JP2003169322A - External visual recognition system having crime prevention function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an external visual recognition system that is composed for appropriate correspondence by judging whether a visitor has a favorable sense or an evil intention. <P>SOLUTION: A visitor M is imaged by an imaging means that is a CCD camera unit that has an inner unit 1 being provided inside a door D and an external unit 2 being installed outside the door D and is provided through the inner and outer units 1 and 2, and imaging means 7 and 8 that are arranged at a position that differs from the units 1 and 2. The inner unit 1 monitors image information from the three imaging means that have started imaging by the ON operation of a personage sensor (not illustrated here), and judges that there is an even intention such as the break of the imaging means when no image information can be received from one imaging means to generate an alarm, lights up strobe or the like, and allows the personage to give up further mischief or crime. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external visual confirmation system provided at a doorway of a space where people live and stay, such as a front door of a house, and is particularly suitable for crime prevention and confirmation of visitors who are absent. System.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art House entrance doors are often provided with door scopes for confirming visitors. However, for children, elderly people with bent waists, etc., the door scopes are located too high, or their backs are tall. On the contrary, there is a problem that a person with a high level cannot look through unless the posture is lowered considerably. Even a person who does not have such a problem may find it troublesome to check the outside with the door scope, and often unlock the door without making this check. As a matter of course, unlocking without checking the outside is not preferable for crime prevention.

In view of the above-mentioned problems relating to the door scope, there are some kinds of apparatuses for attaching an image pickup means such as CCD using the installation portion of the doorscope and confirming an image picked up by the image pickup means on an indoor monitor. Proposed. By using such an external visual recognition device, the external visual recognition can be performed by the monitor, so that it is possible to easily visually recognize the external visual appearance regardless of age or sex, as compared with the case where the door scope is used.

[0004]

A conventional external visual recognition device can usually be connected to a recording device, so that a family member who returns from home can know the visitor by checking the recorded image. Is possible.

However, conventional systems are considerably used for crimes such as intrusion of a house due to a so-called picking criminal who locks the entrance door with a special tool and steals it, and for maliciously injuring surveillance devices including mischief. It is fragile, and most of the functions of the system are lost by, for example, breaking the imaging device or covering the lens portion of the imaging device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is constructed in view of the above problems, and greatly enhances the crime prevention effect of an external visual recognition device, and also has a multi-functionality such as reception of a message from a visitor when a home is absent. It is a visitor confirmation and crime prevention system configured to have.

That is, the external visual recognition device, which is the main component of the present system, is composed of an indoor system installed inside the door and an outdoor system provided outdoors, and the outdoor system detects the presence of a person such as an infrared sensor. Sensor, a plurality of image pickup means for picking up an image of a person outdoors, a display means for displaying predetermined information to the person in front of the door by voice or image, and if necessary, voice information such as the message of the person. It is configured as a system having a receiving microphone, and the internal system has an image display means for displaying captured image information and a recording means for recording image information and audio information from an external unit, and if necessary, an image. And audio is a system configured to enable existing equipment such as an indoor television or a personal computer to be used. A visitor confirmation and crime prevention system that.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION For example, when a person approaches an external system installed at a front door, a plurality of image pickup means are activated by a human detection sensor such as an infrared sensor in the system, and the plurality of image information are stored in an internal unit. It is displayed as a divided image on the monitor, or so as to replace the image of each imaging device periodically or by the operation of a resident.

When the occupant is absent, the device set in the absent mode starts recording at the same time as imaging. In this case, the central processing unit of the internal system monitors whether or not all of the plurality of image pickup means are picking up images, and if no image information is input from some of the image pickup means, an alarm is issued indicating that something is wrong. In addition, regardless of whether there is something wrong, immediately before or at the same time as the start of recording, the image display of the external unit indicates that the image is being taken and recorded, and that the requirements verbally stated by the visitor are also recorded. Characters are displayed with respect to the means, or voice is displayed with a speaker.

In the event that the person detected by the sensor is a person who has come to the house with criminal or malicious intent such as the above-mentioned picking offense, mischief, etc., that person is imaged and recorded by this display. It is dangerous to run away immediately without committing any crime or mischief, and it can be expected that the crime or mischief will end in an attempt.

Further, even if the image pickup means is destroyed or the lens is made non-functional by sensing such a situation, it is impossible to simultaneously destroy or make the plurality of image pickup devices non-functional. Since it is practically impossible, the internal system monitoring the images from the plurality of image pickup means issues an alarm as an abnormality when the image information from any one of the image pickup means is lost. Such an alarm issuing system can exert an effect in addition to the direct criminal act caused by the picking offender or the like, as well as in a case where a child or the like mischiefs the imaging device, for example.

On the other hand, when the person detected by the sensor is a visitor, a post office employee, an employee of a courier company, or the like who has a valid reason, if the next visit time, purpose of the visit, etc. are verbally stated, The family member who has returned home can confirm the visitors and the visit purpose of these visitors by confirming the recorded information, and can take appropriate measures such as contacting the other party.

Even if the family member is at home, if the family member is in a sick bed or is difficult to move due to a physical disability or the like, a familiar television receiver or personal computer (see the following embodiment) It is also possible to implement a method such as confirming the visitor by "PC" including those) and contacting the visitor wirelessly via the internal system.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a basic unit which constitutes a part of the present apparatus. This basic unit is configured to be installed using an existing door lens for external visual recognition.

In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 3 is an existing door lens provided on the door D, and an internal unit 1 and an external unit are provided to the inside Da and the outside Db of the door D via the door lens 3, respectively. Two are provided. Reference numeral 4 is a CCD unit as an image pickup means, and an image picked up by the CCD unit 4 through the door lens 3 is formed on the internal unit 1 by an image display unit 5 (shown in FIG. A)] is displayed. The image data and the audio data are recorded in a recording means such as a VTR (not shown), and are also recorded in the memory card 6 (6a, 6b) mounted in the internal unit 1 and directly reproduced in the internal unit 1. It is also possible to do so.

On the other hand, the structure of the external unit 2 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 2a is a sign portion for indicating the contents, such as the absence of a family member, that the visitor wants to be notified of by characters or the like, and 2b is a speaker for notifying the contents by voice, and both are, for example, door phones (see FIG. Is configured to operate in conjunction with the operation of (not shown) or the like.

Reference numeral 2c is a person detection sensor for detecting the presence of a person at a position close to the external unit 2 by detecting infrared rays emitted by the person, and 2d is a microphone for receiving the message of the person. Further, reference numeral 2e is a light unit, which is turned on when the person detection sensor 2c detects a person. The lighting of the light unit 2e not only compensates for the lack of light quantity at the time of capturing an image of a person, but also the lighting itself is a great psychological burden for a malicious visitor such as the purpose of theft, so it is expected to have an effect of discouraging the execution of a crime. it can.

FIG. 2 shows a more simplified structure of the above basic unit. In this configuration, the internal unit is particularly simplified (the internal unit is designated by reference numeral 1 '.
). That is, the internal unit 1'is not provided with an image display unit or the like, and the image data is output to an analog image display unit such as a television connected to the internal unit 1'or a digital display unit such as a PC. Further, in the illustrated case, a memory card 6 (6a, 6b) is provided in the internal unit 1'as a recording means, but this memory card is also abolished and an analog recording means such as a VTR or a recording type digital video is provided. You may make it record on digital recording means, such as a disc.

Next, the present apparatus is provided with the following image pickup means in addition to the above basic unit. In FIG.
Reference numerals 7 and 8 denote CCD camera units as image pickup means arranged at positions different from those of the basic unit, which are installed at a different angle of view from the CCD camera unit 4 and are formed by these three CCD camera units. A single CCD can be obtained by individually imaging the person M at different angles of view.
Even if the person M is out of the imaging range of the camera unit, the presence or absence of the person can be confirmed by the other CCD camera units.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the present apparatus mainly composed of the above-mentioned basic unit.
As described above, the external unit 2 is provided with the display unit 2a, the speaker 2b, the person detecting unit 2c, the voice input unit 2d which is a microphone, and the light unit 2e.
The image pickup means 4c in the main body unit is configured via the door lens 3 and communicates with both the internal and external units, and is related to any of the units. It is shown as a part of the configuration of the external unit 2 for convenience.

In addition to the image pickup means which is a CCD camera unit shown by reference numerals 7 and 8 in FIG.
An intercom 9 and a vibration sensor 10 are provided. Of these, the intercom 9 may be an existing one, and the operation signal of the intercom 9 is output to the internal unit 1. Further, the vibration sensor 10 is a sensor arranged in the vicinity of the door knob of the door D, and when picking or the like, operating noise (vibration) of the picking metal fitting inserted into the door knob.
Is to detect. This picking metal operation sound is different from the door knob operation sound when the door is normally opened or closed, or the operation sound when locked or unlocked. Alternatively, it can be identified by the fact that the detection time of vibration is longer than that of locking and unlocking.

Incidentally, it is said that the unlocking by the picking of the cylinder lock is performed in a considerably short time (for example, about 30 seconds to 1 minute), but the normal unlocking and locking using the key is 10 in the normal operation. Since it is executed within seconds, it is possible to identify the duration of vibration.

Next, the construction of the internal unit 1 on the indoor Da side and the devices connected thereto will be described. Reference numeral 13 is a central processing unit that controls the operation of the internal unit, 14 is a display data storage means that stores display data for the display unit 2a of the external unit, and 15 is a timer that sets or measures various times.

Reference numeral 17 is a recording / reproducing means connected to the internal unit 1, and is externally connected when the reproducing means is not provided in the unit itself, such as a simple basic unit shown in FIG. For example, this is a VTR. In the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the internal unit 1
It is possible to record and reproduce by itself, but even in the case of this configuration, it is of course possible to connect the recording and reproducing means 17 and perform the reproduction at a desired place apart from the internal unit 1 such as a living room. is there.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a recording / displaying means, which is constituted by a light emitting means such as an LED, and is turned on when recording is being performed when the housekeeper is absent. With this, the family member who has returned home can confirm that the recording is being performed by looking at this lighting state. The recording is performed by the image pickup device 4,
Since it is executed in response to the operations of 7 and 8, not only the visitor's behavior but also the behavior of the suspicious person is recorded, which can be used not only for the visitor's response but also for future crime prevention reference.

FIG. 5 shows an application example of the system described above. Reference numeral 19 represents a normal analog television (hereinafter referred to as “TV”) which is a home electric appliance, and digital image signals and audio signals output from the internal unit 1 are converted into analog signals via the A / D conversion device 20. It is output to the TV 19, and the TV 19 is configured to function as a monitor.

This configuration is particularly effective for persons with physical disabilities or those who cannot go to the internal unit 1 immediately, such as bedridden old people. For example, person M as a visitor
Ringing the intercom 9 (FIG. 4), the resident Ma may switch to the channel set as the channel for outputting the image information of the image pickup device, such as the second channel, or the TV while the television is watching TV. If it is OFF, the person M who is the visitor is turned off by turning on the switch of the TV 19 in response to the sound of the doorphone.
Confirm with 19.

When the person M sends a message via the microphone 2d of the external unit 2, this message also becomes A /
TV as an analog audio signal via the D converter 20
It is output to 19. On the other hand, the at-home person Ma responds to the message of the person M transmitted via the TV 19 by using the hand microphone 21.
The reply is output via voice. The hand microphone 21 wirelessly transmits a digital voice signal directly to the internal unit 1, and the voice signal received by the internal unit 1 is transmitted to the person M via the speaker 2b of the external unit 2. Reference numeral 22 is a conventional intercom with a monitor.
It is possible to perform centralized management by the internal unit 1 by performing D conversion.

Next, an example will be described in which the operating state of the above-mentioned apparatus is set to the absence mode in which no family member is present. In FIG. 6, when the family first leaves the house,
The mode switching means 16 (see FIG. 4) performs a setting operation for setting the system to the absent mode (S1). Incidentally, the absence mode setting operation can be executed by an extremely simple operation such as pressing an absence mode setting button provided in the internal unit 1.

In response to the signal of the setting operation of the absence mode, the internal unit 1 is provided with a plurality of image pickup means installed outdoors (the CCD camera unit 4 in the configurations of FIGS. 1, 3 and 5).
A functional test of 7 and 8) is performed (S2). This is because it is set to determine that an emergency situation occurs when at least one of the plurality of image pickup units stops functioning during execution of the absence mode. That is, if any of the image pickup means is originally out of order, when the absence mode is set, the central processing unit 13 responds to the detection signal of the person.
This is because when the image pickup command signal is issued to each of the image pickup devices, the image pickup signals from some of the image pickup devices are not input, so that it is erroneously determined that an emergency situation has occurred.

As a result of the function test, the absence mode is set only when it is determined that there is no abnormality in each image pickup device (S).
3). If a failure is found in a part of the imaging devices as a result of this test, the fact is displayed, the defective imaging device is excluded, and the system is reassembled with only the remaining imaging devices. Since a failure of the image pickup device means a corresponding decrease in security, it is possible not only to allow such an automatic system change but also to execute a method such as canceling the setting.

By setting the absence mode, the person detecting means 2c of the external unit 2 is turned on (S4). However, it is also possible to set the person detecting means 2c to be always ON regardless of the presence or absence of a person at home.

When the person detecting means 2c detects a person, the central processing unit 13 issues an image pickup command signal to each image pickup means in response to the person detection signal (S5, S6), and gives a lighting instruction to a predetermined light unit. Perform (S24). The imaged data is recorded (S7), and the security system is activated in the absence of a family member at present, recording is being performed, and if there is a message to be recorded, the message is recorded in advance. The displayed content is displayed as characters on the display unit 2a of the external unit 2 or is displayed as voice through the speaker 2b (S8).

Upon detection of the person and start of image pickup, it is confirmed whether all the image pickup means are operating normally (S9).
When all the image pickup means are operating normally, it is determined that there is no abnormal situation and the person is continuously detected, and while the person is detected, image pickup and recording are executed (S10 / FIG. 7). By the way, it is not impossible to commit crimes such as picking without carrying out sabotage of the image pickup means while knowing that the image is recorded, but in such a case, it is considered extremely rare. Even if it gets inside the room in this state, the recording means escapes from the criminal's eyes,
For example, if the video data is placed in a box or the like, the safety of the video data is enhanced, and it is possible to provide the video data to the police after returning home and use the video data effectively for capturing the criminal.

If the visitor is a person who has a malicious intent such as the picking offense, there is a possibility that the person detecting means other than the image pickup means may be destroyed or the function thereof may be stopped. Then, the person detecting means may be installed at a plurality of places like the image pickup means.

On the other hand, if the human detection signal from the human detection means 2c disappears in the absence of an abnormal state, the central processing unit 13 issues a stop signal to the image pickup means and the recording means (S11 / FIG. 7), Further, for example, by turning on the LED provided in the internal unit 1 to inform the family member who has returned home that there is a recording (S12), and the family member who has returned home reproduces the recorded image and audio information (S13). Take appropriate measures such as contacting visitors.

Next, following step S5 in FIG. 6, when the visitor M operates the doorphone (S23), the process shown in FIG.
As described above, the visitor history is recorded (S14) and the presence of the visitor is displayed (S15) in parallel with the series of steps described above.
The display with the visitor is almost the same as the display with the recording in step S12 described above. However, in step S12, as described above, some malicious visitors may be included. The display is different from that in step S12. For example, if there is a recording, the yellow LED is turned on, and if there is a visitor, the green LED is turned on in addition to the yellow LED.

Returning to FIG. 6 again, in step 9, if the image information from at least a part of the image pickup means judged to be normal when the absence mode is set is not input, the act of sabotage or the lens of these image pickup devices is performed. An alarm is issued on the assumption that a function stop action such as covering a part has been performed (S16 / FIG. 9). In this case, it is practically impossible to simultaneously perform a sabotage or a function stoppage on a plurality of image pickup means. Therefore, when one image pickup means has an abnormality, an alarm is immediately issued to all the image pickup means. It is possible to disperse malicious visitors before the acts of sabotage and outages occur. By the way, as an alarm, an alarm sound is emitted through the speaker 2b of the external unit 2, or a strobe device (not shown) blinks a powerful light to bring an effect that a malicious visitor cannot stop there. I shall.

Along with the alarm activation command signal, the timer 15 of the internal unit 1 is activated, and the alarm means is activated for the time (for example, 10 minutes) set by this timer (S16,
S17). If the set time has elapsed, stop the alarm (S
18), it is displayed that an alarm has been activated (S22).
For example, this display is configured to notify the family member who has returned home by lighting a red LED or the like.

Meanwhile, during this period, the vibration sensor 10 (see FIG. 4)
However, when a preset vibration, such as a vibration during picking, is detected (S19), it is assumed that the room has been intruded, and in parallel with the operation of the alarm means, a wireless means such as a mobile phone. Automatically contact the security company (S
20), automatic contact to a family member (S21), etc., to automatically notify the predetermined person of the occurrence of an emergency.

[0041]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments of the present invention, according to the present invention, information of a visitor who visits with good intentions, such as confirmation of a visitor when he / she is absent, recording a message, etc. It is possible to reliably communicate to the family members who have returned home.

Further, for a visitor who has a criminal act such as mischief or further invasion into the room, the malicious intent is judged by checking whether or not the function of a plurality of image pickup means is stopped, and in response to this judgment result. It is possible to prevent the execution of mischief and crimes or stop them on the way by the activation of alarm means and automatic contact with related parties, etc., and to realize extremely high security compared to conventional systems. Is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a basic unit of the present invention, (A) is a front view of an internal unit, (B) is a sectional partial view of a door showing a state in which an internal unit and an external unit are attached via a door, (C) is a front view of an external unit.

FIG. 2 shows another configuration example of the basic unit of the present invention,
(A) is a front view of the internal unit, (B) is a partial sectional view of the door showing a state in which the internal unit and the external unit are attached via the door.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the entrance showing the arrangement state of the image pickup means and the angle of view of each image pickup means.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration state of an internal unit and an external unit.

FIG. 5 is a connection system diagram with an internal unit showing a state where the internal unit is connected to an existing analog television.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of an operating state of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart that follows part B of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart that follows part A of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart that follows part C of the flowchart shown in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internal unit 2 External unit 2a Display section 2b speaker 2c Human detection sensor (infrared sensor) 2d microphone 4 Imaging means (CCD camera unit) 5 Image display section 6 Recording means (memory card) 7, 8 Imaging means (CCD camera unit) 9 door phone 10 Vibration sensor 19 analog television 20 A / D converter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 9/00 H04M 9/00 DH H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 CF Term (reference) 5C022 AA05 AA06 AB61 AC18 5C054 CD06 CE15 CE16 CG02 CG07 CH02 EA01 EA03 EA05 ED07 FE26 FF06 GB11 HA18 HA22 5C084 AA02 AA07 AA10 AA14 BB40 CC06 CC07 DD12 DD79 DD89 DD22 DD23 DD15160622 FF01 GG02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A space part in which a person lives or stays by having an image pickup means and an image display means for displaying image information picked up by the image pickup means, and confirming an external image by the image display means. In the external visual recognition system configured to visually recognize the outside through a door that separates the outside from the outside, a plurality of image pickup means are installed, and the means for receiving the plurality of image information is an image pickup target that issues an image pickup command signal. An external visual recognition system having a crime prevention function, characterized in that means for judging whether or not an abnormality has occurred is provided based on the presence or absence of image information from the means. 2. The image pickup means picks up images at different angles of view, and is arranged at different positions so that the image pickup means are not sabotaged at the same time. An external visual inspection system with a crime prevention function. 3. A vibration detecting means for detecting vibration during a picking action is provided near a locking portion of an opening / closing means such as a door for partitioning a space where a person lives or stays from the outside. An external visual recognition system having a crime prevention function according to claim 1 or 2. 4. An analog television is connected through an A / D converter to a means for receiving image information from the image pickup means such as an internal unit, and image information output from the image pickup means and the sound receiving means. And / or audio information is configured to be output from the analog television, and the external visual recognition system having a crime prevention function according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A housekeeper who confirms the outside through the analog television can have a conversation with a visitor through a means for receiving image information from an image pickup means such as the internal unit by a hand-held microphone that is digitally output. The external visual inspection system having a crime prevention function according to claim 4, wherein the external visual confirmation system is configured to be capable. 6. A means for receiving image information from an image pickup means, such as the internal unit, is provided to a predetermined person such as a security company in response to a detection signal from a vibration sensor arranged near the locking portion. 6. A means for automatically notifying the occurrence of an emergency is provided for the emergency situation.
An external visual confirmation system having a crime prevention function according to any one of 1.