JPH07288723A - Remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that makes it extremely easy to perform an operation of capturing an object to be monitored on a display screen. [Structure] Control panel 10 and device 1 for sending to communication path 12
4, a device 16 for receiving, a camera 18 for stopping the movement of the visual field according to a stop instruction, a device 20 for processing, and a device 22 for displaying an image.
4, a cutout unit 26, a sending unit 28 for sending, a moving unit 30 for moving and setting at the same speed, and a setting unit 32 for setting.
The operation stop is cut out, the moving unit 30, and the setting unit 3
2 and a control unit 36 for instructing the camera to move the visual field to a position where the region is arranged in the center of the captured image when the screen movement stop instruction is transmitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system in which a field of view of a camera is moved in accordance with an input operation of an operator and a captured image of the camera is displayed and output to the operator.

This type of system is used for remote monitoring of sites such as dams and roads.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art An instruction transmitting device (TC device) is connected to an operation panel provided with a joystick, and an instruction receiving device (TC) is connected to the instruction transmitting device via a communication path (communication cable).
Device).

Further, a camera (ITV camera) is connected to the instruction receiving device, the camera is connected to an image reproducing device,
The image reproduction device is connected to the monitor screen display device (monitor TV). The monitoring screen display device is installed near the operation panel.

The operator operates the joystick on the operation panel to input an instruction to start screen movement to the operation panel, and the operation panel gives this instruction to the camera via the instruction transmitting device, the communication path, and the instruction receiving device.

The camera starts moving the field of view (changing the direction of directivity) in accordance with the given start instruction for moving the screen, and the image reproducing apparatus receives the signal of the photographed image output by the camera and performs the reproduction process thereof. The monitor screen display device displays the image of the entire field of view of the camera by the output of the image reproducing device.

The worker is gazing at the image displayed by the monitoring screen display device, and when the portion to be monitored is displayed,
Operate the joystick to input a command to stop moving the screen to the operation panel.

The operation panel gives this stop instruction to the camera via the instruction transmitting device, the communication path, and the instruction receiving device, and the camera stops the movement of the visual field in accordance with the screen movement stop instruction given by the operator.

[0009]

It takes time to transmit signals between the operation panel and the camera and between the camera and the monitor screen display device,
Therefore, the movement of the visual field of the camera is delayed with respect to the joystick operation (in many cases, delayed by several seconds), and a screen past the portion to be monitored is often displayed.

Therefore, the operation of the joystick for returning the camera is repeated in order to capture the target portion in the display screen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a system in which an operation of capturing an object to be monitored on a display screen is extremely easy.

[0012]

FIG. 2 illustrates the overall configuration of a system according to the present invention. In the system shown in FIG. 2, an operation of sending a screen movement start instruction and a screen movement stop instruction in accordance with an input operation by an operator. The panel 10 and the instruction transmitting device 14 for receiving the instruction transmitted from the operation panel 10 and transmitting it to the communication path 12.
And an instruction receiving device 16 that receives the instruction sent by the instruction transmitting device 14 from the communication path 12, and a movement of the field of view according to the start instruction of the screen movement received by the instruction receiving device 16 from the communication path 12, and according to the stop instruction. The camera 18 that stops the movement of the field of view, the image processing device 20 that processes the image captured by the camera 18 according to the instruction sent by the operation panel 10, and the image processing device 20 that is provided near the operation panel 10 and sends the image. The monitoring screen display device 22 that displays an image.

FIG. 1 illustrates a main configuration of a system according to the present invention. An image processing apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a captured image storage unit 24 for receiving and storing images captured by a camera 18, and a captured image storage unit 24. An area cutout unit 26 that cuts out a fixed-size area from the latest image stored in the image storage unit 24, a cutout image sending unit 28 that sends out the image area cut out by the area cutout unit 26 to the monitoring screen display device 22, and an operation. Board 1
0 sends the screen movement start instruction,
The camera 18 newly takes a picture from the time when the cut-out area moving unit 30 that sets the cut-out position of the area at the same speed in the direction in which the field of view 8 moves and the operation panel 10 sends a screen movement start instruction. Every time the captured image storage unit 24 receives an image, a cutout region setting unit 32 that sets the region to a corresponding position in the image, and a region cutout when the operation panel 10 sends a screen movement stop instruction. When the screen cut-out control unit 34 commands the cut-out region moving unit 30 and the cut-out region setting unit 32 to stop the region cutout unit 26 and to stop the setting, and when the operation panel 10 sends a screen movement stop instruction, And a camera return control unit 36 for instructing the camera 18 to move the visual field to a position where the area is arranged in the center of the image captured by the camera 18.

[0014]

The operator operates the operation panel 10 (such as the joystick), and in this operation, the start instruction for moving the screen is transmitted from the operation panel 10 to the camera 18 via the instruction transmitting device 14, the communication path 12, and the instruction receiving device 16. Given to.

The camera 18 starts moving the field of view (changing the direction of directivity) in accordance with the given screen movement start instruction, outputs the photographed image to the image processing apparatus 20, and then the image processing apparatus 2
The captured image storage unit 24 of 0 receives and stores captured images output by the camera 18.

The area cutout unit 26 of the image processing apparatus 20 cuts out a fixed-size area from the latest image stored in the captured image storage unit 24, and the cutout image transmission unit 28 of the image processing apparatus 20 cuts out the area cutout unit 26. The image area is sent to the monitor screen display device 22.

The cut-out area moving section 30 is provided on the operation panel 1.
The camera 1 starts from the time 0 sends the screen movement start instruction.
The cutting position of the area is set to move at the same speed in the direction in which the visual field of 8 moves.

Further, the cut-out area setting unit 32 outputs an image newly captured by the camera 18 each time the captured image storage unit 24 receives the image captured by the operation panel 10 from the time when the operation panel 10 sends a screen movement start instruction. The area is set at the corresponding position.

The monitor screen display device 22 is provided in the vicinity of the operation panel 10, and the cut-out image sending section 2 of the image processing device 20 is provided.
8 displays the image area sent out. The operator looks at the screen displayed by the monitoring screen display device 22 and, when the portion to be monitored is displayed, operates the operation panel 10 to send an instruction to stop moving the screen.

The instruction to stop moving the screen sent from the operation panel 10 (such as J-stick) is sent by the instruction transmitting device 14,
It is given to the camera 20 via the communication path 12 and the instruction receiving device 16, and the camera 20 stops the movement of the visual field in accordance with the given stop instruction of the screen movement.

The screen movement stop instruction sent from the operation panel 10 is also received by the screen stop control section 34 and the camera return control section 36 of the image processing apparatus 20, and the screen stop control section 34 causes the operation panel 10 to operate. When the command for stopping the screen movement is sent by the commander, the area cutout unit 26, the cutout area moving unit 30, and the cutout area setting unit 32 are instructed to stop the operation (see FIG. 3 above).

The camera return control section 36 is provided on the operation panel 1
When 0 sends an instruction to stop moving the screen, the camera 18
The camera 18 is instructed to move the field of view to the position where the area is arranged in the center of the captured image of.

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation when the operation panel 10 sends a screen movement stop instruction, and the screen stop control unit 34 performs the area cutout stop for the area cutout unit 26.
To the area moving section 30
To the cut-out area setting unit 32 to instruct the cut-out area setting unit 32, so that the monitoring screen display device 22 is operated at the time when the operator operates the operation panel 10 to send a stop instruction for moving the screen.
Is immediately stopped (however, the movement of the visual field of the camera 18 is continued for a few seconds due to a signal delay and then stopped).

Further, the camera return control unit 36 controls the camera 18
Since the camera 18 is instructed to move the visual field to the position where the area is arranged in the center of the image captured by the camera 18,
Is returned to the position at which the operation panel 10 issued the screen movement stop instruction.

[0025]

EXAMPLE FIG. 2 shows the overall construction of the example.
The system includes an operation panel 10, an instruction transmitting device 14 (TC device), an instruction receiving device 16 (TC device), a camera 18 (I
It has a TV camera), an image processing device 20, and a monitor screen display device 22 (monitor TV), and the instruction transmitting device 14 and the instruction receiving device 16 are connected by a communication path 12 (communication cable).

The operation panel 10 sends a screen movement start instruction and a screen movement stop instruction in response to an operator's input operation (operating a joystick or the like), and the instruction transmitting device 14 receives the instruction sent by the operation panel 10 and receives a communication path. Send to 12.

The instruction receiving device 16 receives the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitting device 14 from the communication path 12, and the camera 18 starts moving the visual field in accordance with the screen movement start instruction received by the instruction receiving device 16 from the communication path 12. , Stop moving the field of view according to the stop instruction.

The image processing device 20 processes the image photographed by the camera 18 according to the instruction sent from the operation panel 10, and the monitoring screen display device 22 is provided near the operation panel 10 and sent by the image processing device 20. Display an image.

In FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 20 includes a captured image storage unit 24, a region cutout unit 26, a cutout image transmission unit 28, a cutout region moving unit 30, a cutout region setting unit 32, a screen stop control unit 34, and a camera return. Control unit 3
6 is provided.

The captured image storage unit 24 receives and stores the images captured by the camera 18 (the captured image storage unit 24 can store the number of images for several seconds), and the area cutout unit 26 stores the captured image storage unit 24. The cut-out image sending unit 28 cuts out a fixed-size area from the latest image accumulated in the image (see FIG. 3).
Sends the image area cut out by the area cutout unit 26 to the monitoring screen display device 22.

Further, the cut-out area moving unit 30 is the operation panel 10
From when the screen transmission start instruction was sent by the camera 18
The operation of moving and setting the area at the same speed in the direction in which the field of view moves is started (see FIG. 3).

The cut-out area setting unit 32 receives a new image captured by the camera 18 each time the captured image storage unit 24 receives the image from the operation panel 10 when the operation panel 10 sends an instruction to start moving the screen. An operation of setting the area is performed (see FIG. 3).

Further, the screen stop control section 34 is provided on the operation panel 10.
When it sends a screen movement stop instruction, the area cutout unit 26 is instructed to stop the cutout of the area, the cutout area moving unit 30 is instructed to stop the movement setting, and the cutout area setting unit is set to stop the area setting. 32 (see FIG. 4).

Then, the camera return control unit 36 is operated by the operation panel 1
When 0 sends an instruction to stop moving the screen, the camera 18
The camera 18 is instructed to move the visual field to the position where the area is arranged in the center of the image captured by the camera 18 (see FIG. 4).

When confirming that the movement of the visual field is completed, the screen stop control section 34 releases the stop command to the area cutout section 26, the cutout area moving section 30, and the cutout area setting section 32, and the operations thereof are performed. Let it start.

This embodiment is constructed as described above,
The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The captured image storage unit 24 receives and stores the image captured by the camera 18, and the region cutout unit 26 cuts out a fixed-size region from the latest image stored in the captured image storage unit 24. Since the image area cut out by the area cutout unit 26 is sent to the monitoring screen display device 22, the camera 18
The image area cut out from the latest image captured by the camera 18 is displayed on the monitor screen display device 22 while the camera is stationary.

Here, when a worker operates the operation panel 10 to give an instruction to start screen movement from the operation panel 10 to the camera 18 via the instruction transmitting device 14, the communication path 12, and the instruction receiving device 16, the camera is operated. Reference numeral 18 denotes movement of the visual field (changing the pointing direction: FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) in accordance with the given start instruction for moving the screen.
Then turn to the right).

The area cutout unit 26 of the image processing apparatus 20 cuts out a fixed size area from the latest image stored in the captured image storage unit 24, and the cutout image transmission unit 28 monitors the image area cut out by the area cutout unit 26. Screen display device 22
The cut-out area moving unit 30 moves the area in the direction in which the field of view of the camera 18 moves at the same speed, and the cut-out area setting unit 32 displays the image newly captured by the camera 18 in the captured image storage unit 24. Each time it is received, the area is set to the corresponding position in this image.

Therefore, even while the camera 18 is moving its field of view, the image area cut out from the latest image taken by the camera 18 is displayed in real time on the monitor screen display device 22.

During this time, the operator is gazing at the display screen of the monitor screen display device 22, and when the portion to be monitored is displayed, the operator operates the operation panel 10 to send an instruction to stop moving the screen.

The screen movement stop instruction sent from the operation panel 10 is the instruction transmitting device 14, the communication path 12, and the instruction receiving device 1.
When given to the camera 18 via 6, the camera 20 stops the movement of the visual field in accordance with the given screen movement stop instruction.

Further, the screen movement stop instruction sent from the operation panel 10 is also received by the screen stop control unit 34 and the camera return control unit 36 of the image processing apparatus 20, and the screen stop control unit 34 detects the operation stop as the area cutout unit. 26 and cutout area moving unit 3
0 and the cutout area setting unit 32 are instructed.

Therefore, when the worker performs an operation for sending a screen movement stop instruction on the operation panel 10, the display of the monitor screen display device 22 immediately stops, and the worker performs the monitoring included in the display. Focus on the part of interest.

However, the movement of the field of view of the camera 18 is continued for several seconds due to a signal transmission delay, and then stops (overruns), so that the camera return control unit 36 moves the center of the image taken by the camera 18 to the above-mentioned position. The camera 18 is instructed to move the visual field to the position where the area is arranged, and the camera 18 is returned to the position where the screen movement stop instruction was sent.

When it is confirmed that the movement of the field of view of the camera 18 is completed, the screen stop control unit 34 releases the stop command to the area cutout unit 26, the cutout area moving unit 30, and the cutout area setting unit 32 ( Since these operations are started, the real-time display of the monitor screen display device 22 is restarted after a short rest period, so that the display makes the operator feel uncomfortable. There is no.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the overrun of the camera movement with respect to the operation of sending the screen movement stop instruction is absorbed, the operation of catching the monitoring target on the display screen is extremely difficult. It will be easy.

Further, the image processing apparatus 20 can be provided by adding an image memory to the conventional image reproducing apparatus and making a slight modification.
Since the above can be configured, the system configuration can be used as it is without changing the conventional operability.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, the overrun amount of the camera movement in response to the operation of instructing to stop the movement of the screen is absorbed, so that the monitored object can be captured in the display screen very easily. This makes it possible to significantly enhance the operability of the system.

In addition, the existing system can be used as it is as a system to which the present invention is applied without changing the operability by merely making a slight modification such as adding an image memory.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Operation Panel 12 Communication Channel 14 Instruction Transmitting Device 16 Instruction Receiving Device 18 Camera 20 Image Processing Device 22 Monitoring Screen Display Device 24 Captured Image Storage Unit 26 Area Cutout Section 28 Cutout Image Sending Section 30 Cutout Area Moving Section 32 Cutout Area Setting Section 34 Screen stop controller 36 Camera return controller

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operation panel (10) for transmitting a screen movement start instruction and a screen movement stop instruction according to an input operation of an operator, and a communication path (1) for receiving an instruction transmitted by the operation panel (10).
2) The instruction transmitting device (14) for transmitting to the communication path (12) and the instruction transmitted by the instruction transmitting device (14)
An instruction receiving device (16) that receives from the camera, and a camera that starts moving the visual field according to the instruction to start moving the screen received by the instruction receiving device (16) from the communication path (12) and stops moving the visual field according to the stop instruction ( 18), an image processing device (20) for processing an image captured by the camera (18) according to an instruction sent by the operation panel (10), and an image processing device (20) provided near the operation panel (10). )
Screen display device (22) for displaying images sent by
The image processing device (20) includes a captured image storage unit (24) for receiving and storing images captured by the camera (18), and the latest image stored in the captured image storage unit (24). An area cutout unit (26) for cutting out a fixed-size area from the image, and a cutout image sending unit (2) for sending the image area cut out by the area cutout unit (26) to the monitoring screen display device (22).
8) and a cut-out area moving unit that sets the cut-out position of the area at the same speed in the direction in which the field of view of the camera (18) moves from when the operation panel (10) sends a screen movement start instruction. 30) and the operation panel (10) sends a screen movement start instruction, each time the captured image storage unit (24) receives an image newly captured by the camera (18), the corresponding image in the image is captured. When the cutout area setting unit (32) that sets the area to the position and the operation panel (10) send a screen movement stop instruction, the area cutout unit 26 is instructed to stop the area cutout, and the setting is stopped. Screen stop control unit (3) for instructing the cutout region moving unit (30) and the cutout region setting unit (32)
4) and when the operation panel (10) sends a screen movement stop instruction, the camera (18) is instructed to move the visual field to a position where the area is arranged in the center of the image captured by the camera (18). A remote monitoring system comprising: a camera return control unit (36) for