JP2004120236A - Doorphone system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a doorphone system wherein expected image quality is obtained without the need for manual operations of a camera while viewing an imaged image. <P>SOLUTION: A doorphone master unit 3, to which a camera attached doorphone slave unit 1 and a human body sensor attached camera 2 are connected, is provided with: a setting entry section 10 for setting imaging conditions such as an imaging range, an imaging interval and an imaging date and time of the camera; an imaging condition storage section 8 for storing the imaging conditions set by the setting entry section 10; and a central arithmetic section 12 for controlling imaging according to the imaging conditions stored in the imaging condition storage section 8, and further, an illuminance sensor 4 and a distance sensor 5 are connected to the doorphone master unit 3. The central arithmetic section 12 selects an optimum condition among a plurality of the setting imaging conditions by taking into account the information from the illuminance sensor 4 and the distance sensor 5 to allow the camera to perform imaging. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a door phone system provided with a camera for capturing a visitor, and more particularly to a door phone system for improving the security performance by taking a good picture of a visitor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, intercom systems that capture and display and record images and videos are rapidly spreading due to an increase in crime prevention awareness, diversification of communication, and a reduction in the price of a display unit. An image pickup device used in a conventional door phone system of this type includes a door phone master unit and an internal video / image storage unit, a camera operation unit, an image / video display unit, a central processing unit, and several door phone units with a camera. However, this type of camera has a bottleneck in the performance of the camera unit, such as a narrow imaging range and a small number of cameras, and it has been difficult to obtain expected image quality.
For this reason, a camera operation unit is provided in the parent device of the living room, and the resident operates the camera operation unit while looking at the image / video display unit when visiting, etc., and expects to perform operations such as changing the angle of the camera and zooming. I was trying to get the image quality.
[0003]
The operation of the intercom system is notified to the intercom master unit when there is a call operation of the intercom unit with camera or the sensor operation of the camera with the human body detection sensor. In response, the central processing unit makes available a door phone handset, a camera with a human body detection sensor, and the like, displays an image and a video on the video display unit, and operates the camera operation unit. The camera operates at the set number of shots and the shooting interval, and stores the shot image / video in the image / video storage unit.
If the resident moves the camera horizontally or vertically or zooms with the camera operation unit while viewing the video display unit at the time of calling, the imaging range can be made not fixed only during the operation, and the image quality can be improved. With respect to, a certain number of images have been taken at predetermined time intervals to increase the probability that images can be taken with excellent image quality.
[0004]
[Non-patent document 1]
Aiphone General Catalog 2002/2003 Edition p. 12-15
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above conventional door phone system operates the camera in the living room at the time of calling to improve the captured image, but since the imaging conditions are basically fixed, when the resident is absent, the camera is not used. Even if a camera operation cannot be performed by the operation unit and a predetermined number of images are taken at predetermined time intervals, for example, an image is taken with the previous setting. Therefore, even when the expected image quality cannot be obtained unless the setting is changed due to the physique of the visitor or other reasons, the imaging is continued as it is.
Further, even if the object to be imaged falls within the frame of the camera, the image quality is affected by the time zone of shooting, the weather, the climate, and the season.
[0006]
In view of the above problems, it is an object of the invention of claim 1 to make it possible to obtain an expected image quality without manually operating a camera while watching a captured image. Further, the inventions of claims 2 to 5 aim at enabling good camera imaging even when a resident is absent, and the invention of claim 6 performs good imaging regardless of brightness. The purpose is to:
A seventh object of the present invention is to enable automatic selection of an optimal imaging condition by detecting an external condition, and an eighth object of the present invention is to improve security.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a door phone system in which at least one of a door phone slave unit with a camera and a camera with a human body detection sensor is connected to a door phone master unit, wherein the door phone master unit is a camera. A setting change unit that can arbitrarily set or change an imaging condition such as an imaging range, an imaging interval, and an imaging date and time; a storage unit that stores the imaging condition set or changed by the setting change unit; and a storage unit that stores the imaging condition. Control means for controlling the imaging in accordance with the imaging conditions.
With this configuration, by controlling the imaging operation of the camera in accordance with the set imaging conditions, it is possible to obtain the expected image quality without manually operating the camera while viewing the captured image, thereby improving the security performance.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an external device is connected to the intercom master unit directly or via a public communication network, and the external device is connected to the external device by a predetermined operation. An external setting change unit for setting or changing an imaging condition such as an imaging interval and an imaging date and time is provided.
With this configuration, camera imaging conditions can be set or changed from a remote location, so that settings can be made or changed even when the user is away from home. It is effective. Further, since the imaging conditions of the camera can be set or changed by the external device, the setting or changing operation can be performed without complicating the configuration of the door phone master unit.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an external device is connected to the intercom master device directly or via a public communication network, and the external device is connected to the intercom master device by a predetermined operation. An operating means for operating the provided setting changing means is provided.
With this configuration, camera imaging conditions can be set or changed from a remote location, so that settings can be made or changed even when the user is away from home. It is effective. Further, since the imaging conditions of the camera can be set or changed by the external device, the setting or changing operation can be performed without complicating the configuration of the door phone master unit.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the plurality of imaging conditions can be set by the setting change unit, and the plurality of imaging conditions set by the storage unit are stored. The imaging condition is arbitrarily read from the storage unit by operation of either the intercom master unit or an external device connected to the intercom master unit, and setting or changing of the camera imaging condition is controlled.
With this configuration, a plurality of imaging conditions are stored in the imaging condition storage unit, so that the best imaging condition according to the situation can be selected and the imaging operation can be performed, and the setting or change operation can be performed even when going out. Good imaging is possible even when absent.
[0011]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the external setting change means of the external device can set a plurality of imaging conditions, the storage means stores the plurality of imaging conditions set, and the control means Is characterized in that the imaging condition is arbitrarily read by operating the intercom master device or an external device connected to the intercom master device, and setting or changing the camera imaging condition is controlled.
With this configuration, a plurality of imaging conditions are stored in the imaging condition storage unit, so that the best imaging condition according to the situation can be selected and the imaging operation can be performed, and the setting or change operation can be performed even when going out. Good imaging is possible even when absent.
[0012]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the control unit reads out an imaging condition corresponding to a preset time zone from among a plurality of imaging conditions stored in the storage unit, and automatically reads out the imaging condition. In this configuration, the imaging operation can be controlled by predicting a change in the brightness of a camera installation location such as a door, so that good imaging can be performed regardless of the imaging time. be able to.
[0013]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth or fifth aspect, the intercom master unit has an external condition detecting means for detecting at least illuminance and a distance to a subject, and the control means has a function of the external condition detecting means. The imaging control is performed by selecting one of the plurality of imaging conditions based on information.
With this configuration, the imaging condition is selected according to external conditions such as illuminance, so that the optimal imaging condition can always be selected.
[0014]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the control unit performs control for imaging at a predetermined time, and this configuration can further improve security. .
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a door phone system according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a door phone slave unit with a camera, 2 is a camera with a human body detection sensor, 3 is a door phone master unit, and a door phone slave unit with a camera. 1 and the camera 2 with a human body detection sensor are connected to the intercom master unit 3 by transmission lines 6a and 6b, respectively. Further, the door phone master unit 3 is connected to a known illuminance sensor 4 as external condition detecting means and a distance sensor 5 for measuring a distance to a visitor via transmission lines 6c and 6d, respectively.
[0016]
The intercom master unit 3 includes an imaging condition storage unit 8 as a storage unit, an image / video storage unit 9 for storing a captured image / video, a setting input unit 10 as a setting change unit for setting or changing an imaging condition, and capturing an image. An image / video display unit 11 for displaying images / videos, a central processing unit 12 as control means, an interface unit 13 for data transmission with the outside, and the like. Utilizing, a plurality of imaging ranges and intervals, and date and time, a direction, an elevation angle, an enlargement ratio, the number of images, an imaging condition according to illuminance, an imaging condition according to a distance to a visitor, and the like are set and stored. I have. The setting input unit 10 can also edit images / videos taken out of the image / video storage unit. In addition, what is necessary is just to use a well-known thing as an illuminance sensor and a distance sensor.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the intercom system of FIG. 1. The operation of the intercom system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. First, the calling operation of the intercom slave unit 1 with the camera and the sensor of the camera 2 with the human body detection sensor operate to notify the intercom master unit 3 (step 1 (S1)). Then, the central processing unit 12 receives the information and makes the camera of the intercom unit with camera 1 and the camera with the human body detection sensor 2 available (S2), and displays an image or video on the image / video display unit 11 (S3). ).
Next, it is determined whether or not an imaging condition has been set (S4). If not, an imaging operation is performed according to a prescribed condition prepared for a non-setting time or the previous imaging condition (S6). Then, the captured image / video is stored in the image / video storage unit 9 and the image capturing operation ends (S8).
[0018]
On the other hand, if there is the set imaging condition (S4), it is determined whether there is information from the connected illuminance sensor 4 and distance sensor 5 (S5). If there is no sensor information, the imaging operation is performed under the specified conditions prepared for the unset time or the previous imaging condition (S6), and if there is the sensor information, a plurality of imaging conditions stored in the imaging condition storage unit 8 are used. Appropriate imaging conditions are called up based on the information or time of the illuminance sensor 4 and the distance sensor 5, and instructions are issued to the cameras of the intercom unit with camera and the camera of the human body detection sensor according to the called setting conditions to take images ( S7). Then, the captured image / video is stored in the image / video storage unit 9 and the image capturing operation ends (S8).
In addition to the operations shown in this flowchart, the central processing unit 12 is set so as to automatically capture images at a set date and time at a set interval and a set number.
[0019]
As described above, it is possible to set the imaging range and interval of the camera, and the imaging conditions such as date and time, direction, elevation angle, enlargement ratio, number of images, and the like, and control the imaging operation of the camera according to the set imaging conditions. It is possible to set the best imaging conditions according to the conditions, and to obtain the expected image quality without manually operating the camera while viewing the captured image, thereby improving the security performance.
Further, since a plurality of imaging conditions are stored in the imaging condition storage unit, the best imaging condition according to the situation can be selected to perform an imaging operation, and good imaging can be performed.
Furthermore, since the imaging conditions can be selected based on the information from the illuminance sensor and the distance sensor, the optimal imaging conditions can be selected, and always favorable irrespective of external conditions such as brightness, the physique of the visitor, and the standing position. Images can be taken in the state.
[0020]
In the above embodiment, the illuminance sensor 4 and the distance sensor 5 are provided as the external condition detecting means. However, such sensors need not be provided, and the imaging condition is automatically changed according to a preset time zone. If it is set to control, the imaging operation is controlled by predicting the change in the brightness of the camera installation location such as the entrance, so it is possible to perform imaging according to the brightness without taking in information such as an illuminance sensor etc. Become.
In addition, in addition to the illuminance sensor 4 and the distance sensor 5, if a known temperature sensor, humidity sensor, rain sensor, and wind speed sensor are provided as external condition detecting means, it is possible to determine the season and the weather. The best imaging conditions can be selected, and a clearer image of a visitor can be obtained.
[0021]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the door phone system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, in addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, the door phone master unit 3a is configured to be able to connect external devices 15 (15a, 15b). ing. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
The external device 15 is used for setting or changing the imaging conditions of the camera. The door phone master unit 3a is provided with an external interface unit 16 for connecting the external device 15 in addition to the configuration of FIG. ing. A first external device 15a, which is an external device, is directly connected to the external interface unit 16, and a second external device 15b is connected via the public communication network 19 as an external device.
[0022]
The first external device 15a includes an external setting change unit 17 that directly sets or changes an imaging range, an imaging interval, an imaging date, and the like of the camera without using the setting input unit 10 of the intercom master unit 3a. The device 15b includes operation means 18 for operating the setting input unit 10 of the door phone master unit 3a. As the external devices 15 (15a, 15b), for example, a personal computer can be used, and the imaging conditions can be directly set by the personal computer, or the imaging conditions can be set by operating the setting input unit 10 of the intercom master unit 3a by the personal computer. Can also be set. Further, the first external device 15a and the second external device 15b can be exchanged, and the setting or changing operation of the imaging condition can be performed only by connecting one of them.
[0023]
As described above, since the imaging condition of the camera can be set or changed by the external device, it can be set or changed from a remote place. Therefore, even if the resident is absent, it is possible to image the visitor satisfactorily, which is effective for security measures. Also, setting or changing operation can be performed without complicating the configuration of the door phone master unit.
[0024]
The door phone system according to the above-described embodiment is provided with a door phone slave unit 1 with a camera and a camera 2 with a human body detection sensor, respectively. One or a plurality of cameras may be connected, or only one or more cameras with sensors may be connected. Similarly, by setting or changing the imaging conditions, any of the imaging operations can be performed well.
In addition, an imaging condition storage unit 8, an image / video storage unit 9, a setting input unit 10, and the like are provided in the door phone master unit 3, and a part or all of them are provided with a door phone slave unit 1 with a camera and a human body detection sensor. It can be provided in the camera 2, the illuminance sensor 4, the distance sensor 5, and any one of the external devices 15a and 15b.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the expected image quality without manually operating the camera while viewing the captured image, and regardless of the physique or standing position of the visitor to be imaged. In addition, it is possible to perform imaging with a camera as expected without being affected by time, weather, or climate. Furthermore, even if a resident is absent, it is possible to perform a good imaging operation with a camera, and it is possible to improve security performance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a door phone system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the door phone system of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a door phone system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Doorphone slave unit with camera, 2. Camera with human body detection sensor, 3, 3a Doorphone master unit, 4. Illuminance sensor, 5. Distance sensor, 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d Transmission line ..., Imaging condition storage unit, 9 image / video storage unit, 10 / setting input unit as setting change unit, 11 / image / video display unit, 12 central processing unit as control unit, 15 (15a, 15b) · · · external equipment, 17 · · · · external setting change means, 18 · · · operation means, 19 · · · public communication network.

Claims (8)

In a door phone system in which at least one of a camera-equipped door phone slave unit and a camera with a human body detection sensor is connected to a door phone master unit,
The intercom master unit includes a setting change unit that can arbitrarily set or change an imaging condition such as an imaging range, an imaging interval, and an imaging date and time of a camera, and a storage unit that stores the imaging condition set or changed by the setting change unit. And a control unit for controlling the imaging in accordance with the imaging conditions stored by the storage unit. An external device is connected to the intercom master unit directly or via a public communication network, and the external device sets or changes an imaging condition such as an imaging range, an imaging interval, and an imaging date and time of a camera by a predetermined operation. 2. The intercom system according to claim 1, further comprising external setting change means. An external device is connected to the intercom master unit directly or via a public communication network, and the external device includes an operation unit that operates the setting change unit provided in the intercom master unit by a predetermined operation. The doorphone system according to claim 1, wherein the doorphone system is provided. A plurality of imaging conditions can be set by the setting change unit, and the storage unit stores the plurality of imaging conditions set, and the control unit controls the intercom master unit or an external device connected to the intercom master unit. 4. The intercom system according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup condition is arbitrarily read from the storage means by the operation to control setting or changing of the camera image pickup condition. The external setting change means of the external device can set a plurality of imaging conditions, the storage means stores the plurality of imaging conditions set, and the control means operates the intercom master unit or connects to the intercom master unit. 3. The door phone system according to claim 2, wherein the imaging condition is read out arbitrarily by an operation of an external device to be performed to control setting or changing of a camera imaging condition. 6. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the control unit reads out an imaging condition corresponding to a preset time zone from among the plurality of imaging conditions stored in the storage unit, and performs control for automatically changing the imaging condition. Door phone system. The intercom master unit has at least illuminance and external condition detecting means for detecting a distance to a subject, and the control means selects one of the plurality of imaging conditions based on information of the external condition detecting means. The door phone system according to claim 4, wherein image pickup control is performed by performing the control. The intercom system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit performs control for imaging at a predetermined time.

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