JPH06233169A - Television camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute the video camera system so that in what direction the camera turns is easily visible even in a zoomed-up state. CONSTITUTION:The video camera system is provided with a camera direction instructing screen generating means 10 for generating an electronic image for showing the direction in which a television camera 1 turns, in accordance with a pan manipulated variable of the television camera 1, an image memory 5 for storing an image signal at the time when image pickup is executed by setting the television camera 1 to a wide side, and a synthesizing means 7 for synthesizing the electronic image generated by the video camera direction instructing screen generating means 10 to the image stored in the image memory means 5. Also, this video camera system is constituted so that the direction in which the television camera 1 turns is easily visible by looking at the monitor screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television camera system, and is suitable for use in, for example, a television camera system capable of controlling a platform used for a video conference.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, as a television camera for a video conference, a television camera for displaying a combined image of a picked-up image and an image showing a panning direction has been proposed. That is, in the TV camera used for the video conference, the platform and the TV camera are integrally configured. A computer or the like is connected to the outside as a control device for controlling the platform, and movements such as pan, tilt, and zoom of the television camera are controlled here.

The camera platform-integrated camera is constructed as described above, and when displaying the moving direction of the camera by superimposing the moving direction of the camera, the multiplexing device connected to the outside is used. The video output from the camera and the motion information of the camera held in the external control device are multiplexed.

[0004]

As described above, by multiplexing the video output from the camera and the motion information of the camera held in the external control device, the television camera controlled by the pan head is controlled. Although you can see the direction on the monitor screen, when panning is performed while zoomed in, a close-up image is displayed on the monitor, and even if you show the direction of the camera, you can expect a great visual effect. could not.

Further, there has been a problem that a lot of cost is required to realize the function of multiplexing the video output from the camera and the motion information of the camera held in the external control device. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to confirm in which direction the television camera is facing even in a zoomed-up state.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A television camera system of the present invention detects a pan operation amount of a television camera and creates an electronic image indicating the direction of the television camera based on the detected pan operation amount. In the television camera system described above, a camera direction instruction screen creating means for creating an electronic image indicating the direction in which the television camera is facing according to the pan operation amount, and an image when the television camera is imaged with the wide side. Image memory means for storing signals, and first synthesizing means for synthesizing the image stored in the image memory means with the electronic image created by the television camera direction indication screen creating means. is doing.

Another feature of the present invention is that
An image combining unit that superimposes character information on an image signal picked up by an image pickup device, and a camera controller that controls the image combining unit and the movement of the camera are provided, and the character information indicating the moving direction of the camera is superposed. It is characterized by outputting an imposed video signal.

[0008]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, it is possible to always store in the image memory means an electronic image showing the whole view taken with the television camera set to the wide side, and the electronic image showing the whole view. By combining and displaying a direction image showing the direction in which the TV camera is facing, even if the image captured by the TV camera is in a zoom state, the direction of the TV camera can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner. Is possible.

Further, according to the present invention, in response to a camera operation request from the operator, a character signal representing the moving direction of the camera when the camera moves is combined with the original video output signal in the image combining section inside the camera. Then, by outputting this as a new video signal, the function for making the direction of the television camera visible can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a first embodiment of the television camera system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, 1 is a TV camera, 2 is a zoom lens attached to the TV camera 1, 3 is an input signal processing unit for inputting and processing an electric signal derived from the TV camera 1, 4 is an A / D converter, Reference numeral 5 is an image memory.

Further, 6 is a D / A converter, 7 is a first image combining section, 8 is a second image combining section, and 9 is an output signal processing section. Next, 11 is a platform for attaching a TV camera,
Reference numeral 12 is a platform control unit that controls the platform, and 13 is a zoom lens control unit that controls the zoom lens. 100 is a system control unit for controlling the entire system, 1
Reference numeral 01 is an operation unit.

Next, the operation of the television camera system of the present embodiment thus constructed will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the television camera 1 is mounted on the pan head 11, and panning is performed via the pan control section 12 under the control of the system control section 100.

In the pan head controller 12, it is possible to perform pan position pan head absolute position control.
It is also possible to reset the position information once using a limit switch or the like, and then perform relative position control using a stepping motor or the like. By the control of the platform control unit 12, the system control unit 100 can know the current position of the platform 11, that is, the direction in which the television camera 1 is facing.

The zoom lens 2 attached to the television camera 1 is also the system control unit 100.
With this control, zoom control is performed via the zoom lens controller 13. The image signal S1 captured by the television camera 1 is input to the input signal processing unit 3 and subjected to predetermined signal processing. Then, it is digitized by the A / D converter 4 and then stored in the image memory 5.

The image signal stored in the image memory 5 is
The data is read out at a predetermined timing and converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 6. At this time, in order to display the stored image signal in full size, in addition to the case of performing normal access and sending a full screen portion to the D / A converter 6, a second
In order to display the parent-child screen in the synthesizing section 8 of (1), two methods are possible in which an image for displaying the child screen is sent from the image memory 5 to the D / A converter 6.

At the same time, the system control unit 100 notifies the image pickup position display signal generation unit 10 of the direction in which the television camera 1 is facing, and a character signal for displaying this as angle information or an arrow signal indicating the direction. Generate. This is possible by using a character generator or a bitmap memory for pattern generation.

The display signal S2 generated by the image pickup position display signal generating section 10 can be switched between full-size display and reduced-size display when the small screen is displayed, as in the case of accessing the image memory. The magnitude of the display signal of the image pickup position display signal generator 10 can be changed. The display signal S2 generated by the imaging position display signal generator 10 is D by the first synthesizing means 7.
The image signal S3 from the / A converter 6 is combined. For this synthesis, various methods such as simple switching and signal addition are possible.

The D / A converted image signal S3 from the image memory 5 and the display signal S2 from the image pickup position display signal generator 10 are combined and input to the second combining means 8. Here, when the output signal S5 of the first synthesizing unit 7 is passed through, when the image signal S4 output from the input signal processing unit 3 is passed through, the two are further synthesized and parent and child are displayed on the same screen. A composition method such as displaying a screen or two windows is possible. The signal S6 from the second synthesizing unit 8 is output as an output image signal S7 after being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the output signal processing unit 9.

In FIG. 2 (a), the pan / tilt head 11 is set at the center, the image taken with the zoom lens 2 on the wide side is taken into the image memory 5, and this image is generated by the imaging position display signal generator 10. It is a figure when the image which combined the signal which hits the present imaging position was displayed on the monitor.

Further, FIG. 2 (b) shows that after the image is picked up in the same state as in FIG. 2 (a) and stored in the image memory 5, this image is displayed together with the display signal from the image pickup position display signal generator 10. It is the figure which displayed as a screen and displayed the image signal from a television camera as a parent screen. When such a display is performed, the first synthesizing means 7 and the second synthesizing means 8 are configured to synthesize in the state of digital signals, and thereafter converted into analog by the D / A converter. Even if it does so, the same effect can be expected.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the television camera system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the image signal S1 from the television camera 1 is A / D converted by the A / D converter 4, stored in the image memory 5, read out, and D / A converted by the D / A converter 6.

Up to this point, the operation is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the output image signal S3 of the D / A converter 6 is supplied to the second synthesizing means 8. Then, in the second synthesizing means 8, the image signal S1 from the television camera 1 is image-synthesized with the image signal S4 signal-processed by the signal processing unit 3, and then given to the first synthesizing unit 7. The display signal S2 generated by the imaging position display signal generator 10 is given to the first combiner 7, and these signals are combined by the first combiner 7 and passed through the output signal processor 9. Is output.

Next, a third embodiment of the television camera system of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram of a video conference system showing an embodiment when the present invention is applied to the video conference system.

In FIG. 4, the camera controller 42,
The camera 43 and the image synthesizing unit 44 are components of the camera platform integrated camera of the present invention. In such a configuration,
When the operator inputs a command for panning or tilting the host-side camera to the operation unit 40, the operation command is first transmitted to the system controller 41.

Upon receiving this command, the system controller 41 next issues a camera operation command to the camera controller 42. By this operation command, the camera controller 4
Reference numeral 2 causes the pan head attached to the camera 43 to pan and tilt. At the same time, the camera controller 42 issues a superimpose request to the image composition unit 44.

The image synthesizing unit 44 provided inside the camera 43 displays the video signal currently output from the camera 43 and the up, down, left and right arrows indicating the pan / tilt operation direction due to the operation of the camera platform. They are combined and output as a new video signal.

The video output from the camera 43 is input to the video codec 45 and encoded. Video codec 45
Is connected to the transmission control unit 46 and sends the encoded image signal to the transmission line. On the other hand, the image signal input via the transmission path is decoded by the video codec 45 and sent to the monitor 47 to be visualized. Further, the transmission control unit 46 inputs the camera operation command input via the transmission path to the system controller 41, and the operation of the camera 43 by this is also performed as described above.

When the camera 43 is operated by the communication partner or the operator, it is shown in FIG. 2B in the screen displayed as the current output on the monitor which visualizes the video signal. Thus, the up, down, left, and right arrows indicating the pan and tilt operation directions of the camera 43 are output. In this embodiment, the screen display as shown in FIG. 5A can be applied.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portion of the camera controller 42 relating to the present invention. In FIG. 6, parts that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG.

The output of the system controller 41 is connected to the command control section 31 in the camera controller 42. The command connection unit 31 has a timer counter and a command selector (both not shown) for time-controlling the operations of the two types of request signal generation units, and its output is a superimpose request signal generation unit 32. And the camera operation signal generator 33.

The output of the superimpose request signal generating unit 32 is supplied to the image synthesizing unit 44 inside the camera 43, and the output of the camera operation signal generating unit 33 is supplied to a pan head driving system of the camera (not shown). .

The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.
Here, FIG. 7 is a flow chart sequentially showing a superimpose request operation of the camera controller 42 that occurs when the system controller 41 performs an operation of changing the direction of the camera 43.

The superimposing request operation of the camera controller 42 is first performed by the system controller 41.
It is confirmed whether the camera operation request command from the device has arrived at the command control unit 31 (step P1), and if the camera operation request command has arrived, the command control unit 31 sets a timer counter for time-switching the request signal to be transmitted. The operation is started (step P2). Then, for one second, the superimpose request signal generator 32 is operated (step P
3) The image synthesizing unit 44 is operated (step P
4).

Next, when the internal timer counter counts 1 second, the command control section 31 operates the camera operation signal generation section 33 by the command selector (step P5), and the head platform drive system continues for 0.8 seconds. A camera operation request signal is output (step P6).

If the camera operation request command from the system controller 41 is not completed (step P7), the command selector operates the superimpose request signal generator 32 (step P7).
8) Then, the image synthesizing unit 14 is operated for 0.2 seconds (step P9).

Furthermore, the camera operation signal generator 33 is operated again by the command selector (step P5),
Then, the camera platform drive system is caused to output a camera operation request signal for 0.8 seconds (step P6). The system controller 4
If the camera operation request command from 1 is not completed (step P7), the command selector again operates the superimpose request signal generator 32 (step P7).
8) Then, the image synthesizing unit 44 is operated for 0.2 seconds (step P9).

When the camera controller 42 continues to receive the camera operation request signal from the system controller 41 for 1.0 second or more in this way, the first 1.0
A superimpose request is issued for 2 seconds, and then a camera operation request of 0.8 seconds is sent to the platform drive system, and the image composition unit 14
The superimposing request for 0.2 seconds is alternately repeated until the input of the request signal from the system controller 41 is completed.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the relationship between the camera operation request signal transmitted by the camera controller 42 and the superimpose request signal. As is apparent from FIG. 8, a superimpose request signal is issued for 1 second after receiving the camera operation request from the system controller 41, and thereafter, the superimpose is performed until there is no camera operation request from the system controller 41. The request and the camera operation request are repeatedly transmitted.

Next, the combining operation of the image combining section 44 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 9 shows the image composition unit 44.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the synthesizing operation of 1. When the image composition unit 44 receives the superimpose request transmitted from the camera controller 42 (step P10), it creates an arrow-shaped character representing the moving direction of the camera for composition with the video signal (step P11). It is combined with the video output signal (step P12).

The image synthesizing section 44 is the camera controller 41.
Since the superimpose request from the camera is continuously received for the first one second and then intermittently, the output image when the video output from the camera 43 is displayed on the monitor is displayed by the camera. The arrow can be stationary for the first 1 second before the movement is started, and can be displayed intermittently subsequently.

In the above embodiment, when the camera moves, the arrow is displayed on the display as an example of visual representation of the moving direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
The same can be applied to the case where the moving direction of the camera is visually expressed by characters.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image memory for taking in an image picked up with the television camera set to the wide side, a camera direction instruction screen producing means for producing an electronic image showing a direction in which the television camera faces, and Since the synthesizing means is provided, it becomes easy to confirm where the camera is currently facing while viewing the entire image even while performing the panning operation in the zoomed-up state.

Further, in the present invention, an image synthesizing section for superimposing character information on an image signal picked up by an image pickup element, a movement of the image synthesizing section and the television camera are provided inside the camera platform integrated camera. A camera controller for controlling is added, and the image synthesizing unit is operated by a control signal from the camera controller to display a video signal from an image captured by the television camera and display corresponding to the movement of the television camera. Since the signal and the signal are combined and output as a new video signal for the camera, it is possible to inexpensively configure a function for obtaining a video signal in which the display indicating the operation direction of the television camera is superimposed.

Further, the television camera system of the present invention is
When this is compatible with a video conference system, when the host side camera moves, a display indicating the direction is combined with the video signal captured by the host side camera, and the display is transmitted to the remote side together with the image, It is possible for the remote side user to display not only the change in the image but also the moving direction of the host side camera on the monitor. Therefore,
Even if the uniform background on the host side is transmitted to the remote side, the moving direction of the camera on the host side becomes clear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a first television camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention and applied to a video conference system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a video output of the television camera system of the present invention is input to a monitor.

FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram of a camera controller.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a superimpose request operation from the camera controller.

FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of a command transmitted by the camera controller.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image synthesizing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 TV Camera 2 Zoom Lens 3 Input Signal Processing 4 A / D Converter 5 Image Memory 6 D / A Converter 7 First Image Compositing Section 8 Second Image Compositing Section 9 Output Signal Processing Section 11 Camera Platform 12 Camera Platform Control unit 13 Zoom lens control unit 31 Command control unit 32 Superimpose request signal generation unit 33 Camera operation request signal generation unit 40 Operation unit 41 System controller 42 Camera controller 43 Camera 44 Image synthesis unit 45 Video codec 46 Transmission control unit 47 Monitor 100 system control unit 101 operation unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A television camera system in which a pan operation amount of a television camera is detected, and an electronic image indicating a direction of the television camera is created based on the detected pan operation amount. Accordingly, camera direction instruction screen creating means for creating an electronic image showing the direction in which the television camera is facing, and image memory means for storing an image signal when the television camera is set to the wide side and imaged. A television camera system comprising: a first synthesizing means for synthesizing the image stored in the image memory means with the electronic image created by the television camera direction designating screen creating means. 2. A pan head capable of pan operation, pan head control means for controlling pan operation of the pan, a television camera mounted on the pan, a zoom lens attached to the television camera, Zoom lens control means for controlling the zoom lens, A / D conversion means for digitizing the image signal from the television camera, image memory means for storing the image signal picked up by the television camera, and the digitized image signal. D / A that converts image signals to analog signals
Conversion means, signal processing means for displaying the image signal on a monitor, and means for creating an electronic image showing the direction in which the television camera is facing in accordance with the pan operation amount controlled by the platform control means. In the television camera system including the above, the image signal when the television camera is picked up at the wide side is stored in the image memory, and the image stored in the image memory has the image signal of the television camera A television camera system comprising: a first synthesizing means for synthesizing an electronic image created by a means for creating an electronic image indicating a facing direction. 3. The television camera system according to claim 2, further comprising second synthesizing means for synthesizing the image signal from the television camera and the synthetic image by the first synthesizing means. 4. The image memory stores an image when the zoom lens control unit controls the zoom lens to a wide side and the pan head control unit controls the pan to be the center of panning. The television camera system according to claim 2, wherein: 5. An image synthesizing unit for superimposing character information on an image signal picked up by an image pickup device, and a camera controller for controlling the image synthesizing unit and the movement of the camera are provided. A television camera system, which outputs a video signal obtained by superimposing the indicated character information. 6. A camera controller for controlling a pan head drive system and requesting a superimpose to the image synthesizing unit when a pan / tilt camera operation command is received from the outside. 5. The TV camera system according to item 5. 7. An image synthesizing unit is provided for synthesizing a character indicating a moving direction of the camera and synthesizing the character with the image signal when a superimpose request is received from the camera controller. Alternatively, the television camera system according to claim 6.