JPH09238282A - Image synthesizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the image synthesizer which segments a video image at an optional part of the image displayed on a screen while not converting an analog signal of the video image from a video camera and displaying the segmented image onto a TV monitor as a synthesized image. SOLUTION: The synthesizer is provided with external synchronizing signal generators 15, 16, 17, 18, a reference synchronizing signal generator 19, a synchronizing signal controller 14, a changeover controller 9 and analog video switches 10, 11, 12, 13, and signals whose synchronizing points are respectively deviated from a reference synchronizing signal are given to external synchronizing signal input terminals f plural cameras. Then an optional part of a video image from each television camera is segmented and displayed by using the analog video switches to select video signals from the plural cameras.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing video signals from a plurality of video cameras in the state of analog signals on one television screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a screen composition of a video camera, an analog method is "transistor technology SPECIAL".
No. 31 (CQ publisher) "TV / camera external synchronization and screen synthesis (references), digital method is" CCT "
V system design guide (Corona Corp.) "is described as a screen quad display device.

A conventional analog image synthesizing apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional analog image synthesizing apparatus. In FIG. 5, 1 is a first screen captured by the first camera 5, 2 is a second screen captured by the second camera 6, and 10 is a switch for switching analog video signals of the first camera 5 and the second camera 6. , 9 is a controller for controlling the switching timing of the switches, 15 is a sync signal generator for supplying sync signals to the first camera 5 and the second camera 6, and 20 is a TV monitor for displaying a divided and combined image.

The operation of the analog image synthesizing apparatus having the above-described structure will be described below. As shown in FIG. 5, the first camera 5 and the second camera 6
Are in a state of being synchronized by the synchronization signal supplied from the external synchronization signal generator 15. The video signals of the first screen 1 taken by the first camera 5 and the second screen 2 taken by the second camera 6 are transferred to the left half of the first camera 5 by the changeover switch 10 controlled by the changeover switch controller 9. The right half of the second camera 6 is displayed on the TV monitor 20 as a combined video signal.

A conventional digital image synthesizing apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional digital image synthesizing apparatus. In FIG. 6, 1 is the first screen captured by the first camera 5, and 2 is the second screen.
The second screen captured by the camera 6, 3 is the third screen captured by the third camera 7, 4 is the fourth screen captured by the fourth camera 8,
Reference numeral 15 is a sync signal generator that supplies a sync signal to the first to fourth cameras 5 to 8, 22 is a first A / D converter for converting the video signal of the first camera 5 to digital, and 23 is a video of the second camera 6. Second A / D converter for converting signal to digital, 24 is third A / D converter for converting video signal of third camera 7 to digital, and 25 is fourth A / D for converting video signal of fourth camera 8 to digital A converter, 27 is a first memory for storing the digital video data of the first A / D converter 22, and 28 is a second A / D converter 23.
Second memory for storing digital video data of
Is a third memory for storing the digital video data of the third A / D converter 24, and 30 is the fourth A / D converter 2
4th memory for storing 5 digital video data, 2
6 is a memory controller that controls the timing of each memory 27-30, 31 is a D / A converter that converts the digital video data from each memory 27-30 into an analog video signal, and 20 is a pre-mortem composite. It is a TV monitor that displays images.

The operation of the digital type image synthesizing apparatus configured as described above will be described below. As shown in FIG. 6, the first to fourth cameras 5 to 8 are in a state of being synchronized by the synchronization signal supplied from the external synchronization signal generator 15. The video signal of the first screen shot by the first camera 5 is converted into digital video data by the first A / D converter 22, and the digital video data of the central portion of the first screen 1 is converted by the memory controller. It is written in the first memory 27. Similarly, the second
The video signals of the central portions of the screen 2, the third screen 3, and the fourth screen 4 are converted into digital signals, and the second to fourth memories 2
Written 8 to 30. The digital video data written in the memories 27 to 30 is stored in the memory controller 26.
Is read at the timing when the composite screen is displayed. The read digital video data is converted into an analog video signal by the D / A converter 31, and is displayed on the TV monitor 20 as a composite both sides.

[0007]

Generally, in the configuration of a conventional analog image synthesizing apparatus, since video signals having exactly the same sync signal are switched by an analog video switch, for example, a video captured by the first camera 5 is used. And the right half of
Although it is possible to display the left half of the image captured by the second camera 6 on the TV monitor 20 as a composite double-sided image, the central portion of the image captured by the first camera 5 and the image captured by the second camera 6 can be displayed. There is a problem in that the overlapping portion of the image captured by the first camera 5 and the image captured by the second camera 6, such as the central portion, cannot be displayed on the TV monitor 20 as a composite screen.

Further, in the configuration of the conventional digital image synthesizing apparatus, the images captured by the cameras 5 to 8 are A /
By storing the digital video data in the memories 27 to 30 by the D converters 22 to 25, it is possible to display the video of an arbitrary portion on the TV monitor 20 as a composite screen, but it is usually compatible with video input. A / D
Since the converter and the memory are required, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image synthesizing device capable of cutting out an image of an arbitrary part of the screen while displaying an image from a video camera as an analog signal and displaying the image as a composite screen on a TV monitor. To do.

[0010]

According to the present invention, by shifting a synchronizing signal supplied to each camera, an image of an arbitrary part of the screen is cut out while the image signal is in the state of an analog video signal, and a composite screen is displayed. Is displayed on a TV monitor.

According to the present invention, an arbitrary portion of the video signal from each camera can be displayed on the TV monitor as a composite screen in the state of the analog video signal.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention shifts the sync signal supplied to each camera, and switches the video signal from the master camera and the sync signal of the monitor display screen with an analog video switch. The image from the camera is an analog signal, and the image of an arbitrary part can be cut out and made into a composite two-sided image.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image synthesizing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is the first screen captured by the first camera 5, 2 is the second screen captured by the second camera 6, 3 is the third screen captured by the third camera 7, and 4 is the fourth camera 8. 4th screen captured, 10 is the first
A first switch for switching analog video signals of the camera 5 and the second camera 6, a second switch 11 for switching analog video signals of the third camera 7 and the fourth camera 8,
Reference numeral 12 is a third switch for switching analog video signals from the first switch 10 and second switch 11, and 13 is a fourth switch for switching analog video signals from the third switch 12 and synchronization signals from the reference synchronization signal generator 19. A switch, 9 is a changeover switch controller for controlling the changeover timing of the first to fourth switches 10 to 13, 1
5 is a first sync signal generator for supplying a sync signal to the first camera 5, 16 is a second sync signal generator for supplying a sync signal to the second camera 6, and 17 is a sync signal for the third camera 7. Third synchronization signal generator, 18 is a fourth synchronization signal generator for supplying a synchronization signal to the fourth camera 8, 14 is a synchronization signal controller for controlling the first to fourth external synchronization signal generators 15-18, 20 Is a TV monitor that displays a divided and combined image.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of the image synthesizing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
(1) is the base horizontal sync signal, (2) is the horizontal sync signal of the first and third cameras 5, 7, and (3) is the second and fourth cameras 6, 6.
8 horizontal sync signals, (4) first and second switches 5, 6
Switching control signal, (5) reference vertical sync signal, (6)
Is the timing of the first and second cameras 5 and 6 vertical synchronization signals, (7) is the timing of the third and fourth cameras 7 and 8 vertical synchronization signals, and (8) is the timing of the third switch 12 switching control signal.

A reference synchronizing signal generator 19 outputs a synchronizing signal composed of a reference horizontal synchronizing signal (1) and a reference vertical synchronizing signal (5). The synchronizing signal is generated by a first external synchronizing signal generator 15 as first and second synchronizing signals. The second external synchronization signal generator 16 adds the second and fourth camera horizontal synchronization signals (3) to the synchronization signal composed of the three-camera horizontal synchronization signal (2) and the first and second camera vertical synchronization signals (6). The third external sync signal generator 1 is added to the sync signal composed of the first and second camera vertical sync signals (6).
7, the first and third camera horizontal synchronization signals (2), the third,
The 4th camera vertical synchronization signal (7) is synchronized with the synchronization signal composed of the 4th camera vertical synchronization signal (7) by the 4th external synchronization signal generator 18 and the 3rd and 4th camera vertical synchronization signal (7).
Is supplied to the external synchronization input terminal of each camera with the timing shifted.

The first screen 1 photographed by the first camera 5 and the second screen 2 photographed by the second camera 6 are the first switch 1
By 0, switching is performed at the timing of the first and second switch control signals (4), and the left and right quarters are cut and output as a signal obtained by combining two screens.

The third screen 3 photographed by the third camera 7 and the fourth screen 4 photographed by the fourth camera 8 have the second switch 1
1, the signal is switched at the timing of the first and second switch control signals (4), and the left and right quarters are cut and output as a signal obtained by combining two screens.

The composite screen of the first and second cameras 5 and 6 and the composite screen of the third and fourth cameras 7 and 8 are displayed on the third switch 12.
Is switched at the timing of the third switch control signal (8) and is output as a signal obtained by cutting the upper and lower 1/4 and combining four screens. The fourth switch 13 outputs the synchronization signal from the reference synchronization signal generator 19. Mix and TV monitor 2
0 is displayed as a four-division composite screen in which the central part of the images of the cameras 5 to 8 is cut out.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image synthesizing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second mode shows an example in which the screen is divided into two.

The synchronization signal output from the reference synchronization signal generator 19 is shifted in timing by the first external synchronization signal generator 15 and is input to the external synchronization input terminal of the first camera 5.
The timing is shifted by the second external synchronization signal generator 16 and supplied to the external synchronization input terminal of the second camera 6.
The first screen 1 shot by the first camera 5 and the second screen 2 shot by the second camera 6 are output as a signal obtained by cutting the upper and lower quarters by the first switch 10 and combining the two screens. On the combined screen of the first and second cameras 5 and 6, the synchronization signals from the reference synchronization signal generator 19 are mixed by the fourth switch 13, and the TV monitor 20 displays the images of the first and second cameras 5 and 6. It is displayed as a two-division composite screen with the upper and lower quarters cut.

In the above description, the upper and lower quarters of the two images are cut to form a two-divided composite screen, but other than that, the changeover switch controller 9 and the sync signal controller 14 have the same configuration. It is also possible to cut the left and right quarters of the two images to form a two-division composite screen by changing the control timing of.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image synthesizing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The synchronization signal output from the reference synchronization signal generator 19 is shifted in timing by the first to fourth external synchronization signal generators 15 to 18 controlled in real time by the CPU 21 and the external synchronization input of each camera is performed. Supplied to the terminal.

The first screen 1 taken by the first camera 5 and the second screen 2 taken by the second camera 6 are the first switch 1
When it is 0, an arbitrary part on the left and right is cut and output as a signal obtained by combining two screens.

The third screen 3 photographed by the third camera 7 and the fourth screen 4 photographed by the fourth camera 8 have the second switch 1
By 1, the left and right arbitrary parts are cut and output as a signal obtained by combining two screens.

The composite screen of the first and second cameras 5 and 6 and the composite screen of the third and fourth cameras 7 and 8 are displayed on the third switch 12.
Is output as a signal obtained by cutting an arbitrary portion above and below and synthesizing four screens, and the fourth switch 13 mixes the sync signal from the reference sync signal device 19 and the TV monitor 20 displays the video of each camera 5-8. It is displayed as a four-division composite screen with any part cut out.

In the above description, an example in which the images from the four cameras are used as the four-division composite screen has been described. However, in addition to this, a plurality of external sync signal generators and analog video switches are used to provide a plurality of images. It is also possible to similarly set an arbitrary portion of the image from the camera as the divided addition screen.

[0028]

According to the present invention, it is possible to cut out an image of an arbitrary portion of the screen and display it as a composite screen on a TV monitor while the video signals from a plurality of cameras remain in the state of analog video signals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image composition device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of the image synthesizing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image composition device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an image synthesizing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional analog image synthesizing device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional digital image synthesizing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 1st camera 6 2nd camera 7 3rd camera 8 4th camera 9 Changeover switch controller 14 Sync signal controller 15 1st external synchronization signal generator 16 2nd external synchronization signal generator 17 Third external synchronization signal generator 18 4th external synchronization signal generator 19 Reference synchronization signal generator

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of external synchronizing signal generators are used to shift the synchronizing signals supplied to each of a plurality of cameras for photographing a subject, and the video signals from the cameras and the synchronizing signals on both sides of a monitor display are analog video switches. An image synthesizing device having a function of switching by.