Dome-shaped camera

The present invention relates to a dome-shaped camera provided with a dome cover covering a camera unit, and more particularly to a dome-shaped camera having improved impact resistance.

A dome-shaped camera is a camera device provided with a dome cover that protects a camera unit, and is installed on the ceiling or wall of a facility or building (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Such a dome-shaped camera is often used as a surveillance camera, but in that case, it may be attacked by a suspicious person who does not like being monitored. Therefore, a dome-shaped camera used as a surveillance camera is required to have improved impact resistance (see, for example, Patent Document 3).<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-356668</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-356669</text></patcit><patcit num="3"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-174572</text></patcit>

By the way, in some conventional dome-type cameras, the dome cover is smoked to make it difficult to understand the direction (surveillance direction) of the camera to improve crime prevention. However, if the dome cover is smoked, the sensitivity of the camera may be insufficient depending on the lighting environment. Therefore, a dome-shaped camera having a double-layered dome cover (with an inner cover and an outer cover) has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4). In this dome-shaped camera, an inner cover is provided inside the transparent outer cover, and the inner cover is provided with a window portion for securing the field of view of the camera.<patcit num="4"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-227994</text></patcit>

In general, in a conventional dome-shaped camera, the inner cover is attached to a pan table, and although the inner cover follows the rotation of the camera in the pan direction, it follows the rotation of the camera in the tilt direction. I couldn't. Therefore, in the conventional dome-shaped camera, a notch in the tilt direction is provided in the window portion of the inner cover in order to secure the field of view of the camera rotating in the tilt direction.

<p> However, in the conventional dome type camera, the inner cover is fixed to the pan table with a relatively simple structure (for example, by engaging with an engaging claw). Therefore, when the dome cover is hit or otherwise attacked, the impact force of the dome cover causes the inner cover to be unfixed, which may make it impossible to continue shooting with the camera.</p><p> The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dome-shaped camera having improved impact resistance.</p>

<p> The dome-shaped camera of the present invention is a dome-shaped camera including a main body having a camera unit and a dome cover covering the camera unit, and the main body rotatably supports the camera unit in the tilt direction. The dome includes a tilt table, a pan table that rotatably supports the tilt table that supports the camera unit in the pan direction, and an elastic member that urges the tilt table in a direction opposite to the pan table. The cover includes an inner cover that covers the camera unit and an outer cover that covers the inner cover, and the tilt table can move in the direction of the pan table against the elastic force of the elastic member. The inner cover has a configuration attached to the tilt table.</p><p> With this configuration, when the dome cover of a dome-shaped camera is beaten and the outer cover is dented, if the dent of the outer cover hits the inner cover, the impact force of the beating is transmitted to the inner cover through the outer cover. The inner cover moves in the direction of the pan table while elastically deforming the elastic member together with the tilt table. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner cover from coming off due to the impact force of the beating being absorbed. Further, when the impact force of the beating is attenuated, the tilt table returns to the original position together with the inner cover due to the elastic force of the elastic member, and the camera unit can continue shooting.</p><p> Further, in the dome-shaped camera of the present invention, the inner cover includes a window portion provided at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the camera unit and an impact resistant portion provided around the window portion. The window portion has a configuration that does not have a notch in the tilt direction.</p><p> With this configuration, since the window portion of the inner cover is not provided with a notch in the tilt direction, the strength of the impact resistant portion around the window portion is increased, and the impact resistance of the inner cover is improved. Generally, it is the zenith of the dome cover (outer cover) that is prone to dent when the dome cover is beaten. A dome-shaped camera equipped with a tilt function often shoots with the camera unit tilted, but when the dome cover is hit and the zenith of the outer cover is dented in that state, it faces diagonally. The impact force of the beating will be applied to the camera unit from the zenith direction. That is, the impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit from an oblique direction. In this case, an inner cover is attached to the camera unit, and the inner cover is provided with an impact resistant portion around the window portion in the shooting direction of the camera unit, so that the inner cover is applied from an oblique direction. The impact force can be received by the high-strength impact-resistant part. In this case, since the inner cover is attached to the tilt table, it is sufficient that the window portion of the inner cover is provided only at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the camera unit. That is, when the camera unit tilts and rotates, the tilt table and the inner cover rotate together with the camera unit, so that the field of view of the camera unit is always secured by the window portion of the inner cover.</p><p> Further, in the dome-shaped camera of the present invention, the shape of the impact-resistant portion is a curved surface shape that converts the direction of the force applied from the zenith portion of the outer cover to the impact-resistant portion of the inner cover in the direction of the pan table. It has a configuration that is.</p><p> With this configuration, when the impact force of the beating is transmitted to the inner cover through the outer cover, the direction of the impact force is changed to the direction of the pan table. That is, as described above, it is the zenith of the dome cover (outer cover) that is likely to be dented when the dome cover is beaten. A dome-shaped camera equipped with a tilt function often shoots with the camera unit tilted, but when the dome cover is hit and the zenith of the outer cover is dented in that state, it faces diagonally. The impact force of the beating will be applied to the camera unit from the zenith direction. That is, the impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit from an oblique direction. In this case, when the dome cover of the dome-shaped camera is beaten and the outer cover is dented, if the dent of the outer cover hits the impact-resistant part of the inner cover, the force applied from the zenith of the outer cover to the impact-resistant part is applied. The orientation is converted to the pan table orientation. Therefore, even if the impact force of the beating is applied while facing the diagonal direction, the inner cover moves while elastically deforming the elastic member in the direction of the pan table, whereby the impact force of the beating is absorbed and the inner cover is absorbed. You can prevent the cover from coming off.</p><p> Further, in the dome-shaped camera of the present invention, the inner cover has a configuration in which reinforcing ribs are provided at positions corresponding to the impact-resistant portions.</p><p> With this configuration, the impact resistant portion of the inner cover is reinforced by ribs, and the rigidity of the inner cover is increased. As a result, the impact resistance of the inner cover is further improved.</p>

<p> INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide a dome-shaped camera which can absorb the impact force when the dome cover is hit, prevent the inner cover from coming off, and have the effect of improving the impact resistance. is there.</p>

Hereinafter, the dome-shaped camera according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the case of a dome-shaped camera used as a surveillance camera or the like will be illustrated.

The configuration of the dome-shaped camera of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are exploded perspective views for explaining the configuration of the dome-shaped camera (FIG. 1 shows a state in which the outer cover is removed, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the inner cover is removed. Shows). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dome-shaped camera 1 includes a main body 3 having a camera unit 2 and a double-structured dome cover 4 (inner cover 5 and outer cover 6) that covers the camera unit 2. ..

The main body 3 of the dome-shaped camera 1 is provided with a base 7 fixed to a ceiling, a wall, or the like. A pan table 8 that manually rotates in the pan direction is attached to the base 7, and a tilt table 9 that manually rotates in the tilt direction is attached to the pan table 8. A camera unit 2 having an image sensor (not shown) such as a CCD or CMOS is attached to the tilt table 9. That is, the tilt table 9 is configured to rotatably support the camera unit 2 in the tilt direction, and the pan table 8 rotatably supports the tilt table 9 supporting the camera unit 2 in the pan direction. It is configured to do. Although the case of manually rotating in the pan direction and the tilt direction is illustrated here, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and a pan motor or a tilt motor is provided and the driving force of the motors is used. It may be configured to automatically rotate in the pan direction or the tilt direction.

The tilt table 9 is movably attached to the pan table 8 in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4). Specifically, a pair of columns 10 are erected on the pan table 8, and each column 10 is provided with an elongated hole 11 extending in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4). A mounting screw 12 is slidably inserted into the elongated hole 11, and the tilt table 9 is movably mounted in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) with respect to the pan table 8 by the mounting screw 12. .. One end of the coil spring 13 is fixed to the mounting screw 12, and the other end of the coil spring 13 is fixed to the pan table 8 on the root end side of the support column 10. The tilt table 9 is urged in the direction opposite to that of the pan table 8 (downward in FIG. 4) by the elastic force of the coil spring 13. That is, when the tilt table 9 moves in the direction of the pan table 8 (upward in FIG. 4), it moves against the elastic force of the coil spring 13.

The inner cover 5 is attached to the tilt table 9 and can move in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) together with the tilt table 9. Specifically, the inner cover 5 is provided with a pair of engaging claws 14 projecting outward (see FIG. 3), and the tilt table 9 is located at a position corresponding to the engaging claws 14. A pair of engaging holes 15 are provided (see FIG. 2). When the inner cover 5 is put on the camera unit 2, the engaging claw 14 of the inner cover 5 engages with the engaging hole 15 of the tilt table 9, and the inner cover 5 is fixed to the tilt table 9 (see FIG. 1). .. Here, an example in which the inner cover 5 and the tilt table 9 are fixed by engaging with the engaging claw 14 and the engaging hole 15 will be described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the inner cover 5 and the tilt table 9 may be fixed by screws or the like.

The inner cover 5 has a dome shape as a whole, and is configured to cover the camera unit 2. The inner cover 5 is provided with a window portion 16 at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the camera unit 2, and the window portion 16 secures a field of view of the camera unit 2 in the shooting direction. In this case, the window portion 16 has a circular shape and is not provided with a notch in the tilt direction as in the conventional case. An impact resistant portion 17 is provided around the window portion 16, and the impact resistant portion 17 receives the impact force applied from the oblique direction of the camera unit 2 (see FIG. 5). The impact resistant portion 17 has a curved surface shape (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and the curved surface shape directs the force applied from the zenith of the outer cover 6 to the impact resistant portion 17 in the direction of the pan table 8 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Converted to (upward in Figure 5).

As shown in FIG. 3, ribs 18 for reinforcement are provided on the inner surface of the inner cover 5. The rib 18 extends from a portion (curved surface-shaped portion) of the inner cover 5 corresponding to the impact-resistant portion 17 to a side portion (cylindrical-shaped portion) of the inner cover 5. When the inner cover 5 is put on the camera unit 2, the end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 3) of the reinforcing rib 18 is locked to the locking step portion 19 provided on the outer circumference of the tilt table 9. (See Figure 4).

The outer cover 6 includes a dome-shaped cover portion 20 and an attachment portion 21 for attaching the cover portion 20 to the base 7 of the main body 3. The cover portion 20 is a transparent or translucent plastic cover, and the cover portion 20 covers the camera unit 2 covered with the inner cover 5. In this case, the outer cover 6 covers the main body 3 of the dome-shaped camera 1 as a whole.

The operation of the dome-shaped camera 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

Hereinafter, as a characteristic operation of the present invention, an operation when the dome cover 4 is beaten and the outer cover 6 is dented while the camera unit 2 of the dome type camera 1 is tilted will be described. It is the zenith of the dome cover 4 (outer cover 6) that is easily dented when the dome cover 4 is beaten. Therefore, here, the operation when the zenith portion of the outer cover 6 is recessed will be described.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the zenith of the dome cover 4 is beaten while the camera unit 2 of the dome-shaped camera 1 is tilted at an angle, the zenith of the outer cover 6 is hit. Is dented, and the dent of the outer cover 6 hits the inner cover 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the impact force of the beating is transmitted to the inner cover 5 through the outer cover 6, and the inner cover 5 elastically deforms the coil spring 13 together with the tilt table 9 in the direction of the pan table 8 (FIG. 5). 5 up).

At this time, the recess of the outer cover 6 hits the impact resistant portion 17 of the inner cover 5, and the impact force of the beating is received by the impact resistant portion 17. When the recess of the outer cover 6 hits the impact resistant portion 17 of the inner cover 5, the direction of the force applied from the zenith of the outer cover 6 to the impact resistant portion 17 is the direction of the pan table 8 (upward in FIG. 5). ) Is converted. That is, the direction of the applied force is not converted into the force in the tangential direction of the curved surface (the direction in which the inner cover 5 is rotated in the tilt direction) due to the curved shape of the impact resistant portion 17, and is not converted into the force in the normal direction of the curved surface (inner). It is converted into a force (in the direction of pushing the cover 5 toward the pan table 8). Therefore, the inner cover 5 moves in the direction of the pan table 8 while elastically deforming the coil spring 13 together with the tilt table 9.

Then, when the impact force of the beating is attenuated, the tilt table 9 returns to the original position together with the inner cover 5 by the elastic force of the coil spring 13.

According to the dome-shaped camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the dome cover 4 is hit, the impact force can be absorbed to prevent the inner cover 5 from coming off, and the impact resistance is improved. Can be made to.

That is, in the present embodiment, when the dome cover 4 of the dome-shaped camera 1 is beaten and the outer cover 6 is dented, when the dent of the outer cover 6 hits the inner cover 5, the impact force of the beating is passed through the outer cover 6. It is transmitted to the inner cover 5, but at this time, the inner cover 5 moves in the direction of the pan table 8 while elastically deforming the elastic member together with the tilt table 9. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner cover 5 from coming off due to the impact force of the beating being absorbed. Further, when the impact force of the beating is attenuated, the tilt table 9 returns to the original position together with the inner cover 5 due to the elastic force of the elastic member, and the camera unit 2 can continue shooting.

In this case, since the window portion 16 of the inner cover 5 is not provided with a notch in the tilt direction, the strength of the impact resistant portion 17 around the window portion 16 is increased, and the impact resistance of the inner cover 5 is improved. Generally, it is the zenith of the dome cover 4 (outer cover 6) that is likely to be dented when the dome cover 4 is beaten. The dome-shaped camera 1 having a tilt function often shoots with the camera unit 2 tilted, but when the dome cover 4 is beaten and the zenith of the outer cover 6 is dented in that state, the direction is diagonal. The impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit 2 facing the camera unit 2 from the zenith direction. That is, the impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit 2 from an oblique direction. In this case, the camera unit 2 is provided with the inner cover 5, and the inner cover 5 is provided with the impact resistant portion 17 around the window portion 16 in the shooting direction of the camera unit 2. The impact force applied from an oblique direction can be received by the high-strength impact-resistant portion 17. In this case, since the inner cover 5 is attached to the tilt table 9, it is sufficient that the window portion 16 of the inner cover 5 is provided only at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the camera unit 2. That is, when the camera unit 2 tilts and rotates, the tilt table 9 and the inner cover 5 rotate together with the camera unit 2, so that the field of view of the camera unit 2 is always secured by the window portion 16 of the inner cover 5.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the impact force of the beating is transmitted to the inner cover 5 through the outer cover 6, the direction of the impact force is changed to the direction of the pan table 8. That is, as described above, it is the zenith of the dome cover 4 (outer cover 6) that is likely to be dented when the dome cover 4 is beaten. The dome-shaped camera 1 having a tilt function often shoots with the camera unit 2 tilted, but when the dome cover 4 is beaten and the zenith of the outer cover 6 is dented in that state, the direction is diagonal. The impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit 2 facing the camera unit 2 from the zenith direction. That is, the impact force of the beating is applied to the camera unit 2 from an oblique direction. In this case, when the dome cover 4 of the dome-shaped camera 1 is beaten and the outer cover 6 is dented, if the dent of the outer cover 6 hits the impact-resistant portion 17 of the inner cover 5, the impact-resistant portion from the zenith of the outer cover 6 The direction of the force applied to the part 17 is converted to the direction of the pan table 8. Therefore, even if the impact force of the beating is applied while facing the diagonal direction, the inner cover 5 moves in the direction of the pan table 8 while elastically deforming the elastic member, whereby the impact force of the beating is absorbed. It is possible to prevent the inner cover 5 from coming off.

Further, in the present embodiment, the impact resistant portion 17 of the inner cover 5 is reinforced by the rib 18, and the rigidity of the inner cover 5 is increased. As a result, the impact resistance of the inner cover 5 is further improved. In this case, the end portion of the rib 18 is locked to the locking step portion 19 of the tilt table 9, and the impact force transmitted to the inner cover 5 is received. Therefore, the rib 18 also plays a role of preventing the inner cover 5 from coming off.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above by way of illustration, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these, and can be changed or modified according to an object within the scope described in the claims. is there.

For example, in the above description, an example in which the coil spring 13 is used as the elastic member of the present invention has been described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, and the tilt table 9 is in the opposite direction to the pan table 8. As long as it has a function of urging, it can be carried out in the same manner by using other members.

As described above, the dome-shaped camera according to the present invention has an effect of improving impact resistance and is useful as a surveillance camera or the like.

<figref num="1">An exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the dome-shaped camera in the present embodiment.</figref><figref num="2">An exploded perspective view for explaining the configuration of a dome-shaped camera</figref><figref num="3">Perspective view of the inner cover when viewed from the back side</figref><figref num="4">Side view of dome camera</figref><figref num="5">Side view for explaining the operation when the dome type camera is beaten</figref>

1 Domed camera 2 camera unit 3 body 4 Dome cover 5 Inner cover 6 Outer cover 8 bread table 9 Tilt table 13 Coil spring 16 windows 17 Impact resistant part 18 ribs