving operability is additionally displayed on the screen displayed at the time of necessity. Such buttons include a "back" button, a "help" button, and the like.

When the "return" button is touched, the previous screen is displayed again. For example, if the suspicion switch button is pressed by mistake on the screen shown in FIG.
By touching the return button, which is displayed on the screen shown in (2), the screen shown in FIG. 3A can be displayed again. When the "help" button is touched, a detailed description of the currently displayed screen, a description of a phrase, and the like are displayed. As a result, even a beginner can easily use the controller.

Further, a calendar function and a timer function can be added to the controller 10 so that the date and time can be displayed on the LCD 1. It is also possible to set so that a predetermined operation is performed at a specific date and time.

Further, the controller 10 can be adapted to control a connected external output device such as a printer and a video deck. This makes it possible for one controller 10 to control the entire surveillance camera system.

Further, in the above embodiment, the monitoring camera 30
Although the cable 20 is used to connect the A to 30C to the controller 10, the present invention is not limited to this, and the two may be wirelessly connected by, for example, infrared rays.

[0050]

As described above, the surveillance camera system controller according to the present invention observes the image from the surveillance camera displayed on the LCD display means, and controls the surveillance camera on the LCD display means. By setting,
A surveillance camera system that can be used even in a small space can be provided, and the burden of wiring work during installation work can be reduced.

Further, when the controller for a surveillance camera system according to the present invention is used, a monitor separate from the controller is not required, and the viewpoint of the user is always fixed to the LCD display means of the controller. Thus, the burden on the user when controlling the monitoring camera can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a surveillance camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an initial screen displayed on the LCD.

FIG. 3 illustrates one mode of a setting screen displayed on the LCD.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a video screen displayed on an LCD.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a video screen displayed on the LCD.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a video screen displayed on the LCD.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Controller 1 LCD 20 Cable 30A-30C Surveillance camera

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An operation of a connected surveillance camera is controlled,
A surveillance camera system controller for displaying an image captured by the surveillance camera on a display means, comprising: an LCD as the display means, a touch panel mounted on the LCD, and an operation of the surveillance camera by operating the touch panel. A controller for a surveillance camera system, comprising: controlling an operation; and performing settings related to the surveillance camera system by operating the touch panel; and displaying the setting information on the LCD at the time of the setting. 2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the control includes an operation of panning or tilting the surveillance camera.
A controller for a surveillance camera system according to item 1. 3. The control according to claim 1, wherein the control includes an operation of zooming an image being displayed.
A controller for a surveillance camera system according to item 1. 4. The surveillance camera system controller according to claim 1, wherein the setting is performed interactively for a plurality of pieces of information forming a hierarchical structure. 5. A surveillance camera with a silver halide film camera, wherein at least one of the surveillance cameras is a surveillance camera with a silver halide film camera that can also take a photograph using a silver halide film, and 5. The surveillance camera system controller according to claim 1, further comprising a release control. 6. The controller for a surveillance camera system according to claim 5, wherein the setting further includes a setting relating to a photographing condition of the surveillance camera with a silver halide film camera. 7. The surveillance camera system controller according to claim 1, wherein the LCD display means further displays a current control state and a setting state of the surveillance camera. 8. A surveillance camera system, comprising: the surveillance camera system controller according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and at least one surveillance camera.