Cradle device, control method of image sensing system, and computer program

• US 20060279253A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kawai, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0046 Software interface details, e.g. interaction of operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a cradle device which inhibits driving of a pan/tile driving unit in the event of an imaging device being detached from the cradle device, and also receiving a control command of the imaging device from a camera. The cradle device can lock the imaging device in the event that the imaging device is mounted on the cradle device. The cradle device can have a configuration enabling detaching the imaging device, thus facilitating the most appropriate environment for a surveillance system.

Claims

1. A cradle device comprising:

a mounting unit for mounting an imaging device;

a mounting determining unit for determining whether or not the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit; and

a controller for controlling the attitude of the imaging device;

wherein the controller control the attitude of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit by driving the mounting unit based on an instruction from an external device in the event that the mounting determining unit determines that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and the controller inhibit control of the attitude of the imaging device by driving the mounting unit in the event that the mounting determining unit determines that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.

2. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting unit has a locking mechanism for mechanically locking the imaging device by the controller while an external device obtains the control right of the imaging device.

3. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the controller disables at least one of the operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that the mounting determining unit determined that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.

4. The cradle device according to claim 1, wherein the controller stop the power source of the imaging device without taking in the lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit at the time of stopping the power source of the imaging device.

5. The cradle device according to claim 1, further comprising image storing device configured for storing the image captured from the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit.

6. A control method of an image sensing system made up of an imaging device and a cradle device, comprising:

a mounting determining step for determining whether or not on a mounting unit of a cradle device on which an imaging device is mounted the imaging device is mounted; and

a control step in which the cradle device controls the attitude of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit by driving the mounting unit based on an instruction from an external device in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and the cradle device inhibits control of the attitude of the imaging device by driving the mounting unit in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.

7. The control method of an image sensing system according to claim 6, wherein in the control step, the cradle device mechanically lock the imaging device using a locking mechanism while an external device obtains the control right of the imaging device.

8. The control method of an image sensing system according to claim 6, wherein the cradle device instructs to disable at least one of the operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.

9. The control method of an image sensing system according to claim 6, wherein the cradle device stops the power source of the imaging device without taking in the lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit in the control step, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.

10. A computer program for causing a computer to execute the control method of an image sensing system, the control method comprising:

a mounting determining step for determining whether or not on a mounting unit on which an imaging device is mounted the imaging device is mounted; and

a control step for controlling the attitude of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit by driving the mounting unit based on an instruction from an external device in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and inhibiting control of the attitude of the imaging device by driving the mounting unit in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.

11. The computer program according to claim 10, wherein in the control step, the cradle device mechanically lock the imaging device using a locking mechanism while an external device obtains the control right of the imaging device.

12. The computer program according to claim 10, wherein the computer program causes the computer to execute processing for invalidating at least one of the operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.

13. The computer program according to claim 10, wherein the computer program causes the computer to execute processing for stopping the power source of the imaging device without taking in the lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit in the control step, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.