JPH0730788A - Video camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability by widely setting the aspect of an image to be picked up and confirming the images at the normal aspect and the wide aspect with a finder. CONSTITUTION:When converting the picture at an aspect 4:3 to a wide picture at 16:9, a synchronizing signal is generated at a timing controller 5 and an address control signal is supplied from an address controller 6 to a memory 7 at this timing. Then, an image signal transmitted from a CCD 2 through a bus line is partitioned into nXn blocks and temporarily successively stored in a prescribed address. In that case, the controller 6 is controlled so as to store only the wide area at the aspect 16:9. At the same time, the image signal of the CCD 2 converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter 4 is passed through a D/A converter 11, converted to a composite video signal by an NTSC encoder 12 and displayed on a view finder 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera device, and more particularly to a video camera in which an aspect ratio of an image to be photographed is set to be wide and an image having a normal aspect ratio and a wide aspect ratio can be confirmed with a finder. It relates to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the horizontal and vertical ratios (aspect ratios) of image sizes taken by a camera are not limited to those of the conventional 4: 3, but may be taken as horizontally long images, that is, wide screens. The number of screens has increased, and the size screen is the same as before.
Devices that can switch wide-screen shooting arbitrarily have also appeared. Wide screens, combined with the use of wide-angle lenses, allow for more realistic and powerful images to be taken, and are expected to become even more popular in the future. On the other hand, conventionally, there is an electronic camera that electronically records a still image using a video camera.
The light condensed by the lens is converted into electricity using a CCD or a solid-state image sensor, and this is recorded in a magnetic recording medium, an IC memory or the like. At the time of reproduction, the recorded image signal is read out and displayed on a CRT screen or a liquid crystal display screen, or hard printed through an electrophotographic process. However, in the still camera using the conventional video camera, although the aspect ratio of 4: 3 is the same as before,
There was no one with a large wide ratio like 16: 9.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and in a still camera using a video camera, it is possible to record an image having a large aspect ratio, and further, a video with improved operability. It is intended to provide a camera device.

[0004]

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above object,
A basic feature is that an electronic photographing means for photographing an image having a normal aspect ratio, a means for recording the photographed image signal, and a means for recording the photographed image with a wide aspect ratio are provided, Furthermore, when recording at the wide aspect ratio, the upper and lower required parts of the image of the conventional aspect ratio are deleted, or after the upper and lower parts are deleted, the number of pixels is electronically enlarged, Equipped with a viewfinder that displays the subject captured by the camera device,
The viewfinder has a display corresponding to a wide aspect ratio screen on a screen of a size for displaying an image of a normal aspect ratio, and a shielding plate inserted between the image sensor and the lens, The width of the slit of the shielding plate is widened when capturing an image with an aspect ratio of 1, and the slit of the shielding plate is narrowed when capturing an image with a wide aspect ratio so that the light incident on the image sensor is widened. Matching to the screen, the viewfinder electronically displaying an image, and in the case of shooting a wide aspect ratio image, the deleted upper and lower images are not displayed In the video camera device described above, a means for arbitrarily changing the deletion range of the upper and lower parts of the image is provided, and the deletion range of the upper and lower parts of the screen is not instructed. Case, it is removed evenly up and down,
When shooting with a wide aspect ratio, add a required size image to both sides of the normal aspect ratio image to create a wide aspect ratio image, or have a viewfinder to display the subject to be shot. When taking a picture, a still image with a normal aspect ratio taken in advance is displayed in the viewfinder, and
To the right or left of the image, a means for displaying a moving image of the subject is provided, and a viewfinder for displaying the subject is provided, and when shooting a wide aspect ratio, the normal aspect ratio previously taken by the viewfinder is used. A means to display a wide confirmation screen on a viewfinder screen with a normal aspect ratio by reducing the entire still image of the image and displaying the moving image of the subject on the right or left of the image. It is characterized by things.

[0005]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video camera device according to the present invention. A video camera device CA shown in this figure converts light from a subject condensed by the image pickup lens 1 into an electric signal in an image pickup device CCD2, and removes reset noise and the like of the CCD by a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit. After that, the data is input to the A / D converter 4. The A / D converter 4 converts an analog signal from the CCD into a digital signal, and a memory 7 and a camera process unit 8 which will be described later via a bus line.
And to the D / A converter 11. On the other hand, a synchronizing signal is generated from the timing controller (synchronization processing circuit) 5, and an address control signal is supplied to the memory 7 from the address controller 6 based on the timing of this signal. In the memory 7, the image signal from the CCD 2 transmitted through the bus line is divided into n × n blocks and is temporarily stored at a predetermined address. The signal once stored in the memory is a luminance signal (Y) and a color difference signal (RY, B- for each n × n block unit in a camera process block 8 including a digital processing circuit.
It is converted into Y) and is output to the external memory card 10 through the image compression / expansion circuit 9 and stored therein. At the same time, the image signal from the CCD, which has been converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 4, is converted into an analog signal again by the D / A converter 11, and at the same time, in the NTSC encoder 12, it is composited. It is converted into a video signal and displayed on the viewfinder 13. The series of processes described above is executed under the control of the CPU 14.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the concept of determining the image size in the above-mentioned processing. A screen with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 in which the horizontal pixel x ₀ is 704 pels and the vertical pixel y ₀ is 512 pels is shown in FIG. As shown in b), the horizontal pixel x ₁ is 7
It shows a case of conversion to a wide screen having an aspect ratio of 16: 9 with 04 pels and vertical pixels y ₁ of 384 pels. In order to do so, when the image signal from the CCD is stored in the memory 7 of the block shown in FIG. 1, only the area shown in FIG. Should be controlled.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the wide-screen image shown in FIG. 2B is enlarged by the camera process block 8, and the aspect ratio of 4: 4 captured by the CCD as shown in FIG. The wide screen of (b) is extracted from the screen of No. 3, and further, as shown in (c) by the electronic zoom processing,
Horizontal pixel x ₂ is 928 pels and vertical pixel y ₂ is 512 pels
Screen, that is, an enlarged screen of about 4/3 times. The screen enlarging means by electronic zoom processing is described in detail in the invention (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-229382) already proposed and disclosed by the same applicant, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here. By using these means, it is possible to obtain a large screen wide aspect ratio image excellent in resolution.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image in the viewfinder 13, which has a conventional aspect ratio of 4: 3, and which is the image itself captured by the CCD. The screen actually recorded by this processing is 41 shown in the figure, and therefore it is necessary to provide the photographer with display means for indicating the screen area actually photographed. Some of the means will be described below. The first method is a viewfinder screen, for example CR.
There is a method of drawing the screen frame directly on the screen of the T display. That is, of the entire screen shot by the CCD
A frame is physically drawn corresponding to the position to be stored in the memory, and is generally drawn so as to be located at the center of the screen in the vertical direction. As a second method, instead of physically drawing a frame on the viewfinder screen, a method of electrically drawing a frame in the memory by the camera process block or CPU can be considered. That is, it suffices to store an appropriate color signal of black or color at the address position of the corresponding memory. According to this method, when images with different aspect ratios are arbitrarily selected and recorded. It is convenient for.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment when a screen actually shot is displayed on the viewfinder. In this example, a shielding plate 31 is provided between the lens 1 and the CCD 2. In the case of photographing with a normal aspect ratio of 4: 3, as shown in (a), the slit interval of the shielding plate 31 is maximized so that light is applied to the entire area of the CCD. In the case of photographing with a wide aspect ratio screen, the slit interval of the shielding plate 31 is narrowed as shown in (b) to block light from a predetermined portion above and below the CCD. According to this method, depending on the selected aspect ratio, only the screen actually shot is displayed in the viewfinder,
It is possible to prevent shooting mistakes due to the carelessness of the photographer. The opening and closing of the shield plate may be provided with a lever for allowing the photographer to open and close the shield plate as desired, and an electric instruction may be given to the camera process block 8 in conjunction with the operation. On the contrary, a mechanism for automatically opening and closing the shield plate may be provided in response to an electric instruction to the CPU.

Further, as a method of displaying only the image actually photographed on the viewfinder, by controlling the address controller 6 described above, in the case of photographing with a normal aspect ratio of 4: 3, the CCD is used. All signals are stored in the memory, but in the case of a wide aspect ratio, an address signal is generated so that only the relevant portion is stored in the memory, and the image signal stored in this memory is used as a D / A converter. 11 and an encoder 12 may be displayed on the viewfinder. According to this method, the shield plate is not necessary, and the mechanism for opening and closing the shield plate is also unnecessary, which is preferable for cost reduction. In this case,
The wide screen displayed on the finder is such that no image is displayed in the upper and lower parts as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows a modified example of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the position where the wide screen is extracted is all in the center of the screen, but in this example, the position can be changed arbitrarily. It is illustrated. That is, the photographer operates a dial (not shown) to adjust the position of the wide aspect ratio screen while observing the viewfinder 13. According to the operation of the dial, a signal is transmitted to the CPU and the memory is stored. A process of changing the area designation address to be stored in up and down is performed. At this time, it is possible to display the entire image on the viewfinder screen and display a frame indicating the position of the wide screen to be selected, or to display only the wide screen to be selected. It can be appropriately implemented by a combination of the above means. If the photographer does not specify the position, or if the position is not specified for a certain period after the power is turned on, the center of the screen may be automatically set to the wide screen cutout position as shown in FIG. It will be effective in improving operability.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as indicated by hatching in FIG.
Image signal of aspect ratio 4: 3 (704pel × 51
It is recorded in the memory 7 as a still image of 2 pels), and 1/6 each of the left and right of the CCD image (112 pels x 5) on both sides thereof.
12 pel) is added and combined, and the aspect ratio is 16: 9.
A wide image of (928 pel × 512 pel) is formed. That is, as shown in (b), a still image 81 having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 is stored in a memory by the first shooting, and then the camera is slid to the left, so that the still image of the still image is displayed as shown in (c). The image is taken while matching the left edge and including the left 1/6 image in the field of view. At this time, a still image with an image added to the left is formed as shown in FIG. 6C, so that a 1/6 image is added to the right of this still image as shown in FIG. Slide the camera to the right to shoot. When the camera is slid to the left or right, the portion that has already been stored is a still image, but the portion that is not captured is displayed as a moving image on the viewfinder. At this time, the combined still image is
Since the size is larger than the conventional size, it is necessary to provide a memory capacity matching the size, or to perform a process of reducing the screen so as to match the conventional memory capacity.

Specific processing of the above embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 9 illustrates a procedure for performing the above process. As shown in FIG. 9A, a moving image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 is reduced and displayed as 91 (512 pel × 384 pel) on the viewfinder. When the photographer operates a shutter button while displaying a desired image on the viewfinder, the image is stored in the memory in a state where the image is not reduced. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the image stored in the memory is not reduced. Further, in this shooting, no image is displayed on the left and right parts 92 and 93 in the viewfinder, but when the shooting is completed,
As shown in (b), the reduced image 91 and the moving image 95 located to the right are displayed, and the right 96 is not displayed. By doing so, it is possible to clearly instruct the photographer which image is to be photographed, right or left. In this state, the photographer slides the camera on the left side of the still-displayed central screen 94 so as to coincide with the boundary line, and operates the shutter button. If this operation is completed, (c)
As shown in, since the state in which the moving image 99 is added to the right of the still images 97 and 98 is displayed in the viewfinder,
Similarly to the above, the right side image is photographed with the boundary lines aligned. In this way, by displaying a reduced image on the viewfinder, it is not necessary to use a special viewfinder, and a high-resolution wide image (for example, 9
28 pel x 512 pel) can be recorded.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 above. In this example, first, the size is reduced to a conventional aspect ratio of 4: 3. Instead, the moving image 102 is displayed on the display screen 101 of the viewfinder, and the photographer photographs the desired image (Fig. A). When the image is taken, the image signal is stored in the memory, and at the same time, the still image 104 on the left 5/6 of the already taken screen is displayed on the viewfinder screen 101 as shown in FIG. Is displayed to the right of. That is, the right side 1/6 of the already captured screen is shifted from the screen, and the left side 1/6 of the viewfinder
The moving image 103 is displayed on the screen. Therefore, when the photographer photographs the left side similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is stored in the memory as well, and at the same time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the right side 5/6 (106) of the first photographed image. Is displayed closer to the left side, and the moving image 105 created by the CCD at that time is displayed on the right side 1/6 of the finder. Therefore, at this time, the image 107 photographed in FIG. (B) is not displayed. Therefore, when the right side image is taken in the same manner, the above three images are added and combined. Wide screen images can be taken. Note that, if necessary, it is possible to confirm the entire image at once by reducing the size as described in FIG. 9 in the above-described shooting process or when displaying the shot combined screen. . Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various modifications can be made without being limited to these embodiments. For example, the wide aspect ratio can be changed, and the above-described processes can be performed corresponding to the specified aspect ratio.

[0015]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, in addition to the conventional aspect ratio photography, it is possible to perform photography with a wide aspect ratio, and furthermore, display suitable for the photographer and efficient operation. Can bring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of a video camera device according to the present invention.

2A and 2B are views for explaining the processing and operation of the embodiment according to the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a view of the entire screen and FIG. 2B is a view of a wide screen.

3A and 3B are views for explaining a processing example of the video camera device according to the present invention, where FIG. 3A is an overall screen view, FIG. 3B is a wide screen view, and FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the wide screen.

FIG. 4 is a view of a video camera device according to the present invention.
The figure which shows the example of a finder display.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an aspect ratio changing unit in the video camera device according to the present invention, in which (a) shows a conventional aspect ratio size and (b) shows a wide aspect ratio.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the aspect ratio changing means in the video camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an aspect ratio display unit in the video camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view of a video camera device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a finder display means, where (a) is the entire screen for final shooting, (b) is the basic screen displayed in the center,
(C) is a display screen when shooting a screen to be added on the left side,
(D) is a figure which respectively shows the display screen at the time of adding a right side screen.

FIG. 9 is a view of a video camera device according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the finder display means, (a) is a basic screen displayed in the center, (b) is a screen for shooting a screen to be added on the left side, and (c) is a screen for shooting an image to be added on the right side. The figure which respectively shows the display screen at the time of doing.

FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of the viewfinder display means in the video camera device according to the present invention, (a) is a basic screen displayed in the center, and (b) is a screen to be added to the left side when shooting. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a display screen when capturing an additional image on the right side.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lens, 2 CCD, 3 CDSAGC, 4
A / D converter, 5 timing controller,
6 address controller, 7 memory, 8 camera process unit, 9 image compression / expansion circuit, 10
Memory card, 11 D / A converter, 12
Encoder, 13 viewfinder, CA video camera, 41, 71, 81, 82, 83, 84, 8
5, 86, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 9
7, 97, 99, 102, 103, 104, 105, 1
06, 107 display screen, 101 viewfinder screen.

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display area H04N 5/765

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An electronic photographing means for photographing an image having a normal aspect ratio, a means for recording the photographed image signal, and a means for recording the photographed image in a wide aspect ratio. Video camera device. 2. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein when recording at the wide aspect ratio, required portions above and below the conventional aspect ratio image are deleted. 3. The video camera device according to claim 2, wherein after the upper and lower parts are deleted, the number of pixels is electronically increased. 4. A viewfinder for displaying a subject photographed by the video camera device, wherein the viewfinder has a display corresponding to a wide aspect ratio screen on a screen for displaying an image of a normal aspect ratio. The video camera device according to claim 1, wherein the video camera device is attached. 5. A finder for displaying a subject to be photographed by the video camera device, and a shielding plate interposed between an image pickup device and a lens, wherein the shielding is provided when an image having a normal aspect ratio is photographed. 2. When widening the slit of the plate to capture an image with a wide aspect ratio, the slit of the shielding plate is narrowed so that the light incident on the image pickup element is matched with the wide screen. The video camera device according to any one of 1 to 3. 6. The viewfinder electronically displays an image, and when a wide aspect ratio image is captured, the deleted upper and lower images are not displayed. The video camera device according to claim 4. 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for arbitrarily changing a deletion range of upper and lower portions of the image.
The described video camera device. 8. The video camera device according to claim 7, wherein when the upper and lower part deletion range of the screen is not instructed, the upper and lower parts are deleted evenly. 9. A wide aspect ratio, comprising electronic photographing means for photographing an image having a normal aspect ratio, means for recording the photographed image signal, and means for recording the photographed image at a wide aspect ratio. A video camera device having a wide aspect ratio by adding images of a required size to both sides of an image having a normal aspect ratio when shooting by. 10. The video camera device according to claim 9, further comprising a finder for displaying a subject to be photographed, and when a wide aspect ratio is photographed, a still image of a normal aspect ratio photographed in advance is displayed on the finder. At the same time, a video camera device is provided with means for displaying a moving image of a subject on the right or left of the image. 11. The video camera device according to claim 9, further comprising a finder for displaying a subject to be photographed, and when photographing a wide aspect ratio, a whole still image of a normal aspect ratio photographed in advance in the finder is displayed. While displaying it in a reduced size, to the right or left of the image,
A video camera device comprising means for reducing and displaying a moving image of a subject. 12. The video camera device according to claim 9, further comprising a finder for displaying a subject to be photographed, and when photographing a wide aspect ratio, a part of a still image of a normal aspect ratio photographed in advance in the finder. And a means for displaying a moving image of a subject on the right or left of the image.