Television – Camera – system and detail – Remote control
Reexamination Certificate
1995-11-28
2002-06-04
Ho, Tuan (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Remote control
C348S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06400401
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is ideal for use in camera control for a case where a computer, to which a camera apparatus capable of being subjected to panning, tilting and zooming control is connected, as well as other computers on a network, remotely controls the camera apparatus. This art can be applied to desktop video conferences, surveillance cameras and the like.
A method of camera control in a video conference system or system of surveillance cameras using camera apparatus whose panning, tilting and zooming operations are capable of being controlled is as shown in FIG.
1
. Specifically, a control panel window (hereinafter referred to as a “control window”)
54
for controlling the state of a camera apparatus (not shown) is displayed on a screen
50
a
of a display unit
50
. This window is separate from a motion-picture window
52
which displays a motion image obtained from the camera apparatus. Panning, tilting and zooming can be controlled by using a mouse (not shown) or the like to operate the control window
54
.
In a case where the motion-picture display window
52
and control window
54
are presented separately on the screen
50
a
of the display unit
50
in a video conference system or surveillance camera system based upon use of a computer, it is difficult to view both of the windows
52
,
54
simultaneously. Accordingly, one's view direction is directed toward either of the windows when the state of the camera apparatus is controlled. If view of direction is directed toward the motion-picture window
52
, mistakes tend to be made in terms of operating the control window
54
. If view of direction is directed toward the control window, it is very difficult to perform control so as to make the camera follow up the motion of a human being or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a control system for controlling a camera apparatus in which it is possible to control the operation of the camera apparatus in simple fashion merely by directing one's view of direction toward one window and not other windows.
Another object of the present invention is to improve the operability of control for moving the camera apparatus.
According to the present invention, the foregoing objects are attained by providing a camera capable of being moved in prescribed directions that differ from one another, comprising display means for displaying an image picked up by the camera; the display means having a display screen area divided into a plurality of zones, with a direction of movement of the camera being assigned to each of the zones; designating means for designating a prescribed position in the display screen area; and moving means for moving the camera in the direction of movement that has been assigned to whichever zone corresponds to the position designated by the designating means.
Further, the foregoing objects are attained by providing a method of controlling a camera capable of being moved in prescribed directions that differ from one another, comprising: a display step of displaying an image, which has been picked up by the camera, on display means having a display screen area divided into a plurality of zones, with a direction of movement of the camera being assigned to each of the zones; a designating step of designating a prescribed position in the display screen area; and a moving step of moving the camera in the direction of movement that has been assigned to whichever zone corresponds to the position designated at the designating step.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4224615 (1980-09-01), Penz
patent: 4516156 (1985-05-01), Fabris et al.
patent: 5396287 (1995-03-01), Cho
patent: 5426732 (1995-06-01), Boies et al.
patent: 5479206 (1995-12-01), Ueno et al.
patent: 5568183 (1996-10-01), Cortejens et al.
patent: 5764276 (1998-06-01), Martin et al.
Morino Takashi
Murata Makoto
Okazaki Hiroshi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Ho Tuan
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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