JPH10320970A - Timecode information generation method and device and recording medium reproduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use even an external equipment by using a conventional facility as it is or slightly changing it so that timecode information can be taken out of reproduction position information even in a digital VTR(video tape recorder) or a nonlinear equipment. SOLUTION: A device has a reproduction position information selection block 13 for selecting either VITC(vertical interval timecode) information or LTC(longitudinal timecode) information by receiving them being reproduced corresponding to image/audio signals that are outputted after they are reproduced from a video tape, a block 17 for setting the number of preceding frames, and a block 17 for setting the number of succeeding frames. It repeatedly generates and outputs timecode information that starts from a small value by the number of preceding frames as compared with reproduction position information and is a larger value by the number of succeeding frames as far as reproduction position information corresponding to the image/audio signals being outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating time code information for generating time code information corresponding to, for example, a time-series signal of video or audio recorded on a recording medium, and for example, an image recorded on a recording medium. The present invention relates to a recording medium reproducing apparatus for outputting a time-series signal of audio and time code information corresponding thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of information indicating a reproduction position on a video tape as an example of a recording medium, a time code signal recorded on a longitudinal time code track (hereinafter referred to as an LTC track) of the video tape is used. (Hereinafter, LT
C signal). Therefore, if the LTC signal reproduced from the LTC track of the video tape is supplied to an external device, the external device can know the reproduction position of the video tape by using the LTC signal. As described above, the LTC signal has been widely used in a conventional video tape recorder (VTR) system, for example, as a method of knowing a reproduction position.

Here, as a method of outputting the reproduction position information of the video tape to the outside, for example, a method of directly outputting the LTC signal reproduced from the video tape to the outside, a method of outputting the LTC signal reproduced from the video tape, To a time code generator (TCG), the time code generator generates a signal having a time code value from the LTC signal, and outputs the output signal to the outside. The latter method is generally called a regenerating method.

For example, in the case of the former method in which the reproduced LTC signal is output to the outside as it is, such as an analog VTR, an external device that receives the reproduced LTC signal, regardless of the playback speed of the video tape, That L
The TC signal can be used as the reproduction position information. In addition, when this method is adopted, an external device can use the LTC signal as reproduction position information even in variable speed reproduction in both forward and reverse directions.

[0005]

On the other hand, in the case of the latter regenerating method, the video signal and the LTC signal due to the speed unevenness at the time of reproduction and the fine adjustment of the servo lock phase at the time of reproduction, which is generally called tracking adjustment, are generated. While it is possible to output an accurate signal without any output phase (timing) shift,
Only the forward direction signal of the standard speed (1 × speed) is generated. Therefore, at the time of variable speed playback in both the forward and reverse directions, the external device
The reproduction position cannot be known as in the case of the former method.

[0006] The reproducing device (including the recording / reproducing device) of the recording medium may have the same value (at low speed) or a discontinuous value (at high speed) when performing such variable speed reproduction in both forward and reverse directions. ) (For example, a so-called D2 format VTR). But,
Many external devices (for example, a time code reader) using the externally output signal often cause a reading error when a continuous signal does not continue for a certain period of time, and thus the practicality is also low in this case.

Furthermore, in particular, in the case of a digital VTR of the type which compresses and records video and audio information, it takes a long time for signal processing during reproduction (processing for reproducing video and audio signals from compressed information). is there. For this purpose, a method may be employed in which the physical position of the video or audio reproducing head is shifted to the front to offset the time required for signal processing. In the case of this method, the timing of the video / audio signal and the LTC signal coincide with each other in the standard speed reproduction (1 × speed reproduction).
In the variable speed reproduction, the reproduction timing for the video / audio reproduction head and the LTC reproduction head is shifted as compared with the case of the standard speed reproduction, which is inconvenient. In most non-linear devices, there is no device capable of recording and reproducing LTC signals in the same manner as video and audio signals on tape.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and has been made in consideration of the above-described digital VTR.
Time code information generating method and apparatus, and recording medium reproducing apparatus which can extract time code information from reproduction position information even in a non-linear device, and can use conventional equipment as it is or with a slight change in an external device. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

According to the present invention, starting from a value smaller by a predetermined value than reproduction position information reproduced in response to a time-series signal reproduced and output from a recording medium, The above-described problem is solved by repeatedly generating and outputting time code information up to a value larger by a preset value unless the reproduction position information corresponding to the output time-series signal changes.

This is performed at the time of variable speed reproduction including the backward direction from the recording medium at the time of variable speed reproduction, while, at the time of reproduction at the standard speed, the reproduction position information and the time code information are matched.

That is, the present invention provides, for example, a digital VT
The inconvenience of connecting the existing LTC signal interface to R or non-linear equipment is mainly achieved by generating a signal that matches the characteristics of the LTC detector using the existing time code generator, thereby mainly using the playback position during variable speed playback. It aims to reduce the uncertainty of information.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a video tape recorder (VTR) as an example to which a time code information generating method and apparatus and a recording medium reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied.

In FIG. 1, a tape transport (TTP) section 1 controls a video / audio signal as a time-series signal recorded on a video tape and a longitudinal direction of the video tape under the control of a servo control section 2. The longitudinal time code signal (LTC signal) recorded on the time code track (LTC track) is reproduced.
An output signal h from the tape transport unit 1 is video and audio information, and is a video / audio processing / VITC detection unit 3.
Sent to The output signal k from the tape transport unit 1 is LTC information (LTC signal).
It is sent to the TC reading unit 4.

The video / audio processing / VITC detecting section 3 restores and outputs the video and audio signals i from the output signal h, and detects the detected vertical
l time code: vertical blanking period time code)
Outputs information l. When the video and audio signals are compressed and recorded on the video tape, that is, when the video / audio information reproduced from the tape by the tape transport unit 1 is compressed, the video / audio In the processing / VITC detection unit 3, the compressed video
The audio information is expanded to restore a time-series video / audio signal. Further, the reproduction LTC reading section 4 detects and outputs LTC information m from the output signal k.

The time-series video and audio signal i is supplied to a terminal 7
Is output to an external device, and the above-mentioned VITC information 1 and LT
The C information m is sent to the TCG control unit 5.

The TCG controller 5 is a main part of the time code information generator of the present invention, and is based on the information p indicating the tape playback state from the servo controller 2 and the above-mentioned VITC information 1 and LTC information m. , TCG
(Time code generator) A control signal n for the section 6 is generated. This control signal n is TG
The signal p is a signal for controlling a signal (a signal indicating the time code value of the present invention, hereinafter simply referred to as time code information) generated from the C section 6, and the information p indicating the tape playback state is Information indicating the playback speed and the playback direction.

The TCG section 6 generates desired time code information q based on the control signal n.
The time code information q is output to an external device via the terminal 8.

The configuration of each unit in the VTR of FIG. 1 is generally constituted by both software and hardware, but the TCG control unit 5 is constituted by software. Of course, the TGC control unit 5 can be configured by hardware.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the TCG control unit 5 composed of the above software for each function.

In FIG. 2, the reproduction position information selection block 13 includes the LTC information m from the reproduction LTC reading section 4 in FIG. 1 and the video / audio processing / V in FIG.
The VITC information 1 from the ITC detection unit 3 and the information p indicating the tape reproduction state from the servo control unit 2 in FIG. 1 are supplied.

In the reproduction position information selection block 13,
Based on the information p indicating the tape reproduction state from the servo control unit 2, either the LTC information m or the VITC information 1 is selected as the reproduction position information. However, the information required by the external device is position information during tape playback, and if the information is in time code format, it is L
It may be TC information, VITC information, or a CTL signal (control signal recorded on a tape).
Normally, at the speed at which video can be reproduced without noise,
Either information may be used, or LTC information may be used over the entire speed range. In a device such as a non-linear device which is not equipped with a transport section for LTC signal reproduction, VITC information or reproduction position information equivalent thereto is always used.

The information selected in the reproduction position information selection block 13 is sent to a TCG generation value determination block 15. The TCG generation value determination block 15 generates a control signal n corresponding to the selected reproduction position information based on the information p indicating the tape reproduction state.

The control signal n from the TCG control section 5 is sent to the TCG section 6 in FIG.
Generates and outputs the time code information q based on the control signal n.
The control of the TCG unit 6 using the control signal n by the CG control unit 5 specifically operates as described below.

For example, when the tape is in normal speed reproduction (servo locked state at 1 × speed reproduction), the TCG control unit 5 executes time code information for performing the regenerative control as described in the above-mentioned prior art. q is T
The control signal n to be generated from the CG unit 6 is output.

On the other hand, when the tape is not in the normal reproduction mode, the TCG control section 5 first causes the TCG section 6 to generate time code information q having a value smaller by a predetermined number of preceding frames than the reproduction position. Thereafter, the TCG unit 6 is controlled so that the value of the time code information q is increased by one per frame time, and the time code information q having a large value with respect to the reproduction position is generated by a preset number of continuous frames. When the processing is completed, the time code information q having a value smaller by the preset number of preceding frames.
Is generated again, and the TCG unit 6 is controlled so as to repeat the pattern. Thus, the TC
The G control unit 5 controls the reproduction position until at least once, from the time code information q having a smaller value by the preset number of preceding frames to the time code information q having a larger value by the preset number of continuous frames, has been generated. The TCG unit 6 is controlled so that the operation does not change even if the information changes.

The number of preceding frames and the number of continuous frames are both integers equal to or greater than 0, and are determined according to the characteristics of the external device that receives the generated time code information. The number of preceding frames and the number of continuation frames are determined in advance and may be incorporated in software, or may be changed in the middle such as so-called menu item selection. In the example of FIG. 2, the information on the number of preceding frames is set in advance in the preceding frame number setting block 16, and the information on the number of continuous frames is set in the continuing frame number setting block 1.
7 is set in advance. When both the number of preceding frames and the number of continuous frames are 0, the same result as in the regenerate control is obtained.

FIG. 3 shows the reproduction position information (VITC information or reproduction LTC information) determined by the TCG control section 5 shown in FIG.
The TCG output generated from the CG unit 6, that is, the time code information q is shown. FIG. 3A shows reproduction position information (VITC information or reproduction LTC information) and TCG output (time code information q) during standard speed reproduction (1 × speed reproduction).
Similarly, FIG. 3B shows the reproduction position information and the value of the TCG output at the time of low-speed reproduction, and FIG. 3C shows the reproduction position information and the value of the TCG output at the time of high-speed reproduction. And FIG.
(D) shows reproduction position information and TC at the time of low-speed reverse reproduction.
The value of the G output is shown.

From FIG. 3A, at the time of the standard speed reproduction, the regenerative control similar to the prior art is performed, and the value of the reproduction position information and the value generated from the TCG unit 6 (the time based on the control signal n) The code information q) matches.

On the other hand, at the time of low-speed reproduction shown in FIG. 3B, time code information q having the above-described pattern value is generated based on the read latest position information.
That is, the time code information q is generated in the pattern described as the operation when the tape is not in the normal reproduction mode. In the example of FIG. 3B, the number of preceding frames set in advance = 1, the number of continuous frames set in advance = 1, and therefore, the reproduction position information (VITC information or reproduction LTC information) When the value is, for example, 0, first, the time code information (that is, TCG output = −) having a value smaller by a preset number of preceding frames (ie, 1).
1), and thereafter control is performed so that the value of the time code information is increased by 1 per one frame time (that is, T
If the CG output = 0, 1) and the generation of the time code information (ie, 1) having a large value with respect to the reproduction position by the preset number of continuous frames (ie, 1) is completed, the above-mentioned preset value is set. Number of preceding frames (ie 1)
The time code information of a smaller value (that is, TCG output = -1) is generated again. Also, the reproduction position information (VI
When the value of the TC information or the reproduction LTC information is, for example, 2, first, the time code information (ie, TCG) having a value smaller by a preset number of preceding frames (ie, 1).
Output = 1), and thereafter, control is performed so that the value of the time code information is increased by one per frame time (that is, TCG output = 2, 3), and only a predetermined number of continuous frames (that is, 1) When the generation of the time code information having a large value (ie, 3) with respect to the reproduction position is completed, the time code information having a value smaller by the preset number of preceding frames (ie, 1) (ie, TCG).
Output = 1) is generated again, and the above operation is repeated.

At the time of high-speed reproduction shown in FIG.
Since the TCG unit 6 can only generate time code information at the time of standard speed reproduction, and in this example, it takes three frames to generate a signal of one pattern, the reproduction position information that can be generated is discrete. But within the pattern,
Since the values are continuous, they can be read by an LTC detector (LTC reader) usually provided in the external device.

At the time of low-speed reverse reproduction shown in FIG.
Although the reproduction position information has a value that decreases in reverse to that at the time of low-speed reproduction (at the time of low-speed reproduction in the forward direction), the generation of the time code information q is performed in a similar manner, and the generated time code information q is a Is the same.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of generating the control signal n in the TCG control section 5 of FIG. 2 and generating the time code information q in the TCG section 6 based on the control signal n.

In FIG. 4, first, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not the tape playback state is a normal playback state, that is, standard speed playback, based on the information p indicating the tape playback state from the servo control unit 2. Do. If it is determined in step ST1 that the reproduction state is the normal reproduction state (Y), as shown in step ST4, a control generally called regenerative control, that is, a TCG generation value (time code information q) is changed. A process for matching the playback position information is performed. However, before performing the process in step ST4, in step ST3, the initialization flag is set to 0, and
Prepare for the transition to variable speed playback.

On the other hand, in step ST1, if the information p indicating the tape reproduction state indicates variable speed reproduction (N), the time code information generation processing in the pattern of the above-described embodiment is performed. .

Immediately after the transition to the variable speed reproduction, it is first determined in step ST2 whether or not the initialization flag is 0, and when it is 0 (Y), the initialization is executed.

As for the contents of the execution of the initialization processing, first, in step ST5, the initialization flag is set to 1 and then in step S5.
At T8, the repetition flag = 0, the center value = reproduction position information,
Start point value = reproduction position information-previous frame number, end point value = reproduction position information + continuation frame number, and T = start point value.

The number of preceding frames and the number of continuation frames used here are set to appropriate numerical values of 0 or more in accordance with the generated time code information q and the characteristics of the external device that receives it. When both are set to 0, the same processing as the regenerative control is performed.

On the other hand, in the processing after the next time, if it is determined in step ST2 that the initialization flag is not "0", the path follows the path of (N).

If it is determined in step ST2 that the initialization flag is not 0 (N), the repetition flag is 0 until the continuous time code information from the start point value to the end point value is generated once. It is determined that the repetition flag is not 1, and the variable T is incremented each time in step ST9.

The variable T changed in step ST9
In step ST10, it is checked whether the value is larger than the end point value. If the value exceeds the end point value (Y), the variable T is rewritten to the start point value in step ST11, and at the same time, the repetition flag = 1 and Become.

When the processing is completed, step ST1
The time code information having the same value as the variable T in 2 is TCG
Generated and output by unit 6.

On the other hand, after the end point value is generated at least once, the repetition flag is set to "1", so that the flow branches to the Y side in step ST6. Then, step ST7
Then, the current playback position information is compared with the center value which is the value being generated. If they are different (N), the latest playback position information is adopted as the new center value in step ST8, and the time code information of the new pattern is obtained. Begins to occur.

The arithmetic code for the variable T in the flowchart of FIG. 4 indicates a time code type operation. For example, as processing, (+1) in (T = T + 1)
Means the next value in the time code format. For example, T = 00: 59: 59: 29 (NTS
C), T + 1 = 01: 00: 00: 00
become.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a means for detecting a reproduction position with an LTC signal even in the above-described digital VTR and non-linear equipment, and to use conventional equipment as it is. Or it can be used with some changes. In the embodiment, a VTR is taken as an example. However, since it is only necessary to extract appropriate position information in the form of time code information, a device such as a disk recorder is not selected.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, a value smaller than the reproduction position information reproduced corresponding to the output time-series signal by the first set value set in advance. , And repeatedly outputs time code information up to a value larger by a preset second set value as long as the reproduction position information corresponding to the output time-series signal does not change.
Also, even in a non-linear device, time code information can be extracted from the reproduction position information, and the external device can use the conventional equipment as it is or with a slight change.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital VTR according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram used for describing the function of a TCG control unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram used to explain the relationship between playback position information (VITC information or playback LTC information) and time code information.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a control signal generation and time code information generation operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tape transport section, 2 servo control section, 3 video / audio processing / VITC detection section, 4
Playback LTC reading unit, 5 TCG control unit,
6 TCG section, 13 playback position information selection block,
15 TCG generation value determination block, 16 preceding frame number setting block, 17 continuous frame number setting block

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Starting from a value smaller than a reproduction position information reproduced from a recording medium by a first set value corresponding to a time series signal reproduced and output from a recording medium, Time code information generation means for repeatedly generating and outputting time code information up to a value larger by a set second set value as long as the reproduction position information corresponding to the output time-series signal does not change; Method. 2. The time code information generating method according to claim 1, wherein when the time-series signal is reproduced from the recording medium at a standard speed, the time code information is made coincident with the reproduction position information. 3. Receiving means for receiving reproduction position information reproduced from the recording medium in response to a time-series signal reproduced and output from the recording medium; and a first set value and a second set value set in advance. Storage means for storing the set value of the time code information, and the time code information starting from a value smaller than the reproduction position information by the first set value and increasing to a value larger by the second set value, A time code information output means for repeatedly generating and outputting the same as long as the reproduction position information corresponding to the sequence signal does not change. 4. The receiving means also receives information indicating a reproduction state of the time-series signal from the recording medium, and the time code information output means outputs information indicating the reproduction state from the recording medium. 4. The time code information generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when indicating that the sequence signal has been reproduced at the standard speed, the time code information is made to coincide with the reproduction position information. 5. A reproducing unit for reproducing at least a time-series signal recorded on a recording medium and position information recorded corresponding to the time-series signal, wherein the reproducing unit reproduces the time-series signal from the recording medium. Time-series signal output means for outputting a time-series signal, and detection means for detecting position information reproduced from the recording medium in response to the time-series signal output from the time-series signal output means. Storage means for storing the first set value and the second set value, starting from a value smaller than the reproduced position information by the first set value, to a value larger by the second set value. A time code information output means for repeatedly generating and outputting the time code information as long as the position information reproduced corresponding to the output time-series signal does not change. Raw devices. 6. The reproduction means outputs information indicating a reproduction state of the time-series signal from the recording medium, and the time code information output means outputs information indicating the reproduction state in a time-series form from the recording medium. 6. The recording medium reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when indicating that the signal has been reproduced at a standard speed, the time code information is made coincident with the reproduction position information.