JP2007158609A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system whereby a user can carry out photographing in the same operating sense as in a state of the camera head loaded on a camera body, even if a camera head is separated from the camera body. <P>SOLUTION: Even when the camera head 1a is separated from the camera body 1b in the camera system, if panning or tilting is desired, a switch 29b is thrown to an absolute (Abs) position so as to drive a universal head 21a in conformity with the posture of the camera body 1b so that the posture of the camera head 1a can be regulated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system including a camera head including a photographic optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body that receives the image signal from the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted and performs signal processing. About.

  A camera system has been proposed that allows a camera head equipped with a photographic optical system and an image sensor to be interchangeably attached to the camera body so that shooting can be performed with maximum use of the shooting function of the camera head. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In such a camera system, it is possible to take a picture when the camera head is mounted on the camera body, and when the camera head is separated from the camera body. In addition, it is convenient to be able to perform photographing by remote control. In this way, when it is possible to perform photographing by remote control, it is better to have a pan head that can freely adjust the posture of the camera head. Then, the camera head can be mounted on the camera body for shooting, or the camera head can be mounted on the camera platform for shooting according to the shooting environment.

  In order to be able to shoot with the same operating feeling as when the camera head is mounted on the camera body even when the camera head and camera body are separated, the pan head is enhanced with a pan head function. (Hereinafter, sometimes referred to as pan operation) and tilting (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as tilt operation), and further, an operation for rotating the body 90 degrees to perform vertical shooting and horizontal shooting (hereinafter referred to as roll operation or rolling) In response, the pan head should move freely.

  For such a pan head, many pan heads with various devices have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4). In most cases, the posture of the photographing apparatus is adjusted according to a remote operation, and the technique can be applied to a pan head for mounting the camera head. Then, the camera head can be freely moved in accordance with operations such as panning, tilting, and rolling.

  However, in the conventional ones other than those in Patent Documents 2 to 4 above, the lens is directed in the direction in which the eyeglasses are viewed by wearing the eyeglasses that move the camera head or the viewfinder by operating the operation element. Since there are many things, there is a risk that it may be a little difficult to use when trying to pan, try tilting or rolling.

By the way, with the recent spread of navigation systems, the demand for acceleration sensors, angular velocity sensors, and magnetic orientation sensors has increased, and the price has dropped to such an extent that it can be mounted on a digital camera. In any of the above-mentioned patent documents, the acceleration sensor, angular velocity sensor, magnetic orientation sensor, and the like are used. By using the acceleration sensor, it is possible to detect the posture of the camera head, the camera body, etc., and the angular velocity. If a sensor or a magnetic orientation sensor is used, it is possible to detect a change state in the rotation direction of the camera head or the camera body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-322021 JP 7-294296 A JP-A-7-209700 JP-A-11-212474

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention can perform shooting with the same operational feeling as when the camera head is attached to the camera body and shooting is performed even when the camera head and the camera body are separated. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera system.

A first camera system of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a camera head including a photographic lens and an imaging device;
A camera body that receives the image signal from the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted and performs signal processing;
A head unit on which a camera head separated from the camera body is detachably mounted instead of the camera body, and a head side adapter having a head side receiving unit for receiving an operation signal from the camera body side; Prepared,
The camera body is
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the camera body;
A main body side transmission unit that transmits an operation signal according to the posture of the camera detected by the posture detection means toward the head side adapter;
The head side adapter includes a pan head control unit that drives the pan head unit based on an operation signal received by the head side receiving unit and controls the posture of the camera head mounted on the pan head unit. It is characterized by that.

  According to the camera system of the present invention, even if the camera head and the camera main body are in a separated state, the main body side transmission unit performs the above operation according to the posture of the camera detected by the posture detection means. An operation signal for determining the composition toward the head-side adapter is transmitted, and the transmitted operation signal is received by the head-side receiving unit. Based on the control of the pan head control unit, the posture of the camera head is The posture is adjusted to determine the composition to be represented.

  Then, instead of operating the controls as before, the posture of the camera head is adjusted by adjusting the posture of the camera body with the sensation of wearing the camera head. Will be able to.

  As described above, even when the camera head is separated from the camera body, the camera head can be photographed in the same manner as when the camera head is attached to the camera body and photographing is performed. The system is realized.

Here, the camera body displaces the posture of the camera head mounted on the camera platform to a posture corresponding to the operation of the operation element provided in the camera body, or according to the posture of the camera body itself. A change-over switch that switches whether to move to a different posture,
In addition to the operation signal, the main body side transmission unit further transmits switching information of the changeover switch toward the head side adapter.
It is preferable that the pan head control unit drives the pan head unit based on the operation signal and further based on the switching information.

  When shooting operations such as panning, tilting, and rolling described above are not necessary, it may be easier to operate with the operation buttons as before.

  Therefore, the changeover switch is provided so that the changeover switch can be switched to any one. Since the switching information is also transmitted to the head-side adapter, the head is controlled by the head control unit provided in the head-side adapter according to the switching information, and the posture according to the operation of the operator is set. Alternatively, the posture of the camera head is adjusted so that the posture is in accordance with the posture of the camera head.

  When the changeover switch is provided in this way, the above-described operation element is operated to perform shooting as before, and the camera body itself is changed to perform panning, tilting and rolling operations. You can also shoot. As a result, the camera system becomes even easier to use.

  When the camera head and the camera body are separated from each other, the camera body detects the posture of the camera body and drives the camera platform according to the detected posture. It is preferable to provide a sensor and transmit a signal representing the posture to the camera head side according to the detection result of the triaxial acceleration sensor.

  Furthermore, if a magnetic azimuth sensor or angular velocity sensor is provided in addition to the three-axis acceleration sensor, it becomes possible to detect the angular change in the rotational direction up to the posture, so the responsiveness of the pan head is improved. Thus, when the operations such as panning, tilting, and rolling are performed, it is possible to perform photographing as if the camera head is mounted on the camera body.

  In addition, as described above, the prices of the three-axis acceleration sensor, the angular velocity sensor, and the magnetic direction sensor have been pushed down due to an increase in demand. Therefore, the attitude detection unit includes the three-axis acceleration sensor, the angular velocity sensor, Even if the magnetic orientation sensor is applied, the price of the camera system is not increased, and an inexpensive camera system can be provided.

  In addition, the main body side adapter similar to the head side adapter may be newly provided so that the main body side adapter has the function of the camera main body provided in the first camera system.

In that case, a second camera system of the present invention that achieves the above-described problem includes a camera head including a photographic lens and an image sensor,
A camera body that receives the image signal from the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted and performs signal processing;
A head-side adapter having a camera head in a state of being separated from the camera body and detachably mounted in place of the camera body, and a head-side receiver for receiving an operation signal from the camera body;
A main body side adapter that is detachably attached to the camera body in a state separated from the camera head, in place of the camera head,
The main body adapter is
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the main body side adapter;
A main body side transmission unit that transmits an operation signal corresponding to the posture detected by the posture detection means toward the head side adapter;
The head side adapter includes a pan head control unit that drives the pan head unit based on an operation signal received by the head side receiver unit and controls the posture of the camera head mounted on the pan head unit. It is characterized by that.

Here, the posture of the camera head mounted on the camera platform is displaced to a posture corresponding to the operation of the operation element provided in the camera body, or is displaced to a posture corresponding to the posture of the camera body itself. It has a changeover switch that switches between
In addition to the operation signal, the main body side transmission unit further transmits switching information of the changeover switch toward the head side adapter.
It is preferable that the pan head control unit drives the pan head unit based on the operation signal and further based on the switching information.

  Further, the posture detection means may include a triaxial acceleration sensor, and the posture detection means further includes a magnetic orientation sensor or an angular velocity sensor in addition to the triaxial acceleration sensor. There may be.

  As described above, even when the camera head is separated from the camera body, the camera can be photographed with the same operational feeling as when the camera head is attached to the camera body and photographing is performed. The system is realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

  FIGS. 1-6 is a figure explaining the structure of the camera system which is one Embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state when a camera head is attached to a camera body. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical system when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b. FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera system which is one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state by which the camera head and the camera main body were arrange | positioned separately. FIG. 4 is a view of the state of FIG. 3 as viewed from the side, and a diagram showing the configuration of the back surface of the camera body. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the camera head and the head-side adapter when they are separately arranged as shown in FIGS. Further, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the camera body and the body side adapter when they are in a separately arranged state as shown in FIGS.

  The camera system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is provided with a head-side adapter 2a and a body-side adapter 2b that are detachably mounted when photographing by remote operation (see FIG. 3). If these adapters 2a and 2b are attached to the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, respectively, it is possible to perform photographing by remote control as shown in FIG. 3. First, referring to FIGS. The configuration and operation of the camera system 1 when the head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b will be described, and then the camera head 1a is operated by remote operation from the camera body 1b side with reference to FIGS. The configuration and operation when shooting is described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a camera system 1 according to this embodiment includes a camera head 1a having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and an interface for inputting / outputting signals between the camera head 1a. And a camera body 1b that receives an image signal from 1a. FIG. 1 shows separately a camera head 1a having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body 1b to which the camera head 1a is detachably attached. The camera head 1a shown in FIG. 1 is one of a plurality of types, and any other camera head can be attached to the camera body.

  In the center of the camera body 1b shown in FIG. 1, a mount portion 10b having a large number of mount contacts is arranged to receive the end of the camera head 1a. A number of mount contacts are also provided at the end of the camera head 1a, and the end of the camera head 1a is along the one-dot chain line in FIG. It is inserted and attached to.

  Each of the mount contacts is assigned for communication and power supply, and communication from the camera body 1b to the camera head 1a is performed, or from the camera head 1a to the camera body 1b. In addition, power is supplied from the camera body 1b side to the camera head 1a side. Among these mount contacts, contacts corresponding to the interfaces provided on both sides and contacts corresponding to two dedicated lines for supplying a release signal from the camera body 1b to the camera head 1a and the camera head 1a are connected. There are also contacts for notifying the camera body 1b of this.

  An AWB sensor 11b is provided above the head mount 10b, and a light source type at the time of photographing is detected by the AWB sensor 11b. This light source type is, for example, whether it is sunlight or a fluorescent lamp, and this light source type is detected by the AWB sensor 11b and an appropriate color temperature (for example, in the case of sunlight) for a signal processing unit described later. Is set to 6000K, and in the case of a fluorescent lamp, 4500K) is set, and the optimum white balance is adjusted. A flash light emission window 12b is provided beside the AWB sensor 11b, and a flash light emission unit for emitting a flash light through the flash light emission window 12b is provided in the camera body 1b. Further, a release button 13b and a mode dial 14b are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1b. Either the shooting mode or the playback mode is selected by operating the mode dial 14b. In the shooting mode, either the still image shooting mode or the moving image shooting mode is selected. The mode dial 14b is also provided with a power switch, and the power is turned on by operating the mode dial 14b.

  Here, the internal configuration of the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b will be described with reference to FIG.

  The left side of FIG. 2 shows the electrical system on the camera head 1a side, and the right side of FIG. 2 shows the electrical system on the camera body 1b side.

  Before describing the image signal processing system of both the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, the configuration around the battery Bt, which is a power supply source for operating the camera system 1, will be described.

  The camera system 1 according to this embodiment is configured such that the camera body 1b and the camera head 1a operate upon receiving power from a battery Bt included in the camera body 1b.

  In FIG. 2, a power management unit 180b is provided between the battery Bt on the camera body 1b side and the DC / DC converter 181b, and the Key / LED 19b (the shooting mode dial 14b shown in FIG. 1 is also included in this key). If the switch in the power management unit 180b is connected by the operation of the power switch in FIG. 2, the power is supplied to the DC / DC converter (shown as DC / DC in FIG. 2) 181b. Is supplied, and power is supplied from the DC / DC converter 181b to each part, so that the camera body 1b is in an operating state.

  When the power switch is thus operated and the camera body 1b is in an operating state, control of the operation of the camera is started by the body CPU 100b. At this time, if the ground signal (GND) is supplied from the camera head 1a side to the detection terminal (Det) of the main body CPU 100b, the main body CPU 100b detects that the camera head 1a is attached.

  With this configuration, when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b and the power switch in the Key / LED (including the shooting mode dial 14b) 19b is turned on, When the ground signal (GND) is supplied to the detection terminal (Det), the main body CPU 100b can detect the mounting of the camera head 1a and switch the switch SW. By switching the switch SW, the battery Bt on the camera body 1b side, the power management unit 195a on the camera head 1a side, and the DC / DC converter 196a are connected. In this way, if the camera head 1a is mounted when the power switch is turned on, power is quickly supplied from the battery Bt of the camera body 1b to the camera head 1a.

  Further, when the main body CPU 100b detects the mounting of the camera head 1a and automatically supplies power to the camera head 1a as described above, the main body CPU 100b has a low-speed serial interface (hereinafter referred to as a low-speed serial I / F) when the power is turned on. 110b can be controlled to send a request for transmission of initialization information to the head CPU 19a. When initialization information is transmitted from the head CPU 19a on the camera head 1a side that has received the transmission request, the camera receives the request. An initialization process corresponding to the type of the head 1a can also be executed. When the power-on mode is the shooting mode after the initialization process is completed, the main body CPU 100b issues a transmission request for an image signal for display (hereinafter referred to as a through image) following the transmission request for the initialization process. It is also possible to transmit to the camera head 1a using the low-speed serial I / F 110b. In the following description, an image signal representing the through image is referred to as a through image signal.

  When the head CPU 19a on the camera head 1a side receives a through image transmission request from the camera body via the low-speed serial I / F 150a, the head CPU 19a controls a timing generator (hereinafter referred to as TG) 17a to control an image pickup device (here. In this case, since a CCD solid-state imaging device is used, a through image signal can be generated at a predetermined frame rate by a CCD 12).

  Here, the configuration and operation of the camera system 1 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the camera head 1a constituting the camera system 1 includes a photographing optical system 11a and a CCD 12a. In the photographing optical system 11a, a zoom lens 111a, a focus lens 112a, a diaphragm 113a, a mechanical shutter 114a, and the like are provided. After power is supplied from the camera body 1b to the camera head 1a, when the camera mode 1b is supplied from the camera body 1b via the low-speed serial I / F 110b, the mechanical shutter 114a is first driven by the driver DR. The light receiving surface of the CCD 12a is opened, and a shooting standby state is set.

  When a through image signal transmission request is further transmitted, the head CPU 19a controls the TG 17a to repeatedly supply an exposure start signal to the CCD 12a and an exposure end signal to the CCD 12a after a predetermined time has elapsed from the exposure start signal. By doing so, generation of the through image signal is started. At this time, a timing signal is also supplied from the TG 17a to the subsequent CDS 13a and the A / D unit 14a so that the processing timing of the image signal is matched. In the CDS 13a, noise of the image signal (analog RGB signal) output from the CCD 12a is reduced, and in the A / D section 14a, the analog RGB signal is converted into a digital RGB signal, and the subsequent high-speed operation is performed. A digital RGB signal is supplied to the serial I / F 15a and transmitted to the camera body 1b. The digital RGB signals are also supplied to the subsequent integration block 16a, where focus adjustment and exposure adjustment are performed.

  When creating a through image, a sharp and focused image with adjusted exposure must be formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12a, so the head CPU 19a detects the result of exposure adjustment and focus detection by the integration block 16a. According to the result, the driver DR is instructed to adjust the position of the focus lens 111a or the aperture diameter of the stop 113a so that a sharp image with focus and exposure is always formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12a. I have to. When the focus lens 111a is disposed at the in-focus position, the head CPU 19a receives a position signal from the position detection unit 115a and instructs the driver DR when determining that the focus lens 111a is disposed at the in-focus position. The driving of the immediate focus lens 111a is stopped.

  Here, in synchronization with the timing signal from the TG 17a, the through image signal is output from the CCD 12a to the CDS 13a at a frame rate of 1/30 s, for example, and the CDS 13a is subjected to noise reduction processing, etc. The through image signal is converted into a digital through image signal and supplied to the high-speed serial I / F 15a. Of course, since the high-speed serial I / F 15a is also provided on the camera body 1b side, the through image signal is transmitted from the camera head 1a to the camera body 1b by both high-speed serial I / Fs 15a and 102b. Among the image signals supplied to the camera body 1b through the high-speed serial I / Fs 15a and 102b, when the shooting mode is selected by the mode dial 14b (assumed to be included in the key). In addition to the through image signal for displaying the subject captured by the taking lens in the taking optical system on the LCD panel of the LCD 107b or the EVF (Electrical View Finder) 108b, the still image shooting mode in the shooting mode is selected. The operation of the release button 13b when the image signal representing the still image (hereinafter referred to as a still image signal) obtained by the operation of the release button 13b in the closed state or the moving image mode in the shooting mode is selected. There is an image signal (hereinafter referred to as a moving image signal) representing a moving image obtained by the above. Any one of these image signals is transmitted to the camera body 1b side through the high-speed serial interfaces 15a and 102b in response to a request from the camera body 1b side.

  The flash ROM 191a of the camera head 1a stores a program indicating the operation procedure of the camera head 1a and also stores configuration information of the camera head 1a. If a command indicating the configuration transmission request is transmitted as initialization information from the camera body 1b via the low-speed serial I / F 110b, 150a, the configuration information in the Flash ROM 191a is transmitted to the low-speed serial I / F 150a, 110b. And transmitted to the camera body 1b.

  As described above, the low-speed serial I / Fs 150a and 110b exchange commands between the camera body 1b and the camera head 1a at the time of shooting. For example, an image signal (through image signal, still image) is transmitted from the camera body 1b. If a command corresponding to a request for transmission of any one of a signal and a moving image signal is transmitted via the low-speed serial I / F 150a, 110b, a high-speed serial that is faster than the low-speed serial I / F 150a, 110b. An image signal (any one of a through image signal, a still image signal, and a moving image signal) converted into a digital signal by the I / Fs 150a and 110b is transmitted to the camera body 1b. In FIG. 2, the term “image channel” means that an image signal is transmitted from the camera head 1a to the camera body 1b by a high-speed serial I / F connecting the camera body and the camera head. That the control signal is transmitted / received between the camera and the camera body 1b by the low-speed serial I / F is a control channel, and that the release signal from the release button 13b is transmitted through the dedicated line. Each is indicated by the word line. In addition, the fact that there are two image channels is indicated by a symbol called image data line (DATA # 1, DATA # 2), and the high-speed serial I / F is provided with a clock line in addition to the image channel. It is also shown that.

  The camera system 1 is configured by the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b having such a configuration, and photographing is performed by the camera system 1.

  In the camera system 1 of the present embodiment, even when the camera body 1b and the camera head 1a are separated, the camera head 1a is so photographed by the camera head 1a by remote operation from the camera body 1b. Both the camera body 1b and the camera body 1b include a head-side adapter 2a and a body-side adapter 2b each having a wireless communication unit.

  3 and FIG. 4, the camera head 1a in a state separated from the camera body 1b is mounted in a detachable manner in place of the camera body 1b, and an image signal is received from the camera head 1a and signal processing is performed. The head side adapter 2a provided with the head side communication part (only the communication antenna 251a is shown in FIG. 3) which performs is shown. As shown in FIG. 3, when the head-side adapter 2a is attached to the camera head 1a, the camera-side adapter 2b is also attached to the camera body 1b instead of the camera head 1a. Accordingly, shooting is performed on the camera head 1a side. At this time, if the switch 29b included in the main body side adapter 2b is switched to the Abs (see FIG. 4) side, the camera platform 21a is driven according to the posture of the camera main body 1b to adjust the posture of the camera head 1a. It is like that. When the changeover switch is switched to the Inc side, the posture of the camera head 1a is adjusted according to the operation of the cross key 19b (see FIG. 4) as before.

  That is, when the changeover switch 29b is switched to the sign Inc side, the posture of the camera head 1a attached to the camera platform 21a is displaced to a posture corresponding to the operation of the cross key 19b provided in the camera body 1b. If it is switched to the sign Abs side, it can be displaced to a posture corresponding to the posture of the camera body 1b itself.

  Here, the internal configuration of the head side adapter 2a and the main body side adapter will be described.

  The head-side adapter 2a shown in FIG. 5 includes a head-side communication unit 25a that performs wireless communication with the main body-side adapter 2b, and a head that converts an image signal generated by the camera head 1a into a signal format suitable for wireless communication. The main body side adapter 2b shown in FIG. 6 includes a main body side communication section 21b that performs wireless communication with the head side adapter 2a and a camera received by the main body side communication section. A main body side signal mediating unit 22b that converts an image signal from the head 1a side into a format of an image signal generated by the camera head 1a is provided. Further, when the operation signal is transmitted not only from the image signal but also from the camera body 1b side to the camera head 1a side, the signal format conversion is adaptively performed by the head side signal mediation unit 24a and the body side signal mediation unit 22b. The wireless communication between the camera body 1b side and the camera head 1a side is performed promptly without any delay in any signal.

  A circuit that performs wireless communication processing in this manner is provided in both the main body side adapter 2b and the head side adapter, so that the head side adapter 2a can be mounted on the camera platform 21a by remote control from the camera main body 1b side. The camera head 1a can be used for shooting.

  First, the configuration of the head side adapter 2a will be described.

  The head-side adapter 2a shown in FIG. 5 includes a battery Bt2. When this head-side adapter 2a is attached instead of the camera body 1b, power is supplied from the battery Bt2 to the camera head 1a instead of the battery Bt2 of the camera body 1b. Is done.

  The head-side adapter 2a includes a high-speed serial I / F 21a for image signal communication with the camera head 1a and a low-speed serial I / F 29a for control signal communication, which are included in the camera main body 1b in the same manner as the camera main body 1b. Yes. The high-speed serial I / F 21a and the low-speed serial I / F 29a are connected to the head-side adapter CPU 20a via a bus. The bus 23 also stores a flash ROM 204a in which a program indicating a processing procedure of the program is stored, and an SDRAM 23a serving as a buffer memory. Is also connected. Therefore, the head-side adapter CPU 20a may receive the image signal from the camera head 1a by the high-speed serial I / F 21a according to the processing procedure in the flash ROM 204a and temporarily store the received image signal in the SDRAM 23a. it can. If the SDRAM 23a is provided, the head-side adapter CPU 20a reads the image signal stored in the SDRAM 23a, supplies it to the signal processing unit 22a, and stores the image signal after the signal processing in the SDRAM 23a again. it can.

  With such a configuration, the SDRAM 23a is used when the processing timing of each unit is matched, and the SDRAM 23a is also used when the head signal mediating unit 24a performs processing for conversion to a signal suitable for radio. Then, it is converted into an image signal suitable for radio at a good timing.

  Further, the image signal converted into a signal suitable for wireless transmission by the head-side signal mediating unit 24a is transmitted from the head-side communication unit 25a to the camera body 1b. When converted into a signal suitable for wireless communication in this way, the occurrence of errors during wireless transmission is significantly reduced, and the signal is correctly transmitted to the camera body 1b.

  The head side communication unit 25a corresponds to the head side reception unit referred to in the present invention, and in the present embodiment, the head side communication unit 25a also plays a role of receiving an operation signal from the camera body 1b side.

  When an operation signal is transmitted from the camera body 1b side, the operation signal is received by the head side communication unit 25a and the pan provided in the pan head unit 21a (see FIG. 3) is received based on the received operation signal. The motor PM, the tilt motor TM, and the roll motor RM are driven under the control of the head side adapter CPU 2a. In driving the pan motor PM, the tilt motor TM, and the roll motor RM, the head adapter CPU 2a supplies control signals to the drivers 201a, 202a, and 203a, and the pan motor PM from the drivers 201a, 202a, and 203a. In addition, a motor drive signal corresponding to a control signal from the head-side adapter CPU 20a is individually supplied to each of the tilt motor TM and the roll motor RM, and the motors TM, PM, and RM are individually driven. In response to the driving of each motor, a pan head 21a having a triaxial actuator is driven in a pan direction, a tilt direction, or a roll direction so that the posture of the camera head 1a is adjusted. In the present embodiment, when the pan head 21a is individually driven in each of the pan, tilt, and roll directions, actuators that are individually driven in each direction (motor rotation is received by, for example, a gear train or a connecting belt). A rotating part that rotates by the rotational force and a cam part that converts the rotation of the motor into a linear motion receive three rotating parts that receive the rotational force of the motor, and each actuator is provided for each motor. The posture of the camera head 1a can be adjusted with high accuracy by being driven by the rotation of.

  A configuration of the main body side adapter 2b used as a pair with the head side adapter 2a having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  The main body side adapter 2b shown in FIG. 6 is attached to the camera main body 1b in place of the camera head 1a, and operates by power feeding from the camera main body 1b side in the same manner as the camera head 1a.

  The main body side adapter 2b includes a main body side adapter CPU 20b that comprehensively controls the operation of the main body side adapter 2b, and a high-speed serial I / F 23b for image signal communication between the camera main body 1b and the camera head 1a. And a low-speed serial I / F 24b for control signal communication.

  The high-speed serial I / F 23b and the low-speed serial I / F 24b are connected to the main body adapter CPU 20b via a bus. The bus 202 also stores a flash ROM 201b storing a program indicating a processing procedure of the program, and an SDRAM 202b serving as a buffer memory. Is also connected.

  Therefore, when the main body side adapter CPU 20b receives the image signal transmitted from the head side adapter 2a according to the processing procedure in the flash ROM 201b by controlling the main body side communication unit 21b, the received image data is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 202b. I can keep it. By providing this SDRAM 202b, the transmission timing of the image signals sent from the head side adapter 2a one after another and the processing timing of each part of the main body side adapter are adjusted, and the main body side signal mediation unit 22b uses a signal format suitable for wireless communication. It is suitably converted into a signal having the signal format of the image signal generated by the CCD 12a on the camera head 1a side.

  When an image signal is supplied to the camera body 1b through the high-speed serial I / F 23b in this way, for example, if the image signal is a through image signal, the image signal is supplied to the display control unit 105b, and the display control unit A live view based on the live view signal is displayed on the display screen by 105b. If the release button 13b is pressed while the through image is being displayed, a release signal is sent from the camera body 1b to the camera head 1a via the body side communication unit 21b and the head side communication unit 25a provided in the body side adapter. In response to the release signal, the still image signal generated by the CCD 12a on the camera head side is transmitted to the camera body 1b side via the head-side adapter 2a. Then, the transmitted still image signal is received by the main body side communication unit 21b of the main body side adapter 2b, and the received still image signal is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 202b. When all the still picture signals are stored in the SDRAM 202b, the still picture signals are read out and the read still picture signals are supplied to the camera body 1b through the high-speed serial I / Fs 23b and 102b. Thereafter, the signal processing unit 103b performs signal processing, and the signal-processed still image signal is compressed by the compression / expansion unit 1091b. The compressed image signal is stored together with the compression information in the memory in the card slot 1093b by the media control unit 1092b. Recorded on the card.

  In the present embodiment, in such a camera system, the main body side adapter 2b is provided with a change-over switch 29b, and the posture of the camera head 1a is set according to the operation of the cross key 19b according to the change-over state of the change-over switch 29b. It is possible to switch between the camera body and the camera body itself. For example, when the changeover switch 29b is switched to the increment (Inc) side, the operation of the cross key 19a on the camera body 1b side becomes valid, and an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the cross key 19a is sent from the body side communication 21b unit to the head side adapter. When the posture of the camera head 1a supplied to 1b is adjusted and switched to the absolute (Abs) side, the operation of the cross key 19a is invalidated, and the camera body detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor 27b provided in the body-side adapter 2a An operation signal for adjusting the posture of the camera head 1a according to the posture of 1b is supplied from the main body side communication unit 21b toward the head-side adapter 2a to adjust the posture of the camera head 1a. The main body side communication unit 21b corresponds to the main body side transmission unit according to the present invention. Here, in order to make the head adapter 1b recognize whether the operation signal is an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the cross key 19b or an operation signal based on the triaxial acceleration sensor, a control code is added at the head of the transmission data. The switching information referred to in the present invention, “Inc” and “Abs”, is added and transmitted. In this way, as described above, the head adapter side CPU 20a immediately recognizes whether it is due to the operation of the cross key 19b or the posture of the camera body 1b itself. There is no need for the CPU 20a to decipher the operation signal.

  In this way, for example, the above-mentioned changeover switch is switched to the Abs side, and the display can be adjusted using only the display screen on the camera body 1b side without looking at the camera head 1a side. The photographer can take a picture as if the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b looking at the display screen without being caught by the posture of the camera head 1a. Of course, when the subject captured by the camera head 1a can be seen from the camera body 1b side in the same way, the camera head 1a can be switched to the Inc side and the posture of the camera head 1a can be adjusted by the cross key 19b as an operator. good.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, if only the three-axis acceleration sensor 27b is used, the camera body 1b can be detected even if the camera body 1b to which the body-side adapter 2b is attached can be detected. Since the posture (rotation angle etc.) during the operation cannot be detected, in this embodiment, the change state when the posture of the camera body 1b is further adjusted and the posture is changed can be detected. As described above, an angular velocity sensor 28b is provided.

  In this way, when the panning or tilting operation is performed at a relatively high speed, the camera platform 21a reacts with good response, and the posture of the camera head 1a is adjusted according to the posture of the camera body 1b. Will come to be. Then, operations such as panning, tilting, and rolling when the camera head 1a is attached can be performed with the same operational feeling even when the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b are separated. .

  Finally, for confirmation, the pan direction, tilt direction, and roll direction will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating each of the pan direction, the tilt direction, and the roll direction.

  FIG. 7A shows which direction the pan direction is operated, and FIG. 7B shows which direction the tilt direction is operated. FIG. 7C shows in which direction the roll direction is operated.

  The field frame of the camera head 1a is shown at the left end of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the posture in which the camera body 1b is originally set is shown, and the direction operated at the time of shooting is shown on the left side of the posture.

  Further, FIG. 7C shows the roll direction operated at the right end, and shows the posture originally held on the left side.

  When performing the panning shown in FIG. 7A, hold the camera body in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7A (the camera body is in the posture shown in the left end of FIG. 7A, and set the center AXIS in the width direction as the axis. When the best composition is obtained while the camera body 1b is swung, the shutter button 13b is pressed to take a picture.

  Therefore, as described above, in the camera system 1 of the present embodiment, the angular velocity sensor 28b is provided in addition to the acceleration sensor 27b so that the rotational state of the camera body 1b can be sensitively detected by the angular velocity sensor 28b. ing.

  If the angular velocity sensor 28b is provided in this manner, the attitude of the camera head 1a can be adjusted with good response in tilting and rolling as in panning, and the response of the motor in the pan head 21a is increased. As long as this is done, it is possible to perform shooting with an operation feeling that is as close as possible to the same feeling as when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b.

  The switching of the switch 29b is the same as the state in which the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b when the subject captured by the camera head 1a is quite different from the photographer's field of view as described above. If you want to shoot with a sense, switch to the absolute (Abs) side, and look at the camera head 1a side without looking at the camera head 1a side, as if the camera head is mounted You can shoot like this.

  Further, when the subject captured by the camera head substantially matches the field of view from the camera body side, shooting can be performed while actually looking at the subject, so the switch 29b is switched to the increment (Inc) side and the cross key The composition may be determined while operating 19b.

  A magnetic azimuth sensor may be used instead of the angular velocity sensor 28b.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration when the camera body 1bb has the function of the body-side adapter 2b shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration inside the camera body 1bb.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the functions of the main body side adapter 2b shown in FIG. 6 (the main body side signal mediating unit 22bb, the communication unit 21bb, the acceleration sensor 27bb, and the angular velocity sensor 28bb) are arranged inside the camera main body 1bb and are shown in FIG. As shown, the main body side adapter is omitted and only the camera main body 1bb is simplified. You may do this.

  As described above, a camera system that can shoot with the same operating feeling as when the camera head is attached to the camera body and shooting is performed even when the camera head and camera body are separated is realized. To do.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera system which is one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a state when a camera head is mounted | worn with a camera main body. It is a block diagram which shows an electric system when the camera head 1a exists in the state with which the camera main body 1b was mounted | worn. It is a figure which shows the structure of the camera system which is one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state by which the camera head and the camera main body were arrange | positioned separately. It is the figure which looked at the state of FIG. 3 from the side, and the figure which shows the structure of the back surface of a camera main body. It is a figure which shows the structure inside a camera head and a head side adapter when it exists in the state arrange | positioned separately as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure inside a camera main body and a main body side adapter when it exists in the state arrange | positioned separately as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. It is a figure explaining each of a pan direction, a tilt direction, and a roll direction. It is a figure which shows the structure at the time of giving a camera main body the function of a main body side adapter. It is a figure which shows the structure inside a camera main body shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 camera system 1a camera head 11a photographing optical system 12a CCD
13a CDS
14a A / D section 15a High-speed serial I / F
150a Low speed serial I / F
16a Integration block 17a TG
18a SDRAM
19a Head CPU
191a FlashROM
195a Power management unit 196a DC / DC converter 1b Camera body 100b Body CPU
101b FlashROM
102b High-speed serial I / F
103b Signal processor 104b SDRAM
105b Display control unit 1060b LCD driver 1061b EVF driver 107b LCD
108b EVF
1091b JPEG compression / decompression unit 1092b Media control unit 1093b Card slot 110 Low-speed serial I / F
180b Power management unit 181b DC / DC converter SW switch Bt battery

Claims (8)

A camera head including a photographic lens and an image sensor;
A camera body that detachably mounts the camera head, receives an image signal from the mounted camera head, and performs signal processing;
A head unit having a head unit on which a camera head separated from the camera body is detachably mounted instead of the camera body, and a head side receiving unit for receiving an operation signal from the camera body side; Prepared,
The camera body is
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the camera body;
A main body side transmission unit that transmits an operation signal corresponding to the posture detected by the posture detection unit toward the head side adapter,
The head side adapter includes a pan head control unit that drives the pan head unit based on an operation signal received by the head side receiving unit and controls the posture of the camera head mounted on the pan head unit. A camera system characterized by that. The camera body displaces the posture of the camera head mounted on the camera platform to a posture corresponding to the operation of the operation element provided in the camera body, or to a posture corresponding to the posture of the camera body itself. It is equipped with a changeover switch that switches between displacement and
In addition to the operation signal, the main body side transmission unit further transmits switching information of the changeover switch toward the head side adapter,
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera platform controller drives the camera platform based on the operation signal and further based on the switching information.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the posture detection means includes a triaxial acceleration sensor.   2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the posture detection means further includes a magnetic azimuth sensor or an angular velocity sensor in addition to the triaxial acceleration sensor. A camera head including a photographic lens and an image sensor;
A camera body that detachably mounts the camera head, receives an image signal from the mounted camera head, and performs signal processing;
A head-side adapter having a pan head part in which a camera head separated from the camera body is detachably mounted in place of the camera body, and a head-side receiving part for receiving an operation signal from the camera body side;
A main body side adapter that is detachably attached to the camera main body in a state separated from the camera head instead of the camera head;
The main body side adapter is
Posture detection means for detecting the posture of the main body side adapter;
A main body side transmission unit that transmits an operation signal corresponding to the posture detected by the posture detection means toward the head side adapter;
The head side adapter includes a pan head control unit that drives the pan head unit based on an operation signal received by the head side receiving unit to control the posture of the camera head mounted on the pan head unit. A camera system characterized by that. The main body side adapter is
Switch between the posture of the camera head mounted on the camera platform to a posture corresponding to the operation of the operation element provided on the camera body or a posture corresponding to the posture of the camera body itself. It has a changeover switch,
In addition to the operation signal, the main body side transmission unit further transmits switching information of the changeover switch toward the head side adapter,
The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the camera platform controller drives the camera platform based on the operation signal and further based on the switching information.   6. The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the posture detection means includes a triaxial acceleration sensor. 6. The camera system according to claim 5, wherein the posture detection means further includes a magnetic direction sensor or an angular velocity sensor in addition to the triaxial acceleration sensor.

Images