JPH077649A - Wire controller for controlling a number of video cameras, and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To selectively control many video cameras by means of one controller without increasing the number of transmission lines even when the number of functions to be controlled increases. CONSTITUTION: A wired controller is constituted of a transmitter 5 only connected with three transmission lines and (n) pieces of receivers. The transmitter 5 has a first switch section 51 which selects a video camera and its function and a transmission microcontroller 52. Each receiver 7 has a reception microcontroller 71 which first receives signals, synchronizing signals, and information signals from the transmitter 5, a motor driving section 72, a zooming adjusting motor M1, a focus adjusting motor M2, and a second switch section 73 which inputs the peculiar number of the video camera. The reception microcontroller 71 compares a receiver selecting signal with the peculiar number of the selected receiver and, when the selecting signal is identical with the number, executes zooming operations, etc., based on a received function signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras and a control method thereof, and more particularly, in a video camera having a lens integrated type, it is wired to a large number of video cameras. A wired controller for a large number of video cameras, in which a control signal is transmitted in series by using a transmitter connected with each other so that functions such as a zooming operation and a focus adjusting operation of each video camera can be controlled, and a control method thereof. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional wired controller for a video camera will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional wired control device for a video camera. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional wired control device for a video camera is roughly composed of a transmitter 1 and a receiver 2, and the transmitter 1 includes a switch unit 11
And a transmission unit 12 connected to the output end of the switch unit 11. In addition, the receiver 2 includes a receiver 21 connected to a transmission path for transmitting each signal output from the transmitter, and a receiver 2
It has a motor drive unit 22 connected to the output end of No. 1, a zooming adjustment motor M1 connected to the output end of the motor drive unit 22, and a focus adjustment motor M2.

The operation of the conventional wired control device for the video camera having the above-described structure is as follows. When the user presses the switch of the switch unit 11 of the transmitter 1 corresponding to the operation to be controlled in order to control functions such as zooming operation and focus adjusting operation of the video camera connected by wire, the selected operation is selected. The signal corresponding to the function is output as a high signal. At this time, other signals are output in the low state.

These signals are input to the transmission unit 12 through signal lines connected in parallel with the output switches.

The transmitter 12 processes the signal output from the switch 11, and then transmits a signal for controlling the focus adjustment and zooming operation of the camera through a transmission path connected to the camera to be controlled.

The transmitted signal is input to the receiver 21 of the video camera to be controlled.

A signal corresponding to each function, which is input to the receiving section 21 of the receiver 2 of the video camera, is processed by the receiving section 21, and then given to the motor driving section 22 through each signal line, so that the motors M1 and M2. Comes to drive.

When the function selected by the user is the wide function of the zooming operation, only the wide signal in the received signal is high and the signals of other functions are low, so that the wide function of the wide function is selected. Only the signal is received as high, and the motor driving unit 22 drives the zoom adjusting motor M1 toward the wide stage.

[0010]

However, since the conventional wired control device for the video camera transmits the signals corresponding to the respective functions in parallel through the transmission paths corresponding to the respective functions, the function of the camera to be controlled is If the number of transmission lines increases, the number of transmission lines corresponding to each function increases, and the transmission line installation cost increases.

Further, since the cameras to be controlled are fixed to one, it is impossible to control many video cameras. When controlling many video cameras, there is a disadvantage in that a control device is required for each video camera.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by applying the concept of serial synchronous transmission to serially transmit a signal having a function to be controlled to a fixed transmission line. An object of the present invention is to provide a wired controller for a large number of video cameras and a control method thereof for controlling a number of video cameras through one controller.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the wired controller of the present invention comprises a large number of video cameras,
Input means for selecting at least one or more of the plurality of video cameras and further selecting respective functions of the selected video cameras, and interpreting the signals selected by the input means, and selecting signals of the cameras and the cameras. Transmission control means for transmitting a function signal in series; reception control means built in each of the plurality of video cameras for reading the function signal transmitted from the transmission control means to generate a control signal for a corresponding selected function; A motor for performing focus adjustment and zooming operation of an image pickup lens forming each image pickup unit of the video camera, and a motor drive unit for driving the focus adjustment and zooming operation motor based on an output signal of the reception control unit, Consists of.

Further, the input means selects a switch for selecting at least one of the plurality of video cameras, and a focus adjustment and zooming operation of the corresponding video camera selected by the input of the switch. And a switch for.

Further, the transmission control means interprets whether or not a selection signal is input according to the switching operation of the input means, and transmits the input information read from the interpretation means to the reception control means of the multiple cameras. And a means for serially transmitting a selection signal of at least one or more of the plurality of video cameras input from the input means and a function signal of the corresponding video camera on a synchronization signal for serial transmission.

Further, it further comprises means for giving a unique number to each of the plurality of video cameras and inputting the numbers to the reception control means.

Further, the reception control means, when a unique number is inputted through the input means, a storage means for storing the corresponding unique number, a signal of the unique number stored in the storage means, and the transmission control means. When the means for comparing the transmitted camera selection signal and the result of the comparison means match the camera selection information and the unique number, the means for reading the function signal of the camera and the function signal read by the reading means are In the case of a signal for performing a focus adjustment or a zooming operation, the motor driving means includes a means for generating a control signal to perform an automatic focus adjustment and a zooming operation.

The wired control method for controlling a plurality of video cameras according to the present invention includes the steps of selecting at least one of the plurality of video cameras and further selecting each function of the selected video cameras, and the selection. Reading the input signal and controlling the serial transmission of selected signals and function signals in the plurality of video cameras, and selection signals and functions in the plurality of video cameras transmitted from the transmission control means. Receiving a signal, reading the received signal to generate a control signal for a corresponding selection function, driving the focus adjusting and zooming motors based on the control signal, And a step of performing focus adjustment and zooming operation of an image pickup lens forming each image pickup unit of the video camera.

Further, the input means comprises a step of selecting at least one of the plurality of video cameras and a step of selecting a focus adjustment and zooming operation function of the selected corresponding video camera.

Further, the transmission control means interprets whether or not the selection signal is input, transmits the input information read in the interpretation step to a reception control unit of the multiple cameras, and outputs the multiple videos. At least one selection signal of the cameras and a function signal of the corresponding video camera are added to the synchronization signal and serially transmitted.

Further, the method further comprises the step of assigning a unique number to each of a number of video cameras and inputting them to the reception control unit.

Further, the receiving control step stores the corresponding unique number when the unique number is input,
A step of comparing the stored unique number signal with the camera selection signal transmitted from the transmission control step, and the comparison result is that the camera selection information and the unique number match,
Determining the function signal of the corresponding camera, and generating a control signal to perform automatic focus adjustment and zooming operation when the read function signal is a signal for performing focus adjustment or zooming operation. Consists of.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wired controller for controlling a large number of video cameras according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission method of a wired control method for controlling a large number of video cameras according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a reception method. FIG. 5 is an operation timing diagram of the wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wired control device of the present invention for controlling a large number of video cameras is roughly composed of a transmitter 5 and n receivers. The transmitter 5 includes a first switch unit 51 for selecting a video camera and its function, and a transmission microcontroller 52 connected to an output stage of the first switch unit 51. The first receiver 7, which is one of the receivers, includes a reception microcontroller 71 connected to a transmission line for transmitting the start signal, the synchronization signal, and the information signal output from the transmitter 5, and the output of the reception microcontroller 71. A motor drive unit 72 connected in stages, a zooming adjustment motor M1 connected to an output stage of the motor drive unit 72, a focus adjustment motor M2, and a second switch unit 73 for inputting a unique number of the video camera. It consists of Many other receivers have the same configuration.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transmission method of the wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras includes an initialization step 100, a step 110 of reading the input of the first switch section 51, and a first switch. Step 120 for determining whether there is an input from the unit 51, Step 130 for transmitting a start signal indicating that information is to be transmitted when the input from the first switch unit 51 is present, and camera input from the first switch unit 51. Selection 140 and setting information of the control mechanism, step 150 of transmitting the selected information together with the synchronization signal, and step 160 of judging whether the information transmission is completed.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the receiving method of the wired control device for controlling a large number of cameras, the initialization step 20 is performed.
0, step 210 of reading the camera unique number input of the second switch section 73, step 220 of reading whether the start signal has been transmitted, step 230 of judging whether the start signal has been received, and step 230 of receiving the start signal Step 24 of deciphering the synchronization signal and the information signal transmitted if
0, check the camera selection information in the received information,
If the received camera selection signal is the same as the step 250 of determining whether it is the same as the camera unique number input from the second switch unit 73 and the received camera selection signal, the received control function information is received. According to step 260 of driving the motor driving unit 72 to execute the control function.

The operation of the wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras having the above-described structure is as follows.

When controlling a large number of video cameras with one control device, a large number of cameras are connected to the transmission path of the control device.

When the user wants to control the function of the camera by wire, after the power is applied, the user first selects the camera, that is, the receiver, to be controlled. In order for the user to select the receiver to be controlled from among many receivers, the first switch unit 51 of the transmitter 5 is used.
In, select the switch corresponding to the receiver to be selected.

The receiver selection signal and the function signal selected through the first switch section 51 are input to the transmission microcontroller 52 through each signal line. The receiver to be controlled here is assumed to be the first receiver 7.

The transmission microcontroller 52 determines the presence / absence of an input accompanying the switch operation through the first switch section 51, and when a signal is input (step 120), as shown in FIG. The signal is set from the high state to the low state, and the fact that there is information to be transmitted is transmitted to the receiver 7 through the transmission line (step 130). If there is no input of the receiver to be controlled or the input of the receiver function through the first switch unit 51, it waits until information is input.

After transmitting a low-state start signal to the receiver 7 and notifying that there is information to be transmitted, the transmission microcontroller 52 receives the receiver selection signal input via the first switch unit 51. , The receiver function signal is set as a signal of a bit corresponding to each information (step 140).

After the receiver selection signal and the receiver function signal are bit-converted into corresponding signals, the signal shown in FIG.
An information signal is transmitted as shown in FIG. The sync signal is transmitted to the receiver 7 through the sync signal transmission line, and the information signal is transmitted to the receiver 7 through the information signal transmission line (step 150).

The start signal transmission line, the synchronization signal transmission line, and the information signal transmission line may be constructed as one line to commonly transmit a control signal, as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in the signal (d) of FIG. 5, after the start signal (a) is received, the synchronization signal (b) is received.
At the same time, the information signal (c) is transmitted.

The transmitting microcontroller 52 first transmits the receiver selection signal to be controlled together with the synchronization signal, and then transmits the receiver function signal.

The transmission microcontroller 52 judges whether or not the information transmission is completed, and when the transmission is completed (step 160), it further deciphers whether or not there is a switch input through the first switch section 51. If the information transmission has not been completed, the process returns to step 140 of setting the selected signal.

The information transmitted from the transmitter 5 is the first
It is input to the reception microcontroller 71 of the receiver 7.

The receiving microcontroller 71 interprets and stores the unique number input of the receiver inputted through the second switch section 73, and then judges whether or not the signal is transmitted at the beginning through the transmitter 5 (steps 200-). 230).

When it is received through the transmission line that the starting signal has changed from the high state to the low state, the receiving microcontroller 71 becomes ready to receive the information signal, and the starting signal is not received. In this case, it is further determined whether or not there is an input from the second switch section 73.

The receiving microcontroller 71, which is prepared to receive the information transmitted from the transmitter 5 after receiving the low-state start signal, receives the synchronization signal transmitted through the transmission line when it is in the high state. After deciphering the receiver selection signal and further deciphering the receiver selection signal, the information representative of the subsequently received receiver function signal is deciphered (step 2).
40).

The reception microcontroller 71 compares the received receiver selection signal with the receiver unique number input through the second switch section 73 (step 25).
0), the received receiver selection signal and the second switch unit 73
If it is different from the receiver unique number input through, the input of the second switch unit 73 is further read. When the received receiver selection signal and the receiver unique number input through the second switch unit 73 are the same, the motor driving unit 72 is driven based on the received receiver function signal.

For example, when the received functional signal of the receiver is the wide stage function of the zooming operation, the motor driving unit 72 drives the zooming adjusting motor M1 toward the wide stage.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, information is transmitted only by using a transmission line for transmitting a signal notifying the transmission of information, a transmission line for transmitting a synchronization signal, and a transmission line for transmitting information. By converting the data into bits and transmitting them serially, it is not necessary to increase the number of transmission lines even if the number of functions to be controlled is increased, and the configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. further,
By designating the receiver to be controlled by using the switch, it is possible to control many receivers by using one controller, and thus it is possible to selectively control a large number of video cameras.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional wired control device for a video camera.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission method of a wired control method for controlling a plurality of video cameras according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a transmission method of a wired control method for controlling a plurality of video cameras according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation timing diagram of a wired control device that controls a large number of video cameras according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 ... Transmitter 7 ... 1st receiver 51 ... 1st switch part 52 ... Transmission microcontroller 71 ... Reception microcontroller 72 ... Motor drive part 73 ... 2nd switch part M1 ... Zooming adjustment motor M2 ... Focus adjustment motor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of video cameras, an input means for selecting at least one or more of the plurality of video cameras, and further selecting respective functions of the selected video cameras, and a selection in the input means. A transmission control unit that interprets a signal and serially transmits a selection signal of a camera and a camera function signal, and a function signal transmitted from the transmission control unit that is built in each of the plurality of video cameras, is read, A reception control unit that generates a control signal, a motor that executes focus adjustment and zooming operations of an imaging lens that forms each image pickup unit of the video camera, and a focus adjustment unit and a zooming unit based on an output signal of the reception control unit. Controls a large number of video cameras characterized by being configured with a motor drive means for driving an operation motor. That wired controller. 2. The input means selects a switch for selecting at least one of the plurality of video cameras, and a focus adjustment and a zooming operation of a corresponding video camera selected by the input of the switch. 2. The wired control device for controlling a large number of video cameras according to claim 1, wherein the wired control device is configured to include a switch for controlling the number of video cameras. 3. The transmission control means interprets whether or not a selection signal is input according to the switching operation of the input means, and means for transmitting the input information read from the interpretation means to the reception control means of the multiple cameras. And a means for serially transmitting at least one selection signal of a large number of video cameras input from the input means and a functional signal of the corresponding video camera on a synchronization signal for serial transmission. A wired controller for controlling a number of video cameras according to claim 1. 4. The large number of video cameras according to claim 1, further comprising means for giving respective unique numbers to the large number of video cameras and inputting them to the reception control means. Wired control device for controlling. 5. The reception control means, when a unique number is input through the input means, a storage means for storing the corresponding unique number, a signal of the unique number stored in the storage means, and the transmission control means. A means for comparing the transmitted camera selection signal, a means for reading the function signal of the camera when the result of the comparing means matches the camera selection information and the unique number, and a function signal read by the reading means In the case of a signal for performing a focus adjustment or a zooming operation, the motor driving means includes a means for generating a control signal for performing the automatic focus adjustment and the zooming operation. A wired controller for controlling a number of video cameras according to claim 4. 6. A method of selecting at least one of a plurality of video cameras and further selecting respective functions of the selected video cameras, interpreting the selected input signal, and selecting the plurality of video cameras. Controlling the serial transmission of the selected signal and the function signal among the plurality of video cameras, receiving the selection signal and the function signal among the plurality of video cameras transmitted from the transmission control means, and the received signal. To generate a control signal for the corresponding selection function, driving the focus adjustment and zooming motors based on the control signal, and the focus of the imaging lens forming each imaging unit of the video camera. A wired control method for controlling a large number of video cameras, the method comprising the steps of performing adjustment and zooming operations. 7. The input means includes the steps of selecting at least one of the plurality of video cameras, and selecting a focus adjustment and zooming operation function of the selected corresponding video camera. The wired control method for controlling a large number of video cameras according to claim 6, wherein. 8. The transmission control means interprets whether or not the selection signal is input, transmits the input information read in the interpretation step to a reception control unit of the plurality of video cameras, and 7. A plurality of video cameras according to claim 6, further comprising the step of serially transmitting at least one selection signal of the video cameras and a function signal of the corresponding video camera on a synchronization signal for serial transmission. Wired control method. 9. The multiple video cameras of claim 6, further comprising the step of assigning unique numbers to the multiple video cameras and inputting the unique numbers to the reception controller. Wired control method. 10. The reception control step stores a corresponding unique number when the unique number is input, a signal of the stored unique number, and a camera selection signal transmitted in the transmission control step. And comparing the camera selection information with the unique number in the comparison result, the step of reading the function signal of the corresponding camera, and the read function signal for performing the focus adjustment or zooming operation. If the signal is a signal, generating a control signal to perform an auto-focusing and zooming operation, the method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of video cameras are controlled.