Cradle device, control method and computer program for controlling the attitude of an imaging device
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a cradle device which inhibits driving of a pan/tile driving unit in the event of an imaging device being detached from the cradle device, and also receiving a control command of the imaging device from a camera. The cradle device can lock the imaging device in the event that the imaging device is mounted on the cradle device. The cradle device can have a configuration enabling detaching the imaging device, thus facilitating the most appropriate environment for a surveillance system.
1. A cradle device comprising:
a mounting unit for mounting an imaging device;
a mounting determining unit for determining whether the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit;
a driving device for driving at least one of pan and tilt; and
a controller for controlling the driving device;
wherein the controller controls the driving device to drive the at least one of pan and tilt based on an instruction from an external device in the event that the mounting determining unit determines that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and the controller inhibits the driving device from driving the at least one of pan and tilt in the event that the mounting determining unit determines that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.
2. The cradle device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting unit has a locking mechanism for mechanically locking the imaging device by the controller while an external device obtains a control right of the imaging device.
3. The cradle device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller disables at least one operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that the mounting determining unit determined that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.
4. The cradle device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller stop a power source of the imaging device without taking in a lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit at the time of stopping the power source of the imaging device.
5. The cradle device according to claim 1 , further comprising an image storing device configured for storing an image captured from the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit.
6. A method of controlling an image sensing system that includes an imaging device and a cradle device, the method comprising:
a mounting determining step for determining whether an imaging device is mounted on a mounting unit of the cradle device; and
a control step in which a controller of the cradle device controls a driving device of the cradle device to drive at least one of pan and tilt based on an instruction from an external device in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and the cradle device inhibits the driving device of the cradle device from driving at least one of pan and tilt in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein in the control step, the cradle device mechanically locks the imaging device using a locking mechanism while an external device obtains a control right of the imaging device.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the cradle device disables at least one operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.
9. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the cradle device stops a power source of the imaging device without taking in a lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit in the control step, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.
10. A computer readable medium that stores a program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image sensing system, the method comprising:
a mounting determining step for determining whether a mounting unit the imaging device is mounted on a mounting unit of a cradle device; and
a control step in which a controller of the cradle device controls a driving device of the cradle device to drive at least one of pan and tilt based on an instruction from an external device in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit, and the cradle device inhibits the driving device of the cradle device from driving at least one of pan and tilt in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is not mounted on the mounting unit.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein in the control step, the cradle device mechanically lock the imaging device using a locking mechanism while an external device obtains a control right of the imaging device.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the computer program causes the computer to execute processing for invalidating at least one operating switches of the imaging device, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the computer program causes the computer to execute processing for stopping a power source of the imaging device without taking in a lens of the imaging device mounted on the mounting unit in the control step, in the event that determination is made in the mounting determining step that the imaging device is mounted on the mounting unit.