Control device and method

• US 20050030376A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawada, Masaru, Kishida, Naotaka, Itoh, Ayumi, Terada, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,697,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A monitor camera is provided with a control device which carries out a predetermined process in response to an input of a trigger signal. The control device has an arrangement in that continuous images are successively inputted from a camera unit thereto and in that a detection of a moving object is carried out by detecting a change in images in a moving-object detector. When no change in images is detected by the moving-object detector within a predetermined time after the input of a trigger signal from a detection sensor to a trigger signal input unit, the control device determines the trigger signal inputted to the trigger signal input unit as valid. Then, only when the valid trigger signal has been detected, an abnormality process is carried out. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the abnormality process from being performed upon erroneous detection of a normal state as an abnormal state.

Claims

1. A control device for acquiring continuous images from an image capturing unit to carry out a predetermined process in response to an input of a trigger signal, comprising:

a signal input unit receiving said trigger signal;

a detector detecting a change in images by analyzing continuous images obtained from said image capturing unit; and

a determining unit determining said trigger signal as a valid signal when no change is detected in images in said detector within a predetermined time from the input of said trigger signal to said signal input unit.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

a sensor is connected to said signal input unit.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein

said sensor detects an intruding object into a predetermined monitoring area in which images are captured by said image capturing unit.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein

said detector detects whether or not any moving object exists in each of the images in an image stream that continues in time series, which are obtained from said image capturing unit.

5. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller carrying out a predetermined process when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal by the determining unit.

6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein

said controller carries out different processes between a case where said trigger signal is not determined as a valid signal by said determining unit and that where said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal by said determining unit.

7. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a recorder recording continuous images obtained from said image capturing unit, wherein

said controller controls said recorder so as to record the continuous images obtained from said image capturing unit, when said determining unit determines said trigger signal as a valid signal.

8. The control device according to claim 5, wherein

when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal by said determining unit, said controller outputs a signal used for activating an external apparatus connected to the control device.

9. The control device according to claim 8, wherein

said external apparatus is a warning generating member.

10. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a sound-data storage unit storing sound data, wherein

when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal by said determining unit, said controller generates sound based upon sound data stored in said sound-data storage unit.

11. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a communication unit carrying out data communications with an external apparatus, wherein

when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal by said determining unit, said controller allows said communication unit to output information indicating the result of determination to said external apparatus.

12. A program product which can be read by a computer to which a trigger signal and continuous images are inputted, comprising the instructions of:

detecting a change in images by analyzing continuous images that are inputted to said computer; and

determining said inputted trigger signal as a valid signal when no change is detected in images within a predetermined time from the input of said trigger signal.

13. The program product according to claim 12, wherein

the change in images is detected by determining whether or not any moving object exists in each of the images in an image stream that continues in time series.

14. The program product according to claim 12, further comprising the instruction of:

recording inputted continuous images when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal.

15. The program product according to claim 12, further comprising the instruction of:

transmitting a signal used for generating a warning when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal.

16. A control method of carrying out a predetermined process in response to an input of a trigger signal, comprising the steps of:

inputting a trigger signal;

inputting continuous images;

detecting a change in images by analyzing the inputted continuous images; and

determining said trigger signal as a valid signal when no change is detected in images within a predetermined time from the input of said trigger signal.

17. The control method according to claim 16, wherein

said change in images is detected by determining whether or not any moving object exists in each of the images in an image stream that continues in time series.

18. The control method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

recording inputted continuous images when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal.

19. The control method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

transmitting a signal used for generating a warning when said trigger signal is determined as a valid signal.