JP2006084999A - Af-area control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an AF-area control system, capable of reducing burdens on a cameraman by constituting so that an operator (video engineer etc.) other than the cameraman can control an AF area as a range to be AF among imaging ranges of a camera, and also, capable of appropriately controlling the AF area, even when the photographer has no time to control the AF area, because the photographer is busy performing other camera controls. <P>SOLUTION: A camera control unit (CCU) 20, installed inside an auxiliary studio control room, is connected to a camera head 12 for a television camera 10 installed on a studio floor, and also, an AF-area control part 24 for controlling the position of the AF area, etc., is connected via the CCU 20. Thus, video engineers in the auxiliary studio control room can control the operations in the AF area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an AF area operation system, and more particularly to an AF area operation system that operates the position of an AF area that is a target range of autofocus (AF) in an imaging range of a camera.

  In an imaging system that converts an image of a subject into an electrical signal (image signal) using a photographing element (CCD or the like) like a television camera, a contrast method is generally employed as an autofocus (hereinafter referred to as AF) method. . The contrast method is best by detecting the contrast of the subject image from the image signal (video signal) of the subject image captured by the image sensor and controlling the focus (focus lens) of the photographing lens so that the contrast becomes the highest. This is a method of automatically focusing in the focused state.

  In contrast AF, the entire subject within the imaging range of the camera, that is, the subject that effectively captures the image formed by the optical system or the subject image range is not subject to AF. In many cases, only a subject in a part of the range is targeted. For example, out of the image signals of the subject image effectively captured by the image sensor, an image signal in a predetermined range that is a target of AF is extracted, and the contrast of the image becomes the highest based on the image signal in the extracted range. So that the focus is controlled. As a result, the AF target is limited to a subject within a certain range. In this specification, an AF target range is referred to as an AF area, and a frame indicating the range of the AF area (an outline of the AF area) is referred to as an AF frame.

When a single AF area is fixed at a predetermined position within the imaging range, a rectangular AF area is generally set at the center of the imaging range. There is also known one in which the area can be changed to a desired position (for example, see Patent Document 1). As a method for specifying the position of the AF area, for example, a joystick or a trackball of a predetermined AF area operation unit is operated to move the AF area up and down, left and right with respect to the imaging range. The method of moving to the position is used.
JP 2002-365519 A

  Conventionally, the AF area operation unit as described above is configured integrally with a controller mechanism such as a focus demand, and is often operated by a cameraman at hand. However, in scenes where the subject moves frequently on the screen, the cameraman cannot afford to perform general camera operations (operations such as camera pan / tilt and zooming), so the cameraman must operate the AF area. Had the problem that it was virtually impossible.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an AF area operation system in which an operator other than a cameraman can operate an AF area.

  In order to achieve the above object, the AF area operation system according to claim 1 is an AF area operation system that performs an operation related to an AF area that is an autofocus target range in a camera imaging range. An AF area operation unit that accepts an operation for changing the camera, and a camera control unit connected to the camera via a predetermined signal transmission unit, based on the operation accepted by the AF area operation unit A camera control unit that transmits AF area information for changing the range of the AF area to the camera, and an autofocus unit that controls the focus of the optical system of the camera to focus on a subject in the AF area. , AF area transmitted from the camera control unit to the camera To obtain information, and characterized in that and a automatic focusing means for changing the range of the AF area based on the AF area information. According to the present invention, since the AF area operation unit for operating the AF area is connected to the camera via a camera control unit connected by a cable or the like, remote operation is possible, and an operator other than a cameraman, For example, a video engineer who performs camera adjustment in the sub adjustment room or the like can operate the AF area. Therefore, the cameraman can concentrate on other camera operations, and can appropriately operate the AF area even when there is no room to operate the AF area for other camera operations.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, the AF area range can be changed by changing any one of the position, size, and shape of the AF area in the imaging range. It is characterized by being. Elements that determine the range of the AF area include, for example, the position, size, and shape of the AF area.

  The AF area operation system according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera includes a camera head to which the camera control unit is connected, and a lens that is detachably attached to the camera head. The auto focus means is provided in the lens device, and acquires the AF area information from the camera control unit via the camera head. The present invention shows one embodiment of a camera configuration.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first, second, or third aspect, the camera includes an image captured by the camera and information indicating a range of the AF area. And a means for outputting a video signal obtained by synthesizing to the viewfinder. According to the present invention, a cameraman who is directly operating the camera can check information (AF frame or the like) indicating the range of the AF area displayed on the viewfinder, and the AF area operator can focus by AF. The subject to be matched can be recognized.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first, second, or third aspect, the camera control unit indicates an image captured by the camera and a range of the AF area. Means is provided for outputting a video signal obtained by combining information to a monitor. According to the present invention, an operator who operates the AF area can operate the AF area while checking the range of the AF area while looking at the monitor connected to the camera control unit.

  According to the AF area operation system according to the present invention, an operator other than the cameraman can operate the AF area, so that the burden on the cameraman is reduced and the cameraman has no room for general camerawork operation. Even so, the AF area can be appropriately operated.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an AF area operation system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a television camera system in which an AF area operation system according to the present invention is constructed. The television camera system shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a television camera 10, a viewfinder 18, a camera control unit (CCU) 20, a camera control panel 22, a monitor 26, and the like.

  The TV camera 10 (hereinafter referred to as the camera 10) includes a camera head 12 and a lens device 14 that is detachably attached to the camera head 12. The camera head 12 and the lens device 14 are mounted on a pedestal (such as a pedestrian). Placed on the studio floor where, for example, shooting is performed. In addition, a viewfinder (display device) 18 on which the cameraman confirms a shooting composition and the like is installed on the upper part of the camera head 12 and the like.

  The lens device 14 includes an optical system (photographing lens) that forms a subject image and a control system that drives and controls the focus (focus lens), zoom (zoom lens), and diaphragm of the optical system. The camera head 12 is equipped with an image pickup device such as a CCD and a signal processing circuit, and a subject image formed by the optical system of the lens device 14 is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal by the image pickup device of the camera head 12 to be a signal. Necessary processing is performed by the processing circuit.

  The viewfinder 18 is supplied with a video signal of a video to be displayed on the screen from the camera head 12, for example, a video signal of a video currently being shot. As a result, the image being captured by the camera 10 is displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 18. The cameraman can perform a pan / tilt operation, a focus operation, a zoom operation, and the like of the camera 10 while viewing a video of the viewfinder 18 so as to obtain a desired shooting composition.

  It should be noted that operations such as focusing and zooming of the lens device 14 can be performed by a cameraman on the studio floor operating a predetermined controller. A frame 54 shown in the viewfinder 18 indicates an AF frame that is displayed on the screen together with the captured image during autofocus (AF), as will be described later. The AF frame 54 is an AF target range. The outline of the AF area is shown.

  On the other hand, the CCU 20, the camera control panel 22, and the monitor 26 are arranged, for example, in a sub-adjustment room at a place different from the studio floor. There is an operator called a VE (video engineer) in the sub adjustment room, and the VE performs predetermined camera adjustment of the camera 10 together with other cameras.

  The CCU 20 is connected to the camera head 12 by a signal transmission means such as a cable, and is a device that supplies power to the camera head 12, controls the camera head 12, takes in a video signal from the camera head 12, and the like. A camera control panel 22 is connected to the CCU 20 with a cable or the like, and operation members such as adjustment knobs and switches for the VE to perform various operations relating to camera adjustment are arranged on the camera control panel 22. In addition, an AF area operation unit 24 for performing operations related to AF described later is integrally provided.

  On the monitor 26, the video signal of the video imaged by the camera head 12 is given from the camera head 12 via the CCU 20, and the video image currently captured by the camera 10 is displayed as in the viewfinder 18. It has become so. As a result, the VE can adjust the camera by operating various operation members of the camera control panel 22 while viewing the video on the monitor 26. A frame 54 shown on the monitor 26 indicates an AF frame that is displayed on the screen together with the captured image during AF, as with the viewfinder 18.

  Next, the operation of the AF area in the television camera system will be described. As described above, the AF area operation unit 24 is provided on the camera control panel 22 disposed in the sub adjustment chamber. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation panel 40 of the AF area operation unit. In the operation panel 40 shown in the figure, an AF mode switch 42 is a slide switch that can be switched to three states, and sets a mode related to focus control of the photographing lens of the lens device 14. When the AF mode switch 42 is set to the left side, an AF off mode is set to completely turn off autofocus (AF) for controlling the focus of the taking lens and automatically focusing. When the AF mode switch 42 is set to the center, the momentary AF mode in which AF is executed only while the AF start switch 44 of the operation panel 40 is turned on is set. When the AF mode switch 42 is set to the right side, the continuous AF mode in which AF is continuously executed is set. Even when AF is being executed in the momentary AF mode or the continuous AF mode, when a cameraman or the like performs a manual operation for driving the focus with the controller, the manual operation is given priority and the focus is driven. The

  Thus, the mode information regarding the focus control set by the AF mode switch 42 is output from the camera control panel 22 to the CCU 20 and transmitted from the CCU 20 to the camera head 12. Then, it is given from the camera head 12 to the control system of the lens device 14. The control system of the lens device 14 performs focus control according to the mode information.

  Here, the outline of the AF control in the lens device 14 will be described. The lens device 14 acquires a video signal of a video currently captured by the camera head 12 from the camera head 12, and uses a contrast method based on the video signal. The focus of the taking lens is set to the in-focus state by AF. The lens device 14 is provided with an AF image sensor, and the same image as the image captured by the image sensor of the camera head 12 is captured by the AF image sensor and obtained from the AF image sensor. The AF may be performed based on the above.

  Contrast AF is well known. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the lens apparatus 14 has a focus information detection unit 16 that detects focus information (focus evaluation value information) based on a video signal acquired from the camera head 12. The focus information detection unit 16 is mounted, and the high frequency component in the range corresponding to the AF area set in the imaging range of the camera 10 is extracted from the video signal by extracting the high frequency component signal from the video signal. The component signal is extracted by a gate circuit. Then, the signals in the AF area are integrated by an adding circuit for each field (one screen). The integrated value obtained in this way is a focus evaluation value indicating the magnitude of the contrast of the subject image in the AF area, and the focus is brought into focus by controlling the focus so that the focus evaluation value is maximized. Is set.

  In FIG. 2, an AF speed knob 46 is an adjustment knob that adjusts the speed at which the focus is moved during execution of AF, and the focus speed is adjusted with respect to the standard speed by adjusting the rotational position of the adjustment knob. Be able to. The speed information is also given to the lens device 14 via the CCU 20 and the camera head 12 in the same manner as the mode information.

  In FIG. 2, an AF area position operation joystick 48 (hereinafter simply referred to as a joystick 48) can be operated (tilted) up and down (front and rear) and left and right, and the AF target range corresponds to the operation direction. The position of the area moves up, down, left and right within the imaging range.

  For example, the AF area is set as an area within a rectangular AF frame 54 with respect to the imaging range 50 of the camera 10 as shown in FIG. When the joystick 48 is operated, the AF area operation unit 24 determines the position when the AF area position is moved in the direction corresponding to the operation direction of the joystick 48 with respect to the currently set AF area position. The area change position is set, and AF area information indicating the change position is output to the CCU 20. In the AF area operation unit 24 of the present embodiment, only the position of the elements that determine the range of the AF area can be changed, and the size, shape, and the like are determined as a rectangular area having a predetermined size. However, the size and shape of the AF area may be changed by a predetermined operation.

  The AF area information output from the AF area operation unit 24 to the CCU 20 is transmitted from the CCU 20 to the camera head 12 and is given from the camera head 12 to the lens device 14 in the same manner as the mode information and speed information. Then, in the focus information detection unit 16 of the lens device 14, the AF area range in which the video signal is extracted from the video signal of the entire imaging range by the gate circuit is changed according to the AF area information. As a result, the position of the AF area as the AF target range in the imaging range of the camera 10 is changed by operating the joystick 48.

  Further, the video signal output to the viewfinder 18 and the monitor 26 shown in FIG. 1 is combined with the video signal of the AF frame 54 as shown in FIG. 3 based on the AF area information output from the AF area operation unit 24. Information on the currently set AF area is displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 18 or the monitor 26 together with the captured image as an AF frame 54.

  The process of combining the video signal of the captured video and the video signal of the AF frame 54 can be performed within the camera head 12 or can be performed within the CCU 20. When combining within the CCU 20, the combined video signal is transmitted from the CCU 20 to the camera head 12 and output to the viewfinder 18. Information indicating the range of the AF area may be displayed by a method other than the AF frame.

  Since the AF area information is displayed on the viewfinder 18 and the monitor 26 together with the captured image of the camera 10 in this way, the VE in the sub adjustment room operates the joystick 48 of the AF area operation unit 24 while looking at the screen of the monitor 26. Thus, the AF area can be set at a desired position. Also, the cameraman on the studio floor can recognize which position the VE is trying to focus on by using the AF frame 54 displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 18.

  According to the above TV camera system, since the VE can operate the AF area, the cameraman does not need to operate the AF area and can concentrate on other camera operations. Further, even when the cameraman cannot afford to operate the AF area for another camera operation, the VE can appropriately perform the AF area operation.

  As described above, the case where the joystick 48 is used as the operation member for instructing the movement direction of the AF area has been described in the above embodiment, but an operation member such as a trackball or a cross key may be used in addition to the joystick 48.

  The present invention can also be applied to AF other than the contrast method as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a television camera system in which an AF area operation system according to the present invention is constructed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation panel of the AF area operation unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an AF area range in the imaging range.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Television camera, 12 ... Camera head, 14 ... Lens apparatus, 16 ... Focus information detection part, 18 ... Viewfinder, 20 ... Camera control unit, 22 ... Camera control panel, 24 ... AF area operation part, 26 ... Monitor, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 ... Operation panel, 42 ... AF mode switch, 44 ... AF start switch, 46 ... AF speed knob, 48 ... Joystick for AF area position operation, 50 ... Imaging range, 52 ... AF area, 54 ... AF frame

Claims (5)

In an AF area operation system that performs an operation related to an AF area that is an autofocus target range of a camera imaging range,
An AF area operation unit that accepts an operation for changing the range of the AF area;
A camera control unit connected to the camera via a predetermined signal transmission means, wherein the camera receives AF area information for changing the range of the AF area based on an operation received by the AF area operation unit. A camera control unit to send to
Auto focus means for controlling the focus of the optical system of the camera to focus on a subject in the AF area, and acquiring AF area information transmitted from the camera control unit to the camera, and the AF area information Auto focus means for changing the range of the AF area based on
An AF area operation system comprising:   2. The AF area operation system according to claim 1, wherein the change of the AF area range is any one of a position, a size, and a shape of the AF area in the imaging range.   The camera includes a camera head to which the camera control unit is connected, and a lens device that is detachably attached to the camera head. The autofocus unit is provided in the lens device, and the AF area information is The AF area operation system according to claim 1, wherein the AF area operation system is obtained from the camera control unit via the camera head.   The said camera is provided with the means to output the video signal which synthesize | combined the image | video currently image | photographed with the said camera, and the information which shows the range of the said AF area to a viewfinder, or characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. AF area operation system.   The said camera control unit is provided with the means to output the video signal which synthesize | combined the image image | photographed with the said camera, and the information which shows the range of the said AF area to a monitor, Or three AF area operation systems.

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