Granted Patent B2

US 6,865,342 · App. 10/186,409 · Granted Mar 8, 2005

Abstract

Claims (18)

1. An operation lever apparatus operative in combination with a surveillance system having a camera unit operable in zoomed and focused states, said camera unit being movable in a shooting direction in which said camera unit is adapted to shoot a picture, comprising:

a retaining member having a reference axis;

a first operation lever having a center axis and mounted on said retaining member, said first operation lever being movable with respect to said retaining member to assume two different operation positions including a first position in which said center axis of said first operation lever is held in coaxial relationship with said reference axis of said retaining member, and a second position in which said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said retaining member;

first detecting means for detecting a tilt direction of said center axis of said first operation lever with respect to said reference axis of said retaining member;

a second operation lever having a center axis and mounted on said first operation lever, said second operation lever being movable with respect to said first operation lever to assume two different operation positions including a first position in which said center axis of said second operation lever is held in coaxial relationship with said center axis of said first operation lever, and a second position in which said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever; and

second detecting means for detecting a tilt direction of said center axis of said second operation lever with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever;

said second operation lever being axially movable alone said center axis of said second operation lever and operative to assume two different operation states including a pushed state in which said second operation lever is axially moved toward said first operation lever and a released state in which said second operation lever is axially moved away from said first operation lever, and in which said second detecting means is operative to detect said pushed state of said second operation lever member, and which further comprises:

camera control means for controlling said camera unit in said shooting direction, said zoomed state, and said focused state on the basis of said tilt direction of said center axis of said first operation lever with respect to said reference axis of said retaining member, said tilt direction of said center axis of said second operation lever with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever, and said pushed state signal produced by said second detecting unit.

2. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , in which said handle has a top portion, and in which said second operation lever being mounted on said top portion of said handle of said first operation lever.

3. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , in which said center axis of said first operation lever is tiltable with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in first to eighth tilt directions each radially outwardly extending from said reference axis of said first retaining member under the state that said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever are held in equi-angularly spaced relationship with each other, and in which said first detecting means is operative to produce a tilt direction signal indicative of neighboring two or more tilt directions selected from among said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever when said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in any one of neighboring two or more tilt directions selected from among said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever.

4. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , in which said first detecting means is operative to produce a first tilt direction signal indicative of said first to third tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever when said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in any one of said first to third tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever, and a second tilt direction signal indicative of said fifth to seventh tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever when said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in any one of said fifth to seventh tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever.

5. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , in which said first detecting means is operative to produce a first tilt direction signal indicative of said first to fourth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever when said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in any one of said first to fourth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever, and a second tilt direction signal indicative of said fifth to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever when said center axis of said first operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said first retaining member in any one of said fifth to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said first operation lever.

6. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , in which said center axis of said second operation lever is tiltable with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever in first to eighth tilt directions each radially outwardly extending from said center axis of said first operation lever under the state that said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever are held in equi-angularly spaced relationship with each other, and in which said second detecting means is operative to produce a tilt direction signal indicative of neighboring two or more tilt directions selected from among said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever when said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said reference axis of said second retaining member in any one of neighboring two or more tilt directions selected from among said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever.

7. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , in which said second detecting means is operative to produce a first tilt direction signal indicative of said first to third tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever when said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever in any one of said first to third tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever, and a second tilt direction signal indicative of said fifth to seventh tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever when said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever in any one of said fifth to seventh tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever.

8. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , in which said second detecting means is operative to produce a first tilt direction signal indicative of said first to fourth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever when said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever in any one of said first to fourth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever, and a second tilt direction signal indicative of said first to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever when said center axis of said second operation lever is tilted with respect to said center axis of said first operation lever in any one of said fifth to eighth tilt directions of said center axis of said second operation lever.

9. An operation lever apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , in which

said first operation lever includes a rod coupled at one end to said first detecting unit, and a handle secured to said other end of said rod of said first operation lever,

said handle of said first operation lever includes a cover member formed with a cover space, and a coupling member intervening between said rod of said first operation lever and said cover member of said handle of said first operation lever to have said cover member of said handle of said first operation lever supported by said rod of said first operation lever therethrough.

Assignments (6)