JPH07203265A - Video camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation of both an internal VTR of a video camera and an external VTR connecting to the internal VTR through a cable. CONSTITUTION:A video camera 1 having an internal VTR 3 and an external VTR 2 are connected via a multi-cable C. A camera microcomputer 5 receives mode data from a VTR microcomputer 4 of the video camera 1 and a microcomputer 6 of the external VTR 2 through the multi-cable C and the camera microcomputer 5 controls the microcomputer 4 for VTR of the video camera 1 and the microcomputer 6 of the external VTR 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera system including a video camera having an internal VTR and an external VTR connected to the video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional video camera system is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the video camera 1 has an internal VT.
R3 is provided, and this internal VTR 3 is controlled by the VTR microcomputer 4. The camera section of the video camera 1 is controlled by the camera microcomputer 5, and the camera microcomputer 5 outputs a control signal to the VTR microcomputer 4 and VT.
The R microcomputer 4 outputs the mode data of the internal VTR 3 to the camera microcomputer 5. The output of the trigger switch SW ₂ is supplied to the camera microcomputer 5, and when the trigger pulse is output, the recording mode is set in the VTR stop mode,
Also, in the VTR recording mode, switching control to the stop mode is executed.

[0003] External VTR2 is connected via a signal cable C ₁ to the video camera 1, a video signal and audio signal from the video camera 1 via the signal cable C ₁ is supplied. The external VTR 2 has a microcomputer 6 and is controlled by the microcomputer 6. The output of the trigger switch SW ₃ is supplied to the microcomputer 6, and the microcomputer 6 executes the same control as described above by the trigger pulse of the trigger switch SW ₃ .

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when recording is performed in parallel on the internal VTR 3 and the external VTR 2, the video camera 1 and the external VTR 2 are used.
Since each of the trigger switches SW ₂ and SW ₃ has to be operated individually, there are drawbacks that the operation is troublesome and the shooting is hindered. In particular, when the video camera 1 and the external VTR 2 have to be arranged at positions distant from each other, the above-mentioned drawback becomes remarkable, and the recording start / stop time is greatly deviated. Also, operations other than recording are similarly troublesome.

Therefore, the present invention uses an internal VTR and an external VTR.
It is an object to provide a video camera system that is easy to operate with.

[0006]

A video camera system of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a video camera having an internal VTR and an external VTR connected to the video camera via a multi-cable. External VTR
Is configured so that mode data can be output to the video camera via a multi-cable, and control data can be output from the video camera to the external VTR via a multi-cable.
Both the external VTR and the external VTR or either one of them is selectively controllable.

[0007]

Function: The video camera grasps the mode of the external VTR,
Since the external VTR can be controlled by the video camera, not only the internal VTR but also the external VTR can be controlled by the operation on the video camera side.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a video camera system. In FIG. 1, the video camera 1 and the external VTR 2 are connected via a multi-cable C. The video camera 1 is a VTR integrated type and has an internal VTR.
TR3 is controlled by the VTR microcomputer 4. The camera section of the video camera 1 is controlled by the camera microcomputer 5, and the camera microcomputer 5 and the VTR microcomputer 4 are always in bidirectional communication. Specifically, the camera microcomputer 5 outputs a control signal to the VTR microcomputer 4, and the VTR microcomputer 4 outputs the mode data of the internal VTR 3 to the camera microcomputer 5. Therefore, the camera microcomputer 5 always keeps track of the state of the internal VTR 3. The contents of the mode data are an operating state (recording, stopping, fast-forwarding, rewinding, reproduction, etc.), an abnormal state (tape cassette not mounted, drum cannot be rotated, dew condensation, etc.), and remaining tape amount.

The VTR selection switch SW ₁ has three positions a, b, and c. Both the internal VTR 3 and the external VTR 2 are in the a position, and the internal VTR 3 is in the b position.
In principle, the external VTR 2 is controlled in the c position, and the output of the VTR selection switch SW ₁ is supplied to the camera microcomputer 5.

The trigger switch SW ₂ is for instructing start / stop of recording, and the output of the trigger switch SW ₂ is supplied to the camera microcomputer 5. The camera microcomputer 5 executes the control of the flow shown in FIG. 2 based on the VTR selection switch SW ₁ and the trigger switch SW ₂ . The contents of the flow of FIG. 2 will be described in the section of the operation described below.

The external VTR 2 has a microcomputer 6 and is controlled by this microcomputer 6. This is the microcomputer 6 is supplied the output of the trigger switch SW ₃ is, start by the trigger switch SW ₃ of the recording of the external VTR2
Stop is commanded. The external VTR 2 is connected to the video camera 1 via the multi-cable C as described above, and video signals and audio signals are sent from the video camera 1 via the multi-cable C.

In addition to this signal line, the multi-cable C has a control line and a connection confirmation line. The camera microcomputer 5 of the video camera 1 and the external VTR 2 microcomputer 6 communicate with each other via the control line. ing. That is, the camera microcomputer 5
Outputs a control signal to the microcomputer 6, and the microcomputer 6 outputs the mode data of the external VTR 2 to the camera microcomputer 5. The contents of the mode data are similar to those of the VTR microcomputer 4 described above, and the camera microcomputer 5 uses the internal VTR 3
Similarly, the state of the external VTR 2 is always known.

The connection confirmation line is for the external VTR 2 to output connection information to the camera microcomputer 5 when the external VTR 2 is connected to the video camera 1 with the multi-cable C, and the external VTR 2 confirms the connection. H through the line
Output level voltage. This allows the camera microcomputer 5
Grasps the connection / non-connection of the external VTR2.

FIG. 3 shows a mode of transmitting the mode data. In FIG. 3, a voltage level signal of 0 V is output when the main power switch is off, 2.5 V when the main power switch is on (recording standby), and 5 V when recording, and in other states, a digital signal is added to the DC voltage. Superimpose and output. Also, when the recording mode is released by the trigger switch SW _{3 of the} external VTR 2, a reset pulse is output.

FIG. 4 shows the inside of the viewfinder 7 of the video camera 1. In FIG. 4, light emitting portions 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d are provided at four locations outside the display screen 8 to display the recording mode, the remaining battery level, the gain up, and the shutter state. The display screen 8 has an internal V
The character display "REC" is displayed when recording TR3, and the character "REC2" is displayed when recording external VTR2.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the trigger switch SW ₂ of the video camera 1 is pressed, the camera microcomputer 5 determines whether the external VTR 2 is connected (step S).
₁ ). If the external VTR 2 is not connected, the internal VTR 3 is controlled regardless of the position of the VTR selection switch SW ₁ , the recording mode is canceled if the internal VTR 3 is recording, and the recording mode is started if it is not recording (step S ₂ ). That is, if the external VTR 2 is not connected, it is determined that the depression of the trigger switch SW ₂ is the intention to control the internal VTR 3.

If the external VTR 2 is connected, the VTR
The position of the selection switch SW ₁ is determined (step S ₃ ). If it is in the b position, the current mode of the internal VTR 3 is discriminated (step S ₂ ) and the mode is switched.
If it is the c position, the current mode of the external VTR 2 is discriminated (step S ₄ ) and the mode is switched. If it is the a position, it is determined whether the internal VTR 3 can be controlled (step S ₅ ). If the internal VTR 3 is not in a controllable state due to a tape cassette not being installed, a failure, etc., an external VT
Control only R2. If the internal VTR 3 is in a controllable state, the current modes of the external VTR 2 and the internal VTR 3 are discriminated (steps S _{6 to} S ₈ ), and if both VTRs 2 and 3 are in the recording mode, they are switched to the stop mode (step S 6 _9), and, both VTR2,3 to switching control to the recording mode if the stop mode (step S _10). Further, when the modes of both VTRs 2 and 3 are different, it is determined that the switching command is for the internal VTR 2, and only the mode of the internal VTR 2 is switched (steps S ₁₁ and S ₁₂ ).

Therefore, since the photographer can operate the external VTR 2 by operating the video camera 1, the operation is simple and there is no trouble in shooting. In addition, the display in the viewfinder 7 causes not only the internal VTR 3 but also the external VT
Since the photographer can also recognize the R2 mode, the external VTR2
There is no mistake in the operation of.

Although the recording operation has been described in the above operation, the tape remaining amount of the external VTR 2 may be displayed and the video camera 1 side can also control operations such as rewinding, fast-forwarding and reproducing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a video camera system showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a plurality of external VTRs 2 are connected to the video camera 1 via the respective multi-cables C. VTR
The selection switch SW ₁ is an internal VTR 3 and a plurality of external VTRs.
It is configured such that one or more control VTRs can be freely selected from the two.

Therefore, since the photographer can operate the plurality of external VTRs 2 by operating the video camera 1, the operation is simple and there is no trouble in shooting.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, a video camera having an internal VTR and an external VTR are connected via a multi-cable, the external VTR outputs the mode data to the video camera, and Video camera is external V
Since the TR is controllable, not only the internal VTR but also the external VTR can be controlled on the video camera side, so that there is an effect that the operation is simple and the shooting is not hindered.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram (example) of a video camera system.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a recording operation (example).

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of mode data (example).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an internal state of a viewfinder (embodiment).

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video camera system (another embodiment).

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a video camera system (conventional example).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Video camera 2 ... External VTR 3 ... Internal VTR C ... Multi-cable

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video camera having an internal VTR and an external VTR connected to the video camera via a multi-cable, wherein mode data can be output from the external VTR to the video camera via the multi-cable. The video camera is configured to be able to output control data to the external VTR via a multi-cable, and the video camera selectively outputs either or both of the internal VTR and the external VTR. A video camera system characterized by being controllable. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the mode data from the external VTR has a content indicating whether or not a recording mode is set, and the control data from the video camera is a start and a stop of recording. system. 3. The video camera system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of external VTRs are provided.