AU660127B2 - A traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Ricoh Company, Ltd.

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: A traffic condition photographing device method 660 127 and a traffic condition photographing The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:-

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a photograph light axis direction changing function, a varifocal function or a focalizing function, and more particularly to a traffic condition *photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method which can drive a photograph light axis correctly, change a photograph image angle correctly or focalize a photograph lens, for example, in order to surely photograph a violating eo*o :car which disregards a red signal or runs over a regulation speed.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a case where a car running on a car lane such as a public road and the like enters into a crossing in spite of a red signal, such the violating car is monitored under an unmanned system. Or, when a car disregards a signal, such ^F a car is photographed, and a warning is given to a driver, an owner of the car and the like, later.

Further, a determined violation money or penalty is fined to a person mentioned above.

Furthermore, not only in a case where a running car enters into the crossing in spite of the red signal, such the car is monitored under the unmanned system, but also in a case where the car runs over the regulation speed, such the car is monitored under the unmanned system, and when a violation is detected, a photographing is performed similarly as mentioned above.

SAnd, an actual example that, when the running car disregards the signal and enters into the crossing, such the car is monitored under the unmanned system and the violating car is photographed is described as follows.

That is, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No.60-150531, a main body of a photographing device is installed at a position from which a situation of a whole crossing can be ,6nitored perfectly. And, in a case where a red signal disregarding of a car is detected by an appropriate detecting means such as a pressure

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^W sensor embedded in a road and the like, when such the violating car is photographed, three kinds of images are collectively recorded on a sheet of photograph.

The three kinds of the images are the images which are photographed by means of the photograph lens comprising a focal distance of a telescopic system in order to clearly photograph a number plate in which a registration number specifying the car is described and a face of the driver at a large magnification, and the images that are photographed by means of the photograph lens comprising the focal distance of a wide angle system in order to photograph a wide area including the violating car and other car(s) existing a circumference thereof.

Here, the reason why a second image is photographed is that it can not simply determine that the all of the running cars at a case of the red signal are judged as the violating car. For example, in a case where a traffic signal is changed from a yellow to a red as soon as a car enters into the crossing, it is cruel to judge the running car as the violating car.

For this reason, a first image is 3 Sphotographed, the number plate of the car and the face of the driver are photographed, and a situation of a circumference thereof is photographed as the second image at the same time.

Thereby, the situation thereof can be objectively confirmed again. For example, it is judged whether the situation is a legal situation such as a case that the car turns right or left after the car enters into the crossing.

A data such as a violated time and date and ~violated time and date in a form that the violating car entered into the crossing after X seconds in spite of a red signal at a time XX (o'clock)/XX (minute)/XX (second) on a date XX o.o (year)/XX (month)/XX (date), and the like, or another data of a number which specifies the location in which a photographing device is installed, and the'like are displayed on a third image.

Further, the photographing device mentioned above is very often used under a manner of a ,onsiderably long continuous work because of a nature thereof. Thereby, it is necessary to simplify an assembly and a disassembly of a portion which is required for a periodic maintenance among members constitutihng' whole .device.

For this reason, it is desirable that a shutter mechanism unit in which a term of the periodic maintenance is short can be assembled and disassembled by means of a screw and the like, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laying Open (KOKAI) No.60-150529.

In these various traffic condition photographing device, a setting (a fixing) of the photograph light axis in the photographing portion is performed, based on a special situation in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, in detail, based on the situation of a running number lane, a width of a running lane, a position in which the photographing portion is *o a installed, a regulation speed of the running lane, o o a shape of a building at a vicinity of the running lane, and the like.

Further, the photographing device (a position of a photographed field) in these various traffic condition photographing devices is fixed at a predetermined position which is laid at a vicinity of the position in which a car detecting means is Sinstalled.

Therefore, a photograph drive ring of the photograph lens is set (fixed) to a value of a photographed field distance corresponding to the predetermined position mentioned above, when the photographing device is installed. Then, the photographing of the photographed field is performed in a focalized state.

That is, the photograph light axis is set so as to include all of a plurality of the photographed positions, such as the photographed position at a time when the violating car illegally passes through a stop line, the photographed position in which the violating car runs at a same state for a predetermined period, and the like. Thereby, the photogr phing device is designed, considering a special situation such as a set location and the like when the photographing device is manufactured.

Therefore, the photographing device itself is the traffic condition photographing device exclusive to the set location.

The settings of the photograph light axes in prior traffic condition photographing devices are always adjusted to the special situations of the Q locations in which the photographing portions are installed., Thereby, the setting is peculiar to a road in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed. Therefore, a sufficient professional knowledge is necessary for the setting. Only the setting of the photograph light axis to a compromised position can be performed, at a some sacrifice of any of a plurality of the photographed positions, that is, such as the photographed position at a time when the signal is disregarded, the photographed position at a time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal was switched to the red, the photographed position at a time when the car arrives at a predetermined position since the signal was switched to the red and the like. Thereby, the photographing device can not have a universal application.

Further, the settings of the photograph image angles in the prior traffic condition photographing devices are always adjusted to the special situations of the (.cal;ions in which the photographing portions are installed. Thereby, the setting is peculiar to the road in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed. Therefore, the sufficient professional knowledge is necessary for the setting. Also, in a case where the photographings are performed at a plurality of points for a single violating car, only the setting of the photograph image angle to the compromised position can be performed at a some sacrifice of any of a plurality of the photographed positions, that is, such as the photographed position at a time when the signal is disregarded, the photographed position at a time when the predetermined time has elapsed since the signal was switched to the red, the photographed position at a time when the car arrives at the predetermined position since the signal was switched to the red and the like. Accordingly, the photographing device can not have the universal application.

If the setting is performed as follows, there is a problem mentioned below. That is, as the photographed positions, two positions of a first point at a vicinity of the traffic signal and a second point which is spaced by a predetermined distance from the traffic signal are set.

Further, a far and near relation with regard to the distances for the two points from the photographing portion is uniformly set in such a manner that an optimum photograph image angle is obtained at the first point, in a case where the first point is positioned at a long distance side and the secon point is positioned at a short distance side. Then, a photograph magnification becomes too high at the second point. Reversely, if the relation is uniformly set in such a manner that the optimum photograph picture angle is obtained at the second point, the photograph magnification becomes too low at the first point, For this reason, only the setting of the photograph image angle to the compromised position can be performed at a some sacrifice of either of the two photographed positions.

Thereby, there is a problem that the photographing device can not have the universal application.

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The more the number of the photographed position becomes, the larger the problem becomes.

Further, the more the number of the running lane in which the violating car is photographed becomes, the larger the problem becomes.

Further, the E-t'tings of the photographed field distances in prior traffic condition photographing devices are spectfied in advance at Sa single photographed point. Thereby, the photographing can be performed at the focalized state in such a manner that a value of the photographed field distance in a point when the photographing device is installed is once set to a focussing drive ring of the photograph lens.

Therefore, a focussing adjustment can be performed at a so called fixed distance state.

For this reason, in a case where the situation that the violating car is performed is a single specified position, there is essentially no problem. However, in a case where the photographing is performed at one point which is sequentially selected from a plurality of scheduled points, for example, in a case where a traffic rule violation is detected in each of a plurality of the running lanes and the car

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positioned at the running lane in which the violation is occurring is photographed, only a c focussing setting to a so called compromised position can be performed at a some sacrifice of some photographings in a plurality of the scheduled points.

For example, in a case where the running lane forms four lanes (from a first lane to a fourth lane) and a violating detecting means is installed on each of the lanes and the violating car is photographed when the violation is detected at any one of the violation detecting means, there are at least four photographed positions, thereby there are at least four field distances. Accordingly, there are four field distances to be photographed.

Therefore, all of the four photographed positions are focalized in such a manner that a focus of the photograph lens is adjusted to the position in which the four field distance is included within a photographed field depth.

However, the traffic condition photographing device is generally installed along the lane.

S Thereby, a distance range becomes wide in irespective photographed positions in a plurality of the lanes. Accordingly, it is difficult to include the distance range within the photographed field distance.

~And, if the photographing is performed by slenderizing a throttle diameter of the photograph lens, the problem mentioned above may be solved a little. However, a shutter speed becomes slow due to an effect mentioned above. Thereby, it is not possible to photograph the running car without a discrepancy of a photograph. Therefore, it can not be said to solve the problem.

Further, the problem may be solved a little, if a stroboscopic light emitting is performed in order to compensate a reduction of an exposure amount resulting from a slenderized throttle diameter. However, there is naturally a limit.

Then, in a case where an amount of the stroboscopic light emitting is extremely large, there is a new problem of a risk that a driver may meet with a traffic accident.

On the other hand, it may be considered to measure the photographed field distance whenever :the photographing is performed, and to focalize the focussing drive ring of the photograph lens based on a result thereof. However, if such a process is performed, it is necessary for an accumulated time of a time required to measure the distance, a time required to calculate a measured distance and a time required to focalize the focussing drive ring, from a point when the violatioh is detected. Thereby, a timing when the photographing is started is delayed, and this results in photographing the car which passed through a predetermined photographed position.

STherefore, an intended photographing may not be performed. Further, since the car is running for a delayed period mentioned above, a complex measurement in which a photochronography prediction is added must be performed. Thereby, this results in a complex construction.

Further, when the photographed field distance is measured, in a case where a photographed image is set at a fixed manner so as to include all of a plurality of the photographed positions, the positions of the violating cars in the photographed image are distributed witnin the **image. Thereby, it is difficult to match a measured area to the position of the car to be photographed. Therefore, the measured area becomes inevitably large. Accordingly, a focalized accuracy is reduced. In a case where the measured area is made into many points, it results in a complex construction. Thereby, there may be a new problem.

Furthermore, it may be considered that a i" direction of the photograph light axis is changed to a plurality of the photographed positions so that the photographed car is positioned at a specified position (for example, a central W position on the image) in the photographed image.

However, in this case, although the photographcd car is positioned within a predetermined measured area, a time necessary for a focussing drive inevitably occurs as an operation delay time, thereby the timing when the photographing is started is delayed. There is a possibility that the intended photographing can not be performed.

Therefore, the problem mentioned above can not be solved.

The various problems mentioned above may be large, as the number of the running lane in which the violating car is photographed is increased.

And, the present invention is performed, considering the situations mentioned above. Then, a first object of the present invention is, even if situations and conditions of the location in which a traffic condition photographing device is installed are largely different, to provide the traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function which can sufficiently correspond to such a difference and photograph a violating car and a driver at the maximum rational manner.

Further, a second object of the present invention is, when the violating car is performed by means of the traffic condition photographing device, even if the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed are largely different, to provide the traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function which can sufficiently correspond to such the difference and photograph the violating car and the driver at the maximum rational manner.

Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is, even i the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed is largely different, to provide the traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a varifocal function which can obtain an optimum photograph image angle in each of a plurality of photographed points for such the difference and expand a used range of the photographing portion.

0o006: In addition, a fourth object of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, and even if the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed is largely different, to provide the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function which can perform the focussing drive to an optimum photograph distance in each of a plurality of the photographed points for such the difference and make a correspondence of the photographing portion better.

*oo o* o *oo o o .o *o e o o o 17 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the first object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, of claim 1, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation car detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for specifying one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of the violating car on the one of the running lanes; a selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the viation is detected by the violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograpli ,is direction changing angle data from a plurality of the photograph light direction chaiging angle data stored in advance into a storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be 20 photographed and corresponding to the position of the violating car on the running lane specified by the position specifying means; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to direct a :photographing light axis of the photographing portion into the violating car based on ihe one photographing light axis direction changing angle data selected by the selecting 25 means, on photographing. oo** e *o

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950321,qAopc\gcp,63200.c,17 -18- According to the present invention, the first object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, of claim 2, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a second car detecting means for detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of 0I

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A k 950321,q:\opcr\gcp,63200.c.18 the running lane, the second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction, a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the first car detecting means or the second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifying data specifsing either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis %00* direction with respect to a location at which the photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; a sec'nd selecting means for selecting one photographing light axis direction changing angle data from a plurality of the photographing light axis direction changing angle data stored in advance in the storage portion, corresponding to the running lane by the first selecting means, corresponding to the position specifying data generated by the position specifying means; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of the photographing portion into the violating car based on the one photographing light axis direction changing angle data selected by the second selecting means, on photographing, 4* According to the present invention, the first object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, of Claim 3, comprising: P. R P. 4 4Z 1,m 21 a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means, and for generating a position specifying data specifying a position of the violating car; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to a location at which the photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of the predetermined position set on the running lane; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; *o 950321,q:\opcr\gcp,63200.c,21 a second s e. 'ng means for selecting one photographing lign, axis direction changing angle data from a plurality of the photographing light axis direction ,changing angle data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the running lane selected by the first selecting means and corresponding to the position specifying data generated by the position specifying means; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of the photographing gportion into the violating car based on the one photograph light axis direction changing angle

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data selected by the second selecting means, on photographing.

According to the present invention, the first

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object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device of Claim 4, wherein the driving means is adapted to drive the photographing portion so as to direct the photographing light axis of the photographing portion into a middle position of a direction changing angle range based on a plurality of the photographing light axis direction changing angle data inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

According to the present invention, the first object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device of Claim 5, wherein the driving means is adapted to drive the photographing portion so as to direct the photographing light axis of the photographing oeoe portion into a middle position of a direction *changing angle range based on a plurality of the photographing light axis direction changing angle data inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

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According to the present invention, the first

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"object is attained by a traffic condition

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photographing device of Claim 6, wherein the.

photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting means for keeping a -24 throttle at a predetermined aperture, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate in an opening portion for exposing a film, and a fourth setting means for driving the photographing portion so as to position the photographing light axis to a predetermined position.

According to the present invention, the second object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method of claim 7, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to a location at which a photographing portion is installed along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes and a second predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, the second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction; detecting that a car running on the running lane arrives at the first predetermined position, detecting that the car running on the running *o.

9so321,qcp.A\9p,63.c24 *co o*e *532 pet*e,310¢2 lane arrives at the second predetermined position, judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at the first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car is running, 'and generating a position specifying data specifying either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected; selecting one photographing light axis direction changing angle data, from a plurality of the photographing light direction changing angle data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the generated position specifying data; and driving the photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of the photographing portion into the violating car based on the one photographing light axis direction changing angle data l d by th .918i agttnv!= O I it site ts; According to the present invention, the second object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method of Claim 8, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to a location at which the photographing portion is ci\oCJ oL \aTne-V \r'rut;NC 01 eVAV esi tu^s ct n instal edi as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of a plurality of the running lanes; detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, and estimating a position of the car running on the running lane after a predetermined time has elapsed, judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at the predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data specifying either of the predetermined position or the estimated position at which the violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; selecting one photographing light axis direction changing angle data, from a plurality of the photographing light direction changing angle data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the generated position specifying data; and driving the photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of the photographing portion into the violating car based on the selected one photographing light axis direction changing angle data, on photographing.

According to the present invention, the second object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method according to Claim 9, wherein when the photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept z, 1e. _f J:.,iTB by a second 28 setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward the first position and the second position on each of the running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction changing angle data by an inputting means.

According to the present invention, the second object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method according to claim 10, wherein when the photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in en open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward the predetermined position and the estimated position on each of the running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction changing angle data by an inputting means.

95o321,qoper\cp,6320,28 29 According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, of claim 11, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation car detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for specifying one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is i.inning, and for specifying a position of the violating car on the one of the running lanes; a selecting means for selecting a predetermined running lane to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph image angle data, from a plurality of the photographing image angle data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the position of the violating car on the running lane specified by the position specifying means; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to vary a 20 photographing image angle based on the one photographing image angle data selected by the selecting means.

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950321,q:\opcr\&cp,63200.c,29 30 According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, of claim 12, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes, a second car detecting means for detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, the second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction, a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the first car detecting means or the second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; 9 *cG 52.o~c.U~3 a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifying data specifying either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal length of a photoggraphing lens disposed in the photographing o portion at which the photographing portion is, installed, as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of the first predetermined. position and the second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of the photographing image angle data stored in 32 advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the running lane selected by the first selecting means and corresponding to the position specifying data generated by the position specifying means; an image angle detecting means for detecting a focal distance of a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; a calculating means comparing the current image data detected by the image angle detecting means with the one photographing image angle data selected by the second selecting means thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to vary a photographing image angle based on the varifocal driving amount data obtained by the calculating means.

According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, of claim 13, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set in S O8 *0

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9So321,qi'opcr\gcp63200c.32 each of a plurality of running lanes;- 'liL f a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifying data specifying a position of the violating car; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal distance of a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion when the photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing image e angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of the predetermined positions of a plurality of the running lanes; 0* a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of the photographing image angle data stored in advance into the stored position, corresponding to the selected running lane by the first selecting means and corresponding to the position specifying data generated by the position specifying means; an image angle detecting means for detecting a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; a calculating means comparing the current image data detected by the image angle detecting means with the photographing image angle data selected by the second selecting means thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amrunt data; and a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to4A -if ss a a a photographing image angle based on the varifocal driving amount data obtained by the calculating means.

a According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device of Claim 14, wherein the driving means is adapted to drive the photographing portion so a-s to set a photographing image angle of the photographing portion into a middle position of a varifocal range based on a plurality of the photographing image angle data inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

According to the present,, I- ention, the third object is attained by a traffic condtion photographing device of Claim 15, wherein the photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting meatis for keeping a throttle at a predetermined aperture, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate 4 ta an opening ae' dposing a film, and a fourth setting means, for driving the photographing portion so as to set the focal length of the photographing lens at a predetermined position.

According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method including a varifocal function, of Claim 16, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in a photographing portion when the photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of a first predetermined position set on each of a plurality of running; lanes and a second predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, the running lanes forming a car lane, the second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction detecting that a car running on the running lane arrives at the first predetermined position, detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at the second predetermined position; judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at least at the first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from: a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data specifying either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected; selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of the photographing image angle data stored in advance in the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the generated position specifying data; detecting a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; comparing the current image data with the photographing image angle data thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and driving the photographing portion so as to a photographing image angle based on the varifocal driving amount data.

According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition oo.. photographing method including a varifocal function, of Claim 17, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in a photographing portion when the CA\or\A a cw \CC' ha<WMV o p\\Cc ov vowcs, photographing portion is installed as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of predeter- V 37 ~A(T O~ mined positions of a plurality of running lanes; detecting that a car running on the running lane arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, estimating a position of the vn car running on the running lane after a predetermined time has elapsed; judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at the predetermined position; .generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which, the violating car is running, and w generating a position specifying data specifying either of the predetermined position or the estimated position at which the violating cari is positioned; S: selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a-predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected; selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of the photographing image angle data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding tr/ the selected running lane and corresponding to the generated position specifying -39data; detecting a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; comparing the current image data with the photographing image angle data thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and driving the photographing portion so as to vary a photographing image angle based on the varifocal driving amount data.

According to the present invention, the third object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method of claim 18, wherein when the photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward the predetermined position and the estimated position on each of the running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction changing angle data by an inputting means.

4* o S S o o *o 950321,qAopcr\gcp,63200.c,39 40 According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a focussing function, of claim 19, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation car position specifying means for specifying one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of the violating car on the one of the running lanes; a selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph distance data, from a plurality of the photographing distance data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the position of the violating car on the running lane specified by the position car specifying means; and a driving means for driving a distance driving ring of the photographing portion based on the one photograph distance data selected by the selecting means.

oo *o• o fo• o o *e *o 9SO321,qopct\cp,6320OA40 41- According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a focussing function, of claim 20, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a second car detecting means for detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, the second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction; a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the first car detecting means or the second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from 4 a

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a a a a 40 9a a 9 b 950321,q\opcr\gcp,63200.c,4 a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car judges by the violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifyinZ data specifying either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion photographing distance data when the photographing portion is installed, the photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances from a photographing lens disposed in the photog'raphing portion, to the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of photographing distance data stored in advance in the storage portion, corresponding to the running lane selected by the first selecting means and corresponding to the position specifying data 43 generated by the position specifying means; a distance detecting means for detecting a current focussing position of the photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; a calculating means for comparing the current distance data obtained by the distance detecting means with the one photographing distance data selected by the second selecting means thereby to obtain a focus driving amount data; and a driving means for driving a distance driving ring of the photographing portion based on the focus driving amount data obtained by the calculating means.

According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device with a focussing function, of claim 21, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation car position specifying means for 4 o S -i I specifying one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of the violating car on the one of the running lanes; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion photographing distance data when the photographing portion is installed, the photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances from a photographing lens disposed in the photographing portion, to the predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of .9 [the photographing distance data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the :running lane selected by the first selecting means and corresponding to the position specifying data generated by the position specifying means; a distance detecting means for detecting a current focussing position of the photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; a calculating means for comparing the current distance data obtained by the distance detecting means with the photographing distance data selected by the second selecting means qil thereby to obtain a focus driving amount data; and a driving means for driving a distance driving ring of the photographing portion based on the focus driving amount data obtained by the calculating means.

According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device of Claim 22, wherein the driving means is adapted to drive the photographing portion so as to set a photographing distance into a middle position of a focus driving changing range based on a plurality of the photographing distance data inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

fourth object is attained by a t c condition photographing device o aim 23, wherein the driving mea s adapted to drive the phnrap 1 'qprr n -46 According to the present invention, the object is attained by a traffic condition photographing device of claim 23, wherein the photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting means for keeping a throttle at a predetermined bore, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate in an opening portion for exposing a film, a fourth setting means for driving the photographing portion so as to set the focal length of the photographing lens at a predetermined position, and a fifth setting means for driving the photographing portion so as to set a photographing light axis at a predetermined position.

According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method including a iocussing function, of claim 24, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing distance data when a photographing portion is installed along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, the photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances to a first predetermined position set on each of a plurality of running lanes and a second predetermined position set on each of the running lanes, the second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction; I 9 *w e* *e 950321, -Aopccp,63200)A,4 6 47 detecting that a car running on the running lane arrives at the first predetermined position, detecting that the car running on the running lane arrives at the second predetermined position, judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at least at the first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car is running, and generating a position specifying {v&52j* I 'z.

95o321,q-Aopcrcp,630.c,47 data specifying either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means; selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of the photograph distance data stored in advance in a storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the generated position specifying data, driving a distance driving ring of the photographing portion based on the selected one photograph distance data.

According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method including a focussing function, of Claim, 4, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing distance data when the photographing portion is installedA the photographing distance data being corresponding to respective 48 photograph distances to a predetermined position set on each of a plurality of running lanes* li-fr detecting that a car running on the running lane arrives at ti,e predetermined position; estimating a position of the i car running on the running lane after a predetermined time has elapsed; judging whether the car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that the car arrives at the predetermined position; o** generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of the running lanes, one of the running lanes on which the violating car is running, and f*r generating a position specifying data specifying either of the predetermined position or the estimated position at which the violating car is positioned; selecting a predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected; selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of the photographing distance data stored in advance into the storage portion, corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the generated 50 position specifying data; detecting a current focussing position of the photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; driving a distance driving ring of the photographing portion based on the selected one photograph distance data.

According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method of claim 26, wherein when the photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward the first position and the second position on each of the running lanes by a fifth setting means, and a focal length of the photographing lens is set at the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position on each of the running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby the photographing distance data corresponding to each of the focal length is inputted to the storage portion in turn by an inputting means.

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So o 950321,qopdgcp,63200.c,50 51 According to the present invention, the fourth object is attained by a traffic condition photographing method of claim 27, wherein when the photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward the predetermined position and the estimated position on each of the running lanes by a fifth setting means, and the photographing lens is focussed to predetermined position and the estimated position on each of the running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby the photographing distance data corresponding to each of the focal length is inputted to the storage portion in turn by an inputting means.

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'r 9so321tq-opcAcp,63200.c,51 The traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the photograph light axis direction changing function which constitutes as mentioned above detects that the car running on the running lane in the car lane arrives at the predetermined position which is set in each of the .running lanes by the car detecting means, and 'udges whether the car violates the traffic rule whe thb car arriving at the predetermined position mentioned above is detected.

When the viilation is detected by the violation detecting means, a violating car position detecting means generates a lane specifying data and a position specifying data.

The lane specifying data specifies, from a plurality the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car is running, and the position specifying data specifies any one *of the predetermined positions mentioned above, at which the violating car is positioned.

An inputting means inputs in advance a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data in the storage portion. The photograph light axis direction changing angle data corresponds to the photograph light axis which is directed to the photographed position in the predetermined position mentioned above in each of a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, when the photographing portion mentioned above is installed.

A selecting means selects, from a plurality of the running lanes forming the car, lane mentioned above, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation is detected, and selects a photographing order.

Further, the selecting means selects, from a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data whi.h are stored in advance in the storage porti©ni the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which corresponds to a selected photographed lane and corresponds to the position specifying data.

And, the direction changing drive means is adapted to drive to the violating car the photograph light axis in the photographing portion mentioned above, based on the photograph light axis direction changing angle data.

Furthermore, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition W photographing method with the photograph light axis direction changing function which constitutes as mentioned above is adapted to drive the photograph 11gl.,j axis to a middle angle in a direction changing angle range by a driving means, based on a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which are stored in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, in order to drive and set to a selected photograph light axis direction changing angle in the maximum short time, at a time of a waiting state in a direction changing drive photograph mode by the direction changing drive photographing means mentioned above.

In addition, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the photograph light axis direction changing function constitutes as mentioned above, when the photographing portion is installed', sets a shutter to an open state by a first setting means, sets a throttle to an open side by a second setting means, sets a focussing plate in contact with a film exposure opening by a third setting means, directs in turn the photograph light axis to a direction of the W predetermined position for every running lanes by means of a fourth setting means and stores in turn a direction changing angle from a reference direction in the storage portion as the photograph direction changing angle data by the inputting means. Thereby, the device and the method is adapted to correspond to all set conditions.

On the other hand, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with a varifocal function constitutes as mentioned above detects that the car running on the running lane in the car lane arrives at the predetermined position which is set at each of the running lanes, by the car detecting means. In this way, when the car detecting means detects that the car arrives at the predetermined position mentioned above, the violation detecting means judges whether such the car violates the traffic rule. When the violating a 00• car is detected under a judgment thereof, the violating car position specifying means generate's the lane specifying data which specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car is running, and the position specifying data which specifies V any one of the predetermined positions mentioned above, at which the violating car is positioned.

The inputting means inputs in advance a focal distance of the photograph lens in the storage portion as a plurality of a photograph picture angle data corresponding to the photographed positions in a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position mentioned above, in each of a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, when the photographing portion mentioned -POO above is installed.

The selecting means selects, from a plurality go of the running lanes forming the car lane CO mentioned above, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation is detected, and selects the photographing order.

Further, the selecting means selects, from a plurality of the photograph picture angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion, the photograph picture angle data which C C corresponds to the selected photographed lane and corresponds to the position specifying data.

And, a picture angle detecting means detects the focal distance of the photograph lens in the photographing portion mentioned above, and obtains W a current picture angle data. A calculating means compares the current picture angle data detected by the picture angle detecting means, with the photograph picture angle data selected by the selecting means mentioned above, and calculates a varifocal driving amount data.

A varifocal drive photographing means varifocalizes the photograph picture angle in the photographing portion mentioned above, based on the varifocal driving amount data which is obtained as mentioned above.

The traffic condition photographing device with a focalizing function constitutes as mentioned above detects that the car running on the running lane in the car lane arrives at the predetermined position which is set at each of the running lanes, by the car detecting means.

In this way, when the car detecting means detects that the car arrives at the predetermined position, the violation detecting m-ans judges eg •whether such the car violates the traffic rule.

When the violating car is detected under the judgment thereof, the violating car position specifying means generates the lane specifying data which specifies, from a plurality of the W running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car is running, and the position specifying data which specifies any one of the predetermined positions mentioned above, at which the violating car is positioned.

The selecting means selects, from a plurality of the running lanes forming the car lane mentioned above, the predetermined and photographed lane, when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means mentioned above, and selects a photographing order.

The inputting means inputs, in advance, a plurality of photograph distance data coo• oo :corresponding to each of photograph distances, eeoc from the photograph lens to a first predetermined S" position and a second predetermined position of each of a plurality of the running lanes, in the storage portion, when the photographing portion is "'installed.

Further, the selecting means selects, from a plurality of the photograph data which are *.inputted in advance in the storage portion mentioned above, the photograph distance data which corresponds to the selected photographed lane and corresponds to the violating car position U data.

And, the distance detecting means detects a current focal point of the photograph lens of the photograph portion mentioned above, and obtain a current distance data.

The calculating means compares the current distance data .with the photograph distance data selected by the selecting means mentioned above, and obtains the focalizing drive amount data.

The focalizing drive photographing means drives a distance focussing ring in the photograph lens mentioned above, based on the focalizing drive amount data which is obtained as mentioned o* above.

oooorf *o oooo *o o W Further object and advantage of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig.l is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.2 is a plan view which illustrates a relation between a plurality of photographed :positions that are referred in common in the first embodiment, a fifth embodiment and a ninth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.,3 is a plan view which illustrates a mechanism of a direction changing drive portion shown in Fig.l.

Fig.4 is a flow chavt which illustrates an operation which is referred in common in the first embodiment, the fifth embodiment and the ninth embodiment according to the present invention.

is a flow chart which illustrates a Sdetail of initial setting steps shown in Fig.4.

Fig.6 is a flow chart which illustrates a detail of some of the steps shown in Fig.7 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.8 is a flow chart which illustrates an operation which is referred in common in the second embodiment, a sixth embodiment and a tenth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.9 is a flow chart which illustrates a detail of initial setting steps shown in Fig.8.

Fig.10 is a flow chart which illustrates a detail of steps of a middle value driving shown in Fig.9.

Fig.11 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.12 is a plan view which illustrates a relation between a plurality of photographed positions that are referred in common in the third ^Wi embodiment, a seventh embodiment and an eleventh embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.13 is a flow chart which illustrates an operation which is referred in common in the third embodiment, the seventh embodiment and the eleventh embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.14 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a photograph light axis direction changing function of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

is a flow chart which illustrates an operation which is referred in common in the fourth embodiment, an eighth embodiment and a twelfth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.16 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.17 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of Sthe sixth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.18 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the seventh embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.19 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the eighth embodiment according to the present invention.

is a block diagram which illustrates a ,general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the ninth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.21 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the tenth embodiment according to the present invention.

Fig.22 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of W the eleventh embodiment according to tie present invention.

Fig.23 is a block diagram which illustrates a general construction of a traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of the twelfth embodiment accoi: ing to the present invention.

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r DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanied drawings.

At first, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Figs.1 to 6.

The first embodiment shows an example in which, in a case where a car enters into a crossing in a form of a cross in spite of a red signal, such a violating car is detected and photographed. A general construction of a traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.1. A main portion thereof comprises a photographing portion 10, a direction changing drive portion 20, a controlling portion 30 and a stroboscopic light emitting portion As shown in Fig.2, a car lane 1 comprises four running lanes 1A, 1B, 1C and ID and a car lane 2 comprises four running lanes. Also, car lanes 3 and 4 each comprise four running Lanes.

And, the car 1 s 1 and 2, and the car lanes 3 and 4 intersect with each other in the form of the cross at a crossing 5, As shown in Fig.2. The first embodiment is adapted to photograph the car running at the car lane 1, which car disregards the signal in the crossing As a general feature of the first embodiment, a photographing is performed in such a manner that a photograph light axis in a photographing portion which is arranged along the car lane is directed to the violating car when it is detected that the car arriving at a predetermined position in the car lane comprising a plurality of the running lanes violates a traffic rule.

As shown in Fig.2, a traffic signal 6 is disposed above the car lane 1 directed downwards the crossing 5. A first car detecting means 31 is S* disposed on a road surface in the vicinity of a stop line (not shown) that is disposed just before the crossing 5. The first car detecting means 31 comprises four car sensors 31A, 31B, 31C and 32D which correspond to the running lanes 1A 1D.

The first car detecting means 31 detects that the car running on one of the running lanes 1A 1D in the car lane 1 arrives at a first predetermined position located on the one of the running lanes, that is, a position in the vicinity of the stop line.

A second car detecting means 32 is disposed in front of the first car detecting means 31. The second detecting means 32 detects that the car running on the one of the running lanes arrives at a second predetermined position located on the one of the running lanes in a running direction side with respect to the first predetermined position.

The second car detecting means 32 comprises car sensors 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D which correspond to the four running lanes 1A ID, respectively.

In the first embodiment, each of the car sensors 31A 31D and 32A 32D comprises a pressure sensor detecting an arrival of the car, by being run over with a tire of the running car.

Incidently, the car lane 1 comprising the four lanes is adapted in such a manner that the running lane 1A located at the left side in a running direction (shown with a thick line arrow in Fig.2) of the car can be used for going straight and turning left, that two central running lanes 1B and 1C can be used only for going straight and that the running lane ID located at a right side in the running direction can be used for going straight and turning right.

The photographing portion 10, the direction changing drive portion 20 and the controlling portion 30 are disposed along the car lane 1 in the running side of the cars with respect to the crossing 5. The stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 is disposed near the crossing 5 with respect to a set position for the photographing portion 10. The stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 emits a light beam at an emitting angle 9 for a general area within an angle change range 8 of a direction changing of the photograph light axis of the photographing portion 10 arranged along a road consisting of the car lane 1.

In view of other points, the emitting angle 9 is set so as to emit such the light beam that a number plate of the car and a face photograph of a driver can be clearly photographed, even if the car is arrived at any one position of the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 and the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second cait detecting means 32.

Returning to Fig.l, the photographing portion 10 photographs a traffic rule violating car which arrives at the first predetermined position in the car lane, that is, the position of the first car detecting means 31 which is one of the car detecting means, and furthermore, for the sake of a confirmation, again photographs the traffic rule violating car which arrives at the second car detecting means 32 which is the other of the car detecting means. Actually, the photographing portion 10 comprises the following five portions, that is, a zooming portion 11, a film feeding portion 12, a data recording portion 13, a film exposing portion 14 and a focussing portion The zooming portion 11 is adapted to change a focal length of a photograph lens in the photographing portion 10, in such a manner that the violating car can be photographed at a predetermined magnification within a photograph picture, based on the position of the violating car, or the position of the violating car obtained by the focussing portion The film feeding portion 12 rolls up a film by a predetermined length at an appropriate timing "by a controlling of the controlling portion 30. A long roll type of a film with a wide of 35 mm is used for the film feeding portion 12. The photographing of several hundred frames can be performed with a single film exchange.

The data recording portion 13 records, on a film surface, a data such as a violated time and date and the like, for example, a data related to a signal disregarding violation in a form of "which of the running lanes IA ID a violating car runs on after X seconds despite the signal being red at a time XX (o'clock)/XX (minute)/XX (second) on a date :XX (year)/XX (month)/XX (date), or another data of a number which specifies the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, and the like.

The film exposing portion 14 gives a correct exposing to a film, based on a command from the controlling portion 30 and, controls a throttle and a shutter. Normally, a shutter speed is set to approximate 1/1000 seconds, in order to photograph the running car without a discrepancy of a photograph. At a time of the photographing, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 is actuated in order to clearly photograph the number plate of the violating car and the face photograph of the driver. The focussing portion 15 controls, under a specified focal condition, the focussing lens of the photograph lens in the photographing portion 10 by the controlling of the controlling portion 30. Then, the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14, the focussing portion 15 and the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 all of which form the photographing portion 10 are controlled in combination based on the controlling portion 30 by using a micro computer.

Next, the controlling portion 30 will be described hereinafter in detail.

Respective outputs of the car sensors 31A 31D are connected to input terminals of a violation detecting means 33 of a next stage.

And, a car detection by the car sensors 31A 31D is repeatedly performed in a predetermined period.

Each output of the car sensors 31A 31D includes a sign of identifying each of the car sensors 31A 31D.

The second car detecting means 32 is disposed on the running lanes 1A ID at a position which is spaced by a predetermined distance from the first car detecting means 31. Similarly as mentioned above, each output of the car sensors 32A 32D is connected to input terminals of the violation detecting means 33 at the next stage.

Also, the car detection by means of the car sensors 32A 32D is repeated in the predetermined period. Each output of the car sensors 32A 32D includes a sign of identifying each of the car sensors 32A 32D.

The violation detecting means 33 judges whether the car violates the tra ffic rule, when the car is detected by the first car detecting means 31 or the second car detecting means 32. A car detecting data from the first car detecting means 31 and the car detecting data from the second car detecting means 32 are supplied to the violation detecting means 33 as mentioned above.

An output terminal of the violation detecting means 33 is connected to a controlling means through a violation position specifying means 34 at a next stage.

The violation position specifying means (that is, a violating car position speci,-ying means) 34 generates a lane specifying data and a position specifying data. The lane specifying data specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car detected by the violation detecting means 33 is running, and a position specifying data specifies either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned.

More actually, the position specifying data specifies total eight positions of four positions on which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed, and four positions on which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed.

Next, the mechanical construction of the photographing portion 10 and the direction changing drive portion 20 will be described hereinafter.

S As shown in Fig.3, the direction changing drive portion 20 comprises a frame body, 61 itn a form of a square box. Bearings 62 and 63 are :i fixed to two opposed side portions of the frame body 61 on inner side thereof. Both edges of a ball screw shaft 64 are bridged between the bearings 62 and 64.

One end of the ball screw shaft 64 is engaged with the bearing 62 so as to permit a rotational movement and to prohibit an axial movement.

Similarly, the other end of the ball screw shaft 64 is engaged with the bearing 63 in the manner that the movement to the axis direction is restricted. The other end of the ball screw shaft 64 is fixed concentrically with a driven pulley having at a circumferential surface thereof a predetermined pitch grooved surface for preventing a sliding.

The frame box 61 is fixed with a stepping motor 66 for operating the ball screw shaft 64, and a driving pulley 68 is fixed to an output shaft of the stepping motor 66. A grooved surface having the same pitch as the grooved surface formed on the driving pulley 68 in the circumferential surface of the driven pulley 65 is formed on the driving pulley 68 at a circumferential surface thereof. Furthermore, a timing belt 69 is bridged between the driving pulley 68 and the driven pulley Therefore, the ball screw shaft 64 is rotated without a rotation displacement, due to a rotation of the output shaft 67 of the stepping motor 66.

A guide bar 70 is provided parallelly to the ball screw shaft 64, and the both ends of the guide bar are fixed to an inner surface of the frame body 61. A fixing member 71 is fixed to a side portion of the frame body 61 at a substantially middle portion. The fixing member 71 is fixed with a shaft 72 which orthogonally protrudes in an axial direction of the guide bar 70 and the ball screw shaft 64. A rotating member 73 is rotatably engaged with the shaft 72.

The rotating member 73 is integrally connected with a pedestal 74 on which the photographing portion 10 that will be described in detail later is mounted. A rear side of the pedestal 74 is: in contact with the guide bar A position of the pedestal 74 is restricted in such a manner that the pedestal 74 can move in a horizontal plane. In addition, the pedestal 74 has a driven member 75 which is integrally connected with the pedestal 74. The driven member is fixed to and integrated with the pedestal 74 at one end thereof, and engaged with a screw thread of the ball screw shaft 64 at the other end thereof.

Therefore, when the output axis 67 is rotated due to a rotation of the stepping motor 66, the driving pulley 68 is rotated, due to the rotation of the axis 67. This rotation rotates, through the timing belt 69, the driven pulley 65, thereby J to rotate the ball screw shaft 64. On the other hand, the frame body 61 is fixed with the guide bar 70 arranged parallelly to a longitudinal axis direction of the ball screw shaft 64. The fixing member 71 is attached to an inner wall of the frame body 61 at a portion corresponding to a middle position of the guide bar The fixing member 71 is fixed with the shaft 72 arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal axis direction of the ball screw shaft 64, and the rotating member 73 is rotatably fitted to the shaft 72. The rotating member 73 is fixed to one end portion of the pedestal 74 in a form of a o* o square plate. 'The pedestal 74 is held in such a manner that it is mounted on the guide bar 70 at a rear face thereof in the other end side thereof.

The pedestal 74 is fixed at the other end thereof with a driven member 75 engaged with the ball screw shaft 64 formed with a male screw that converts a rotation movement of the ball screw shaft 64 into a linear movement in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft 64.

Therefore, when the stepping motor 66 rotates, the ball screw shaft 64 is rotated, thereby the driven member 75 performs the linear 76 movement, and the pedestal 74 performs an arc-like movement around the shaft 72. A camera bottom plate 77 is detachably mounted on an upper surface of the pedestal 74. Two positioning pins 76, 76 are disposed on the pedestal 74, and two positioning guide holes are disposed in the camera bottom plate 77. The positioning pins 76, 76 are inserted into the two positioning guide holes, and the pedestal 74 and the camera bottom plate 77 are fixed to each other with two thumb nuts 78, when the camera bottom plate 77 is mounted.

A camera body 79 formed in a form of a square box is integrally fixed to an upper surface of the camera bottom plate 77. A photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is fixed in a front of the camera body 79. N focussing drive ring and a zooming drive ring (not shown) are built in the photograph lens mirror cylinder "The zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the gon film exposing portion 14 and the focussing portion 15, as shown in Fig.l, is disposed in the camera body 79. A shutter mechanism (not shown) is mounted in the camera body 79. A film exposing opening is formed in a rear side of the camera body 79. A film magazine 81 is detachably attached on the rear portion of the camera, body 79.

The film magazi i ne 81 is adapted to contain a long roll film having a photographing capacity of several hundred frames. In this manner, a camera unit Ln which, the camera body 79, the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 and the. film magazine 81 are integrally fixed to the camera body 77 can be attached to and detached from the pedestal 74.

Therefore, due to a rotation of the stepping motor 66, the driven member 75 is rotated around 'the shaft 72 between an axis P2 and an axis P3, both of which are positioned so as to rotate in a side of both directions and directions) with respect to a center axis Pi. Thereby, a photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is changed indirection.

In the first embodiment, the photograph light axis of the mirror cylinder 80 can Ve set in a range from +15' to -15' at equi-angular steps proportional to a stepped number of the stepping motor 66. The range f rom 15' to -15' of' the direction changing of the photograph axis of the mirror cylinder 80 is a range sufficient for the t crossing 5 as shown in Fig.2, and is set great to be possible to be applied to other crossings and the like.

Returning to Fig.l, an inputting means 36 directs, in order, a photograph light axis direction, from a location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted, to photographed positions in the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position for every of the running lanes 1A 1D, that is, total eight posittons of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed. Furthermore, the inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, a direction changing angle ge •from each reference direction, as a plurality of photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8, in a storage portion 37 at a time of mounting the photographing portion That is, it is possible to preset a condition for a light axis appropriate for an installed field, by input Lng, through tle inputting means 36 to the storage portion 37, the photograph light axis direction changing angle data Dl D8 for the eight positions mentioned above, by observing an actually photographed picture.

This actual example is explained as follows.

At first, a focussing screen is set in contact with an exposure opening of the camera body 79 (A function which is set in this way is called a third setting means). The shutter is set to a bulb state at that condition (a function which is set in this way is called a first setting means).

The throttle is set to an open state (a function which is set in this way is called a second setting means). The stepping motor 66 is driven in a stepped manner, while observing a photographed image on the focussing screen (a function which is set in this way is called a fourth setting means). A data of the stepped i.: number which means a desired direction changing angle is obtained. Finally, the data is stored in the storage portion 37 as the photograph light axis direction changing angle data.

In Fig.l, the first to fourth setting means is referred by a reference numeral 41, and connected to the control circuit 35. An output terminal of the storage portion 37 for storing the data from the inputting means 36 is connected to a control circuit 35. On the other hand, a first selecting means 38 and a second selecting means 39 are connected to the control circuit 35. The control circuit 35 transmits a direction changing command signal to the direction changing drive portion 20, based on an output from the storage portion 37 and commands from the violation position specifying means 34, the first selecting means 38 and the second selecting means 39.

The first selecting means 38 selects, from a plurality of the running lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation of the car is detected by the violation detecting means 33, and selects a photographing order. Actually, the photograph light axis direction changing angle corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors '31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed is assumed as the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8.

The second selecting means 39 selects the photograph light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to the photographed lane selected by the first selecting means 38, and corresponding to the position specifying data detected by the violation position specifying means 34, from a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8 which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 38.

The direction changing drive portion receives, from the controlling means 35, the direction changing command signal corresponding to the photograph light axis direction changing angle data selected by the second selecting means 39.

The photograph light axis in the photographing portion 10 mentioned above is directed to the violating car, then, the photographing is performed. These functions are here called a direction changing drive photographing means.

An operation will be explained hereinafter with reference to flow charts in Figs.4 to 6.

At a step SO, when a power supply is turned on, the power supply is sent to each portion of a circuit, and the flow proceeds to a next step SI.

A digital input/output circuit is reset, and settings of other conditions are simultaneously performed. There are eight types from a condition 1 to a condition 8 at a step S30 as shown in in initial settings. These conditions 1 to 8 are performed parallelly or directly.

The condition 1 is the setting of an effective lane number in which from the four running lanes IA ID forming the car lane 1, one running lane is selected which the detecting of the traffic rule violations and the photographing are to be performed. Furthermore, in the condition 1, it is possible to preset a condition that specifies the detecting order in which the violations are detected for the selected running lane.

The settings of conditions 2 5 as mentioned below, in any case, perform input settings for the Poo* conditions of the four photographed positions as 0* mentioned above, by observing the actually photographed pictures. That is, the focussing screen is detachably fitted to the exposure opening of the camera body 79, the shutter is set to the bulb state in this manner, and the throttle is set to the open state, and tihen, various settings are performed while observing the photographed image on the focussing screen.

The condition 2 is to set a preset data for focussing to each of a plurality of the photographed positions (in the first embodiment, eight positions) by operating manually or electrically the focussing ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 in the photographing portion The condition 3 is to set a preset data for varifocalizing so as to optimize a photograph magnification for each of a plurality of the «photographed positions (in the first embodiment, eight positions) by operating manually or electrically a zooming drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 in the photographing portion The condition 4 is to set a preset value of the throttle on a maximum open side when the photographing is performed. The purpose of performing the preset setting is explained as follows. That is, it is a photographed purposk in this device to obtain an evidential photograph for the traffic rule violation. Thereby, it is required to clearly photograph the number plate of the violating car and a face of the driver of the car. Further, since a photographed field is a running car, it is necessary that the shutter speed is set faster than approximate 1/1000 seconds. Thereby inevitably, the value of the throttle is set to an open side.

However, since the throttle is set to the open side, thereby a photographed field depth becomes shallow, the photographed field mentioned above can not be photographed clearly. Then, at a time of the photographing, the shutter speed is 'set to the approximate 1/1000 seconds at which the discrepancy of the photograph can not occur. When the throttle value for a correct exposing which is obtained based on the shutter speed mentioned above becomes a level at which a minimum of the photographed field depth can not be reserved, a clear photographing can be performed in such a **oo manner that a throttling is performed up to the 6* throttle value at which the minimum of the photographed field depth can be reserved, at the sacrifice of some exposure lack, without using the throttle value for the correct exposing.

The condition 5 is to set the preset data for directing the photograph light axis to the violating car, and will be explained later in detail with reference to Fig.6.

The condition 6 is a setting of a film feeding condition, and to set the setting of a frame number which can be photographed, and a recording data when various data is recorded on the film at the same time of the photographing of the violating car.

The condition 7 is a presetting of a light emitting amount of the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50. Actually, in the condition 7, a light amount can be changed by changing a capacitance of a main condenser of a stroboscope, and by stopping a stroboscopic light emitting on the way. That is, in the first embodiment, there are eight photographed points, that is, four points on a short distance side and four points on a long distance side. Thereby, the light amount is set to a small light amount at a time of the four point on the short distance side, that is, the photographing points of the car sensors 32A 32D of the second car detecting means 32, and is set to a large light amount at the time of the four point on the long distance side, that is, the photographing points of the car sensors 31A 31D of the first car detecting means 31. Further, the light amount is set to a guide number from which the correct exposing can be obtained, based on a set throttle value and a photograph distance, in order to get a more accurate amount.

The condition 8 is a presetting of a photographing cycle. That is, in the condition 8, it is selected whether the photographing is performed whenever the violation is detected at a time of the violation detecting, or the photographing is performed for a specified time period by detecting the violation always and by obtaining a statiststical data, and the like. These settings of the conditions 1 8 can be inputted by using an output of a potentiometer, a counter and the like, or by using a key board switch, a digital switch and a touch type switch.

a.

As mentioned above, if the settings of the conditions 1 8 are performed at the step the flow proceeds to a next step S31. Then, it is judged whether the conditions 1 8 have been set or not. In case of NO, the step S30 is performed again. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to a step S32, and it is judged whether to repeat again to confirm whether a condition setting is a desired setting or not. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to a step S33, and a demonstration operation, that is, a series of photographing operations is actually performed, assumed in that the violation occurs in the effective lane number determined by the condition 1 set in the step At a next step S34, it is judged whether the operation has been completed or not. In case of NO, the flow is returned to the step S33. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to a step S40, and the shutter is closed. Then, the series of the initial settings is completed. On the other hand, in case of NO at the step S32, the shutter is set to the bulb state, in order to visually confirm a content in the conditions 1 8 at the step and the content of the condition settings are repeated.

This is performed as follows. That is, based on the first to fourth setting means 41, the focussing screen is fitted temporarily to the exposure opening of the camera body 79. In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb state. The throttle is set to the open state. Then, the photographed image on the focussing screen is observed. And, after the operation for the condition setting is performed, the flow proceeds to a step S37. It is selected at the step S37, whether the reappeared condition is changed or not. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to a step S38, the set condition is changed, thereby a changed condition is reappeared. The flow proceeds to the step S37, and again it is selected whether the set condition is changed again or not.

In case of YES, the step S38 is performed again.

In case of NO at the step S37, that is, in the case where it is allowable not to change the set condition, the flow proceeds to a next step S39. And, it is determined that a setting change operation has been completed, and at the step S39 the flow is branched to YES. The shutter is closed at the next step S40. The routine for the initial setting at the step S1 shown in Fig.4 is completed. The flow proceeds to a next step S2.

o The step S2 selects whether to photograph the violating car. In a case where the photographing is not performed, the flow proceeds to the step S3, and it is selected whether the condition is changed or not. In case of NO, the flow is returned to the step S2. In case of YES, the condition is confirmed at the step S4. In a case where the condition is not changed, the YES is selected, and the flow proceeds to a step In the step S5, an actual operation is performed under a set photographing condition.

After the operation has been finished, the flow is returned to the step S2. On the other hand, in case of NO at the step S4, the photograph condition is changed and the content is confirmed, at a next step S6. Then, the flow is returned to the step S2.

Incidently, in case of YES at the step S2, the conditions 1 8 are set to a waiting state just before a start of the photographing at a step S37, in order to comply with a first photographing. The waiting states of the conditions 1 8 are listed as follows.

The condition 1 is a setting of the effective *lane number, and to set to a detectable state the *o car sensor corresponding to the effective lane number which is preset and to be detected within the car sensors 31A 31D and 32\ 32D.

The condition 2 is a focussing setting, and to set to a predetermined photograph waiting position an rotation angle of the focus drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80. For the photograph waiting position, for example, the focussing drive ring is set to a short distance side to the utmost or a long distance side to the utmost.

The condition 3 is a zooming setting, and to set to a predetermined photograph waiting position a rotating angle of the zooming drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder For the photograph waiting position, for example, the zooming drive ring is set to the wide angle side to the utmost or the telescopic angle side to 0*00 the utmost.

The condition 4 is a throttle setting, and to set the throttle of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 to a predetermined photograph waiting position. For the photograph waiting position, for example, the throttle drive ring is set to a predetermined limit open value or a predetermined minimum open value.

The condition 5 is a setting of the direction changing angle, and to rotate the camera bottom plate 77 to which the camera body 79 having the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is fixed, to a predetermined photograph waiting position in a horizontal plane. For the photograph waiting position, for example, the camera bottom plate 77 is set to a maximum angle in an anti clockwise direction or a maximum angle in a clockwise direction.

More actually, a current angle position of the camera bottom plate 77 which is integrally formed with the photograph lens mirror cylinder is detl cted by a position detecting encoder (not shown) (for example, a rotary encoder). An angle difference from the photograph waiting position (a target value) is calculated as a driving angle data. Simultaneously, a direction is detected when being driven from the current angle position *0 to the photograph waiting position (the target position). Then, the stepped number of the stepping motor 66 corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained.

When a driving pulse signal is transmitted to the stepping motor 66 by this obtained stepped number, a torque of the output shaft 67 of the stepping motor 66 is consecutively transmitted to the driving pulley 68, th, timing belt 69 and the driven pulley 85. Tht the ball screw shaft 64 is rotated. Accordingly, the driven member is rotated around the shaft 72 in the horizontal plane. Then, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 which is integrally formed with the driven member 75 is changed in direction to the photograph waiting position (the target value).

A driving to such the photograph waiting position is the drive to the middle position by means of a so called open loop type driving control. However, a so called closed loop driving control is allowable as follows. That is, the photograph light axis direction of the photograph ~lens mirror cylinder 80 is always detected by the

S

position detecting encoder (not shown). The stepping motor 66 is driven by a predetermined driving stepped number (a micro rotation). Then, coe. when the stepping motor 66 arrives at a desired oS. e angle position, the driving is stopped.

The condition 6 is a film feeding setting, is to feed the film held in the film magazine 81, and

S.

put the film in the exposure opening of the camera body 79, and set at the waiting state just before the photographing.

The condition 7 is a setting of a stroboscopic light emitting amount. It is necessary to differentiate the light amount which is set when photographing the violating car located at each of the car sensors 31A ?1D forming the first car detecting means 31, from the light amount which is set when photographing the violating car located at each of the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32.

For example, the photographing of the violating car is performed as follows. A first photographing is performed for the violating car located at any one of the car sensors 31A 31D which are located at far away positions. After that, the second photographing is performed, when the violating car is located at any one of the car sensors 32A 32D which are located at close positions. The stroboscopic light emitting amount (GNo) is set to the large light amount for the first photographing.

The condition 8 is a cycle setting, and is to select whether the car which is running on any one of a plurality of the running lanes 1A 1D "forming the car lane I is photographed when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means 33, and the photographed order, by the first selecting means 38.

In detail, the cycle is set as follows. That i& the first photographing is performed in a case where any one of the cars passing through the car sensors 31A 31D at the first predetermined position is detected as the violating car. In addition, the second photographing is performed, when the car arrives at any one of the car sensors 32A 32D at the second predetermined position.

Furthermore, the second selecting means selects, from a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which is inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36, the photograph light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to the car lane to be photographed which is selected by the first selecting means 38 mentioned above, and corresponding to the position data detected by the violation position specifying means 33.

As mentioned above, when the conditions 1 8 are performed as the step S7 shown in Fig.4, the flow proceeds to a next step S8. Then, it is judged whether the operation is stopled or not, in other words, whether an actual photographing is performed or not when the violation occurs. In case of an operation stop, the flow is branched to YES, and returned to the step S2.

On the other hand, in case of NO, the flow proceeds to a next step S9. Then, the car detection is performed by the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31. And, in case of NO, that is, when the car does not pass through the first car detecting means 31, the flow is returned to the step S8. The step S8 is performed again. This flow is repeated until YES appears at the step S8. In a case where YES appears at the step S8 on the way of this repeating, the step S2 and the step S7 are performed again. After that, the step S9 is performed, and the operation of the car detecting is performed again.

The operation of the step S9 is explained in detail hereinafter. That is, it is repeatedly detected by the violation detecting means 33 whether each output from the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 as shown in Fig.l is generated or not. When an output signal indicating a car passing is detected, a car passing data including an address information for the car sensor which outputs the detection output signal mentioned above and the output signal from a plurality of the car sensors 31A 31D is inputted to the violation detecting means 33.

And, in case of YES at the step S9, the flow proceeds to a next step S10, and an judge of the violation is performed. That is, a red signal data which is inputted from the traffic signal 6 to the violation detecting means 33 is generated at a time when a predetermined delay time has elapsed since a red signal of the traffic signal 6 is turned on. The red signal data is inputted, with the car passing data mentioned above, to the violation detecting means 33.

0 0. oo *oooo «oo* w Whether the signal is disregarded or not is judged by the violation detecting means 33, based on two states of the red signal data and the car passing data mentioned above. The red signal data mentioned above is generated after the predetermined delay time has elapsed since the red signal of the traffic signal 6 is turned on. This reason is explained hereinafter.

That is, the reason why the delay time mentioned above is added to a factor by which it is judged whether the signal is disregarded or not is that it does not coincide with an actual situation for all cars that pass through the crossing to be simply judged as a signal disregarding, thereby bringing a trouble. For example, there is a case where the car can not be stopped safely when the traffic signal 6 is illuminated in a yellow. So, there is a risk that an accident such as a rear end collision by a succeeding car occurs if the car is stopped by a quick braking, thereby, the car inevitably runs at the crossing 5. That is, the car which is running at the crossing 5 in a so called legal state is not judged as the violating car.

A sufficient amount of time (for example 0.3 seconds) for the car to pass through the crossing from a stop line at a predetermined regulation speed, at a moment that the traffic signal 6 changes from the yellow to the red, is set as the delay time, because of above mentioned reason.

Incidently, in case of NO at the step S10, that is, in a case where the car passes through any one of the car sensors 31A 31D as the first car detecting means 31, the flow proceeds to a step Then, a statistical traffic information, such as a time and date when the car passes through any one of the four running lanes 1A ID, .o"o is stored. After that, the flow is returned to the step S8. The car detection and the storage of the statistical data is performed again, similarly as mentioned above.

In case of YES at the step S10, that is, when ooo:* a passing car is judged as the signal disregarding by the violation detecting means 33, the flow proceeds to a step Sil, and a first photographing is performed under a first set condition. This detail operation is performed, as shown in the flow chart in Fig.6. That is, in the lane in which the violation occurs, the car passing data which is outputted from the violation detecting W means 33 to the violation position specifying means 34 is decoded by the violation position specifying means (or the violating car position specifying means) 34. Thereby, the violated lane is judged. Then, the control circuit 35 is actuated. A processing of a step S50 is performed, based on a controlling of the control circuit 35. At the step 50, four types of drives, that is, the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive are performed.

At first, the data of the lane number (for example, the running lane 1C) specified by the violation position specifying means 34 is p -""-tted to the control circuit 35. The violation position specifying means 34 generates the lane specifying data which specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car detected by the violation

C.

detecting means 33 is running, and the position specifying data which specifies either of the C 0 first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car positioned.

More actually, the position specifying data 1 specifies the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed, and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed.

In the operation mentioned below, the lane in which the violation occurred is assumed as the running lane 1C, and the position specifying data is assumed as the position of the car sensor 31C.

The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 31C, from the focussing drive data already inputted, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 as mentioned above. The control means 35 dxtvef3, in a preset manner, the focussing drive ring in the focussing portion held in the photograph waiting state, and in such a manner that the car positioned on the car sensor 31C is focalized.

The zooming drive is performed at an almost same time of the operation mentioned above. The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 101i lw 31C, from the zooming drive data already inputted, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 as mentioned above. And the controlling means drives in the preset manner the zooming drive ring in the zooming portion 11 held in the photograph waiting position in such a manner that the car positioned at the car sensor 31C can be photographed at a predetermined photograph magnification.

The throttling drive is performed at an almost same time of these preset focussing drive and preset zooming drive. The controlling means drives the throttling drive ring held in the photograph waiting position, to the throttling value necessary to give the correct exposing based on an output of a photometric circuit (not shown).

Further, the direction changing drive is performed at an almost same time of these preset focussing drive, preset zooming drive and throttling drive.

This direction changing drive is performed as follows.

The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 31C, from the direction changing drive data 102 W already inputted, respectively corresponding tc the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 as mentioned above. And the controllinrg means 35 directs the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder held in the photograph waiting position based on the data which is picked up, to the car sensor 31C, thereby to set it to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D3.

More actually, a current angle position of the camera bottom plate 77 united with the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is detected by the position detecting encoder (not shown). The angle difference from a photograph light axis direction changing angle D3 (a target value) is calculated as the driving angle data. And also, the direction deviation and the angle deviation are detected when being driven from the current angle position to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D3. Then, the stepped number of the stepping motor 66 corresponding to the data of the driving angle data is obtained.

When the driving pulse signal is sent to the stepping motor 66 by this obtained stepped number, the rotation of the output shaft 67 of the stepping motor 66 is consecutively transmitted to the driving pulley 68, the timing belt 69 and the driven pulley 65. Thereby, the ball screw shaft 64 is rotated. Accordingly, the driven member is rotated around the shaft 72 in the horizontal plane. Then, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 united with the driven member 75 is changed in direction to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D3.

In this way, when the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive are performed at the step S50, an exposing is started at a next step S51, and also, the stroboscopic light emitting is started at a predetermined timing. The violating car which is running on the running lane IC is photographed on the position of the car sensor 31C at a large photograph magnification in such a condition that the violating car is positioned at a center of the photographed picture. Therefore, the number plate of the car and the face of the driver are clearly photographed.

Next, the film is rolled up at a step S52, and also, the recording of the data is performed For contents of data records, there are a peculiar 104 W data which specifies

J

ation in which the photographing portion j disposed, an indication which specifies that the lane which is detected as the violation is the running lane IC, a time data consisting of the date and time at which the red signal was turned on, and the data which indicates how many seconds later (in units of 1/100 sec.) the car sensor 31A was run over with the front wheel after the red signal was turned on, in other words, an indication that the car disregards the signal and passes through the '00.9. stop line on which the cor sensor 31A is installed, and the like. Then, these contents are recorded in circumferential areas such as an upper portion and a lower portion of the film picture and the like, in predetermined characters and symbols.

When the first photographing is finished in this way, the flow proceeds to a step S53, and a S shutter charge is performed. At a next step S54, it is judged whether the operation is a second photographing or not. In case of NO, the flow is returned to the step S50, and the step S51 step S53 mentioned above are performed again. In case of YES at the step S54, a series of the photograph 105 W operations are completed.

When the first photographing has been completed under the first set condition at the step S11 as shown in Fig.4, the flow proceeds to a next step S12. It is judged whether the car detection has been performed by the second car detecting means 32 or not. Tn case of NO, the flow is returned to the step S12. And, the detection operation is repeated, until the car is detected by the second car detecting means 32 and YES appears. When the car detection is performed by the second car detecting means 32 at the step S32, the second photographing is performed under a S* second set condition at a step S13.

The storage portion 37 stores, by the inputting means 36, the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed.

The first set condition mentioned above is to 106 select the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data corresponding to each of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 an- installed. The second set condition is to select the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data corresponding to each of the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32B forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed.

For the photographing under the second set condition, the controlling means 35 drives, similarly as shown in the flow chart in Fig.6, in the preset manner, the focussing drive ring of the focussing portion 15 disposed in the position driven by the first photographing in such a manner that the focussing drive ring is focalized to the violating car which is running on the position of the car sensor 32C disposed in the running lane 1C.

The zooming drive is performed at an almost same time of the operation mentioned above. The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 107 32C, from the zooming drive data already inputted, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by of the inputting means 36 as mentioned above. And the controlling means 35 drives, in the preset manner, the zooming drive ring in the zooming portion 11 held in the position driven by the first photographing so as to photograph the violating car positioned at the car sensor 32C, at a predetermined photograph magnification, in a wide range including other cars which exist around the violating car.

o*.o The throttling drive is performed at the almost same time of these focussing preset drive and zooming preset drive. This throttling drive is to operate to change the throttling drive ring held in the position driven by the first photographing, to the throttling value necessary to give the correct exposing based on the output of the photometric circuit (not shown).

A time difference between the first photographing and the second photographing is very small, and the conditions of photographed fields of the first photographing and the second photographing are not greatly varied. Therefore, there is no actual trouble, even if using, in the 108 0 second photographing, the same correct throttling value as the first photographing. Then, it is allowable to omit the throttling drive in the second photographing and to hold the throttling value driven in the first photographing. And, the direction changing drive is performed at the almost same time as these focussing preset drive, zooming preset drive and throttling drive. The direction changing drive is performed as follows.

The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 32C, from the direction changing drive data *e already inputted, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 as mentioned above. And the controlling means 35 directs the position o che camera bottom plate 77 held at the position bich is driven by the first photographing based on the data which is picked up, that is, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens S" mirror cylinder 80, to the car sensor 31C, and sets it to a photograph light axis direction changing angle (the direction changing angle from a reference direction) D6.

109 W More actually, the current angle position (the direction) of the camera bottom plate 77 united with the photograph lens mirror cylinder is detected by the position detecting encoder (not shown). The angle deviation from the photograph light axis direction changing angle D6 (the target value) is calculated as the driving angle data.

And also, the direction deviation is detected when driven from the current angle position to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D6.

Then, the stepped number of the stepping motor 66 corresponding to the data of the driving angle data is obtained.

When the driving pulse signal is sent to the stepping motor 66 by this obtained stepped number, the torque of the output axis 67 of the stepping motor 66 is consecutively transmitted to the driving pulley 68, the timing belt 69 and the driven pulley 65, thereby, the ball screw shaft 64 is rotated. Accordingly, the driven member 75 is Sa rotated around the shaft 72 in the horizontal plane. Then, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 united with the driven member 75 is directed to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D6.

The photograph light axis is driven, at the step S50, based on each of the fucussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 corresponding to the position of the car sensor 32C. And also, the photograph light axis is driven under a correct throttling value which is obtained based on the output of the photometric circuit (not shown).

Just after that, the exposing is started at a next step S51, and also, the stroboscopic light emitting is started. The violating car which is running on the running lane 1C forming the car lane 1 can be photographed, just after leaving the position of the car sensor 32C, in such a manner that the violating car is positioned at the center of the photographed picture, in the wide range including other cars which exist around the violating car.

Next, similarly in a case of the first photographing, the film is rolled up at the step S52, and also, the data is recorded. In this way, when the second photographing has been finished, th6 flow proceeds to the step S53, and the shutter charge is performed. It is judged, whether the operation is the second photographing or not, at the next step S54. In this case, since the second photographing has been finished, the flow is branched to YES at the step S54, and the series of a photographing process is finished at a step In this way, in the processes at the step Sil step S13 (refer to Fig.4), as shown in Fig.6, when the first photographing and the second photographing are performed, a statistical data, such as a violation date and time, a violation situation, a violation data and the like in relation to the first photographing and the second photographing are recorded, as shown at the step S14 shown in Fig.14. Then, the flow is returned to the next step S7. And, the operation is held at the waiting state until the violating car is detected again.

Then, just after the violation of the running car is detected at the position of the first car detecting means 31, the number plate of the car can be clearly photographed, in the large photograph magnification, and in such a manner that the plate is positioned at the center of the picture. Further, at a time of the photographing, 112 Sthe stroboscopic light emitting is performed by the stroboscopic light emitting portion Thereby normally, a stroboscopic light is emitted to the face of the driver in the car which lacks the exposure. So, the face of the driver can be also photographed clearly. Further, not only the violating car but also a wide range including its circumferential situation is photographed in the second photographing. Therefore, it is possible to generally judge the situation of the violating car.

The first embodiment stores, in each of a S plurality of the predetermined photographing points (the total eight positions of the four positions in the first car detecting means 31 and the four positions in the second detecting means 32), an optimum focussing drive data, zooming drive data and direction changing data, in the storage portion 37, as the preset data, when the traffic condition camera is installed. Further, the first embodiment, whenever the car is detected by the first car detecting means 31, tests whether the passing car commits the signal disregarding violation based on the state of the traffic signal 6, and also, specifies the lane from the running 113 W lanes 1A ID on which the violation is occurring, and picks up the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data in the storage portion 37, corresponding to each of the four car sensors 31A 31D, when the car is judged as the violation. Since the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed based on the data which is picked up, it is possible to obtain an optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the photographed position.

Furthermore, the traffic condition photographing device can be optimumly installed in consistency with the number of the running lane in an installed location, a width of the lane, the position of the traffic signal and the like.

Thereby, it has very large applications.

When the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data are inputted in the storage portion 37 as the preset data at a time when the traffic condition photographing device is installed, a focussing plate is detachably fitted in the exposure opening, and a so called initial setting is 114 W performed while visually confirming an actually photographed field in such a manner that the shutter is opened perfectly. Thereby, it is possible to set an optimum photographed picture in which the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, in detail, the number and the width of the running lane and its circumferential situation are considered generally.

*e o S*

Y

A second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Figs.7 to In the second embodiment, a middle position return commanding means is added to the first embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding means drives the photograph light axis, to a middle angle of a direction changing angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, at o. a time of the photograph waiting state in a direction changing drive photograph mode by a direction changing drive photographing means.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.7. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the construction shown in Fig.1 according to the first

S*

embodiment mentioned above. An output terminal of the middle position return commanding means 40 is connected to the control circuit That is, the middle position return commaviding means 40 drives the photographing 116 portion so as to direct the photograph light axis to the position of the middle angle of the direction changing angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36, when the direction changing drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the direction changing drive photograph mode. The directing changing drive photographing means comprises the photographing portion 10 and the 'i direction changing drive portion Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in a case where the direction changing drive is performed, respective driving angle positions by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position of the middle .ooo angle in a driving angle range.

*An operation of the second embodiment will be explained actually with reference to Figs.8 to A flow chart shown in Fig.8 shows the operation of the second embodiment. The operations from a step to a step S73 are identical or similar to those at the step SO the step S40 in Fig.4, 117 which illustrate the operation of the first embodiment mentioned above. Thereby, explanations of identical items are omitted, in order to avoid duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S60, the power supply is sent to each portion of a circuit. The flow proceeds to a next step S61, and a digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

This initial setting is, as shown in detail in Fig.9, a setting of the effective lane number similar to that of the condition 1 in the first embodiment, in which from the four running lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, one of the running lanes is selected which the detecting of the traffic rule violation and the photographing are 0* performed. Furthermore, it is possible to specify a condition in relation to the detecting order in which the violations are detected for the selected running lane.

Next, the flow proceeds to a step S80, and five types of the condition settings from a condition A to a condition E are performed parallelly or directly. The settings from the 118 conditions A to the conditions E mentioned below are, in any case, input settings for the conditions of the eight positions mentioned above by observing the actually photographed picture.

That is, the focussing screen is detachably fitted to the exposure opening of the camera body 79. In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb state, and the throttle is set to the open state.

Then, the vario'as settings are performed by observing the photographed image on the focussing screen.

The setting of the condition A is similar to the condition 2 in the first embodiment, the setting of the condition B is similar to the setting of the condition 3 in the first embodiment, the setting of the condition C is \similar to the condition 4 in the first embodiment, and the setting of the condition D is similar to the condition 5 in the first S. embodiment.

The setting of the condition E is similar to the setting of the condition 6 (the setting of the film feeding), the setting of the condition 7 (the preset setting of the light emitting amount of the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50) and the 119 W setting of the condition 8 (the preset setting of the photograph cycle) in the first embodiment.

These settings of the conditions A E can be inputted by means of the key board switch and the touch type switch, or the potentiometer, the rotary encoder and the like.

As mentioned above, when the conditions A E are performed at the step S80, the flow proceeds to a next step S81. These four conditions A D are performed parallelly or directly. Then, the operation is performed at a middle value.

The driving to the middle value under the condition A operates to the middle position the rotation angle of the focussing drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80. That is, the rotation angle is set to a middle angle between a rotation angle position of the focussing drive ring necessary to focalize the object positioned at the shortest distance and the rotation angle position of the focussing drive ring necessary to focalize the object positioned at the longest distance, in a plurality of photographed field distance data which are preset corresponding to the effective lane number detected under the condition 1.

120 The driving to the middle value under the condition B operates to the middle position the rotation angle of the zooming drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80. That is, the rotation angle is set to the middle angle between the rotation angle position of the zooming drive ring hed at the wide angle side to the utmost and the rotation angle position of the zooming drive ring held at the telescopic angle sidc to the utmost, in a plurality of zooming data which are preset corresponding to the effective lane number detected under the condition 1.

The driving to the middle valie under the condition C sets the throttle of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80, to the middle angle position of each rotation angle position of the throttling drive ring corresponding to each of the predetermined limit open value and minimum open value.

The driving to the middle value under the condition D operates the stepping motor 66 to the *0* 0 middle angle position between the maximum direction changing angle data and the minimum direc'ion changing angle data, in a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle 121 data which are preset corresponding to the effective lane number already specified.

In the second embodiment, there are the four running lanes 1A ID as a preset effective lane.

Thereby, the photograph light axis direction changing angle Dl is the minimum direction changing angle, and the photograph light axis direction changing angle D8 is the maximum direction changing angle. Then, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder can be changed in direction.

The drivings to these middle values are performed, as illustrated at steps of a flow chart shown in Fig.10. The steps are illustrated so as to be applicable to any one of the conditions A D mentioned above. However, a case of a direction changing operation under the condition D is actually explained. Detail explanations are omitted in relation to driving operations to the middle values under other conditions A C.

At first, the detecting of a current value is performed at a step S82. The detecting is necessary to drive the camera bottom plate 77 to which the camera body 79 comprising the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is fixed, up to a 122 predetermined middle position in its horizontal plane, and more actually obtains an output, that is, the current angle position of the camera bottom plate 77 which is integrally formed with the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is detected by the position detection encoder (not shown).

At a step S83, the setting of the target value is performed. The target value is obtained as follows. That is, there are the four running lanes LA ID in the preset effective lane.

Thereby, the photograph light axis direction changing angle D1 is the minimum direction changing angle, and the photograph light axis i ,direction changing angle D8 is the maximum direction changing angle. The target value is obtained as the middle value between the two values mentioned above. And then, e data difference between a current valuQ data obtained at the step S82 and a target value data obtained, at the step S83 is calculated at a next step S84.

A target stepped number C of a stepped rotating drive corresponding to the data difference is calculated. A polarity of the data difference, that is, a driving direction is specified at the same time. Then, the flow proceeds to a next step 123 At a step S85, a rotation direction of the stepping motor 66 is set so as to correspond to the polarity of the data difference obtained at the step S84. The flow proceeds to a next step S86. The stepping motor 66 is rotated in a stepped manner, to the direction set at the step Then, the flow proceeds to a step S87. An actual driving stepped number N which is actually rotated in the stepped manner for the stepping motor 66 is detected at the step S87. At a next step S88, it is judged whether C K N or not.

Incidently, K is a coefficient which is obtained between the rotation of the stepping motor 66 and the direction changing angle of the photograph light axis. In case of NO in the C K N at the step S88, the stepping motor 66 is continuously driven at the stepped manner.

Again at the step S88, it is judged whether C K N. This situation continues while NO appears at the step S88. When YES appears, the flow proceeds to a next step S89. Then, the stepping motor 66 is stopped, and the brake is actuated at the same time. The operation that the photograph light axis is directed to a target 124 angle position is completed at this point.

The driving to such the photograph waiting position is the drive to the middle position by means of the so called closed loop tt.pe driving control. However, the so called open loop type driving control is allowable as follows. That is, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80 is detected by the position detecting encoder (not shown). The stepping motor 66 is driven by the predetermined driving stepped number, and then, the driving is stopped.

As mentioned above, when the initial setting at the step S61 is performed, the operations from the next step S62 to the step $73 are performed, similarly in those from the step S2 to the step S13 as mentioned above. The flow proceeds to a nest step S74. Then, the driving to the middle position is performed similarly at the step S81.

Further, the second embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing the :violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition illustrated at a step S71, as it is, and to drive oooo• the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second 125 photographing under the second set condition.

However, it is allowable to add a step S77 at which a middle position driving step similar to the step S74 is performed, parallelly to the step S72, such as the step S77 illustrated in a dashed line shown in Fig.8.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the driving to the middle position is performed, prior to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive under the condition A, the zooming drive under the condition B, the throttling drive under the condition C and the direction changing drive under the condition D, respectively.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a driving amount as a whole prior to the photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce a preparating time prior to the photographing. Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce a timing lag between a photograph start command point (a point that the violating car arrives at the first car detecting means 31 or the second car detecting means 32) and a point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible.

A third embodiment according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter in detail 126 Swith reference to Figs.11 to 13.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment mentioned above, a timing setting is adapted in such a manner that the first photographing is started when the violating car is detected by the first car detecting means 31, and that the second photographing is started when the arrival of the violating car is detected by the second car detecting means 32. However, in the third embodiment, the timing setting is adapted in such a manner that the first photographing is performed when the violating car is detected by the first car detecting means 31 and that the second photographing is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the point of the first photographing.

A general construction of a traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.ll. A main portion thereof comprises the photographing portion 10, the direction changing drive portion 20, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 and a controlling portion 100. And, the photographing portion 10, the direction changing drive portion and the stroboscopic light emitting portion 127 are similar to those of the first embodiment and the second embodiments mentioned above.

In the third embodiment, as shown in Fig.12, a car lane 1 comprises four lanes lA, IB, 1C and ID and a car lane 2 comprises four running lanes.

Also, car lanes 3 and 4 each comprises four running lanes. And, the car lanes 1 and 2, and the car lanes 3 and 4 intersects with each other in the form of the cross at a crossing 5. The third embodiment is adapted to photograph the car running at the car lane 1 which car disregards the signal in the crossing As shown in Fig.12, a traffic signal 6 is disposed above the car lane 1 positioned at a front portion at the crossing 5. A car detecting means 91 is disposed on a road surface in the vicinity of a stop line (not shown) that is disposed just before the crossing 5. The car detecting means 91 comprises four car sensors 91A, 91B, 91C and 91D which correspond to the running lanes 1A ID.

The car detecting means 91 detects that the car running on one of the running lanes 1A ID in the car lane 1 arrives at a predetermined position located on the one of the running lanes, that is, 128 a position in the vicinity of the stop line.

These car sensors 91A 91D comprise the pressure sensor which detects the car arrival, by being run over with the tire of the running car.

Respective output terminals of the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are connected to input terminals of a violation detecting means 33 of a next stage. And, a car detection by means of the car sensors 91A 91D is repeated at a predetermined period. The violation detecting means 33 judges whether the car violates the traffic rule, when the car is detected by the car detecting means 91 mentioned above. A car detecting data from the car sensors 91A 91D is supplied to the violation detecting means 91, as mentioned above.

A violation (car) position specifying means 34 generates a lane specifying data which specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes, the lane on which the violating car is running.

And the violation position specifying means actually generates the position specifying means which specifies four positions in whichl the car sensors 91A 91D are installed.

An driving input terminal and an output 129 Sterminal of a timer circuit 92 in which a set time is set to t seconds are connected to the violation detecting means 33. A purpose of the timer circuit 92 is to perform a first photographing when the car which arrives at the car detecting means 91 violates the traffic rule, and to determine a time from the first photographing to a second photographing as the set time of the timer circuit 92.

The second photographing is performed to confirm a situation of the violating car again.

Thereby, a wide area including the situations of not only the violating car but also other cars positioned at a circumference thereof is photographed. The second t of the set time is determined as follows.

That is, the first photographing is performed when the car passing through the car detecting means 91 violates the traffic rule, and the second photographing is performed after a predetermined time. However, there is a problem in relation to target positions in the running lanes 1A 1D forming the car lane 1 when the second photographing is performed.

This can be obtained by setting a time 130 W necessary to arrive at the position of the second photographing in the embodiment mentioned above, that is, the position of the second car detecting means 32 (refer to Fig.2). However, a speed of a passing car is not specified. Thereby, a running distance is not specified.

For example, there is a problem in regard to a selecting of an employed distance, in a running distance L1 of the car which is running below a specified speed, a running distance L3 of the car which is running extremely over the specified speed or a running distance L2 of the car running at the specified speed, for the t seconds. This can not be determined unless the situation of the car running on the road is considered statistically. However, the purpose of the second photographing is to photograph a circumferential situation including the violating car. Thereby, there is essentially no problem even if the photographed position is changed more or less.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, the distance L3 which th8 car running at the specified speed travels for the t seconds from the car detecting means 91 is used as the position of the second photographing.

131 qW The violation position specifying means 34 generates the lane specifying data and the position specifying data. The lane specifying data specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car detected by the violation detecting means 33 is running, and the position specifying data specifies either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned.

More actually, the position specifying data specifies total eight positions of four positions of first photographed positions (predetermined positions) on which the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed and respective four positions for the running lanes 1A ID which intersect in the form of the cross in the direction of the distance L3.

An inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, a direction changing angle from a reference direction, in a case where a photograph light axis direction from a location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted is directed to respective first photographed position and second photographed position on a plurality of the 132 l running lanes 1A ID, that is, the positions which specify total eight positions of the four positions, of the first photographed position, in which the car sensors 91A 91D are installed and four positions of the second photographed position, as a plurality of photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E8, in a storage portion 37 at a time of mounting the photographing portion The photograph light axis direction changing data El E8 can be stored in the storage portion 37 by obtaining an angle at which the photograph light axis direction changing angle is coincident with the eight photographing positions mentioned above by means of an accurate road diagram.

However, the photograph light axis direction changing angles in the eight positions mentioned above are inputted through the inputting means 36 to the storage portion 37, by observing an actual photographed picture, in the third embodiment.

This actual example is explained as follows.

At first, a focussing screen is detachably fitted to an exposure opening of a camera body 79. In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb state, and the throttle is set to the open state. Then, 133

O

the stepping motor 66 is driven in the stepped manner while observing a photographed image on the focussing screen. A data of the stepped number which means a desired direction changing angle is obtained. Finally, the data is stored in the storage portion 37 as the photograph light axis direction changing data.

A first selecting means 38 selects, from a plurality of the running lanes 1A- ID forming the car lane 1, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation of the car is detected by the violation detecting means 33, and the photographed order.

More actually, the photograph light axis direction changing angle corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed (the predetermined positions) and the four positions for the second photographing (scheduled positions) is assumed as the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E2.

The second selecting means 39 selects the photograph light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to a photographed lane selected by the first selecting means 38, and corresponding to the position data detected by the violation position specifying means 34, from a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E2 which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means 38.

A direction changing drive photographing means is adapted in such a manner thai the photograph light axis in 'the photograpning portion is directed to the violating car and the photographing is performed, based on the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E8 selected by the second selecting means 39.

Next, an operation according to the third embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 13. A flow chart shown in Fig.13 illustrates the operation according to the third embodiment. The operations from a step to a step S101 are identical or similar to those from the step SO to the step Sll shown in Fig.4, which illustrates the operation of the first embodiment mentioned above. Therefore, explanations of identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only 135 different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S90, the power supply is sent to each portion of a circuit. The flow proceeds to a next step S91, and a digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed. The initial settings are similar to those of the first embodiment mentioned above.

Also, the operations up to the step S101 are similar to those of the first embodiment mentioned above.

The operation at a step S102 which is performed after the step Sl01 is actuated when the first photographing is started. At a next step S103, it is judged whether the timer elapse time has reached the time t or not. In case of NO, the operation at the step S103 is repeated until YES appears. If YES appears, the flow proceeds to a next step S104. The second photographing is performed under the second set condition, similarly in the first embodiment.

Incidently, a focussing drive data, a zooming drive data and a direction changing drive data corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 91A 136 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed and the four positions of the scheduled photographed positions are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 when the photographing portion 10 is mounted.

The first set condition mentioned above is the condition in relation to the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data corresponding to the respective four positions in which the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed. Further, the second set condition is the condition in relation to the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction chaiging drive data corresponding to the four positions of the second photographed position.

The photographing under the second set condition drives, in a preset manner, a focussing drive ring in a focussing portion 15 which is located at a position driven by the first photographing, and focalizes the violating car which is running near the photographing position scheduled to reach after the predetermined time for the running lane 1C.

The zooming drive is performed at the same 137 time. This zooming drive picks up, from the zooming drive data already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 mentioned above, the data corresponding to the photograph position scheduled for the running lane 1C. The zooming drive drives, in the preset manner, a zooming drive ring in a zooming portion 11 which is located at a position driven by the first photographing. Further, the zooming drive is adapted to be able to photograph the wide area including not only the violating car which is positioned near the scheduled photographed position but also other cars which exist near the circumference thereof, at a predetermined

S

photograph magnification.

The throttling drive is performed at an

*S*

almost same time of these focussing preset drive and zooming preset drive. The throttling drive operates to change a throttling drive ring which is held in the position driven by the first photographing, to a throttling value necessary to give a correct exposing based on the output of the photometric circuit (not shown). Further, the direction changing drive is performed at an almost 138 same time of these focussing preset drive, zooming preset drive and throttling drive. This direction changing drive is performed as follows.

The direction changing drive picks up the data corresponding to the second photographing position on the running lane IC, from the direction changing drive data already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 mentioned above. Then, the direction changing drive directs a position of a camera bottom plate 77 held in the position driven by the first photographing based on the data which is picked up, that is, the photograph light axis of a photograph lens mirror cylinder 80, to the second photographing position, and again, sets it to the photograph light axis direction changing angle E6.

A statistical data such as a violation date and time, a violation situation, a violation data and the like are recorded at a step S105 in relation to the first photographing and the second photographing, when the first photographing and the second photographing are performed at a step Sl01 and a step S104. Then, the flow-is returned to a next step S97. The operation is held in a waiting state, until the violating car is detected again.

Therefore, just after the violation of the running car is detected at the position of the car detecting means 91, the car can be photographed in a large photograph magnification and the number plate of the car can be clearly photographed in such a manner that the number plate of the car is positioned at the center of the picture. Further, at a time of the photographing, the stroboscopic light emitting is performed by the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50. Thereby normally, a stroboscopic light is emitted to the face of the driver in the car which lacks the exposure. So, the face of the driver can be also photographed clearly.

Furthermore, a wide area including not only the violating car but also the circumferential 6:00 situation thereof is photographed in the second photographing. Thereby, the situation of the violating car can be specified generally.

The third embodiment mentioned above stores, in each of a plurality of the predetermined photographed points (the total eight points of the four points for the car detecting means 91 and the 140 four points for the second photographed position), an optimum focussing drive data, zooming data and direction changing drive data, in the storage portion 37, as a preset data, when the traffic condition photographing device is installed.

Further, the third embodiment, whenever the car is detected by the car detecting means 91, judges whether the passing car commits the signal disregarding violation, based on the state of the traffic signal 6, and also, specifies the lanes on which the violating car is running, from the running lanes 1A iD, and reads out the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data in the storage portion 37, corresponding to any appropriate position in the four car sensors 91A 91D when the car is specified as the violation. Since the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed, based on the data which is read out, it is possible to S• obtain an optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the photographing position.

Furthermore, for the car which arrives at a vicinity of the second photographing position (a 141 scheduled position) after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first photographing is completed, the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data wnich are stored in the storage portion 37 corresponding to each of the four photographed positions are read out, and then, the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed, based on the data which are read out. 'Thereby, it is possible to obtain the optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the second photographing position.

142 A fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Fig.14 and Fig.15. In the forth embodiment, a middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the -onstruction of the third embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding means 40 generates a command which operates the controlling means 30 to direct the photograph light axis to a middle angle in a alrection changing angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, when a direction changing drive photographing means is in the photograph waiting state in a direction changing drive photograph mode.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.14. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the construction shown in Fig.ll according to the .third embodiment mentioned above. An output terminal of the middle position return commanding is connected to the control circuit 1.43 That is, the middle position return commanding means 40 generates the command which operates the controlling means to direct the photograph light axis to the position of the middle angle in the direction changing angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36, when the direction changing drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the direction changing photograph mode. The direction changing drive photographing means comprises the photographing portion 10 and the direction changing drive portion Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in a case where the direction changing drive is performed, respective driving angle positions by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position of the middle angle in a driving angle range.

*.An operation of the fourth embodiment will be explained actually with reference to Fig.15. A flow chart shown in Fig.15 shows the operation of the fourth embodiment. The operations from a step 144 S200 to a step S214 are identical or similar to those from the S90 to the S104 shown in Fig.13 which illustrates the operation of the third embodiment mentioned above. Therefore, explanations of the identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S200, the power supply is sent to each port-ion of a circuit. The flow proceeds to a next S201, and a digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

Theses initial settings are similar to those of the third embodiment mentioned above. Also, the operations up to a succeeding S214 are similar to those of the third embodiment.

The operation at a step S215 which is performed after the S214 drives respective driving angle position by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive, the throttling drive and the *00o direction changing drive, to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range, when the second photographing has been finished. So, the o0o o operation at the step S215 is similar to that at the step S74 of the second embodiment mentioned 145 above (refer to Fig.8).

Further, the fourth embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing the violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition illustrated at a step S211, as it is, and to drive the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second photographing under the second set condition, HoweVer, it is allowable to add a step S218 at which a middle position driving step similar to the step S215 is performed, parallelly to the step S212 and the step S213, such as the step S218 illustrated in a dashed line shown in Fig. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the driving (recovering) to the middle position is performed, prior to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the driving amount as a whole prior to the photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce the preparating time prior to the photographing. Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce the timing lag between a 146 photograph start command point (the point that the violating car arrives, at the first car detecting means 31) and the point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible., Incidently, the present inre-ntion is not limited to the four embodiments mentioned above, and many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the pressure sensor as the car detecting means according to the present invention may be other types, such as not only a pressure sensing type but also a semi-conductor i sensor type and the like.

Further, in the embodiments mentioned above, there are eight samples as a sample number in various preset data such as the direction changing data and the like. However, the sample number more than or less than the eight samples is allowable. The size can be freely designed, based

S.

"Io on a road situation in a territory in which the traffic condition photographing device is used actually. Furthermore, the traffic condition photographing device can be used for photographing various violations such as not only the signal disregarding but also an over speed, a temporary stop at a railway crossing and the like, as the violation detecting means.

The setting of the time t in the third embodiment or the fourth embodiment can be freely designed, based on a traffic situation.

Further, the driving to the middle position in the first embodiment or the second embodiment may be performed prior to the second photographing when' the first photographing is completed, or may be performed when both of the first photographing and the second photographing are completed.

A DC servo motor, a AC servo motor and the like can be used for driving the angle position of the photograph light axis. Further, as for a photographing direction, the Violation detecting means can be provided, so as to photograph a rear portion of the car if only the car and the number plate are photographed.

Furthermore, the violation detecting means can be provided in the position in which only a single unit can photograph a left lane and a right lane by combining t',e photographing of the rear

I

portion of the car and that of a front portion of the car.

148 A traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function of a fifth embodiment a cording to the present invention will be p explained in detail hereinafter with reference to Fig,16, and Fig.2, Fig.4 and Fig.6 mentioned above. The fifth embodiment shows an example in which, ii a case where a car enters into a cg~r-ing in the form of the cross in spite of the ~dr-sgst-nal such the violating car is detected and photographed, similarly as mentioned above.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device with the varifocal function is illustrated in a block diagram shown *00* in Fig. 16. A main portion thereof comprises the phOtographing portion 10, the direction changing drive portion 20, the controlling portion 30 and fe the stroboscopic light emitting portion A relation between a plurality of photographed positions according to the fifth embodiment is illustrated at a plan view shown in Fig. 2.

The construction of the fifth embodiment shwn in Fig.16 is similar to that of the first embodiment shown in Fig.l, as mentioned above.

Differences between the first embodiment and the 149 fifth embodiment are as follows. That is, illustrations of the first to fourth set means 41 shown in Fig.1 are omitted in Fig.16. However, a shutter holding means 16, a varifocal driving means 17, an image angle detecting means 18 and a calculating means 21 which are not shown in Fig.l are added to Fig.16. Other constructions are substantially similarly used in the first embodiment and the fifth embodiment.

*However, the fifth embodiment shown in Fig.16 substantially includes a construction with functions similar to those of the first fourth setting means 41 in the first embodiment shown in Fig.l.

Therefore, the construction and an operation (an actuation) shown in Fig.16 in the fifth embodiment are almost similar to those of the first embodiment. Thereby, most of the explanations for the construction and operation of o C the first embodiment shown in Fig.l mentioned above are used, and also, the flow charts shown in Fig.2 and Figs.4 6 are used, as they are, as a flow chart for explaining the operation according to the fifth embodiment. Then, most of the explanations are omitted. Only different items 150 are explained.

In the fifth embodiment, the traffic condition photographing device photographs the violating car, when the traffic rule violation of the car which arrives at a predetermined position in the car lane comprising a plurality of the running lanes is detected, in such a manner that the focal distance of the zooming portion 11 of the photographing portion 10 arranged along the car lane mentioned above is set in the optimum condition.

In the fifth embodiment, the first car .*detecting means 31 comprising the car sensors 31A 31D, the second car detecting means 32 2comprising the car sensors 32A 32D, the traffic signal 6, the violation detecting means 33, the violation position specifying means 34, the controlling means 35, the inputting means 36, the storage means 37, the first selecting means 38, the second selecting means 39, the stroboscopic light emitting means 50, the zooming portion 11, :the film feeding portion 12, the data recording means 13, the film exposing portion 14, the focussing portion 15 and the direction changing drive portion 20 correspond to each of the 151 portions to which the reference numbers designated in Fig.1 are given. Thereby, they have the constructions and operations identical to those of the first embodiment.

However, the traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method described in the fifth embodiment is a littlq different, from the first embodiment with a photograph light axis direction changing function shown in Fig.l, because the fifth embodiment has the varifocal function.

For example, the inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, the photograph magnification in the location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted, in the storage portion 37, when the photographing portion 10 is mounted, as respective photograph image angle data F1 F8, for the photographed positions at the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position for every of the running lanes 1A ID, that is, the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which tho car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are a.

a 152 installed.

Of course, at the same time, the inputting means 36 directs, in order, the photograph light axis direction, from the location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted, to the photographed positions in the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position for every of the running lanes 1A ID, that is, the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed. Furthermore, the inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, the direction changing angle from each reference direction, as a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8, in the storage portion 37, at a time of mounting the photographing portion In addition, the inputting means 36 not only inputs the photograph image angle data F1 F8 and the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8 in the storage portion 37, but also inputs the focus data in each of the eight positions mentioned above.

153 That is, it is possible to preset a condition for a light axis appropriate for an installed field, by inputting the photograph image angle data F1 F8 and the photograph light axis direction angle data D1l- D& for the eight positions mentioned above, through the inputting means 36, to the storage means 37, by observing the actually photographed picture.

This actual example is explained as follows.

At first, the photographing portion 10 is adapted to comprise a holding means 16 (here, called a first set means) for holding at lease the shutter in the open state, a focus situation confirming means (here, called a third set means) which is detachably fixed to a film exposure opening, a varifocal driving means 17 (here, called a fourth set means) which drives to any position and a second set means (not shown) which sets a throttle to any aperture. These.means are called the set means as a whole.

.The focussing screen which is the focus situation confirming means is tentatively fixed to the exposure opening of the photographing portion In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb 154 state by the shutter holding means 16, and also, the throttle is set to the open state. Then, the stepped number data which is a desired varifocal rate by driving in a stepped manner the varifocal magnification in the zooming portion 11, while observing the photographed image on the focussing screen. Then, the data is stored in the storage portion 37 as the photograph image angle data F1 F8.

An image angle detecting means 18 which .detects the focal distance of the photograph lens of the photographing portion mentioned above and obtains a current image angle data is provided in the photographing portion 10. A calculating means 21 which obtains a varifocal driving amount data by comparing the current image angle data detected by the image angle detecting means 18 with the photograph image angle data selected by the second selecting means mentioned above is provided in the varifocal driving means 17. A varifocal drive photographing mean-, is adapted so as to photograph, in a varifocal driving manner, the photograph image angle in the photographing portion mentioned above, based on the varifocal driving amount data obtained by the calculating means 21.

155 An output terminal of the storage portion a7 for storing the data from the inputting means 36 is connected to the control circuit 35. On the other hand, the first selecting means 38 and the second selecting means 39 are connected to the control circuit 35. The control circuit transmits the direction changing command signal to the direction changing drive portion 20, based on an output from the storage portion 37 and comurands from the storage portion 37 and commands from the violation position specifying means 34 and the first selecting means 38 and the second 0000 a selecting means 39.

The first selecting means 38 selects, from a

C

plurality of the running lanes 1A ID forming the

C.

car lane 1, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation of the car is detected by the violation detecting means 33, and selects a photographed order.

0 More actually, the focal distance corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting 156 means 32 are installed is assumed as the photograph image angle data Fl F8.

The second selecting means 39 selects the photograph image angle data corresponding to the photographed lane selected by the first selecting means 38, and corresponding to the position specifying data detected by the violation position specifying means 34, from a plurality of the photograph image angle data Fl F8 which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 38.

Next, an operation of the fifth embodiment will be explained with reference to the flow chart in Figs.4 t 6. However, the operation of the fifth embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, as mentioned above. Then, only different items are explained. The operations identical to those of the first embodiment are performed at the steps from a SO to a S15, the steps from a S30 to a S40 and the steps from a to a •Now, the zooming setting under the condition 3 at the step S30 in the flow chart shown in will be explained supplementarily. The rotation angle of the zooming drive ring of the photograph 157 lens mirror cylinder is set to a predetermined photograph waiting position. As a photograph waiting position, for example, the zooming drive ring may be set to the wide angle side to the utmost or the telescopic angle side to the utmost.

More actually, the current angle position of the zooming drive ring is detected by the image angle detecting means 18. The angle difference from the photograph waiting position (the target valu'e) is calculated by the calculating means 21.

And also, the direction is detected when being driven from the current angle position to the photograph waiting position (the target value).

Then, the stepped driving number corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained. And, when the driving pulse signal is transmitted to the stepping motor by this obtained stepped number, the zooming drive ring is rotated, thereby the focal distance is changed to the photograph waiting position (the target value).

Incidently, the driving to such the photograph waiting position is the drive to the middle position by means of the so called open loop type driving control. However, for example, the so called closed loop type driving control is 158 allowable as follows. That is, the current driving angle of the zooming drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder is always detected by the image angle detecting means 18. The stepping motor is driven by the predetermined driving stepped number (a micro rotation). Then, when the stepping motor 66 arrives at the desired angle position, the driving is stopped.

Now, the operations of the focussing drive, the Zooming drive and the direction changing drive at the step S50 in the flow chart shown in Fig.6 are explained supplementarily. The controlling means 35 picks up, from the focussing drive data \already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 mentioned above, the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor S31C. Then, the controlling means 35 drives, in the preset manner, the focussing drive ring of the focussing portion 15 held in the photograph waiting position, and focalize it the car which is •positioned on the car sensor 31C.

The zooming drive is performed at an almost same time of the operations mentioned above. The controlling means 35 picks up, from the photograph 159 image angle data F1 F8 already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 mentioned above, the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 31C. Then, the controlling means 35 drives, in the preset manner, the zooming drive ring of the zooming portion 11 held in the photograph waiting position in such a mannei that car positioned at the car sensor 31C can be photographed at the predetermined photograph magnification.

More actually, the current angle position of the zooming drive ring of the photograph lens s o: mirror cylinder is detected by the image angle detecting means 18. The angle difference and the directin difference from the photograph image angle data F1 F8 (the target value) are calculated by the calculating means 21 as the driving angle data. And also, the direction is determined when being driven from the current angle position to the photograph light axis direction changing angle D3. Then, the stepped number of the stepping motor corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained.

And, when the driving pulse signal is 160 transmit'ued to the stepping motor by the stepped number in this obtained direction, the photograph image angle is adapted so as to correspond to the photograph image angle data F3.

The throttling drive is performed at the almost same time of these focussing preset drive and zooming preset drive and the operations mentioned above. This throttling drive sets the throttling drive ring held in the photograph waiting position, to the throttling value necessary to give the correct exposing bascd on the output of the photometric circuit (not shown).

Further, the direction changing drive is performed at the almost same time of these focussing preset drive, zooming preset drive and throttling drive. This direction :hanging drive is performed as follows.

The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 31C, from the photograph light axis direction changing angle data Dl D8 already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36 mentioned above. And based on the data which is picked up, the controlling means 35 directs the 161 IFl"sssP1 I~ 1 1~ position of the camera bottom plate held in the photograph waiting position, that is, the photograph light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder, to the predetermined direction changing angle data D3.

In this way, when the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive are performed at the step SbO, the exposing is started at the next S51, and also-, the stroboscopic light emitting is started.

The violating car which is running on the running lane 1C is photographed at the position of the car r* sensor 31C, at the large photograph magnification, in such a manner that the violating car is located S S at the center of the photographed picture.

Therefore, the number plate of the car and the face of the driver are clearly photographed.

fee e* *e ~o 162 i II I A sixth embodiment of a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a varifocal function according to the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to Fig.17 and Figs.8 10 mentioned above.

In the sixth embodiment, a middle position return commanding means is added to the construction of the fifth embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding means drives the photograph image angle to a middle angle in a varifocal angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph image angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, when the varifocal drive photographing means is in the photograph waiting state in a varifocal drive photograph mode.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.17. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the construction shown in Fig.16 according to the fifth embodiment mentioned above. An output terminal of the middle position return commanding 163

I

means 40 is connected to the control circuit That is, the middle position return commanding means 40 is adapted to set the focal distance of the photograph lens to the position of the middle angle in the varifocal angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph image angle data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36, when the varifocal drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the varifocal drive photograph mode. The varifocal drive photographing means comprises the photographing portion 10 and the varifocal driving portion 17.

Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in a case where the varifocal driving is performed, the respective driving angle positions by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range.

An operation of the sixth embodiment will be explained actually with reference to Fig.17, and Figs.8 to 10 mentioned above. A flow chart shown in Fig.8 illustrates the operation of the sixth embodiment. The operations from the step S60 to 164 the step S73 are identical or similar to those from the step SO to the step S13 which illustrate the operation of the first embodiment mentioned above. Therefore, explanations of the identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S60, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit. The flow proceeds to the next S61, and the digital/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

This initial setting sets, as shown in detail in Fig.9, the effective lane number similar to the setting of the condition 1 in the first embodiment mentioned above, and selects, from a plurality of the four runnin1g lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, the lane in which the detecting of the traffic rule violation and the photographing are to be performed. Furthermore, it is possible to specify the condition in relation to the sequence i in which the violations are detected for the selected lane.

Next, the flow proceeds to the step S80 shown in Fig.9, and five types of the condition settings 165 from the condition A to the condition B are performed parallelly or directly. The operations of the step S80 and the step S81 shown in Fig.9 are also similar to those of the second embodiment even in the sixth embodiment. Therefore, explanations of blocks corresponding to the second embodiment are used.

The drivings to these middle values are performed, as shown in the flow chart in Fig. The flow chart shown in Fig.10 explains the operation of the second embodiment. However, the operation of the sixth embodiment is performed similarly. Thereby, the explanation of the f operations shown in Fig.lO is used for those from the step S82 to the step S89. Here, the descriptions are omitted.

Incidently, the driving to such the photograph waiting position is the drive to the middle position by means of the so called closed loop type driving control. However, the so called open loop type driving control is allowable as follows. That is, a current rotation angle of the zooming drive ring is detected, and the stepping motor is driven by the predetermined driving stepped number. After that, the stepping motor is 166 stopped.

In the sixth embodiment, when the initial setting at the step S61 is performed, similarly in a case of the second embodiment, the operations from the next step S62 to the step S73 are performed similar to those from the step S2 co the step S13 mentioned above. The operation is proceeded to the step S74 following the step S73.

Then, the driving to the middle position is perfbrmed similarly at the step S81.

Further, the sixth embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing the violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition illustrated at the step S71, as it is, and to drive the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second photographing under the second set condition.

However, it is allowable to add the S77 at which the middle position driving step similar to the -step S74 is performed, parallelly to the step S72 such as the step S77 illustrated in the daphed line shown in Fig.8.

Therefore, in the sixth embodiment, the driving to the middle position is performed, pi-ior 167 to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive of the condition A, the zooming drive of the condition B, the throttling drive of the condition C and the direction changing drive of the condition D, respectively. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the driving amount prior to the photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce the preparating time prior to the photographing.

Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce the timing lag between the photograph start command point (the point that the violating car arrives at the first car detecting means 31 or the second car detecting means 32) and the point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible.

Next, a seventh embodiment of a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic S" condition photographing method with the varifocal function in accordance with the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Fig.18, and Fig.12 or Fig.13 mentioned above.

In the first and second embodiments and the fifth and sixth embodiments mentioned above, the timing setting is adapted in such a manner that the first photographing is started when the violating car is detected by the first car detecting means 31, and that the second photographing is started when the arrival of the violating car is detected by the second car detecting means 32. However, in the seventh embodiment, the timing setting is adapted in such a manner that the first photographing is performed when the violating car is detected by the car detecting means 91, and that the second photographing is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed since the point of the first photographing.

A general construction of a traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.18. A main portion thereof comprises the photographing portion 10, the varifocal driving means 17, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 and the controlling portion 100. And, the photographing portion 10, the varifocal driving means 17 and the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 are similar to those of the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment mentioned above.

The construction of the seventh embodiment is also similar to that of the third embodiment.

169 However, there are differences between the third embodiment and the seventh embodiment, as follows.

That is, the illustrations of 'the first to the fourth set means 41 in the third embodiment are omitted. However, the holding means 16, the varifocal driving means 17, the image angle detecting means 18 and the calculating means 21 which are not shown in the first embodiment are illustrated.

Therefore, the explanations of the plan view which illustrates the relation of the photographed positions shown in Fig.12, and the operations from the step S90 to the step S106 in the flow chart shown in Fig.13 are applicable to those of the seventh embodiment shown in Fig.18. Thereby, the explanations mentioned above are used, as they are, in order to avoid the duplications.

In Fig.18, the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14, the focussing portion 15 and the direction changing drive portion 20 which form the photographing portion and the car detecting means 91 (the car sensors 91A 91D), the violation detecting means 33, the violation position specifying means 34, 170 the controlling means 35, the inputting means 36, the storage portion 37, the first selecting means 38, the second selecting means 39, the timer circuit 92 and the traffic signal 6 which form the controlling portion 100 have constructions similar to those corresponding to the third embodiment shown in Fig.11. Thereby, the explanations of the third embodiment are used, and the explanations thereof are omitted in the seventh embodiment.

Incidently, in Fig.18, the inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, the direction changing angle from the reference direction in a case where the *Of, photograph light axis direction from the location *0* in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted 00 is directed to the respective first photographing position and second photographing position of a plurality of the running lanes 1A 1D, that is, the positions which specify the total eight positions of the four positions, of the first photographing position, in which the car sensors 91A 91D are installed, and four positions of the second photographing positions, as a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E8, in the storage portion 37 at a time of mounting the photographing portion 171 Further, not only the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E8 and the photograph image angle data Fl F8 but also the focussing data are stored at an almost same time.

This storing can be the preset setting appropriate for an actual condition, by inputting the data such as the photograph image angle data for the eight positions mentioned above and the like, through the inputting means 36, to the storage portion 37, by observing the actually photographed image.

This actual example is explained as follows.

At first, the focussing screen is detachably 'fitted to the exposure opening of the camera body 79. In this way, the shut/ter is set to the bulb state, and the throttle is set to the open state.

Then, the stepping motor is driven at the stepped manner while observing the photographed image on the focussing screen. The data of the stepped number which means the desired photograph image angle is obtained. Finally, the data is stored in S" the storage portion 37, as the photograph image angle data.

An operation according to the seventh embodiment will be explained hereinafter with reference to Fig.13. The flow chart shown in Fig.13 illustrates the operation according to the third embodiment. However, the operation of the seventh embodiment is similar to that of the third embodiment. Thereby, the explanations of the similar items are omitted in order to avoid the duplications.

The eighth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to Fig.19, and Fig.15 mentioned above. In the eighth embodiment, the middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the construction of the seventh embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding means 40 generates the command that operates the controlling portion 30 to drive the phctograph image angle to the middle angle in the Svarifocal angle range, based on a plurality of the photograph image angle data which are inputted in g 0 advance in the storage portion by the inputting mears mentioned above, when thi varifocal drive photographing means is in the photograph waiting state in the varifocal drive photographing mode.

A general construction of a traffic condition photographing device according to the eighth 173 embodiment is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.19. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to the construction shown in Fig.18 according to the seventh embodi'ent mentioned above. An output terminal of the middle position return commanding means 40 is connected to the control circuit That is, the middle position return commanding means 40 generates the command which operates the controlling portion 30 to drive the photograph image angle to the position of the middle angle in the varifocal angle range, based S* on a plurality of the photograph image angle data Fl F8 which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means 36, when the varifocal drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the varifocal drive photographing mode.

Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in the case where the varifocal driving is performed, the respective driving angle positions by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range.

174 An operation of the eighth embodiment will be explained actually with reference to Fig.15. The flow chart shown in Fig.15 shows, in common, the operation of the eighth embodiment. Then, the operations from the step S200 to the step S214 are similar to those from the step S90 to the step S104 shown in Fig.13 which illustrate those of the s.,venth embodiment mentioned above. Thereby, explanations of the identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S200, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit. The flow proceeds to the next 201, and the digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed. These initial settings are similar to those of the third embodiment and the seventh embodiment mentioned above. Also, the operations up to the succeeding S214 are similar to those of the third embodiment and the seventh embodiment mentioned above.

The operation the step S215 which is performed after the S214 drives the respective driving angle positions by means of the zooming 175 drive, the focussing drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive, to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range, when the second photographing has been finished.

So, the operation at the step S215 is similar to that at the step 574 in the second embodiment and the sixth embodiment mentioned above (refer to Fig.8).

Further, the eighth embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing the violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition S" illustrated at the step S211, as it is, and to drive the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second photographing under the second set condition.

However, it is allowable to add the step S218 at which the middle position driving step similar to the step S215 is performed, parallelly to the step S213, such as the step S218 illustrated in the dashed line shown in Therefore, in the eighth embodiment, the driving (recovering) to the middle position is performed, prior to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive, respectively. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the driving amount prior to the photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce the preparating time prior to the photographing.

Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce the timing lag between the photograph start command point (the point that the violating car arrives at the first car detecting means 31) and the point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible.

Incidently, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the varifocal function according to the present invention is not limited to the four embodiments mentioned above, and of course, many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the pressure sensor as the car detecting means according to the present invention may be other types, such a,s not only the pressure sensing type but also the semi-conductor sensor type and the like.

Further,in the embodiments mentioned above, 177 there are eight samples as the sample number in the various preset data such as the varifocal angle and the like. However, the sample number more than or less than the eight samples is allowable. The size can be freely designed, based on the road situation in the territory in which the traffic condition photographing device is used actually. Furthermore, the traffic condition photographing device can be used for photographing the various violations such as not only the signal disregarding but also the over speed, the S. temporary stop at the railway crossing and the like, as the violation detecting means.

The setting of the time t in the seventh embodiment or the eighth embodiment can be freely designed, based on the traffic situation.

Further, the driving to the middle position in the fifth embodiment or the sixth embodiment may be performed prior to the second photographing when •the first photographing is completed, or may be performed when both of the first photographing and the second photographing are comi-leted.

In addition, a returning drive to the middle position in the sixth embodiment and the eighth embodiment mentioned above is performed for 178 all four drivings of the varifocal drive, the direction changing drive, the focussing drive and the throttling drive. However, the returning drive is not limited to these four drivings mentioned above. For example, the driving to the middle position of the throttle can be omitted, or the driving to the middle position of the focussing drive can be omitted.

a.

o o 179 Next, a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function of a ninth embodiment according to the prevent invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.

At first, a ninth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to Fig.20, and Figs.2 to 6 mentioned above.

The ninth embodiment shows an example in o o o which, in a case where the car enters into the S* crossing in the form of the cross in spite of the red signal, such the violating car is detected and photographed.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device with the focalizing function is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.20. A main portion thereof comprises the photographing portion 10, the controlling portion and the stroboscopic light emitting portion The construction of the ninth embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment mentioned above. The controlling portion 30 comprising the first car detecting means 31 comprising the car 180 sensors 31A 31D, the second car detecting means 32 comprising the car sensors 32A 32D, the violation detecting means 33, the violating car position specifying means 34, the controlling means 35, the inputting means 36, the storage means 37, the first selecting means 38 and the second selecting means 39, and the photographing portion 10 comprising the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14, the ,focussing portion 15 and the like, and the stroboscopic light emitting portion 15 have constructions similar to those of the first embodiment. Thereby, the explanations of the constructions mentioned above are omitted as much as possible, in order to avoid the duplications.

And, the setting means 41 having the same functions from the first to the fourth set means 41 of the first embodiment shown in Fig.l is illustrated in Fig.20. However, the construction shown in Fig.20 differs from that shown in Fig.l, in that a distance detecting means 19 and the calculating means 21 are shown in Fig.20 while they are not shown in Fig.l.

At first, a relation of a plurality of the photographing positions according to the ninth embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. The blocks mentioned in Fig.2 are used in the ninth embodiment, a6 they are.

In the ninth embodiment the traffic condition photographing device photographs the violating car, when the .traffic rule violation of the car which arrives at a predetermined position in the car lane comprising a plurality of the running lanes is detected, in such a manner that the photograph distance in the focussing portion 11 of the photographing portion 10 arranged along the car lane mentioned above is set in an optimum condition.

In Fig.l, the photographing portion photographs the traffic rule violating car which arrives at the first predetermined position in the car lane, that is, the position of the first car detecting means 31 which is one of the car detecting means, and furthermore, for the sake of the confirmation, again photographs the traffic rule violating car which arrives at the second car detecting means which is the other of the car detecting means. Actually, in the ninth embodiment, the photographing portion 10 comprises 182 the following seven constructional portions, that is, the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14, the focussing portion a distance detecting means 19 and the direction changing drive portion The contents of the zooming portion 11 and the film exposing portion 14 are the same as those of the first embodiment mentioned above, and then, the explanations thereof are omitted in the ninth embodiment. The distance detecting means 19 shown in Fig.20 detects a current focal position of the focus lens of the photograph lens, and obtains a current distance data.

Further, the calculating means 21 compares *ee* the current distance data detected by the distance detecting means 19 mentioned above, with the gee* •photograph distance data selected by the second selecting means 39, and obtains a focalizing drive amount data.

The focussing portion 15 controls the focus lens of the photograph lens of the photographing portion 10, in a focalized state, by a controlling of the controlling portion 30 which receives the focalizing drive amount data from the calculating 183 means 21.

The direction changing drive portion directs the photograph light axis direction, from the location in which the photographing portion is mounted, to the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position for every of the running lanes 1A 1D, by the controlling of the controlling portion And, the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14 and the focussing portion 15 forming the photographing portion 10, and the direction changing drive portion 20 and the 9.

stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 are controlled in combination, by the controlling of the controlling portion 30, by using the micro computer.

e Next, the controlling portion 30 will be described hereinafter in detail. The respective outputs of the car sensors 31A 31D are connected 6 to the input terminals of the violation detecting means 33 of the next stage. Further, the car detection by means of the car sensors 31A 31D is repeatedly performed in the predetermined period.

Each output of the car sensors 31A 31D includes 184 the sign of identifying each of the car sensors 31A 31D.

The second car detecting means 32 is disposed on the running lanes IA 1B at the position which is spaced by the predetermined distance from the first car detecting means 31. Similarly as mentioned above, each output of the car sensors 32A 32D is connected to the input terminals of the violation detecting means 33 at the next stage. Also, the car detection by means of the car sensors 32A 32D is repeated in the predetermined period. Each output of the car sensors 32A 32D includes the sign of identifying each of the car sensors 32A 32D.

The violation detecting means 33 judges a.

S..whether the car violates the traffic rule, when the car is detected by the first car detecting means 31 or the second car detecting means 32.

The car detecting data from the first car detecting means 31 and the car detecting data from the second car detecting means 32 are supplied to the violation detecting means 33 as mentioned above.

And, the output terminal of the violation detecting means 33 is connected to the controlling 185 means 35 through the violating car position specifying means 34 at the next stage.

Incidently, the violating car position specifying means 34 performs a function substantially similar to that of the violation position specifying means 34 shown in Fig.l.

The violatipi car position specifying means 34 generates the lane specifying data and the violating car position data. The lane specifying data specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, the lane on which the violating car detected by the violation detecting means 33 is running, and the violating car .position data specifies either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position at which the violating car is positioned.

More actually, the violating car position data specifies the total eight positions of the four positions on which the car sensors 31A 31D Iforming the first car detecting means 31 are installed, and the four positions on which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed.

On the other hand, the inputting means 36 inputs in advance, distances from the photograph 186 lens of the photographing portion 10 to the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position, as mentioned above, of each of the four running lanes 1A ID, that is, photograph distance data L L8 corresponding to distances from the photograph lens, to the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed, in the storage portion 37 at a time of mounting of the photographing portion At the same time, the inputting means 36 directs, in order, the photograph light axis direction, from the location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted, to the photographed positions in the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position for every of the running lanes 1A ID, that is, the total eight photographed positions mentioned above. Furthermore, the inputting means 36 inputs in advance the direction changing angle from each reference direction, as a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8, in the st portion 37 at a time of mounting of the pi, -ographing portion 37.

In this case, the photograph distance data of the eight positions mentioned above is inputted to the storage portion 37 through the inputting means 37, by observing the actually photographed image.

As this actual example, the setting means 41 which performs a set operation for the photographing portion 10 is connected to the controlling portion This setting means 41 is adapted to include a first setting means f,0 a fifth setting means, as mentioned below.

That is, the first setting means holds the shutter in the open state as necessary, and actually, sets the shutter of the photograph lens mirror cylinder to the bulb state. The second setting means sets the throttle of the photograph lens mirror cylinder, to any open state, for example, to a predetermined value at which the open state or a minimum photographed field depth can be reserved. The third setting means holds the focussing plate in contact with the film expose opening. Actually, the third setting means is adapted to visually confirm a situation of a 188 created image by holding the focussing plate made of a frosted glass in contact with the film expose opening. Further, the third setting means is adapted to confirm the situation of the created image by means of a monitor television and the like, by holding a light receiving surface of a component which converts a light beam image from a CCD and the like into an electric signal, in contact with the film exposure opening.

Furthermore, the fourth setting means provides a command which sets the photographed field distance of the photograph lens to any position, and sets a distance driving ring to any 0* angle position.

In addition, the fifth setting means provides a command which directs the photograph light axis of the photograph lens to any angle position, and rotates the photograph light axis to any angle position.

Therefore, optimum various data are stored in the storage portion as the preset data by the inputting means 36, while actually confirming an image which is created on an expose opening surface and observing a situation of a focal point based on a varifocal situation, a direction 189 changing situation and the photographed field depth.

The photographing portion 10 is provided with the distance detecting means 19 which detects a current focal point of the photograph lens of the photographing portion 10 mentioned above and obtains a current distance data. Further, the photographing portion 10 is provided with the calculating means 21 which compares the current distance data detected by the distance detecting means 1.9 with a photograph distance data selected by the second selecting means mentioned above and obtains a focalized drive amount data.

A focalized drive photographing means is adapted so as to drive the focus lens in the S. photographing portion 10 mentioned above, based on the focalized drive amount data obtained by the calculating means 21.

An output terminal of the storage portion 37 in which the data is stored by the inputting means 36 is connected to the control circuit 35. The first selecting means 38 and the second selecting means 39 are connected to the control circuit An output from the storage portion 37 is transmitted to the focussing portion 15 by a 190 commanding of the violating car position specifying means 34, the first selecting means 38 and the second selecting means 39.

The first selecting means 38 selects, from a plurality of the running lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation of the car is detected by the violation detecting means 33, and selects a photographing sequence.

More actually, respective photographed field distances, from the photograph lens, to the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 31A 31D forming the first car detecting means 31 are installed and the four positions in which the car sensors 32A 32D forming the second car detecting means 32 are installed are assumed as the photograph distance data.

The second selecting means 39 selects the photograph distance data corresponding to the photographed lane selected by the first selecting means 38, and corresponding to the violating car position data detected by the violating car position specifying means 34, from a plurality of the photograph distance data Ll L8 which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 38.

An operation of the ninth embodiment will be explained hereinafter with reference to the flow charts in Figs.4 to 6 for describing the operation of the first embodiment mentioned above.

At the step SO, when the power supply is turned on, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit, and the flow proceeds to the hext step Sl. The digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, the settings of other conditions are performed. There are the eight types from the condition 1 to the condition 8 at the step S30 as shown in Fig.5, in the initial settings. These conditions 1 to 8 are performed parallelly or directly.

The condition 1 is the setting of the effective lane number in which from the four running lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, one running lane is selected which the detecting of the traffic rule violations and the photographing are to be performed. Furthermore, in the condition 1, it is possible to preset the condition that specifies the detecting sequence in which the violations are detected for the selected 192 running lane.

The settings of the conditions 2 5 as mentioned below, in any case, perform the input settings for the conditions in the eight photographed positions as mentioned above, by observing the actually photographed pictures and operating an actual photographed condition, based on the first to fifth setting means included in the setting means 41 mentioned above. However, the operations thereof are almost similar to those of the first embodiment. Thereby, the explanations thereof are omitted.

Also, the settings from the condition 6 to the condition 8 are similar to those of the first 'embodiment, thereby the explanations are omitted.

These settings of the conditions 1 8 can be directly inputted by using the output value of the potentiometer, the counter and the like, or by using the key board switch, the digital switch, the touch type switch and the like.

As mentioned above, if the settings of the conditions 1 8 are performed at the step the flow proceeds to the next step S31. Then, it is judged whether the conditions 1 8 have been set or not. In case of NO, the step S30 is 193 performed again. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to the step S32, and it is judged whether to repeat again to confirm whether the condition setting is the desired setting or not. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to the step S33, and the demonstration operation, that is, the series of the photographing operations is actually performed, assumed in that the violation occurs in the effective lane number determined by the condition 1 set in the step S30. At the next step S34, it is judged whether the operation has been completed or not. In case of NO, the flow is returned to the step S33. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to a step S40, and the shutter is closed. Then, the series of the initial settings is completed.

On the other hand, in case of NO at the step S32, the shutter is set to the bulb state at the next step S35, in order to visually confirm the content in the conditions 1 8 at the step Then, the content of the condition settings are repeated.

This is performed as follows. That is, by the third setting means in the setting means 41 mentioned above, the focussing screen is 194 detachably fitted to the exposure opening of the photographing portion 10. In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb state by the first setting means. The throttle is set to the open state by the second setting means. The photographed image on the focussing screen is observed.

And, the flow proceeds to the step S37 after the operation of the condition settings. It is selected at the step S37, whether the reappeared set condition is changed or not. In case of YES, the flow proceeds to the step S38, the set condition is changed, thereby the changed condition is reappeared. The flow proceeds to the step S37, and again it is selected whether the set condition is changed again or not. In case of YES, the step S38 is performed again.

In case of NO at the step S37, that is, in the case where it is allowable not to change the set condition, the flow proceeds to the next step S39. And, in a case where it is judged that the setting change operation has been completed and where YES appears at the step S39, the shutter is closed at the next step S40. The routine for the initial setting at the step S1 shown in Fig.4 is 195 completed. The flow proceeds to the next step S2.

Incidently, the operations from the step S2 to the step S15 in the flow chart shown in Fig.4 are similar to those of the ninth embodiment.

Therefore, the explanations of the operations are omitted. However, the conditions 2 and 3 are explained supplementarily. The condition 2 is a focussing setting, and to set to the predetermined photograph waiting position the rotation angle of the focus drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder 80. For the photograph waiting position, for example, the focussing drive ring is set to II.'I. the short distance side to the utmost or the long distance side to the utmost.

More actually, the current angle position corresponding to the current focal position of the focussing drive ring is detected by the distance detecting means 19, the angle difference from the photograph waiting position (the target value) is calculated, and also, the direction is detected when being driven from the current angle position to the photograph waiting position (the target position). Then, the stepped driving number corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained.

196 And, when the driving pulse signal is transmitted to the stepping motor (not shown) by this obtained stepped number, the rotation thereof rotates the focussing drive ring, and the focal distance is changed to the photograph waiting position (the target value).

The condition 3 is the zooming setting, and to set to the predetermined photograph waiting position the rotating angle of the zooming drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder. For the photograph waiting position, for example, the zooming drive ring is set to the wide angle side to the utmost or the telescopic angle side to the *e utmost.

*More actually, the current angle position of the zooming drive ring is detected by a varifocal driving means (not shown), the angle difference from the photograph waiting position (the target position) is calculated by the calculating means 21, and also, the direction is detected when being driven from the current angle position to the photograph waiting position (the target position).

Then, the stepped driving number corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained.

And, when the driving pulse signal is 197 transmitted to the stepping motor (not shown) by this obtained stepped number, the zooming drive ring is rotated. Then, the focal distance is changed to the photograph waiting position (the target value).

As mentioned above, when the conditions 1 8 are performed as the step S7 shown in Fig.4, the flow proceeds to the next step S8. Then, it is judged whether the operation is stopped or not, in other words, whether the actual photographing is performed or not when the violation occurs. In case of the operation stop, the flow is branched to YES, and returned. to the step S2. Hereinafter, in the ninth embodiment, the operations from the •step S8 to the step S15 are similar to those of the first embodiment. Thereby, the explanations of the operations are omitted.

However, the reference as Fig.l may be read as Further, the operation at each at the steps S40 in the flow chart shown in Fig.5 and at the steps $50 $55 shown in Fig.6 is similar in the ninth embodiment. Thereby, the explanation thereof is omitted as much as possible. However, the explanation may be performed supplementarily as necessary.

Then, a fCcussing drive processing shown in Fig.6 is explained supplementarily.

The controlling means 35 picks up the data corresponding to the position of the car sensor 31C, from the focussing drive data already stored, respectively corresponding to the eight positions, in the storage portion 37 by the inputting portion 36 as mentioned above. The control means drives, in a preset manner, the focussing drive ring in the focussing portion 15 held in the photograph waiting state, and in such a manner that the car positioned on the car sensor 31C is focalized.

More actually, the current angle position of the distance drive ring of the photograph lens mirror cylinder is detected by the distance 0*.

detecting means 19, the angle difference from the photograph distance data LI L8 (the target value) is calculated by the calculating means 21 as the driving angle data, and also, the direction .i is detected when being driven from the current angle position. Then, the stepped number of the stepping motor corresponding to the driving angle data is obtained.

199 U I And, when the driving pulse signal is transmitted to the stepping motor by this obtained stepped number, the focal distance is adapted to correspond to the photograph distance data L3.

In the flow chart shown in Fig.6, similarly in a case of a first photographing, the film is rolled up at the step S52, and also, the data is recorded. In this way, when the second photographing has been finished, the flow proceeds to the step S53, and the shutter charge is performed. It is judged, whether the operation is the second photographing or not, at the next step S54. In this case, since the second photographing S* has been finished, the flow is branched to YES at :the step S54, and the series of the photographing process is finished at the step In this way, in the processes from the step Sll to the step S13 (refer to Fig.4), as shown in Fig.6, when the first photographing and the second photographing are performed, the statistical data, such as the violation date and time, the violation situation, the violation data and the like in relation to the first photographing and the second photographing are recorded, as illustrated at the step S14 shown in Fig.14. Then, the flow is 200

I

returned to the next step S7. And, the operation is held at the waiting state until the violating car is detected again.

Then, just after the violation of the running car is detected at the position of the first car detecting means 31, the number plate of the car can be clearly photographed, in the large photograph magnification, and in such a manner that the plate is positioned at the center of the picture.

Further, at the time of the photographing, the stroboscopic light emitting is performed by the stroboscopic light emitting portion tThereby normally, the stroboscopic light is !emitted to the face of the driver in the car which lacks the exposure. So, the face of the driver can be also photographed clearly.

o**o In addition, not only the violating car but also the wide range including the circumferential situation thereof is photographed in the second photographing. Therefore, it is possible to 0 generally judge the situation of the violating car.

The ninth embodiment stores, in each of a plurality of the predetermined photographed 201 points (the total eight positions of the four positions in the first car detecting means 31 and the four positions in the second detecting means 32), the optimum focussing drive data, zooming drive data and direction changing data, in the storage portion 37, as the preset data, when the traffic condition camera is installed. Further, the first embodiment, whenever the car is detected by the first car detecting means 31, tests whether the passing car commits the signal disregarding violation based on the state of the traffic signal 6, and also, specifies the lane from the running lanes 1A ID on which the violation is occurring, and picks up the focussing drive data, the zooming S drive data and the direction changing drive data in the storage portion 37, corresponding to each of the four car sensors 31A 31D, when the car is judged as the violation. Since the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed based on the data o which is picked Up, it is possible to obtain the o.

optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the photographed position.

Further, the traffic condition photographing 202 device can be optimumly installed in consistency with the number of the running lane in the installed location, the width of the lane, the position of the traffic signal and the like.

Thereby, it has very large applications.

In addition, when the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data are stored in the storage portion 37 as the preset data at a time when the traffic condition photographing device is installed, the focussing plate is detachably fitted in the exposure opening, and the so called initial setting is performed while visually confirming the actually photographed field in such a manner that the shutter is opened perfectly. Thereby, it is possible to set the optimum photographed picture in which the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, in detail, the number and the width of the running lane and the circumferential situation thereof are considered generally.

0 203 A tenth embodiment of a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function of a tenth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to Fig.21 and Figs.8 10 mentioned atove.

In the tenth embodiment, a middle position return commanding means is added to the construction of the ninth embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding ;eans operates the controlling portion 30 to drive a photograph distance to a middle angle of a changeable angle range, based on a plurality of a S* photograph distance data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, when a focalizing drive S..photographing means is in a focalizing drive photograph mode.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a oo block diagram shown in Fig.21. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to Ine conctruction shown in Fig.l according to the ninth embodiment mentioned above. An output 204 terminal of the middle position return commanding means 40 is connected to the control circuit That is, the middle position return commanding means 40 is adapted to drive a focalizing position of the photograph lens, to the position of the middle angle in a changeable range, based on a plurality of the photograph distance data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 36, when the ocalizing drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the focalizing drive photograph mode. The focalizing drive photographing means comprises the focussing portion 15 of the photographing portion Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in a case where the focalizing drive is performed, the respective driving angle positions by means of the direction changing drive, the varifocal drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range.

An operation of the tenth embodiment will be explained actually with reference to Figs.8 The flow chart shown in Fig.8 illustrates the operation of the tenth embodiment with the second 205 embodiment. The operations from the step S60 to the step S73 are identical or similar to those from the step SO to the step S13 which illustrate the operation of the ninth embodiment with the first embodiment mentioned above. Therefore, explanations of the identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S60, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit. The flow proceeds to the next S61, and the digital/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

This initial setting sets, as shown in detail in Fig.10, the effective lane number similar to the setting of the condition 1 in the first embodiment mentioned above, a<:u selects, from a plurality of the four running lanes 1A ID forming the car lane 1, the lane in which the detecting of the traffic rule violation and the photographing are to be performed. Furthermore, it is possible to specify the condition in relation to the sequence in which the violations are detected for the selected lane.

Next, the flow proceeds to the step S80 shown 206 in Fig.8, and the five types of the condition settings from the condition A to the condition B are performed parallelly or directly.

Settings from a condition A to a condition E mentioned below are similar to those of the flow chart shown in Fig.9 which illustrates the operation of the second embodiment. Therefore, the explanations thereof are omitted.

As mentioned above, when the conditions A E are performed at the step S80, the flow proceeds to the next step S81. These four conditions A D are performed parallelly or directly. Then, the operation is performed at the middle value.

However, the tenth embodiment is similar to the second embodiment. Then, for the explanation of the driving to the middle position under the conditions A E, refer to that of the second embodiment. Here, the explanation is omitted.

In the tenth embodiment, there are the four running lanes 1A 1D as the preset effective lane. Thereby, the photograph light axis direction changing angle Dl is the minimum direction changing angle, and the photograph light axis direction changing angle D8 is the maximum direction changing angle. Then, the photograph 207 light axis of the photograph lens mirror cylinder can be changed in direction.

The drivings to these middle values are performed, as illustrated at the steps of the flow chart shown in The steps are illustrated so as to be applicable to any one of the conditions A D mentioned above. However, a case of a focalizing operation under the condition A is actually explained. Detail explanations are omitted in relation to driving operations to the middle values under other conditions B D.

At first, the detecting of the current value *is performed at the step S82. This detecting obtains an output of detecting the current angle position of the distance drive ring by the distance detecting means 19 in the photographing portion At the step S83, the setting of the target value is performed. There are the four running lanes 1A 1D in the preset effective lane.

Thereby, the target value is obtained as a driving angle position corresponding to a middle distance between a minimum distance and a maximum distance, respectively corresponding to the four lanes 208 mentioned above.

And, at the next step S84, the data difference between the current value data obtained at the step S82 and the target value data obtained at the step S83 is calculated by the calculating means 21. The target stepped number C of the stepped rotating drive corresponding to the data difference is calculated. The polarity of the data difference, that is, the driving direction is specified at the same time. Then, the flow proceeds to the next step At the step S85, the rotation direction of the stepping motor is set so as to correspond to the polarity of the data difference obtained at the step S84. The flow proceeds to the next s tep S86. The stepping motor is driven in the stepped manner, to the direction set at the step Then, the flow proceeds to the step S87.

The actual driving stepped number N which is actually rotated in the stepped manner for the stepping motor 66 is detected at the step S87. At the next step S88, it is Judged whether C- K N or not.

Incidently, K is the coefficient which is obtained between the rotation of the stepping 209 motor and the change of the photograph distance.

In case of NO in the C= K N at the step S88, the stepping motor is continuously driven at the stepped manner. Again at the step S88, it is judged whether C K N. This situation continues while NO appears at the step S88. When YES appears, the flow proceeds to the next step S89. Then, the stepping motor is stopped, and the brake is actuated at the same time. The operation that the photograph distance is driven to the target angle position (the photograph waiting position) is completed at this point.

The driving to such the photograph waiting position is the drive to the middle position by means of the so called closed loop type driving control. However, the so called open loop type driving control is allowable as follows. That is, *%9 a current rotation angle of the distance drive ring is detected. The stepping motor is driven by the predetermined driving stepped number, and then, th2 driving is stopped.

As mentioned above, when the initial setting at the step S61 shown in Fig.7 is performed, the operations from the next step S62 to the step S73 are performed similarly in those from the step S2 210 to the step S13 as mentioned above. The flow proceeds to the next step S74. Then, the driving to the middle position is performed similarly at the step S81.

Further, the tenth embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing the violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition illustrated at the step S71, as it is, and to drive the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second photographing under the second set condition.

SHowever, it is allowable to add the step S77 at which the middle position driving step similar to the step S74 is performed, parallelly to the step S72, such as the step S77 illustrated in the dashed line shown in Fig.8.

Therefore, in the tenth embodiment, the driving to the middle position is performed, prior to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive under the condition A, the zooming drive under the condition B, the throttling drive under the condition C and the direction changing drive under the condition D, respectively.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the driving 211 amount as a whole prior to the photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce the preparating time prior to the photographing.

Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce the timing lag between the photograph start command point (the point that the violating car arrives at the first car detecting means 31 or the second car detecting means 32) and the point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible.

A traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function of an eleventh embodiment according to the present invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to ;Fig.22 and Figs.12 and 13 according to the third embodiment mentioned above.

In the ninth embodiment and the tenth embodiment mentioned above, the timing setting is performed in such a manner that the first photographing is started when the violating car is detected by the first car detecting means 31, and 0* that the second photographing is started when the arrival of the violating car is detected by the second car detecting means 32. However, in the 212 eleventh embodiment, the timing setting is adapted in such a manner that the first photographing is performed when the violating car is detected by the first car detecting means 91 and that the second photographing is performed after the predetermined time has elapsed since the point of the first photographing.

A general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.22. A main portion thereof comprises the photographing portion the direction changing drive portion 20, the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 and the controlling portion 100.

Also, the photographing portion 10 and the stroboscopic light emitting portion 50 are similar Z'ee to those of the first embodiment and the second embodiments mentioned above.

The construction of the eleventh embodiment is also similar to those of the third embodiment and the seventh embodiment. However, there are differences between this eleventh embodiment and the third and seventh embodiments, as follows.

That is, the illustrations of the first to the fourth set means 41 in the third embodiment are 213 referred as a setting means 41 in the eleventh embodiment. However, the distance detecting means 19, a varifocal driving portion 20 and the calculating means 21 which are not shown in the first embodiment are illustrated in the eleventh embodiment.

Therefore, the explanations of the plan view which illustrates the relation of the photographed positions shown in Fig.12, and the operations from the step S90 to the step S106 in the flow chart shown in Fig.13 are applicable to those of the eleventh embodiment shown in Fig.22, as they are.

Thereby, the explanations mentioned above are used, in order to avoid the duplications.

In Fig.22, the zooming portion 11, the film feeding portion 12, the data recording portion 13, the film exposing portion 14, the focussing portion 15 and the direction changing drive portion 20 which form the photographing portion and the car detecting means 91 (the car sensors 91A 91D), the violation detecting means 33, the violation position specifying means 34, the controlling means 35, the inputting means 36, the storage portion 37, the first selecting means 38, the second selecting means 39, the timer 214 circuit 92 and the traffic signal 6 which form the controlling portion 100 have constructions similar to those corresponding to the third embodiment shown in Fig.1ll. Thereby, the explanations of the third embodiment are used, and the explanations thereof are omitted in the eleventh embodiment.

Here, a violating car position specifying means 34 generates a lane specifying data which specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes, the lane on which the violating car is running.

And the violating car position specifying means actually generates a violating car position data (identical to the position specifying data mentioned above) which specifies the four positions in which the car sensors 91A 91D are .0 installed.

The driving input terminal and the output terminal of the timer circuit 92 in which the set time is set to the t seconds are connected to the violation detecting means 33.

The purpose of the timer circuit 92 is to perform the first photographing when the car which *0 0 arrives at the car detecting means 91 violates the traffic rule, and to determine the time from the first photographing to the second photographing as 215 the set time of the timer circuit 92.

And, the second photographing is performed to confirm the situation of the violating car again.

Thereby, the wide area including the situations of not only the violating car but also other cars positioned at the circumference thereof is photographed.

The second t of the set time is determined as follows.

That is, the first photographing is performed when the car passing through the car detecting means 91 violates the traffic rule, and the second photographing is performed after the predetermined time. However, there is the problem in relation to the target positions in the running lanes 1A 1D forming the car lane 1 when the second photographing is performed.

This can be obtained by setting the time necessary to arrive at the position of the second photographing in the tenth embodiment mentioned above, that is, the position of the second car detecting means 32 (refer to Fig.2). However, the speed of the passing car is not specified.

Thereby, the running distance is not specified.

For example, there is the problem in regard 216 to the selecting of the employed distance, in the running distance LI of the car which is running below the specified speed, a running distance L2 of the car which is running extremely over the specified speed or a running distance L3 of the car which is running at the specified speed, for the t seconds.

This can not be determined unless the situation of the car running on the road is considered statistically. However, the purpose of the second photographing is to photograph the circumferential situation including the violating car. Thereby, there is essentially no problem even if the photographed position is changed more or less. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the distance L3 which the car running at the specified speed travels for the t seconds from the car detecting means 91 is used as the position of the second photographint.

That is, the violating car position specifying means 34 generates the lane specifying data and a violating car position specifying data.

The lane specifying data specifies, from a plurality of the running lanes mentioned above, tile lane on which the violating car detected by 217 the violation detecting means 33 is running, and the violating car position specifying data specifies either of the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position (a predicted position, and hereinafter identical) at which the violating car is positioned.

More actually, the violat-ig car position specifying means 34 generates the viol ating car position data which specifies the total eight positions of the four positions of the first photographed positions on which the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed and the respective four positions for the running lanes 1A lD intersecting in the form of the cross in the direction of the distance L3 in the second photographed position.

Further, the inputting means 36 inputs, in advance, the direction changing angle from the reference direction, in the case where the t photograph light axis direction from the location in which the photographing portion 10 is mounted is directed to the respective first photographed position and second photographed position on a plurality of the running lanes 1A 1D, that is, the positions which specify the total eight 218 positions of the four positions, of the first photographed position, in which the car sensors 91A 91D are installed and the four positions of the second photographed position, as a plurality of the photograph light axis direction changing angle data El E8, in the storage portion 37 at the time of mounting' the photographing portion Furthermore, not only the photograph light axis direction changing angle data D1 D8 and the photograph distance data but also the focus data are stored in the storage portion 37 at an almost same time.

This actual example is explained as follows.

At first, the focussing screen is detachably fitted to the exposure opening of the camera body 79. In this way, the shutter is set to the bulb state, and the throttle is set to the open state.

Then, the stepping motor is driven in the stepped manner while observing the photographed image on a o a the focussing screen. The data of the stepped number which is a desired photograph image angle is obtained. Finally, the data is stored in the storage portion 37 as the photograph picture data.

The first selecting means 38 selec-"s, from a plurality of the running lanes 1A- 1D forming the 219 car lane 1, the lane on which the car to be photographed is running when the violation of the: car is detec-ted by the violation detecting means 33, and the photographed sequence.

More actually, the photograph distance corresponding to each of the total eight positions of the four positions in which the car sensors 91A 91D forming the car detecting means 91 are installed (the predetermined positions) and the four positions for the second photographing (the predicted positions) is assumed as the photograph distance data.

The second selecting means 39 selects the photograph distance data corresponding to the photographed lane selected by the first selecting means 38, and corresponding to the violating car position data detected by the violating car position specifying means 34, from a plurality of the photograph distance data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by the inputting means 38.

Further, the focalizing drive photographing

S.

means is adapted to drive the photograph distance in the above mentioned photographing portion to the optimum distance for photographing the 220 violating car, due to the photograph distance data selected by the second selecting means 39.

Next, an operation according to the eleventh embodiment will be explained in detail with reference to Fig. 13, The flow chart shown in Fig.13 illustrates the operation according to the third embodiment.

The operations from the step S90 to the step S101 are identical or similar to those from the step SO to the step Sll shown in Fig.4, which illustrates the operation of the first embodiment mentioned above. Further, a general operation shown in Fig.13 is similar to that of the eleventh embodiment. Therefore, explanations of identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S90, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit. The flow proceeds to the next step S91, and the digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

The initial settings are similar to those of the first embodiment mentioned above. Also, the operations up to a succeeding step S101 are similar to those of the first embodiment mentioned above.

Further, the operations from the step SI01 to the step S106 are similar to those of the third embodiment mentioned above.

The statistical data, such as the violation date and time, the violation situation, the violation data and the like, in relation to the first photographing and the second photographing, are stored in the storage portion at the step S105, when the first photographing and the second photographing are performed at the step S101 and the step S104. Then, the flow is returned to the next step S97. The operation is held in the waiting state, until the violating car is detected again.

Therefore, just after the violation of the running car is detected at the position of the car *aaa detecting means 91, the car can be photographed in the large photograph magnification, and the number plate of the car can be clearly photographed, in such a manner that the number plate of the car is positioned at the center of the picture.

Further, at the time of the photographing, 222 the stroboscopic light emitting is performed by the stroboscopic light emJ ing portion Thereby normally, the stroboscopic light is emitted to the face of the driver in the car which lacks the exposure. So, the face of the driver can be also photographed clearly.

Furthermore, the wide area including not only the violating car but also the circumferential situation thereof is photographed in the second photographing. Thereby, the situation of the violating car can be specified generally.

The eleventh embodiment mentioned above stores, in each of a plurality of the predetermined photographed points (the total eight points of the four points for the car detecting means 91 and the four points for the second photographed position), the optimum focussing drive data, zooming drive data and direction changing drive data, in the storag 0 portion 37, as the preset data, when the traffic condition photographing device is installed. Further, the eleventh embodiment, whenever the car is detected by the car detecting means 91, judges whether the passing car commits the signal disregarding violation, basekd on the state of the traffic signal 6, and also, specifies the lanes on which the violating car is running, from the running lanes 1A ID, and reads out the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data in the storage portion 37, corresponding to any appropriate position in the four car sensors 91A 91D when the car is specified as the violation. Since the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed, based on the data which is read out, it is possible to obtain the optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the photographing position.

Furthermore, for the car which arrives at a vicinity of the second photographing position after the predetermined time has elapsed since the first photographing is completed, the focussing drive data, the zooming drive data and the direction changing drive data which are stored in the storage portion 37 corresponding to each of the four photographed positions are read out, and then, the focussing drive, the zooming drive and the direction changing drive are performed, based on the data which are read out. Thereby, it is 224 possible to obtain the optimum focal distance, photographed field distance and direction changing direction in the second photographing position.

Finally, a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function of a twelfth embodiment according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter in detail with reference to Fig.23, and Fig.15 mentioned above.

In the twelfth embodiment, a middle position return commanding means is added to the construction of the eleventh embodiment mentioned above. The middle position return commanding means operates the controlling portion 30 to drive the photograph distance to a middle angle in a changeable angle range, based on a plurality of a photograph distance data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion by the inputting means mentioned above, when a focalizing drive .photographing means is in a photograph waiting :i state in a focalizing drive photograph mode.

And, a general construction of the traffic condition photographing device is illustrated in a block diagram shown in Fig.23. The middle position return commanding means 40 is added to 225 the constructions shown in Fig.10 and Fig.22 of the third embodiment and the eleventh embodiment, mentioned above, respectively. An output terminal of the middle position return commanding means is connected to the control circuit That is, the middle position return commanding means 40 is adapted to set the photograph distance to the middle position in the changeable range, based on a plurality of the photograph distance data which are inputted in advance in the storage portion 37 by 'the inputting means 36, when the focalizing drive photographing means is in the waiting state in the focalizing drive photograph mode.

Further, at the time of the waiting state in the photograph mode, similarly in the case where the focalizing drive is performed, the respective driving angle positions by means of the direction changing drive and the throttling drive are driven to the position cf the middle angle in the driving angle range.

An operation of the twelfth embodiment will be explained actually with reference to The flow chart shown in Fig.15 illustrates the operation of the fourth embodiment, and also 226 illustrates that of the twelfth embodiment. The operations from the step S200 to the step S214 are identical or similar to those from the step S90 to the step S104 shown in Fig.13 which illustrates the operation of the third embodiment (and the eleventh embodiment) mentioned above. Therefore, explanations of the identical items are omitted, in order to avoid the duplications, and only different items are explained.

When the power supply is turned on at the step S200, the power supply is sent to each portion of the circuit. The flow proceeds to the next S201, and the digital input/output circuit is reset, and also, other condition settings are performed.

These initial settings are similar to those of the third embodiment mentioned above. Also, the operations up to the succeeding S214 are similar to those of the third embodiment (and the eleventh embodiment).

The operation at the step S215 which is performed after the S214 drives the respective driving angle position by means of the zooming drive, the focussing drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive, to the position of the middle angle in the driving angle range, when the second photographing has been finished.

So, the operation at the step S215 is similar to that at the step $74 of the second embodiment mentioned above (refer to Fig.8).

Further, the twelfth embodiment is adapted to hold the driving position for photographing 'he violating car which is driven by the first photographing under the first set condition illustrated at the step S211, as it is, and to drive the driving position mentioned above, to the target position corresponding to the second photographing under the second set condition.

However, it is allowable to add the step S218 at which the middle position driving step similar to the step S215 is performed, parallelly to the step S21J, such as the step S218 illustrated in the a dashed line shown in Fig. 14.

O o Therefore, in the twelfth embodiment, the driving (recovering) to the middle position is performed, prior to the driving to the target value, for the focussing drive, the zooming drive, the throttling drive and the direction changing drive, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the driving amount prior to the 228 photographing, and then, it is possible to reduce the preparating time prior to the photographing.

Because of this merit, it is possible to reduce the timing lag between the photograph start command point (the point that the violating car arrives at the first car detecting means 31) and the point that the photographing is started actually, as short as possible.

Incidently, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the focalizing function according to the present invention is not limited to the four embodiments mentioned above (from the ninth embodiment to the twelfth embodiment), and many widely different embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

For example, a recovering drive to the middle point from the tenth embodiment to the twelfth embodiment mentioned above is performed for all four varifocal, direction changing, focalizing and throttling drives. However, without being limited to them, it can be omitted to drive to the middle position in the throttling and to drive to the 229 middle position in the focalizing.

Further, the DC servo motor, the AC servo motor and the like can be used for operating the angle position of the photograph light axis and focalizing the photograph .ens.

Further, as for the photographing direction, the violation detecting means can be provided, so as to photograph the rear portion of the car if only the car and the number plate are photographed.

Furthermore, the violation detecting means can be provided in the position in which only the single unit can photograph the left lane and the right lane by combining the photographing of the rear portion of the car and that of a front portion of the car.

S

230 As mentioned above, a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a photograph light axis direction changing function according to the present invention stores the optimum direction changing drive data, in each of a plurality of preset photographed points, in a storage portion as a preset data at a time of installing the traffic condition photographing device, and judges whether a passing car commits a traffic rule violation such as a signal disregarding violation and the like, and also, specifies, from a plurality of photographed points, the point at which the traffic rule violation is occurring, and picks Up a direction changing drive data which is stored in the storage portion based on a specified position thereof, and performs a direction changing drive based on a data which is picked up.

Thereby, the device and the method can quickly drive a photograph light axis of a photographing portion to the optimum direction changing direction.

Further, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the pho'toiraph light axis direction changing function can freely set the direction changing data in each of a plurality of the photographed points, concidering a running lane number in an installed location, a width of a lane, a position of a traffic signal and the like.

Thereby, the device and the method hiave very large applications.

In addition, when the direction changing drive data mentioned above is stored in the storage portion as the preset data at the time of installing of the traffic condition photographing device, a focussing plate is detachably fitted in an exposure opening, by first to fourth setting means, and a so called initial setting is performed while visually confirming an actually photographed field in such a manner that a shatter is opened perfectly. Thereby, the device and the method can set the optimum photograph condition, *5 a a in such a manner that a situation of a location in oc* which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, in detail, the running lane number S S and the width of the lane and a circumferential situation thereof are considered generally.

Next, a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing 232 method with a varifocal function according to the present invention stores the optimum varifocal driving data, in each of a plurality of the preset photographed points, in the storage portion as the preset data at the time of installing the traffic condition photographing device, and judges whether the passing car commits the traffic rule violation such as the signal disregarding violation and the like, and also, specifies, from a plurality of the photographed points, the point at which the traffic rule violation is occurring, and reads out the varifocal driving data which is stored in the storage portion based on the specified position thereof, and performs a varifocal driving based on a data which is picked up. Thereby, the device and the method can quickly obtain the optimum photograph image angle in the photographed position.

Further, the tra condition photographing Further, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing "00" method with the varifocal function according to the present invention can freely set the varifocal So driving data in each of a plurality of the photographed points, considering the running lane number in the installed location, the width of the 233 lane, the position of the traffic signal and the like. Thereby, the device and the method can correspond to every s:t environment.

In addition, when the varifocal driving data mentioned above is stored in the storage portion as the preset data at the time of installing of the traffic condition photographing device, the focussing plate is detachably fitted in the exposure opening, by the first to fourth setting means, and the so called initial setting is performed while visually confirming the actually photographed field in such a manner that the shutter is opened perfectly. Thereby, the device and the method can set the optimum photograph condition, in such a manner that the situation of the location in which the traffic condition photographing device is installed, in detail, the running lane number and the width of the lane and the circumferential situation thereof are considered generally.

Therefore, a photograph magnification can be set to a large value when only a violating car is ooeom photographed, and the photograph magnification can be set to a small value when not only the violating car but also a circumference thereof is 234 photographed. Further, the device and the method can adjust a photograph image angle to a photographed lane in the optimum state when a plurality of lanes form a road. Thereby, the device and the method can obtain an extremely reliable recording image.

Further, a traffic condition photographing device and a traffic condition photographing method with a focalizing function according to the present invention stores the optimum photograph distance data, in each of a plurality of the preset photographed points, in the storage portion as the preset data at the time of installing the traffic condition photographing device, and judges whether the passing car commits the traffic rule violation such as the signal disregarding violation and the like, and also, specifies, from a plurality of the photographed points, the point at which the traffic rule violation is occurring, and picks up a focalizing 0 driving data which is stored in the storage portion based on the specified position thereof, and performs a focalizing driving based on a data which is picked up. Thereby, the device and the method can quickly set the optimum focalizing 235 state in the photographed position.

Further, the traffic condition photographing device and the traffic condition photographing method with the focalizing function according to the present invention can freely set the photograph distance data in each of a plurality of the photographed points, considering the running lane number in the installed location, the width of the lane, the position of the traffic signal and the like. Thereby, the device and the method can correspond to every set environment.

In addition, when the photograph distance data mentioned above is stored in the storage portion as the preset data at the time of installing of the traffic condition photographing device, the focussing plate is detachably fitted in the exposure opening, and the so called initial setting can be performed while visually confirming the actually photographed field in such a manner that the ehutter is opened perfectly. Thereby, the device and the method can set the optimum photograph condition, in such a manner that the situation of the location in which the trafficcondition photographing device is installed, in detail, the running lane number and the width of 236 the lane and a circumferential situation thereof are considered generally.

Therefore, the device and the method can obtain the optimum focalizing condition in each of a plurality of the photographed points, when a running car which violates a traffic rule is detected and photographed. Further, whenever any one of a plurality of the photographed points is focalized, a focalized condition is not detected with regard to it. Thereby, the device and the method can quickly perform a focussing drive to the optimum photograph distance in each of a plurality of the photographed positions, and can provide an excellent correspondence in the S" photographing portion. Therefore, the device and the method can obtain the extremely reliable recording image.

Many widely dlfeferent embodiments of the present invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in'the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (25)

1. A traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lar a violation car detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for specifying one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of said violating car on said one of said running lanes; a selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph light axis direction changing angle data from a plurality of said photograph light direction changing angle data stored in advance into a storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said position of said violating car on said running .20 lane specified by said position specifying means; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as to direct a a photographing light axis of said photographing portion into said violating car based on :said one photographing light axis direction changing angle data selected by said selecting means, on photographing. *o *g a 50321,qaopcr\gcp,63200A238 239

2. A traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a second car detecting means for detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of said running lane, said second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction, a violation detecting means for judging S w 7x v O 950321,q:\oper\gcp,63200.c,239 whether said car detected by said first car detecting means or said second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifying data specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at offs which said violating car is positioned; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to a location at which said photographing portion is installed, as a plurality o oo ooee of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of said first predetermined position and said second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting prede- termined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting 240 241 means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing light axis direction changing angle data from a plurality of said photographing light axis direction changing angle data stored in advance in said storage portion, corresponding to said running lane by said first selecting means, corresponding to said position specifying data generated by said position specifying means; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of said photographing portion into said violating car based on said one photographing light axis direction changing angle data selected by said second selecting means, on photographing.

3. A traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging a. *a 9 0* e go 0 0 950321,q:\opcr\gcp,63200.c241 whether said car detected by said car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means, and for generating a position specifying data specifying a position of said violating car; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis *direction with respect to a location at which said S. photographing portion is in,;talled, as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of said predetermined position set on said running lane; a first selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing light axis direction changing angle data from a plurality of said photographing light 242 axis direction changing angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said running lane selected by said first se- lecting means and corresponding to said position specifying data generated by said position speci- fying means; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of said photographing portion into said violating car based on said one photograph light axis direction changing angle data selected by said second selecting means, on photographing.

4. A traffic condition photographing device according to Claim 2, wherein said driving means is adapted to drive said photographing portion so as to direct said photographing light axis of said photographing portion into a middle position of a direction changing angle range based on a plurality of said photographing light axis direction changing angle data inputted in advance in said storage portion by said inputting means, on a photographing waiting state, 243 A traffic condition photographing device according to Claim 3, wherein said driving means is adapted to drive said photographing portion so as to direct said photographing light axis of said photographing portion into a middle position of a direction changing angle range based on a plurality of said photographing light axis direc- tion changing angle data inputted in advance in said storage portion by said inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

6. A traffic condition photographing device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein said photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting means for keeping a throttle at a predetermined aperture, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate Be ir b i an opening A4 exposing a film, and a fourth setting means 'or driving said photograph- ing portion so as to position said photographing light axis to a predetermined position.

7. A traffic condition photographing method 244 U7S 245 comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to a location at which a photographing portion is installed along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes and a second predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, said second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction; detecting that a car running on said running lane arrives at said first predetermined position, detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at said second prPc"etermined position, judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said car arrives at said first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data 0 G I *600 0* i00 0 0 a*: 0 0 00 950321,qopez\cp,6320.c45 I specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected; selecting one photographing light axis direc- tion changing angle data, from a plurality of said photographing light direction changing angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said generated position specifying data; and driving said photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of said photographing portion into ;aid violating car based on said one photographing light axis direc- tion changing angle data,.,ilectled b i uuu PIt-RR 4

8. A traffic condition photographing method comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing light axis direction with respect to T a location at which4A~id photographing portion is 246 a\o o. c-H.To~Nc'6V C. P .1 <,is \.2'r\e.s installed4 as a plurality of photographing light axis direction changing angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of a plurality of said running lanes; detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at a predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, and estimating a position of said car running on said running lane after a predetermined time has elapsed, judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said car arrives at said predetermined position; .generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data specifying either of said predetermined position or said estimated position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; selecting one photographing light axis direc- V, AL, tion changing angle data, from a plurality of said 247 photographing light direction changing angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said generated position specifying data; and driving said photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of said photographing portion into said violating car based on said selected one photographing light axis direction changing angle data, on photograph- ing. eisa a S. a S 5.5 CS S oT a. S C9 S*S SS \rcU

9. A traffic condition photographing method according to Claim 7, wherein when said photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is Ca r C>eCL S\-CXtNte kept.n -4r by a second setting means, a 4 plate is heldt i an opening ea4 exposing a filmn a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward said first position and said second position on each of said running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction 248 249 changing angle data by an inputting means. A traffic condition photographing method according to claim 8, wherein when said photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward said predetermined position and said estimated position on each of said running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction changing angle data by an inputting means.

11. A traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation car detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said car detecting *0 0. *go *o~e 950321,q:\opcr\gcp,63200.c,249 means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for specifying one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position o'f said violating car on said one of said running lanes; a selecting means for selecting a predetermined running lane to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph image angle data, from a plurality of said photographing image angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and correspo7ding to said position of said violating car on said running lane specified by said position specifying means; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as tovcai.fu6u&ea a photographing image angle based on said one photographing image angle data selected by said selecting means. 250 251

12. A traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes, a second car detecting means for detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, said second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction, a violation detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said first car detecting means or said second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for generating a position specifying data specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at which said violating car is positioned; an inputting means for inputting in advance *o *oooo o*o *oo 950321,q:\opc\gcp,63200.c.251 into a storage portion a focal length of a photo- graphing lens disposed in said photographing portion at which s'lid photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of said first predetermined position and said second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting prede- termined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality o:ot coco of said photographing image angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding *to said running lane selected by said first selecting means and corresponding to said position specifying data generated by said position specifying means; an image angle detecting means for detecting a focal distance of a photographing lens disposed in said photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; 252 253 a calculating means comparing said current image data detected by said image angle detecting means with said one photographing image angle data selected by said second selecting means thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as to vary a photographing image angle based on said varifocal driving amount data obtained by said calculating means.

13. A traffic condition photographing device with a varifocal function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set in each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and 950321,q:\oper\gcp,63200,c,253 for generating a position specifying data specify- ing a position of said violating car; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal distance of a photographing lens disposed in said photographing portion when said photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photograph- ing positions of said predetermined positions of a plurality of said running lanes; a first selecting means for selecting prede- terminEid running lanes to be photographed and a co predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of said photographing image angle data stored in advance into said stored position, corresponding to said selected running lane by said first se- lecting means and corresponding to said position specifying data generated by said position speci- fying means; an image angle detecting meanu for detecting a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in 254 said photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; a calculating means comparing said current image data detected by said image angle detecting means with said photographing image angle data selected by said second selecting means thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and a driving means for driving said photographing portion so as to5 ge. a photographing image angle based on said varifocal driving amount data obtained by said calculating *o means. *o

14. A traffic condition photographing device according to Claim 12, wherein said driving means is adapted to drive said photographing portion so as to set a photographing image angle of said photographing portion into a middle position of a varifocal range based on a plurality of said photographing image angle data inputted in advance in said storage portion by said inputting means, on a photographing waiting state. A traffic condition photographing device according to any one of Claims 12 to 14, w'Herein 255 said photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting means for keeping a throttle at a predetermined aperture, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate .t t: aga is-t an opening,-® exposing a film, and a fourth setting means for driving said photograph- ing portion so as to set said focal length of said photographing lens at a predetermined position. a a 0* a a 1- .V 0.: roooooo

16. A traffic condition photographing method including a varifocal function, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in a photographing portion when said photographing portion is installed, as a plurality of photo- graphing image angle data corresponding to respec- tive photographing positions of a first predeter- mined position set on each of a plurality of running lanes and a second predet.,.mined position set on each of said running lanes, said running lanes forming a car lane, said second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction 256 detecting that a car running on said running lane arrives at said first predetermined position, detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at said second predetermined position; judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said oar arrives at least at said first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of *said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and ifo generating a position specifying data specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be 0* photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected; selecting one photographing image angle data, 0 from a plurality of said photographing image angle data stored in advance in said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said generated position specifying data; Sdetecting a focal length of a photographingR detecting a focal length of a photographing 258 lens disposed in said photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; comparing said current image data with said photographing image angle data thereby to obtain a varifocal driving amount data; and driving said photographing portion so as to vary a photographing image angle based on said varifocal driving amount data.

17. A traffic condition photographing method including a varifocal function, comprising the steps of: inp ;ting in advance into a storage portion a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in a photographing portion when said photographing portion is installed along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, as a plurality of photographing image angle data corresponding to respective photographing positions of predetermined positions of the plurality of running lanes; detecting that a car running on said running lane arrives at a predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, estimating a position of said car running on said running lane after a predetermined 95G321,q\opcAgcp,63200.cZ8 A ;K VT time has elapsed; judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said car arrives at said predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and iav generating a position specifying data specifying either of said predetermined position or said estimated position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected; selecting one photographing image angle data, from a plurality of said photographing image angle data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane and corresponding to said generated position specify- ing data; detecting a focal length of a photographing lens disposed in said photographing portion thereby to obtain a current image angle data; comparing said current image data with said photographing image angle data thereby to obtain a 259 -260- varifocat driving amount data; and driving Sid photographing portion so as to vary a photographing image angle based on said vwifocal driving amount data.

18. A traffic condition photographing method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein when said photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward said predetermined position and said estimated position on each of said running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby each direction changing angle with respect to a reference direction is inputted to a storage portion in turn as a photographing direction changing angle data by an inputting means.

19. A traffic condition photographing device, with a focussing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a Car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; *g go 9032,q:op21 ,63200.c260 a violation detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation car position specifying means for specifying one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of said violating car on said one of said running lanes; a selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predeter- mined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph distance data, from a plurality of said photographing distance data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said position of said violating car on said running lane specified o 0 by said position car specifying means; and a driving means for driving a distance o "driving ring of said photographing portion based on said one photograph distance data selected by said selecting means. 262 A traffic condition photographing device with a focussing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a first car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a second car detecting means for detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at a second predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, said second car detecting means being positioned toward a running direction; a violation detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said first car detecting means or said second car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation position specifying means for generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car judges by said violation detecting means is runnilg, and for generating a position specifying data specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at which said violating car is positioned; A 9so321,q9opau\cp,63200.c,262 fgo *~o o*oo 531q oegp62O¢6 an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion photographing distance data when said photographing portion is installed, said photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances from a photograph- ing lens disposed in said photographing portion, to said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting prede- termined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of photographing distance data stored in advance in said storage portion, corresponding to said run- ning lane selected by said first selecting means and corresponding to said position specifying data generated by said position specifying means; o a a distance detecting means for detecting a current focussing position of said photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; a calculating means for comiparing said current distance data obtained by said distance 263 264 detecting inea- wivth said one photographing distance data selected by said second selecting means thereby to obtain a focus driving amount data; and a driving means for driving a distance driving ring of said photographing portion based on said focus driving amount data obtained by said calculating means.

21. A traffic condition photographing device with a focussing function, comprising: a photographing portion arranged along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes; a car detecting means for detecting that a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; a violation detecting means for judging whether said car detected by said car detecting means violates a traffic rule; a violation car position specifying means for specifying one of said running lanes on which said violating car judged by said violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of said violating car on said one of said running lanes; an inputting means for inputting in advance into a storage portion photographing distance data *i *ooo *•g *o o *o* o*o *oo *oo o o 95032,q:\opergcp,63200.c64 when said photographing portion is installed, said photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances from a photograph- ing lens disposed in said photographing portion, to said predetermined position; a first selecting means for selecting prede- termined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by said violation detecting means; a second selecting means for selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of said photographing distance data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said running lane selected by said first selecting means and corresponding to said position specify- ing data generiated by said position specifying means; a distance detecting means for detecting a current focussing position of said photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; a calculating means for comparing said current distance data obtained by said distance detecting means with said photographing distance data selected by said second selecting means 265 265 thereby to obtain a focus driving amount data; and a driving means for driving a distance driving ring of said photographing portion based on said focus driving amount data obtained by said calculating means.

22. A traffic condition photographing device according to claim 20, wherein said driving means is adapted to drive said photographing portion so as to set a photographing distance into a middle position of a focus driving changing range based on a plurality of said photographing distance data inputted in advance in said storage portion by said inputting means, on a photographing waiting state.

23. A traffic condition photographing device according to any one of claims 21 to 22, wherein said photographing portion comprises a first setting means for keeping a shutter open according to necessity, a second setting means for keeping a throttle at a predetermined bore, a third setting means for holding a focussing plate in an opening portion for exposing a film, a fourth setting means for driving said photographing portion so as to set said focal length of said photographing len' a predetermined position, and a fifth setting means for driving said photographilv, n so as to set a photographing light axis at a predetermined position.

24. A traffic condition photographing method including a focussing function, comprising the steps of: inputting in advance into a storage portion a photographing distance data when a photographing portion is installed along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, said photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances to a first predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes and a second predetermined position set on each of said running lanes, said second predetermined position being positioned toward a running direction; detecting that a car running on said running lane arrives at said first S. predetermined position, go detecting that said car running on said running lane arrives at said second *predetermined position, judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said car 9so321,q9opegcp,6320J.c,266 267 arrives at least at said first predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data specifying either of said first predetermined position or said second predetermined position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected by a violation detecting means; selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of said photograph distance data stored in advance in a storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said generated position specifying data; driving a distance driving ring of said photographing portion based on said selected one photograph distance data. S S I'- r,

25. A traffic condition photographing method including a focussing function, comprising tile seps of: inputting in advanct5 into a storage portion a photographing distance data when a photographing portion is instalied along a car lane having a plurality of running lanes, said photographing distance data being corresponding to respective photograph distances to a predetermined position set on each of the plurality of running lanes; detecting that a car rumig on said running lane arrives at said predetermined position; estimating a position of said c:ar running on said running lane after a predetermined time has elapsed; judging whether said car violates a traffic rule when it is detected that said car arrives at said predetermined position; generating a lane specifying data specifying, from a plurality of said running lanes, one of said running lanes on which said violating car is running, and generating a position specifying data specifying either of said predetermined position or said estimated position at which said violating car is positioned; selecting a predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when said violation is detected; t r 950321,q.\apcr\cp,63200xc.267 -268- selecting one photographing distance data, from a plurality of said photographing distance data stored in advance into said storage portion, corresponding to said selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to said generated position specifying data; detecting a current focussing position of said photographing lens thereby to obtain a current distance data; driving a distance driving ring of said photographing portion based on said selected one photograph distance data.

26. A traffic condition photographing method according to claim 24, wherein when said photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward said first position and said second position on each of said running lanes oy a fifth setting means, and a focal length of said photographing lens is set at said first predetermined position and said second predetermined position on each of said running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby said photographing distance data corresponding to each of said focal, length is inputted to said storage portion in turn by an inputting means.

27. A traffic condition photographing method according to claim 25, wherein when S.said photographing portion is installed, a shutter is kept open by a first setting means, i a throttle is kept in an open state by a second setting means, a focussing plate is held in an opening portion for exposing a film by a third setting means, a photographing light axis is directed in turn toward said predetermined position and said estimated position on each of said running lanes by a fifth setting means, and said photographing lens is focussed to predetermined position and said estimated position on each of said running lanes by a fourth setting means, thereby said photographing distance data corresponding to each of said focal length is inputted to said storage portion in turn by an inputting 30 means. 9 3 2 9So321,q:\ crgcp,6320.,268 269

28. A traffic condition photographing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

29. A traffic condition photographing method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. oooo *0 o oo DATED this 21st day of March, 1995 RICOH COMPANY, LTD. 20 By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE I1). To 9so321,qopcgcp,6320Xc,269 1/2 4 ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to traffic condition photographing device with a photographing light axis direction changing function, a variforcal function, or a focussing function. The traffic condition photographing device comprises a car detecting means for detecting that Oleo oooo a a car arrives at a predetermined position set on each of a plurality of running lanes which form a ~car lane, a violation car detecting means for judging whether the car detected by the car de- tecting means violates a traffic rule, a violation position specifying means for one of the running lanes on which the violating car judged by the violation detecting means is running, and for specifying a position of the violating car on the one of the running lanes, a selecting means for selecting predetermined running lanes to be photographed and a predetermined photographing sequence when the violation is detected by the violation detecting means, and for selecting one photograph light axis direction changing angle data, from a plurality of the photograph light 2/2 direction changing ar. tta stored in advance into the storage portion corresponding to the selected running lane to be photographed and corresponding to the position of the violating car on the running lane specified by the position specifying means. The photographing device further comprises a driving means for driving the photographing portion so as to direct a photographing light axis of the photographing **"portion into the violating car, driving a distance driving ring, or driving portion so as to varifocuss a photograph inage angle.