Patent ID: 7068318

Claim:
A diaphragm control apparatus for a lens of a CCTV camera having a diaphragm driving device that at least one of opens and closes a diaphragm, comprising: a remote diaphragm control device that selects one of an automatic diaphragm control mode in which said diaphragm is controlled in accordance with an image signal output from said CCTV camera, and a remote diaphragm control mode in which said diaphragm is set to an optional position in accordance with a remote diaphragm control signal issued from said remote diaphragm control device; a diaphragm control signal setting device that is activated when said remote diaphragm control mode is selected by said remote diaphragm control device, said diaphragm control signal setting device being configured to generate a diaphragm control signal in accordance with said remote diaphragm control signal issued from said remote diaphragm control device, said diaphragm control signal setting device further being configured to output said diaphragm control signal to said diaphragm driving device to move said diaphragm to a position corresponding to said diaphragm control signal; and a power source that supplies electrical power to said diaphragm control signal setting device, wherein said diaphragm control signal setting device includes a memory that stores said diaphragm control signal when the electrical power to said diaphragm control signal setting device is interrupted, said diaphragm control signal being output from said memory to set said diaphragm to said optional position when the electrical power is re-supplied, said diaphragm control signal setting device comprising a digital potentiometer and said memory, said digital potentiometer varying a wiper position of a variable resistor and outputting said remote diaphragm control signal corresponding to said wiper position only when said remote diaphragm control signal is input when the electrical power is supplied, said digital potentiometer maintaining said wiper position of said variable resistor when said remote diaphragm control signal is stopped, a value corresponding to said wiper position being stored in said memory when the electrical power is interrupted, the value being read from said memory when the electrical power is re-supplied to recommence the output of said remote diaphragm control signal, wherein said memory is provided in the lens of the CCTV camera.