KR100275903B1 - Digital video camcorder capable of photographing and recording moving picture with seeing still picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A digital video CAMCORDER is provided to be capable of taking a still screen while continuing to record a moving picture. CONSTITUTION: A frame memory(28) is placed at an end of a digital video camera and stores taken image data processed after taking a picture through the digital video camera, by a frame unit. A memory controller(26) reads and writes the taken image data from and to the frame memory, by the frame unit, and outputs the taken image data from the digital video camera into a digital video recorder. The memory controller(26) iteratively outputs the still image data of one frame stored in the frame memory. A picture-in-picture controller(36) controls the taken image data and the still image data to make the moving picture be displayed through a display part together with a display part.

Description

DIGITAL VIDEO CAMCORDER CAPABLE OF PHOTOGRAPHING AND RECORDING MOVING PICTURE WITH SEEING STILL PICTURE}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video recording and reproducing apparatus, and more particularly, to a digital video camcorder capable of capturing and recording a moving image even while viewing a still picture.

The camcorder, which is a representative example of a portable image recording and reproducing apparatus, has not only a function of a general video camera that photographs a subject but also a function of a video cassette recorder capable of recording a photographed subject. By using such a camcorder, a user can record a desired subject while recording it on a recording tape while moving, and can reproduce and view a captured image afterwards. During playback, the user may view the recorded image again through a display device such as a view finder and a liquid crystal monitor provided in the camcorder, or may connect and view an external device display device such as a television monitor.

The digital video camcorder consists of a digital video camera and a VCR unit. The digital video camera processes image data captured by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), records it on a tape of a VCR unit, or transfers it to a personal computer (PC). Display on the display.

1 shows a digital video camcorder in which several functions are added to a basic digital video camcorder. Additional features include frequency conversion, stills and digital zoom.

In FIG. 1, the lens unit 2 includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, an aperture, and the like. The zoom lens is a lens that is moved back and forth in the optical axis direction by a zoom motor to enlarge and reduce the magnification of the subject, and the focus lens is a lens that is moved back and forth in the optical axis direction by the focus motor so that the subject is in focus. The aperture is opened and closed by an aperture meter driven by the aperture controller to adjust the incident light amount. The CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 4 converts and outputs the optical signal of the subject passing through the lens unit 2 into an electrical signal (imaging image signal), and the CDS / AGC (Correlated Double Sampling / Auto Gain Control) 6 outputs the captured image signal. Correlated double sampling, automatic gain adjustment, shading correction and potential gamma correction are performed. Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) 8 converts analog signals output from CDS / AGC 6 into digital data. The output of ADC 8 is stored in Frequency Conversion Memory (FCM) 10. The FCM 10 is a memory that stores data to match a difference between a CCD driving clock (eg, 18 MHz) and a digital signal processor (DSP) driving clock (eg, 13.5 MHz). That is, when data is stored in the FCM 10, the data is stored in the CCD driving clock (eg, 18 MHz), and when read, the data is read in the DSP driving clock (eg, 13.5 MHz). The data read out from the FCM 10 is stored in the frame memory 14 under the control of the memory controller 12. The frame memory 14 stores data of one frame size. The data stored in the frame memory 14 is read again by the memory controller 12 and applied to the DSP 6. The DSP 6 processes the video signal of one field output from the memory controller 12 into an NTSC (National Television System Committee) or PAL (Phase Alternation by Line) video signal (Y, C) and outputs it to the digital zoom processor 18. . The digital zoom processing unit 18 is used when a larger magnification for a specific portion is required even after actual zooming is performed by the zoom lens of the lens unit 2. When a larger size is required, a specific portion is enlarged and linear interpolation is performed between pixel data and lines between the specific portions. The image data output from the digital zoom processing unit 18 is applied to the VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) unit 34. In addition, the output image data is displayed on the display unit 21 under the control of the microcomputer system control unit.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, components such as a microcomputer for controlling each unit and a timing generator for generating a timing signal required for operation of each unit under the control of the microcomputer are omitted in order to facilitate understanding of the data path.

In the configuration of FIG. 1, the operation of the memory controller 12 which stores data output to the FCM 10 in the frame memory 14, reads the stored data again, and outputs the data to the DSP 16 will be described below. With the nth field stored in frame memory 14 and the next (n + 1) th field stored in frame memory 14, the next (n + 2) th field is stored in frame memory 14 Output to DSP 6 at the next stage.

As described above, in the conventional digital video camcorder, the frame memory 14 is composed of only a part of the path that passes necessarily in the middle of the signal path, so that the user must select either a continuous picture or a still picture. The memory control unit (also called a steel processing unit) 12 transfers a still image directly to the PC when connected to the PC so that the user can check the still image. Since the memory controller 12 repeatedly reads the data stored in the frame memory 14 and transmits the data to the PC, the still image can be confirmed by the PC. On the other hand, if the user wants to obtain a still image while shooting outdoors, the memory controller 12 repeatedly reads the data stored in the frame memory 14 and displays it on the display device. Accordingly, the user can confirm the still image through the display device provided in the camcorder, but the still image displayed is recorded on the recording tape. In other words, when the user selects the still function, the digital video camcorder records only the still image and stops recording the captured movie.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a digital video camcorder capable of obtaining a still picture while continuing recording of motion pictures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital video camcorder capable of displaying a still image and a currently captured moving image together while continuing to record moving images.

According to the above object, the present invention is a digital video camcorder comprising a digital video camera unit and a digital video recording unit,

A frame memory which is located at the end of the digital video camera unit and stores captured image data processed after the photographing and digitally zoomed by frame unit;

Recording image data is recorded and read out frame by frame in the frame memory. The image data is output to the digital video recording unit by predetermined switching under the control of the shooting still function, and the still image data of one frame stored in the frame memory is repeated. A memory controller for outputting

The picture-in-picture control unit controls the photographed image data and the still image data to display a moving picture and a still picture together on a display unit. Possible digital video camcorders.

1 is a configuration diagram of a digital video camcorder in which several functions are added to a basic digital video camcorder.

2 is a block diagram of a digital video camcorder according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a diagram illustrating a switching connection relationship in a memory controller 12 of FIG. 2;

4 is a timing diagram for configuring a PIP (Picture In Picture) screen;

5 is a block diagram of a PIP screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements in the figures are denoted by the same numerals wherever possible. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram of a digital video camcorder according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components up to lens part 2, CCD 4, CDS / AGC 6, ADC 8, FCM 10 of FIG. 2 perform the same same as the same components of FIG. The DSP 22 and the digital zoom processor 24 of FIG. 2 have the same functions as the DSP 16 and the digital zoom processor 18 of FIG. 1, but the DSP 22 is connected to the FCM 10. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 2, the memory controller 12 and the frame memory 14 existing between the FCM 10 and the DSP 16 of FIG. 1 are referred to as the end of the digital video camera. It is provided between the digital zoom processing unit 24 and the VCR unit 29. This connection configuration is for obtaining a still image while continuing the video recording recording, which is the object of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, the microcomputer 30 generally controls the system. In particular, the microcomputer 30 controls to record and record a moving image while watching a still image implemented in the present invention. The key input unit 32 is a key used to obtain a still picture (hereinafter referred to as a "still key"), and a key used to record a moving picture to tape while viewing a still picture and a moving picture (hereinafter referred to as a "shooting still key"). It is equipped with a number of function keys, including). The timing controller 34 generates various timing signals under the control of the microcomputer 30. The PIP (Picture In Picture) controller 36 controls the still image provided by the switching connection in the memory controller 26 and the video output from the memory controller 26 to be displayed as a PIP image on the display 38 based on the timing signal of the timing generator 36. do. The display unit 38 displays the output of the PIP control unit 36 on the PIP screen. For example, a moving picture is displayed as a mother screen and a still picture is displayed as a child screen.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a switching connection relationship in the memory controller 26 of FIG. 2, and includes three switches 40, 42, and 44. Referring to FIG. 3, a first switch 40 is provided between an output line of the digital zoom processor 24 and an input line of the frame memory 28, and a second switch 42 is provided between the output line of the digital zoom processor 24 and the VCR 29. . One input terminal A of the second switch 42 is connected to the digital zoom processor 24, and a type force terminal B is connected to an output line of the frame memory 28. The third switch 44 is connected between the output line of the frame memory 28 and the PIP control unit 36 of FIG. The first, second and third switches 40, 42 and 44 are switched based on the switching control signal SWC generated by the timing generator 34.

2 and 3, the operation of the memory controller 26 in the case of performing a still image and in the case of obtaining a still image while continuing recording of a moving picture will be described in more detail.

First, if the user wants a general steel function, the user presses a steel key provided in the key input unit 32. Accordingly, the microcomputer 30 controls the timing generator 34 to cause the timing generator 34 to output the switching control signal SWC according to the still function. When the timing generator 34 outputs the switching control signal SWC according to the still function, the first, second, and third switches 40, 42, and 44 of the memory controller 26 are switched as follows. The first switch 40 is "off", the second switch 42 is switched to the B input terminal, and the third switch 44 is "off". As a result, the data recorded by the frame memory 14 is repeatedly output under the control of the memory controller 26. As a result, the still picture data recorded one frame in the frame memory 28 is repeatedly recorded on the tape of the VCR 29. In addition, one frame data repeatedly output from the frame memory 28 is displayed as a still image on the display unit 38 through the PIP control unit 36.

Next, in the case where a still image is obtained while continuing the video shooting recording, the user presses the shooting still key provided in the key input unit 32. In response to the signal corresponding to the shooting still key, the microcomputer 30 controls the timing generator 34 to cause the timing generator 34 to output the switching control signal SWC according to the shooting still function. When the timing generator 34 outputs the switching control signal SWC according to the shooting still function, the first, second, and third switches 40, 42, and 44 of the memory controller 26 are switched as follows. The first switch 40 is "off", the second switch 42 is switched to the A input terminal, and the third switch 44 is "on". Accordingly, the moving picture data output from the digital zoom processing unit 24 is recorded directly on the tape of the VCR unit 29 without passing through the frame memory. The moving picture data is also applied to the PIP control unit 36. The PIP controller 36 receives not only moving image data but also still image data corresponding to one frame repeatedly output from the frame memory 28 under the control of the memory controller 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the PIP controller 36 reads out still image data of one line (comprising 720 pixel data) once over one pixel in response to the read clock / RDCLK. 4, the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 719th pixel data are read. And the PIP control part 36 reads out once over a line. Accordingly, pixel data corresponding to 1/2 of one horizontal line in the horizontal direction of the screen (360: the number of effective pixels) is read out, and vertical line data (480 lines or 576 lines: the number of effective lines) of the screen. The line data (240 lines or 288 lines) corresponding to 1/2 of?) Is read. As a result, 1/4 pixel data is read based on the pixel data of the entire screen. The PIP controller 36 outputs the still image data, which has been reduced to one quarter of the screen area, to the display unit 38 based on the timing signal generated by the timing generator 34, and displays the video data for the remaining 3/4 area. Output to Part 38 Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 38 displays still images in a quarter region of the entire screen and a moving image in the remaining 3/4 regions.

Lastly, the switching state of the switches of the memory controller 12 will be described in the general operation of the digital video camcorder, that is, recording the video on the tape of the VCR 29 and displaying the video on the display 38. When performing a general operation, the first switch 40 is "on", the second switch 42 is switched to the B input terminal, and the third switch 44 is "off". Accordingly, the signal path is formed by the digital zoom processor 24 → memory controller 12 → frame memory 28 → memory controller 12 → VCR 29 and PIP controller.

In the above description of the present invention, specific embodiments have been described, but various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be defined by the described embodiments, but should be defined by the equivalent of claims and claims.

As described above, the present invention has a merit that the memory control unit and the frame memory are located at the end of the digital camera unit, and a plurality of switches are provided therein to switch according to the corresponding mode so that the moving picture can be recorded while watching a still picture. have.

Claims (2)

In the digital video camcorder consisting of a digital video camera unit and a digital video recording unit, A frame memory positioned at an end of the digital video camera unit and storing captured image data processed by the digital video camera unit and then digitally zoomed in frame units; One frame stored in the frame memory is outputted to the frame memory by recording and reading image data in frame units, and outputting the image data from the digital video camera to the digital video recording unit by performing a predetermined switch based on the control of the shooting still function. A memory control unit for repeatedly outputting still image data of And a picture-in-picture control unit for picture-in-picture control of the captured image data and the still image data from the digital video camera unit to display a moving image and a still image together on the display unit of the digital video camera. Digital video camcorder that can record motion picture while watching still image. In the digital video camcorder consisting of a digital video camera unit and a digital video recording unit, A frame memory which is located at the end of the digital video camera unit and stores captured image data processed after the photographing and digitally zoomed by frame unit; A memory controller which records and reads photographic image data in frame units in the frame memory; A display unit for displaying predetermined image data; A first switch located between the frame memory and the memory control unit and switched on / off based on a predetermined switching control; A second switch configured to have a first input terminal in the memory control unit, a second input terminal in the frame memory, an output terminal connected to the digital video recording unit, and selectively switching the first and second input terminals based on a predetermined switching control; , A third switch located between the frame memory and the display unit and switched on / off based on a predetermined switching control; Control unit to control the overall according to the user's still function and shooting still function selection, It is located between the third switch and the display and connected to the output line of the first switch, the image data output from the output line of the first switch and the image data output from the output of the third switch under the control of the controller And a picture-in-picture control unit configured to display picture-in-picture and display the picture together with the display unit.

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