JPH066668A - Terminal device and camera control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the response of camera operation by cancelling automatically a response delay of camera control. CONSTITUTION:When the user uses an operation device 24 to input any camera operation, a system control circuit 42 outputs a relevant camera control signal to a camera control post-processing circuit 40 in response to an output from the operation device 24. The camera control post processing circuit 40 applies the control signal from the circuit 42 as it is to a camera control circuit 28, which controls a camera 10. After the end of the arrival of a camera control signal from the circuit 42, the circuit 40 applies a camera control signal having an opposite polarity to that of the former camera control signal and having a control variable to cancel an excess response to the camera control circuit 28. The circuit 40 also commands freezing of screen display to a video coding decoding circuit 44 during a period of excess response and cancelling control.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device and a camera control device, and more specifically, to a terminal device for communicating an image like a video conference system and a camera control for controlling a camera for image input. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known a video conference system in which a plurality of points are connected via a dedicated or public digital line to bidirectionally communicate video, voice and data to hold a conference.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a conventional example of a terminal device for that purpose.

In FIG. 2, 10 is a video camera for photographing conference participants, 12 is a monitor for switching the images from its own station and the other station or displaying them separately on the screen, and 14 is an output of the video camera 10. Is a video encoding / decoding circuit (so-called codec) that encodes the video signal and decodes the coded video signal received from the partner station. Reference numeral 16 is a microphone for voice input, 18 is a speaker for voice output, and 20 is a voice encoding / decoding circuit for encoding the voice signal from the microphone 16 and decoding the encoded voice signal received from the partner station.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a system control circuit for controlling the whole,
Reference numeral 24 is an operating device for inputting a predetermined instruction to the system control circuit 22. A transmission control circuit 26 executes mutual communication with the partner station. A camera control circuit 28 controls panning, tilt, and zoom of the video camera 10 in accordance with instructions from the system control circuit 22.

The video camera 10 captures the participants of the conference, and the output video signal thereof is a video encoding / decoding circuit 14.
Then, it is highly efficient compression coded and input to the transmission control circuit 26. The voice of the conference participant is input by the microphone 16, and the output of the microphone 16 is encoded by the voice encoding / decoding circuit 20 and input to the transmission control circuit 26. The system control circuit 22 applies to the transmission control circuit 26 the data to be transmitted, the control command of the partner station terminal, and the like.

The transmission control circuit 26 arranges the information to be transmitted from the video encoding / decoding circuit 14, the audio encoding / decoding circuit 20 and the system control circuit 22 into a predetermined format and outputs it to the communication line.

The transmission control circuit 26 also separates the information received from the partner station via the communication line into image information, audio information and data or control commands, and the video encoding / decoding circuit 14 and the audio encoding / decoding, respectively. It outputs to the conversion circuit 20 and the system control circuit 22. Video encoding / decoding circuit 14
Decodes the coded video signal received from the partner station and outputs it to the monitor 12. The voice encoding / decoding circuit 20 decodes the encoded voice signal received from the partner station, and
Output to.

The system control circuit 22 controls the video encoding / decoding circuit 14 and the audio encoding / decoding circuit 20 according to the operation of the operating device 24 and the control command from the partner station, and via the camera control circuit 28. To control the video camera 10. Of course, the operating device 24 can also control the video camera 10, the video encoding / decoding circuit 14, and the audio encoding / decoding circuit 20 of the own station. Camera control circuit 2
8 is, in response to a control signal from the system control circuit 22,
It controls panning, tilting, zooming, etc. of the video camera 10.

As the operation device 24, an input device such as a digitizer can be used. As shown in FIG.
Four-direction switches 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d are provided for panning and tilting, and + and-two-way switches 34 are provided for zooming on the operation panel surface. And
Each switch 30a, 30b, 30
c, 30d; 34 are operated. For example, the switch 30a
Is an upward tilt, and operating the switch 30c instructs the system control circuit 22 to be a downward tilt. Similarly, the switch 30b is panning to the right, the switch 30d is panning to the left, and the switch 34. The + side of the switch corresponds to zoom-in, and the-side of the switch corresponds to zoom-out.

These switches 30 are operated by the input pen 36.
While pressing a, 30b, 30c, 30d; 34, the operating device 24 continues to supply corresponding control signals to the system control circuit 22. The system control circuit 22 directly supplies a control signal to the camera control circuit 28 when controlling the camera of the own station, and transmits a control command to the other station through the transmission control circuit 26 when controlling the camera of the partner station. To do. The camera control circuit 28 controls panning, tilting and zooming of the video camera 10 according to the control signal from the system control circuit 22.

For example, while the switch 30d is being pressed by the input pen 36 in an attempt to right-pan the video camera of its own station, the operating device 24 continues to supply the control signal corresponding to the system control circuit 22 to the system control circuit 22. Continues to supply the right panning control signal to the camera control circuit 28. The camera control circuit 28 continues to pan the video camera 10 to the right while the right panning control signal is input. The effect of panning can be confirmed by displaying the image of the own station on the monitor 12, and the input pen 36 can be released from the switch 30b when the camera moves as much as necessary. The same applies to left panning, tilting, and zooming.

When operating the video camera of the partner station, the system control circuit 22 sends a camera control command to the partner station and causes the monitor 12 to display the image received from the partner station, thereby effecting the camera operation. Can be confirmed, and the operation device 24 also cancels the input of the camera operation instruction when necessary. That is, the input pen 36 is connected to the switches 30a, 30b, 3
Separated from 0c, 30d; 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, three persons A, B, C
Are sitting side by side in front of the video camera 10 and left panning the video camera 10 of the own station from the person A to the person C, the operating device 24, the system control circuit 22, the camera control circuit 28 and not shown. The timing between the panning step motors will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5A shows the operation state of the switch 30d, which becomes L (low) when the input pen 36 is operated. The same (2) is a code signal indicating that the switch 36d is turned on and is a signal supplied from the operating device 24 to the system control circuit 22. The same (3) is a signal of the left panning control signal line from the system control circuit 22 to the camera control circuit 28. The same (4) is a drive pulse that the camera control circuit 28 supplies to a panning step motor (not shown).

While the switch 30d is on (L), the operating device 24 continues to supply the code signal indicating that the switch 320d is on to the system control circuit 22 at a predetermined cycle T, as shown in FIG. 5 (2). The system control circuit 22 is shown in FIG.
In accordance with the code signal shown in (2), the left panning control signal line to the camera control circuit 28 is set to L as shown in FIG. 5 (3). In response to the left panning control signal, the camera control circuit 28 supplies a driving pulse in the left panning direction to a panning motor (not shown) as shown in FIG. 5 (4).

When the switch 30d is turned off, the operating device 24 stops sending the code signal to the system control circuit 22, but the system control circuit 22 detects the stop of the code signal output after the lapse of the maximum period T. The system control circuit 22 sets the left panning control signal to the camera control circuit 28 to H (high) after confirming the stop of the code signal output from the operation device 24. When the left panning control signal from the system control circuit 22 becomes H, the camera control circuit 28 stops the drive pulse supply to the panning motor after some delay.

With such timing, the switch 3
It takes about (T + α) from turning off 0d to stopping panning of the video camera 10. α is a delay in the operating device 24, the system control circuit 22, and the camera control circuit 28.

Next, the structure of the camera control system for panning, tilting and zooming will be described. FIG. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of a conventional example. 100 is a video camera,
An electric zoom lens 102 is attached as a photographing lens. The video camera 100 is attached to the base 106 via a panning and tilt drive device 104. The panning and tilt drive device 104 is a video
A panning motor for swinging the photographing field of view of the camera 100 in a horizontal plane and a tilt motor for swinging in a vertical plane are provided. The panning drive circuit 108 drives the panning motor, the tilt drive circuit 110 drives the tilt motor, and the zoom drive circuit 112 drives the zoom lens 102 in the tele or wide direction.

The control circuit 113 includes the panning operation device 1
14, tilt operation device 116, and zoom operation device 11
The panning drive circuit 108, the tilt drive circuit 110, and the zoom drive circuit 112 are controlled according to the operation of 8.

That is, the user operates the panning operation device 114.
When an instruction input for right panning is given by, the panning operation device 114 outputs a right panning operation signal pl to the control circuit 113. The control circuit 113 instructs the panning drive circuit 108 to perform right panning with the panning control signal ppc in accordance with the right panning operation signal pl, and the panning drive circuit 108 causes the panning / tilt drive device 1 to operate.
The video camera 100 is panned right by 04.

When the user inputs an instruction for left panning with the panning operation device 114, the panning operation device 11
4 outputs a left panning operation signal pr to the control circuit 113. The control circuit 113 instructs the panning drive circuit 108 to perform left panning by the panning control signal ppc, and the panning drive circuit 108 performs panning / panning.
The tilt drive device 104 pans the video camera left.

The operator or user looks at the screen of the monitor for displaying the image picked up by the video camera 100,
When the video camera 100 faces the direction in which the panning should be stopped, the operation of the panning operation device 114 is stopped. As a result, the control circuit 113 stops the supply of the panning control signal ppc to the panning drive circuit 108, and the panning drive circuit 108 stops the panning motor.

When it is desired to point the video camera 100 upward or downward, an operator or a user may operate the tilt operating device 116. When the user inputs an instruction for upward tilt using the tilt operating device 116, the tilt operating device 116 causes the control circuit 113 to perform an upward tilt operating signal tu.
Is output to the control circuit 113. The control circuit 113 instructs the tilt drive circuit 110 to perform the upward tilt with the tilt control signal tpc according to the upward tilt operation signal tu, and the tilt drive circuit 110 causes the panning / tilt drive device 104 to tilt the video camera 100 upward. .

When the user inputs a downward tilt instruction with the tilt operating device 116, the tilt operating device 116 sends a downward tilt operating signal td to the control circuit 113.
Output to 3. The control circuit 113 is the tilt drive circuit 110.
The tilt drive circuit 110 instructs the panning / tilt drive device 104 to tilt downward by the tilt control signal tpc.
To tilt the video camera downward.

The operator or user looks at the screen of the monitor for displaying the image picked up by the video camera 100,
When the video camera 100 faces the direction in which the tilt up or down should be stopped, the operation of the tilt operation device 116 is stopped. As a result, the control circuit 113 stops the supply of the tilt control signal tpc to the tilt drive circuit 110, and the tilt drive circuit 108 stops the tilt motor.

When it is desired to zoom in or out the zoom lens 102, an operator or a user may operate the zoom operating device 118. When the user inputs a zoom-in instruction using the zoom operation device 118, the zoom operation device 118 causes the control circuit 113 to perform a zoom-in operation signal z.
i is output to the control circuit 113. The control circuit 113 controls the zoom drive circuit 113 according to the zoom-in operation signal zi.
Zoom-in is instructed by the zoom control signal zpc, and the zoom drive circuit 113 zooms the zoom lens 102 in the tele direction.

The user operates the zoom operation device 118 to zoom
When the zoom-out operation device 118 inputs the zoom-out command, the zoom-out operation device 118 sends the zoom-out operation signal zo to the control circuit 113.
It outputs to 13. The control circuit 113 instructs the zoom drive circuit 113 to perform zoom-out by the zoom control signal zpc according to the zoom-out operation signal zo, and the zoom drive circuit 112 zooms the zoom lens 102 in the wide direction.

The operator or user looks at the screen of the monitor for displaying the image picked up by the video camera 100,
The operation of the zoom operation device 118 is stopped at the angle of view at which zooming should be stopped. As a result, the control circuit 113 stops the supply of the zoom control signal zpc to the zoom drive circuit 112, and the zoom drive circuit 108 stops the zooming of the zoom lens 102.

When such a camera control device is applied to a video conference system, the operation devices 114, 116 and 118 and the video camera 100 may be provided in different terminal devices, as described above. In other words, there are a case where the video camera of the own station is operated by the camera (panning, tilting, zooming, etc.) and a case where the video camera of the communication partner station is operated by the camera.

Even when controlling the video camera of the local station, a time lag occurs as described with reference to FIG. When controlling the video camera of the partner station, the operation signal p
l, pr; tu, td, zi, zo or control signal pp
The time required to transmit c, tpc, and zpc to the partner station, and the time required to encode, transmit, and decode the video captured by the video camera of the partner station are added. That is, even after the operation of the operating devices 114, 116, 118 is stopped, the image is changing on the monitor screen. In order to avoid this, the drive speed of the drive circuits 108, 110, 112 may be slowed down for each operation of the operating devices 114, 116, 118, but this takes a very long time to obtain a desired shooting state. It is not so preferable because it causes damage.

As means for solving this problem, there has been proposed a structure in which a plurality of desired positions for panning, tilting and zooming are stored or preset in a memory in advance, and the selected positions are quickly moved to the desired positions. FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of the configuration. The same components as those in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The pan / tilt drive device 104 includes
Angle sensor 120 for detecting the panning angle (or position)
And an angle sensor 122 for detecting the tilt angle, the panning position detection circuit 124 converts the output of the sensor 120 into a digital value or voltage signal of a predetermined range, and the tilt position detection circuit 126 outputs the output of the sensor 122 of a predetermined range. Convert to digital value or voltage signal. Further, the zoom position detection circuit 128 detects the zoom position of the zoom lens 102 and outputs it as a digital value or voltage signal in a predetermined range. The output of each detection circuit 124, 126, 128 is applied to the control circuit 130.

In the control circuit 130, in addition to the panning operation device 114, the tilt operation device 116 and the zoom operation device 118 shown in FIG. 6, as an operation member, a preset switch 132 for instructing registration of a preset position and six A preset position selection button 134 for designating one of the preset positions is connected. Also connected to the control circuit 130 is a preset position memory 136, which stores six preset positions for panning, tilting and zooming.

In this conventional example, the preset switch 1
By simultaneously pressing 32 and one of the preset position selection buttons 134 (for example, button # 1), the panning position, tilt position, and zoom position at that time are stored in the preset position memory 136, which is assigned to the button # 1. It is stored in the area. That is, the control circuit 130 includes the preset switch 132 and the preset position selection button 13
Depending on the simultaneous operation of one of 4 (for example, button # 1),
The output pp, tp. Of each detection circuit 124, 126, 128.
Import zp, preset position data ppp, tp
It is registered in the corresponding storage area of the preset position memory 136 as p and zpp.

The movement to the camera position desired to be registered as the preset position is performed manually, as in the case of FIG.

When it is desired to move the video camera 100 to the preset position registered in advance in this way, the corresponding button of the preset position selection button 134 may be pressed. The control circuit 130 stores preset position data ppp, tpp, from the corresponding storage area of the preset position memory 136.
zpp is read and each drive circuit 108, 110, 112
Is driven at high speed to pan, tilt and zoom the video camera 100 to the preset position. Whether or not the preset position has been reached is detected by the detection circuits 124, 12
It can be known by the output of 6,128, and the control circuit 13
0 is a designated preset position for each drive circuit 108,
Stop 110 and 112.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 7, since the drive circuits 108, 110, 112 can be driven at high speed in the movement to the preset position, the response time can be shortened.

[0038]

As described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, there is a considerable delay between the operation of the operating device and the movement of the video camera due to the operation, and the video conferencing system itself has a delay. When trying to operate the camera of the partner station with the station operating device, the time required for sending the control command and sending the captured image from the partner station to the local station is added, which causes excessive panning, tilting, or zooming. It tends to be.

Further, in the camera control device as shown in FIG. 7, since the panning position, the tilt position and the zoom position are integrally preset, it is difficult to determine the camera position and there is a drawback that the flexibility is lacking. That is, at the stage of registering the preset position data, the panning position, the tilt position, and the zoom position must be strictly determined,
Further, when it is desired to move the camera 100 from the preset position to a slightly panned position, a manual operation must be performed for the slight panning, and the poor responsiveness of the manual operation must be accepted.

It is an object of the present invention to present a terminal device and a camera control device that eliminate such inconvenience.

[0041]

A terminal device according to the present invention is a terminal device for image communication, and after camera control,
The camera is controlled in the reverse direction by an amount corresponding to the delay of the camera control, and the display of the captured image of the camera to be operated is frozen during the delay of the camera control and the camera control in the reverse direction. .

The camera control device according to the present invention includes operation input means for inputting a camera operation, camera control signal generation means for generating a corresponding camera control signal according to the output of the operation input means, and the camera control. In response to the end of the camera control signal output from the signal generating means, a camera control signal of a predetermined amount in the opposite direction to the camera control signal is generated,
A post-processing unit that freezes the display of a captured image by the camera to be controlled for a period including at least the end of the operation of the operation input unit and the end of the camera control signal of the predetermined amount in the reverse direction, and the camera control signal It is characterized by comprising camera control means for controlling the camera according to the output of the generation means and the output of the post-processing means.

The camera control device according to the present invention also includes a storage means for storing a designated control position of the camera control element, an operation input means for inputting a camera operation, and a mode for designating one of a manual operation mode and a preset operation mode. A designating unit, a driving unit that drives the camera control element at a designated speed, and a control unit that controls the driving unit. In the manual operation mode, the camera control element is driven at a low speed in response to an input by the operation inputting unit. The preset operation mode is characterized by comprising control means for driving the designated camera control element at high speed to a preset position stored in the storage means with respect to the camera control element designated by the operation input means.

[0044]

With the above-mentioned means, the response delay of the camera operation is automatically canceled, so that the response delay is not noticed and the operability is improved. Further, since the screen display is frozen during the over-response and its reverse return control, the operator does not feel uncomfortable or anxious.

Since preset camera positions can be selected in a preset order and an address order and can be selected for each camera control element, the operation of moving to the preset position is facilitated, and a plurality of camera control elements can be selected in any order. And a combination of them can be controlled. At the same time, the preset position registration operation becomes easy. The camera can be operated quickly because it can move to the preset position at high speed.

[0046]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 40 denotes a camera control post-processing circuit that performs a backward movement control corresponding to the above-described delay amount of the camera control. The camera control signal from the system control circuit 42 is sent to the camera control circuit 28 via the camera control post-processing circuit 40. Is applied. The camera control post-processing circuit 40 also supplies a freeze control signal to the video encoding / decoding circuit 44 during the reversion control.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. The operation of the camera control post-processing circuit 40 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 8 (1) shows the on / off state of the left panning switch 30d, for example (2) shows the switch 3 from the operating device 24 to the system control circuit 42.
It is a code signal indicating that 0d is on. The operating device 24 continues to output the code signal at the cycle T while the switch 30d is on, as in the conventional example. Operating device 24
As shown in FIG. 8B, when the switch 30d is turned off, the output of the code signal is stopped at the same time or after a short delay.

When the code signal shown in FIG. 8 (2) stops being input, the system control circuit 42 sets the left panning control signal (FIG. 8 (3)) to H after T seconds. This left panning control signal passes through the camera control post-processing circuit 40 and is applied to the camera control circuit 28. The camera control circuit 28 changes the left panning control signal as shown in FIG. 8 (4). , Delay of (T + α) from the turning off of the switch 30d, the supply of the drive pulse in the left panning direction to the panning motor (not shown) is stopped.

The camera control post-processing circuit 40 also responds to the L-to-H transition of the left panning control signal supplied from the system control circuit 42, to the video encoding / decoding circuit 4.
The freeze of the monitor display image (the image taken by the own station when operating the video camera 10 of the own station, the image received from the other station when operating the video camera 10 of the partner station) is frozen in 4. Order. FIG. 8 (6) shows this freeze instruction. The video encoding / decoding circuit 44 freezes the monitor display image by this freeze command, and the image at the time when the switch 30d is turned off is displayed on the monitor 12 as a still image.

The camera control post-processing circuit 40 also generates a reverse right panning control signal for a predetermined period (T + α) in response to the transition of the left panning control signal supplied from the system control circuit 42 from L to H. Then, the voltage is applied to the camera control circuit 28. In response to this, the camera control circuit 28
Generates a left panning drive pulse during the period (T + α) as shown in FIG. 8 (5). As a result, the video camera 10 is returned to the orientation at the time when the switch 30d was turned off.

The camera control post-processing circuit 40 releases the freeze command to the video encoding / decoding circuit 44 after the completion of the reverse control. In response to this, the video encoding / decoding circuit 4
4 outputs the captured image or received image of its own station to the monitor 12 as a moving image.

Since the time (T + α) or the amount and the freeze period for performing the reverse control can be known in advance by the constituent devices, an appropriate amount may be set in the camera control post-processing circuit 40. Although left panning has been described as an example, the same applies to right panning, tilt, and zoom, and the same applies to control of other camera control elements such as the diaphragm and focus. Further, when operating the video camera of the partner station, the time (T + α) or amount and the freeze period for reverse control are taken into consideration, taking into account the time required for the transmission process of the control command and the reception process of the captured image of the partner station. Should be set.

In this embodiment, the delay of the camera operation is canceled by the post-processing and the monitor screen is frozen during the post-processing, so that the camera can be stopped at the desired camera position.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention corresponding to the conventional example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will be described.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the configuration of the first embodiment. 200 is a video camera, 202 is an electric zoom,
It is a lens. The video camera 200 is attached to the base 206 via a panning and tilt drive unit 204. The panning and tilt driving device 204 includes a panning motor for swinging the photographing field of view of the video camera 200 in a horizontal plane and a tilting motor for swinging in a vertical plane.
Equipped with a motor. The panning drive circuit 208 drives the panning motor, the tilt drive circuit 210 drives the tilt motor, and the zoom drive circuit 212 drives the zoom lens 202 in the tele or wide direction.

The control circuit 213 is used for the panning operation device 2
14, a tilt operation device 216, a zoom operation device 218,
Mode switch 220, preset switch 2
22 and the operation of the order designation device 224 by the user.
It controls the whole panning drive circuit 208, tilt drive circuit 210, and zoom drive circuit 212. Details will be described later.

Reference numeral 226 is a preset position memory for individually storing preset positions for panning, tilting and zooming. Reference numeral 228 is an angle sensor for detecting the panning angle (or position) by the panning / tilt drive device 104, and 230 is an angle sensor for detecting the tilt angle. The panning position detection circuit 232 converts the output of the sensor 228 into a digital value or voltage signal in a predetermined range,
The tilt position detection circuit 234 converts the output of the sensor 230 into a digital value or voltage signal in a predetermined range. Also,
The zoom position detection circuit 236 detects the zoom position of the zoom lens 202 and outputs it as a digital value or voltage signal in a predetermined range. The outputs of the detection circuits 232, 234, 236 are applied to the control circuit 213.

In this embodiment, there are a manual mode in which the camera 200 is manually operated and a preset mode in which the camera 200 is controlled to a designated preset position.
The mode switching device 220 instructs the control circuit 213 to be in the manual mode or the preset mode. The mode switching device 220 outputs the manual mode setting signal mo to the control circuit 213 when the manual mode is selected, and outputs the preset mode setting signal po to the control circuit 213 when the preset mode is selected.

The panning operation device 214, the tilt operation device 216 and the zoom operation device 218 are composed of switches capable of selecting two directions. In the manual mode, the panning direction, the tilt direction and the zoom direction are designated respectively, and in the preset mode, Designate whether to switch the preset position in the forward direction or in the reverse direction for the panning direction, the tilt direction, and the zoom direction, respectively.

Specifically, the panning operation device 214
Controls the left / reverse panning operation signal plr or the right / forward panning operation signal pro.
13, the tilt operation device 216 outputs the up / reverse direction tilt operation signal signal tur or the down / forward direction tilt operation signal tdo to the control circuit 213, and the zoom operation device 218 outputs the zoom-in / reverse direction operation. Signal signal zir
Alternatively, the zoom out / forward operation signal zoo is controlled by the control circuit 2
It outputs to 13.

The preset switch 222 is a manual switch. In the mode, it is a switch for specifying which control element of panning, tilt and zoom the preset position is registered, and in the preset mode, which control element is moved to the preset position. The preset switch 222 receives the panning designation signal ps when panning is selected and the tilt designation signal ts when tilting is selected.
When the zoom is selected, the zoom selection signal zs is output to the control circuit 213.

The order specifying device 224 is a device for specifying whether to read the preset positions registered in the memory 226 in the registration order or the address order in the preset mode. In the case of the registration order, the preset order command signal op. , In the case of address order, the address order command signal o
a is output to the control circuit 213.

Further, the drive circuits 208, 210 and 221 can generate drive signals at high speed and low speed, and the control circuit 213 can control the drive speed by the control signals phl, thl and zhl.

In this embodiment, in the manual mode,
The preset position can be registered in the preset position memory 226 individually for panning, tilting and zooming. The preset switch 222 specifies which of the camera control elements such as panning, tilt and zoom the current position is registered in the preset position memory 226.
Further, in the preset mode, the preset position memory 226 is individually set for panning, tilting and zooming.
You can move to the preset position registered in. The preset switch 222 specifies which of the panning, tilt, and zoom camera control elements to move to the registered preset position.

The panning control will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, since it is necessary to register the preset position in the preset position memory 226, normally, the manual mode is designated by the mode switching device 220. The mode switching device 220 outputs the manual mode setting signal mo to the control circuit 213, and accordingly the control circuit 213 enters the manual mode.

In the manual mode (S1), the control circuit 213 monitors the output of the panning operation device 214. The panning operation device 214 outputs a right / forward panning operation signal pro according to a user's right panning instruction, and outputs a left / reverse direction panning operation signal plr according to a left panning instruction.

Right / forward panning operation signal pro
In response to this (S2), the control circuit 213 instructs the panning drive circuit 208 to perform rightward panning with the panning position drive signal ppc and low speed drive with the panning speed designation signal phl (S4). Accordingly, the panning drive circuit 208 causes the panning / tilt drive device 204 to pan the video camera 200 rightward at a low speed.

Left / reverse direction panning operation signal plr
In response to this (S3), the control circuit 213 instructs the panning drive circuit 208 to perform leftward panning with the panning position drive signal ppc and low speed drive with the panning speed designation signal phl (S5). As a result, the panning drive circuit 208 causes the panning / tilt drive device 204 to pan the video camera 200 leftward at a low speed.

As described above, by operating the preset switch 222 in this manual mode, the current camera position can be registered in the preset position memory 226 as the preset position. When the user designates panning with the preset switch 222, the preset switch 222 outputs the panning position preset designation signal ps, and when the tilt is designated, the preset switch 222 outputs the tilt position preset designation signal ts for zooming. If specified, preset switch 22
2 outputs a zoom position preset designation signal zs.

Since the panning control is described here, it is assumed that panning is designated by the preset switch 222. In response to the panning position preset designation signal ps from the preset switch 222 (S
6), the control circuit 213 uses the panning position detection circuit 23
The preset position memory 2 including the output (panning position signal) pp of 2 and including the data indicating the preset order and the tilt and zoom position information (address information)
It is stored in the panning / preset position storage unit 226a of No. 26 (S7).

When tilt is designated by the preset switch 222, the control circuit 213 takes in the output (tilt position signal) tp of the tilt position detection circuit 234,
The tilt / preset position storage unit 226b of the preset position memory 226 including data indicating the preset order and panning and zoom position information (address information).
To store. Similarly, when zoom is designated by the preset switch 222, the control circuit 213 takes in the output (zoom position signal) zp of the zoom position detection circuit 236, data indicating the preset order, and panning and zoom position information ( Address information) and store it in the zoom / preset position storage unit 226c of the preset position memory 226.

After presetting each camera position in this way, the preset mode can be utilized. When the preset mode is designated by the mode switching device 220,
The mode switching device 220 outputs the preset mode setting signal po to the control circuit 213. The control circuit 213 enters the preset mode in response to the preset mode setting signal po, and controls the movement to the preset position in the order specified by the order specifying device 224.

In the order specifying device 224, when switching the positions of panning, tilting and zooming, the order is preset or the order adjacent to the current position (address order).
Is to be specified.

With the panning operation device 214, the user can instruct the movement in the address order or the reverse direction in the address order, and in the preset order, the movement in the preset order or the reverse direction. I can give instructions.

In the case of address order (S8), in response to the right / forward direction panning operation signal pro from the panning operation device 214 (S9), the control circuit 213 causes the panning / preset position storage section 226a of the preset position memory 226. Read out the preset position data ppp on the right side closest to the current position, and control the panning drive circuit 208 so that the video camera 200 pans at the panning preset position at high speed (S1).
1).

That is, the panning position output from the panning detection circuit 232 is the preset position memory 226.
Until it becomes equal to the panning / preset position read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a.
The control circuit 213 supplies the panning position driving signal ppc to the right to the panning driving circuit 208. At this time, the panning drive circuit 208 is instructed to perform high-speed driving by the panning drive speed designation signal phl.

Further, according to the left / reverse direction panning operation signal plr from the panning operation device 214 (S1
0), the control circuit 213 uses the preset position memory 226.
The preset position data ppp on the left side closest to the current position is read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a, and the video data is stored in the panning / preset position.
The panning drive circuit 208 is controlled so that the camera 200 pans at high speed (S12).

That is, the panning position output from the panning detection circuit 232 is the preset position memory 226.
Until it becomes equal to the panning / preset position read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a.
The control circuit 213 supplies the panning position drive signal ppc to the left to the panning drive circuit 208. At this time, the panning drive circuit 208 is instructed to perform high-speed driving by the panning drive speed designation signal phl.

In the case of the preset order (S8), according to the right / forward panning operation signal pro from the panning operation device 214 (S13), the control circuit 213 causes the panning / preset position storage section 226a of the preset position memory 226 to operate. Then, the next preset position data ppp is read out in the order of preset, and the panning drive circuit 208 is controlled so that the video camera 200 pans at the panning preset position at high speed (S15).

That is, the panning position output from the panning detection circuit 232 is the preset position memory 226.
Until it becomes equal to the panning / preset position read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a.
The control circuit 213 supplies the panning position drive signal ppc corresponding to the panning direction to the panning drive circuit 208. At this time, the panning drive speed designation signal ph
High speed driving is instructed to the panning driving circuit 208 by l.

Further, according to the left / backward panning operation signal plr from the panning operation device 214 (S1
4), the control circuit 213 uses the preset position memory 226.
The previous preset position data ppp is read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a in the preset order, and the panning drive circuit 208 is controlled so that the video camera 200 pans at the panning / preset position at high speed (S16).

That is, the panning position output from the panning detection circuit 232 is the preset position memory 226.
Until it becomes equal to the panning / preset position read from the panning / preset position storage unit 226a.
The control circuit 213 supplies the panning position drive signal ppc corresponding to the panning direction to the panning drive circuit 208. At this time, the panning drive speed designation signal ph
High speed driving is instructed to the panning driving circuit 208 by l.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the panning, tilting and zooming control elements can be individually moved at high speed to preset positions. It can also be moved to a closer position and the preset order can be selected.
The conference participants can be switched at a high speed in a specific order or a seating order.

Although the panning has been described as an example for the movement to the preset position, the same applies to the tilt and the zoom.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the panning, tilt and zoom positions can be individually preset.
The panning, tilt, and zoom movement to each preset position can be independently controlled. For example, based on panning, the tilt position and zoom position at the time of registration are registered as preset positions in the preset position memory 226 together with the panning position. Panning, tilt and zoom may be controlled together. A configuration block diagram of this modification is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the preset switch 238 may be any switch that outputs a preset signal pss when pressed. Further, in the manual mode, the control circuit 240 sets the current panning position, tilt position and zoom position to the panning / preset position storage area 226 of the preset position memory 226 according to the preset signal pss from the preset switch 238.
a, a tilt / preset position storage area 226b and a zoom / preset storage area 226c. In the preset mode, the control circuit 240 moves the video camera 200 at a high speed to a preset position in the address order or the preset order specified by the order specifying device 224 according to the output of the panning operation device 214.

The interlocking control and the individual control described with reference to FIG. 9 may be made selectable. FIG. 12 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment in which whether or not to perform interlocking control can be selected. The same components as those in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Whether or not the interlocking is designated by the interlocking designation device 242 is input to the control circuit 244. When the control circuit 244 does not interlock, it controls the entire system in exactly the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In the case of interlocking, in the preset mode, for example, when the panning operation device 214 instructs to move to another panning preset position,
The control circuit 244 reads not only the panning / preset position of the moving destination, but also the tilt position and the zoom position at the preset time of the panning / preset position of the moving destination from the preset position memory 226, and the driving circuit 20.
8, 210, 212 are driven at high speed to control the target position.

In the preset mode, the tilt operating device 2
Similarly, when the 16 or the zoom operation device 218 is operated, the control circuit 244 controls the video camera 200 to the target position integrally with other control elements.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment in which a combination of interlocking control elements can be selected. The same components as those in FIG. 9 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The combination designation device 246 designates a combination of control elements to be interlocked. The combination designating device 246 performs panning / panning when interlocking control of panning and tilt is performed.
The tilt combination designating signal pt, the panning / tilt combination designating signal pt when the panning and tilt are interlocked, the panning / zoom combination designating signal pz when the panning and zoom are interlocked, and the tilt and zoom are interlocked. A tilt / zoom combination designation signal tz is output to the control circuit 248 when it is controlled, and a panning / tilt / zoom combination designation signal ptz is output to the control circuit 248 when panning, tilt, and zoom are controlled in conjunction.

The control circuit 248 interlocks and controls the panning drive circuit 208 and the tilt drive circuit 210 with respect to the panning / tilt combination designation signal pt, and the panning drive circuit 2 with respect to the panning / zoom combination designation signal pz.
08 and the zoom drive circuit 212 are interlocked, and the tilt drive circuit 2 responds to the tilt / zoom combination designation signal tz.
10 and the zoom drive circuit 212 are interlocked with each other, and the panning drive circuit 208, the tilt drive circuit 210, and the zoom drive circuit 212 are interlocked with respect to the panning / tilt / zoom combination designation signal ptz.

For example, when a combination of panning and tilt is specified by the combination specifying device 246, the control circuit 24
Reference numeral 8 denotes a panning / preset position (or tilt / preset position) in a preset order or an address order designated by the order designating device 224 according to the operation of the panning operation device 214 (or the tilt operation device 216), and the panning position. The tilt / preset position (or panning / preset position) at the preset time of the preset position (or tilt / preset position) is read from the preset position memory 226, and the driving circuits 208, 210 are driven at high speed to preset the panning and tilt positions. To control.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic block diagram of yet another embodiment. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the priority designation device 250 can designate a priority element in each of the panning, tilt, and zoom control elements. Priority designation device 250
Indicates the panning position priority command signal pp for the panning priority, the tilt priority, and the zoom priority.
r, the tilt position priority command signal tpr, and the zoom position priority command signal zpr are output.

In the preset mode, the control circuit 252 controls the movement to the preset position in response to the operation of each operation device 214, 216, 218 according to the priority command signals ppr, tpr, zpr. For example, in response to the tilt position priority command signal tpr, the control circuit 252 responds to the operation of the tilt operation device 216, and sets the camera position to the panning position and the zoom position at the time of presetting the tilt position based on the tilt / preset position. Control.

The control circuits 213, 240, 244, 248 and 252 of the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14 can be constituted by a microcomputer, and the functions described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 can be incorporated individually or together. Is easy. Furthermore, other functions can be combined. The designation of the interlocking relationship and the priority relationship by the interlocking designating device 242, the combination designating device 246, and the priority designating device 250 operates / drives the drive circuits 208, 210, 212 in accordance with these designations.
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by non-operation control.

In addition, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS.
It goes without saying that the embodiments shown in can be used in combination.

In the above description, panning, tilt and zoom are taken as examples of the camera control elements.
Sensitivity, color balance, etc. can also be the subject of control elements.

[0100]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, the delay in the response of the camera control is automatically canceled, so that the camera control operation becomes easy. This makes it easy to stop the camera at a desired position even if the camera is moved at high speed.

In the manual operation, the camera moves at a low speed and moves to the preset position registered in advance at a high speed, so that the camera can be operated quickly. In addition, the plurality of camera control elements can be controlled in an arbitrary order and combination, and can be quickly moved to a desired position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a terminal device of a video conference system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device of a conventional example of a video conference system.

3 is a diagram showing an operation panel surface of the operation device 24 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of panning.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of a conventional example during a panning operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional example of a camera control device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional example of a camera control device having a preset mode.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 during a panning operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a camera control device.

10 is an operation flowchart of panning control in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the camera control device.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a third embodiment of the camera control device.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the camera control device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the camera control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Video camera 12: Monitor 14: Video encoding / decoding circuit 16: Microphone 18: Speaker 20:
Audio encoding / decoding circuit 22: System control circuit 24: Operating device 26: Transmission control circuit 28: Camera control circuit 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d: Panning / tilt switch 34: Zoom switch 36: Input pen 40: Camera Control post-processing circuit 42:
System control circuit 44: Video encoding / decoding circuit 10
0: Video camera 102: Zoom lens 104: Panning and tilt drive device 106: Base 108: Panning drive circuit 110: Tilt drive circuit 112: Zoom drive circuit 113: Control circuit 11
4: Panning operation device 116: Tilt operation device 1
18: Zoom operation device 120: Panning angle sensor 122: Tilt angle sensor 124: Panning position detection circuit 126: Tilt position detection circuit 128: Zoom position detection circuit 130: Control circuit 132: Preset switch 134: Preset position selection button 1
36: preset position memory 200: video camera 202: zoom lens 204: panning and tilt drive device 206: base 208: panning drive circuit 210: tilt drive circuit 212: zoom drive circuit 213: control circuit 214: panning operation device Two
16: Tilt operating device 218: Zoom operating device 22
0: Mode changeover switch 222: Preset switch 224: Sequence designation device 226: Preset position memory 226a: Panning / preset position storage area 226b: Tilt / preset position storage area 22
6c: Zoom / preset storage area 228: Panning angle sensor 230: Tilt angle sensor 232: Panning position detection circuit 234: Tilt position detection circuit
236: Zoom position detection circuit 238: Preset switch 240: Control circuit 242: Interlocking designation device 2
44: control circuit 246: combination designation device 248: control circuit 250: priority designation device 252: control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal device for image communication, wherein after camera control, the camera is controlled in the reverse direction by an amount corresponding to the delay of the camera control, the delay of the camera control and the camera control in the reverse direction. During the period, the terminal device is characterized in that the display of the image taken by the camera to be operated is frozen. 2. Operation input means for inputting a camera operation,
The camera control signal generation means for generating a corresponding camera control signal according to the output of the operation input means, and the camera control signal according to the end of the camera control signal output from the camera control signal generation means A camera control signal of a predetermined amount in the reverse direction is generated, and at least a period from the end of the operation of the operation input means to the end of the predetermined amount of the camera control signal in the reverse direction of the image captured by the camera to be controlled. A camera control device comprising post-processing means for freezing a display, and camera control means for controlling a camera according to the output of the camera control signal generation means and the output of the post-processing means. 3. Storage means for storing a designated control position of a camera control element, and operation input means for inputting a camera operation,
A mode designating unit that designates one of a manual operation mode and a preset operation mode, a drive unit that drives a camera control element at a designated speed, and a control unit that controls the drive unit. The camera control element is driven at a low speed according to the input by the means, and in the preset operation mode, the camera control element designated by the operation input means is moved at a high speed to the preset position stored in the storage means. A camera control device comprising a control means for driving.