JP2593664B2 - Image input device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operation unit of an image input device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional image input devices use a push button only for focusing and zooming operations of a zoom lens of a camera unit, or
The operation was performed using only a slide button type operation member.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional image input device, focusing and zooming operations are performed using only a push button type or only a slide button type operation member as in the above-described conventional example, so that fine adjustment is difficult, and it is satisfactory in a sense. It wasn't good.

[Means and actions for solving the problems]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has an image input device, a camera unit having a zoom lens and a focus lens, and converting an image into an electric signal, and an operation unit for the camera unit. The operation unit includes an operation member for fine adjustment for both focusing and zooming, an operation member for coarse adjustment for focusing, and an operation member for coarse adjustment for zooming, and the operation member for fine adjustment includes the operation member for focusing coarse adjustment and The two functions of focusing and zooming, which are respectively connected to the zooming coarse adjustment operation member and are adjusted by the fine adjustment operation member, are performed depending on the operation of the focusing coarse adjustment operation member or the zooming coarse adjustment operation member. The configuration is characterized in that it is specified as one of the applicable functions. And it is possible to adjust the zooming.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an object 1a to be read.
Is a mounting table on which is mounted. Here, the surface of the mounting table 1 on the camera 2 side is achromatic gray in order to adjust the white balance of the camera 2 having a photoelectric conversion unit for reading an image of a document or the like described later. The surface of the mounting table 1 on the camera 2 side may be white, but if the amount of light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit in the camera 2 is too large, the output of the photoelectric conversion unit may be saturated and the white balance may not be adjusted properly. Therefore, gray having lower reflectance than white is preferable.
The mounting table 1 is a diffuse reflection plate so that irregularly reflected light does not enter the camera 2 from the mounting table 1.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a camera fixed to and supported by the horizontal support unit 3, which has a color photoelectric conversion unit. Reference numeral 4 denotes a vertical support, which is fixed to the mounting table 1, and the horizontal support 3 is connected to the mounting table 1 via the vertical support 4.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a light. When the place on the mounting table 1 is dark, or when it is desired to input what is written on a trappen or the like to the camera 2, a shade or the like is used to prevent the camera 2 from picking up regular reflection from the room light. Used when used, turned on by switch 6,
Can be turned off. Reference numeral 7 denotes a power switch of the apparatus. 8 is
An external input terminal for inputting a video signal from the outside. An external input input from the input terminal 8 is output from a monitor output terminal 9.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a remote control type operation unit. As described later, an image of the reading target 1a on the mounting table 1 is
Each mechanism, such as focusing and zooming, built in the zoom lens for forming an image on the camera unit is electrically operated, and is connected to the main body by a cord.
Although the remote controller 10 is wired in the present embodiment, it may be wireless.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the camera 2. 11 is a CCD,
Mounting table 1 through zoom lens 12 and focus lens 13
The image of the reading object 1a is inputted. Zoom lens 12
Is fixed to the moving cylinder 21 and is driven by the motor 15 via the cam cylinder 19. The focus lens 13 is attached to the focus frame 20 and is fixed to the moving barrel 22, and is driven by the motor 16 via the cam barrel 19. Reference numeral 14 denotes an aperture which is opened and closed by a motor 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a fixed cylinder, which is fixed to the horizontal support 3 and to which the movable cylinders 21, 22 and the cam cylinder 19 are rotatably mounted.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the remote control type operation unit 10. twenty three
Is a focus / zoom adjustment dial. By turning the dial, fine adjustment of focus / zoom can be performed.
Numeral 24 is a push button for coarse focus adjustment. When the UP button is pressed, the focus becomes far, and when the DOWN button is pressed, the focus becomes near.

25 is a push button for coarse adjustment of the zoom. Pressing the UP button switches to the tele side, and pressing the DOWN button switches to the wide side.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the fine adjustment dial 23 and the coarse adjustment buttons 24, 25 are connected. For example, when the focus (zoom) coarse adjustment buttons 24, 25 are operated, the fine adjustment is performed. Adjustment dial 23 focuses (zooms)
It becomes a dial for fine adjustment.

26 is an iris button. Pressing the + side opens the aperture, and pressing the-side closes the aperture. When the auto iris button 27 is pressed, the aperture can be automatically adjusted.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an external input switching button for selecting an input from the external input terminal 8. 29 is negative /
This is a positive switching button. Reference numeral 30 denotes a button for adjusting the white balance of the camera 2, and the white balance can be automatically adjusted by pressing the button.

Also, by pressing the button 30, the white balance adjustment is performed by changing the type of external light, for example, fluorescent light, daylight,
The selection may be made manually according to the incandescent lamp light.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the embodiment.
Is a camera head for photographing the subject Y shown in FIG. A dotted line X is a lens mounted in front of the camera head 101 and used to form an image of the subject Y on an image element in the camera head 101. This lens includes a plurality of zoom optical lenses 102, an aperture 103, and a zoom adjustment. Motor 104, focus (focus) adjustment motor 105, aperture adjustment motor 106
Consisting of The motors 104, 105, and 106 are elements capable of converting electric energy into mechanical energy, such as a DC motor, a step motor, and an ultrasonic motor. For movements in one direction, 104: Tele or wide 105: Focus Near or far 106: Performs aperture open or close operations, and adjusts zoom, focus (focus), and aperture (exposure), respectively. Is possible. Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that 104, 105, and 106 are all step motors.

The image information of the subject from the camera head 101 is output to an output line 107.
Is output as a video signal of NTSC or the like. At the same time, the camera head 101 integrates the luminance signal output from the terminal b in order to detect the average luminance of the subject by appropriately weighting the luminance signal outputted from the terminal b through the line 108 in accordance with the signal from the element d of the camera head 101 through the line 108. A / D converter 111
After the A / D conversion, the data is input to a controller 112 described later.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a controller, which is an element for controlling the entire system. The camera head 101 sends a synchronizing signal from the terminal c to the integrating circuit 109 to give a reset timing of the integrated waveform, and also sends a timing pulse from the terminal d to the controller 112 to specify the timing for taking the integrated waveform into the controller 112.

The following operation members are connected to the controller 112. Reference numeral 113 denotes a rotary encoder for fine adjustment of focus or zoom, and its two outputs A and B are connected to the controller 112, and when the operation member is rotated clockwise. When turned to the left Therefore, the controller 112 can determine the rotation direction based on the input from the rotary encoder 113.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a slide switch for determining whether to perform focus adjustment or zoom adjustment with a rotary encoder. If the input to the controller is a high level, a zoom operation is performed, and if the input is low, a focus operation is performed.

The controller 112 responds to the rotation of the rotary encoder 113. Perform the above operations.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a white balance adjustment switch. For example, an auto white balance function that is provided in the camera head 101 by capturing a white object on one surface is provided by the controller 11.
It has the function of starting via 2. 116 is negative /
Each time the switch is pressed once, the state of the signal processing circuit of the camera head 101 is changed via the controller 112 to alternately switch from negative to positive to negative to. As a circuit for switching between the automatic white balance and the negative / positive, there is a known circuit such as an IC, and the detailed description thereof is omitted. 117, 118, 119: 1 internal system, 2 external systems (121, 122)
The output is switched by the high / low control terminals C1 and C2 of the switcher 120 via the controller 112 with an operation member for determining which of the input signals is output (123). In particular And

Reference numerals 150 and 151 denote buttons for adjusting the iris (iris).
Is driven to open and close the iris by one step. Reference numeral 152 denotes a member for automatically adjusting the aperture (auto iris).

160,161 are up / down buttons for coarse focus adjustment, 162,163 are up / down buttons for coarse zoom adjustment, Operation.

112 to 119 and 150 to 152, 160 to 163 are as shown in FIG.
It may be in the form of a remote control, or may be incorporated in the main body.

The above is the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, aperture control at the time of auto iris will be described.
An example in which a part of the entire screen is metered with uniform weighting as shown in FIG. 7 will be described as an example, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the timing relationship. FIG. 8A shows the camera head 101.
A vertical synchronizing signal output from the terminal (c) to the integrating circuit 109, (b) is an integrated output waveform of the integrating circuit 109, and (c) is a timing pulse output from the terminal d of the camera head 101 to the controller 112.

Integrated output as shown in (b) is cleared at the leading edge of the vertical sync signal, varies metering portion (t ₁ ~t _2), is a constant value until the next synchronizing signal arrives later ing. Therefore the controller 11 to the timing of the timing pulses coming at the t ₃ during the period in this constant value (Figure 8 (c))
The aperture is adjusted in accordance with the light quantity measurement result ( _{VA in} FIG. 8 (b)). This operation will be described with reference to FIG.

The controller determines whether a timing signal has arrived (201). If not (N), go to another routine. If you have come (Y) then A / D converter 1
The integral value _VA is input through 10 (202). Next, it is compared with the allowable maximum value V _R1 (203). If it is larger than V _R1 (Y), it is determined that the amount of incident light is excessive, so the stop 103 is stopped down by one step via the motor 106 (20).
4) This completes the work in this case, and then does the next work (208).

If V _A is less than V _R1 at 203 (N), then it is compared to the minimum allowable value V _R2 (205). If if smaller than V _R2 (Y), since it is determined that the amount of incident light is insufficient, open 103 one step diaphragm via a motor 106 (206), which in finished working in this case, the next work (208).

If V _A is larger than V _R2 at 205 (N), it is determined that the amount of incident light is appropriate, so the aperture is left as it is (207), the operation in this case is completed, and the next work is performed (20).
8).

Here, the supplementary description will V _R1, V _R2, to determine as the target value V _R of the integral light amount eg _{V R1 = 1.4V R V R2 =} 0.7V R.

 Next, a specific operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the controller 112 reads the output of the rotary encoder 113 (301). Next, the value is compared with the value read last time (302). If they are the same (Y), the rotary encoder is not operated and the operation ends (30).
3). If it has changed (302N), the direction of rotation (right or left) is determined (304) as described with reference to FIG.
Then, the variable of the rotary encoder 113 (for comparison at the next reading) is updated (305). Here, it is assumed that the position is right for the sake of explanation.

Next, the state of the focus / zoom switch 114 is read into the controller 112 to determine which one to operate (306).

If zooming has been performed, the motor
104 is driven to the one-step tele side (307). If focus operation (115) has been performed, motor 1
05 is driven one step closer (307). In the case where the rotation directions are opposite, all of the operation directions of 113 may be reversed.

Here, the target to be operated is determined by the focus / zoom switch 114. However, in order to simplify the mechanism, the focus or zoom up / down buttons 160 to 163, which will be described later, are not actuated. It may be selected by operating for a short time. In this case, the operation member can be simplified. FIG. 4 shows such a shape.

Next, the coarse adjustment operation will be described with reference to FIG. First, the controller 112 reads the state of the focus-up button 160 and determines whether or not an operation has been performed (401). If it is operated (Y), the controller 112 drives the focus driving motor 115 to move the focus to the near side by four steps (402), and ends the operation (409).

If the focus up button has not been operated (401N), then it is determined whether the focus down button 161 has been operated (403).

If it has been operated (Y), the focus is moved to the far side by four steps in the same manner as the up operation (404). And finish the work. If it has not been operated (403N), it is next determined whether or not the zoom up button 162 has been operated (405). If it has been operated (Y), it is moved four steps to the tele side via the motor 104 (406). And work is completed (409). If it has not been operated, it is next determined whether or not the zoom button has been operated (407). If it is operated (Y), it is moved to the wide side by four steps (408), and the operation is completed.

If it is not operated (N), the operation is completed without doing anything.

It goes without saying that the number of steps and the ratio of fine / coarse adjustment may be changed depending on the focus and zoom.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the focusing and zooming operations of the zoom lens are performed by the fine adjustment dial and the coarse adjustment push button in the operation unit, so that image input with good operability can be achieved. Equipment can be provided.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, focusing and zooming can be adjusted by a simple operation, and an image input apparatus with extremely high operability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the camera 2, and FIG. FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment, FIG. 6 is an operation timing waveform diagram of the rotary encoder 113 in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a photometry area with respect to a screen, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation related to the aperture control, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the operation unit, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the operation unit. . 1 Mounting table 2 Camera 3 Horizontal support 4 Vertical support 10 Remote control type operation dial 23 Fine focus / zoom adjustment dial 24 Push focus coarse adjustment push button 25 Push button for coarse adjustment of zoom

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-57372 (JP, A) JP-A-54-50328 (JP, A) JP-A-55-67716 (JP, A) JP-A-62-109574 (JP, A) , U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 56-172065 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 60-130416 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 39-31456 (JP, Y1)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera unit having a zoom lens and a focus lens, which converts an image into an electric signal, and an operation unit for the camera unit, wherein the operation unit is finely adjusted for both focusing and zooming. Operating member for focusing, and operating member for focusing coarse adjustment,
A zooming coarse adjustment operation member, wherein the fine adjustment operation member is respectively connected to the focusing coarse adjustment operation member and the zooming coarse adjustment operation member, and focusing and zooming adjusted by the fine adjustment operation member are provided. The image input device is characterized in that the two functions are specified as either one of the functions according to an operation of the focusing coarse adjustment operation member or the zooming coarse adjustment operation member.