Monitoring camera

Abstract

A monitoring camera is provided. The monitoring camera includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject therein, the image capturing unit having an image capturing field angle adjustable by a zooming optical system; and a light source having a light emitting diode configured to emit an illuminating radiation. The camera further includes a lens unit configured to apply the illuminating radiation in a direction which is substantially identical to a direction in which the image capturing unit captures the image; and an irradiation moving unit configured to variably set an irradiation range of the illuminating radiation to irradiate an area which is substantially the same as the image capturing field angle of the image capturing unit.

1 . A monitoring camera comprising:
 an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject therein, said image capturing unit having an image capturing field angle adjustable by a zooming optical system;   a light source including a light emitting diode configured to emit an illuminating radiation;   a lens unit configured to apply said illuminating radiation in a direction which is substantially identical to a direction in which said image capturing unit captures the image; and   an irradiation moving unit configured to variably set an irradiation range of said illuminating radiation to irradiate an area which is substantially the same as said image capturing field angle of said image capturing unit.   
   
   
       2 . The monitoring camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said light source has a light guide configured to guide the illuminating radiation from said light emitting diode to said lens. 
   
   
       3 . The monitoring camera according to  claim 1 , wherein said light emitting diode includes an infrared emitting diode configured to emit an infrared radiation. 
   
   
       4 . The monitoring camera comprising:
 an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject therein through an optical system;   a light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit an illuminating radiation; and   a controller configured to control energization patterns of said light emitting diodes in synchronism with an image capturing timing interval of said image capturing unit.   
   
   
       5 . The monitoring camera according to  claim 4 , wherein said controller has means configured to change energization patterns of said light emitting diodes to follow the subject when said controller detects the subject as moving. 
   
   
       6 . The monitoring camera according to  claim 4 , wherein said controller sets a first interval and a second interval shorter than said first interval as emission intervals of said light source; and
 said controller has means configured to control said light source to apply said illuminating radiation entirely to an image capturing range of said image capturing unit if no moving subject is detected in an image captured by said image capturing unit, and controlling said light source to apply said illuminating radiation to a portion of the image capturing range if a moving subject is detected in an image captured by said image capturing unit, said portion of the image capturing range including said moving subject.