Multi-point monitor camera system

• US 6,476,857 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Agatsuma, Mitsuo, Ohdawa, Hisao, Takahashi, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US09/654,387
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143-159, 348/210-220
• US Class Current: 348/152
• 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 multi-point surveillance camera system uses a combination of an image recognition unit a zoom camera equipped with a pan/tilt driver unit for changing a camera monitor position, to monitor a plurality of monitor positions. The monitor position is changed by using the pan/tilt unit, and an image recognition unit starts an image recognition process to reliably detect an abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions, after a focus position adjustment by preset information (after completion of commanding to change the monitor position to a preset position or stop at the preset position), after an automatic focusing operation, or after a combination of the focus position adjustment by the preset information and the automatic focusing operation.

Claims

1. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a pan/tilt driver unit for changing a camera monitor position to monitor a plurality of monitor positions;

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens to adjust a focal point;

automatic focusing means; and

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object;

wherein the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions is detected by making the image recognition means start an image recognition operation after an automatic focusing operation by the automatic focusing means is completed.

7. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.

2. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a pan/tilt driver unit for changing a camera monitor position to monitor a plurality of monitor positions;

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens to adjust a focal point;

automatic focusing means;

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object; and

preset means for storing a combination of pan, tilt, and focus positions for each monitor position and a background image corresponding to the combination;

wherein the monitor position for the camera is changed in accordance with preset information stored in the preset means; and

wherein after completion of changing to a preset position or after a stop at the preset position, the automatic focusing means executes an automatic focusing operation for a monitor object, and thereafter the image recognition means starts an image recognition operation to detect the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions.

8. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 2, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.

3. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a pan/tilt driver unit for changing a camera monitor position to monitor a plurality of monitor positions;

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens to adjust a focal point;

automatic focusing means;

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object; and

preset means for storing a combination of pan, tilt, and focus positions for each monitor position and a background image corresponding to the combination;

wherein the monitor position for the camera is changed in accordance with preset information stored in the preset means; and

wherein after completion of a command to change the monitor position to a preset position or after a stop at the preset position, the automatic focusing means executes an automatic focusing operation for a monitor object, thereafter the image recognition means starts an image recognition operation, at the same time when the automatic focusing operation is executed, a timer is activated, if an in-focus state is not achieved after a predetermined time lapse, the focus position is forcibly set to the preset position, and thereafter the image recognition means starts the image recognition operation to detect the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions.

9. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 3, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.

11. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 3, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.

4. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens;

automatic focusing means;

a zoom mechanism for changing a camera monitor view angle to monitor a plurality of monitor positions, at least two monitor positions having different view angles;

storage means for storing a background image having at least one or more view angles; and

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object;

wherein the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions is detected by making the image recognition means start an image recognition operation after an operation by the zoom mechanism or after completion of an operation by the automatic focusing means.

10. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 4, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.

5. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens;

automatic focusing means;

a zoom mechanism for changing a camera monitor view angle to monitor a plurality of monitor positions, at least two monitor positions having different view angles;

preset means for storing a zoom position for each monitor angle and a corresponding background image; and

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object;

wherein the camera monitor view angle is changed in accordance with preset position information stored in the preset means; and

wherein after completion of changing to a preset position or after completion of an operation by the zoom mechanism, the automatic focusing means executes an automatic focusing operation for a monitor object, and thereafter the image recognition means starts an image recognition operation to detect the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions.

6. A multi-point monitor camera system comprising:

a focusing mechanism for changing a focus position of a lens;

automatic focusing means;

a zoom mechanism for changing a camera monitor view angle to monitor a plurality of monitor positions, at least two monitor positions having different view angles;

preset means for storing a zoom position for each monitor angle and a corresponding background image; and

image recognition means for detecting a change amount of a monitor image input via a camera lens and detecting an abnormal entrance of an object;

wherein the camera monitor view angle is changed in accordance with preset position information stored in the preset means; and

wherein after completion of changing to a preset position or after completion of an operation by the zoom mechanism, the automatic focusing means executes an automatic focusing operation for a monitor object, thereafter the image recognition means starts an image recognition operation, at the same time when the automatic focusing operation is executed, a timer is activated, if an in-focus state is not achieved after a predetermined time lapse, the focus position is forcibly set to the preset position, and thereafter the image recognition means starts the image recognition operation to detect the abnormal entrance at the plurality of monitor positions.

12. A multi-point monitor camera system according to claim 6, wherein the automatic focusing means automatically determines a focus position of the lens without intervention of a user.