1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote-shooting apparatus, in which a lens unit and a main body of a camera are isolated and are provided with interoperative remote-shooting function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally there is known a technique that image information of a camera with transmission capability can be remote-controlled while watching the image displayed on a monitor at a location some distance away from the camera.
For example, a video camera can be controlled on hand while watching an image being shot by the video camera in real time. Particularly, such a video camera has a video camera section with transmission capability and a monitor section. The monitor section receives an image from the video camera section and transmits a signal to remote-control the operation status of the video camera. The video camera is configured in such a way that both sections are provided separately, and that a recording means and an optical system installed in the video camera can be remote-controlled while the image is being monitored (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-32844).
However, the above technique is applied to a video camera apparatus used for shooting moving images, and needs a separated command input device. Therefore the apparatus is heavy and complicated.
Alternatively, there is a camera position transformation device which adjusts a viewing angle such as pan and tilt using remote-controlled operation (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-18964).
The device uses a common motor and transmission mechanism for adjusting panning (right and left moving angle) and tilting (elevation angle) of a camera. The device is a pan head (a tripod head) in which a planetary gear is used as transmission mechanism. Destination of power transmission automatically changes depending on the rotation of a motor (counterclockwise or clockwise), thereby controlling the position of the camera.
Further, there is a technique by which a user can remote-control operation of a pan-tilter, on which a video camera is mounted, as well as operation of the camera while watching an image displayed on a monitor on hand (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-121215).
According to the above technique, a display section is provided on a remote control section of the pan-tilter on which a video camera with panning, tilting and zoom capabilities is mounted. The display section shows the image equivalent to the one viewed through a viewfinder of the video camera. The technique is to be applied to the video camera for a burglar alarm system.
Further, there is an image data wireless transmission apparatus which enables remote control while watching a display monitor (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-239292).
The apparatus has an image-taking device such as a camera mounted on a pan head, an image transfer section, and a display monitor. The image transfer section further has an operation section to control operation of a TV camera such as panning, tilting, zooming and focusing, and a shift section between a remote mode and local mode, so that the angle and focusing of the camera can be easily set when camera is mounted.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a technique which enables remote operation and a remote-shooting system while watching a monitor display using a compact camera and simple accessories without a heavy remote controller of a video camera or structurally complicated pan-tilt mechanism.
The present invention provides a remote-shooting apparatus with the following technique. In a remote-shooting apparatus having a lens unit and a camera body, the lens unit incorporating an image pickup device and an image pickup processing circuit which communicates with and transfers an image to the camera body via a connector in a mount, the camera body incorporating a monitor section and an operation section, the apparatus having:
According to the present invention, a camera body is a remote controller with a monitor. A lens unit and a camera body are respectively equipped with a transmission unit and a reception unit, enabling remote-shooting.
In the remote-shooting apparatus, a reception unit is connected to the camera body to make the camera body act as a remote controller which monitors an image, selects a shooting mode and controls various operations such as release. Therefore the camera body itself can act as a controller for remote-shooting, eliminating the need for providing an exclusive controller.
In addition, in the remote-shooting apparatus, the lens unit, without a power-zoom function, has a device to link a zoom-driving gear of the transmission unit to a gear provided on outer/inner circumference of a ring for zoom operation in order to realize remote-controlled zoom operation. A zoom actuator is provided in the transmission section, thereby eliminating the need for a zoom actuator in a lens.
In the remote-shooting apparatus according to present invention, the reception unit is of nearly identical shape with the lens unit to have all or part of a focus ring, a zoom ring, and an aperture ring. Therefore, a user can operate the reception unit easily just like operating a lens unit and manual operation is to be automatically linked to remote operation, making shift of operation prompt and easy. In this way, a reception unit of similar shape with a lens unit offers ease of use and user-friendliness.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique which enables remote operation and a remote-shooting system while watching a monitor display using a compact camera and simple accessories without a heavy remote controller of a video camera or structurally complicated pan-tilt mechanism.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.
As shown in
According to the present invention, an image pickup device, which is obtained by connecting a transmission unit 30 to a lens unit 10 shown in
Remote-shooting is performed using the remote controller shown in
A signal sent from a camera body 20 to a transmission unit 30 causes a driving device 60 annexed to a transmission unit 30 to move, leading to transmission of rotation force from a pinion 64 to a gear 54. A gear 54 selects from a focus ring 51, a zoom ring 52 and an aperture ring 54 to cause it to move for the purpose of desired adjustment. Although
When a lens unit 10 and a transmission unit are connected by fitting a mount 32 in
Similarly a focus ring 51 and an aperture rig 53 may be selected to be driven.
The focus ring 51, the zoom ring 52 and the aperture ring 53 of a lens unit 10 at a location some distance away from a user is remote-controlled by manually operating the focus ring 45, the zoom ring 46 and the aperture ring 47 of a reception unit 40 provided on its outer circumference, which is easy to operate just like operating an outer circumference of a lens unit. In this way, a user can operate remote-controlled shooting easily as if he/she were shooting by holding an ordinary camera.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2004-091293 | Mar 2004 | JP | national |