AUTOMATIC OBJECT TRACKING APPARATUS OF VIDEO CAMERA

PURPOSE:To accurately and automatically track an object while discriminating the same, by receiving the first radio wave by a radio wave response device and sending out the second radio wave containing inherent data. CONSTITUTION:The microwave of a predetermined band emitted by a microwave exciting circuit 81 is divided and distributed to phase shifters 83-1-83-n through a circulator 82 and a microwave circulatorily shifted in a phase is emitted from an array antenna 84 under the control of a phase shift control circuit 85 to perform two-dimensional beam scanning. When the radio wave response device 6 mounted on an object 5 is positioned in a certain beam direction, the response device 6 receives a microwave of a predetermined band and modulates the phase thereof on the basis of code data to emit the same non- directionally. This microwave is received by the antenna 84 to reach a receiving circuit 91 and the code data signal inherent to the response device 6 is extracted and, when said signal coincides with the code data stored in a code discrimination circuit 92, an identifying and confirming signal is formed. A tracking control circuit 93 sends out a control signal to drive circuit 94, 95 to displace the visual field optical axis direction 2a of a video camera 2.