JP2000083189A - Programmable television camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a programmable television camera system that facilitates constitution and modification of the function of respective devices by turning the functions of the respective devices provided in the television camera system to softwares, providing the plural functions of the softwares of the respective devices and selecting and controlling the softwares by a computer. SOLUTION: A lens control means 5, a photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means 4, a video signal recording means 3, a video signal editing means 2 and a function editing means 1 constitute this television camera system. System constitution and functions of the respective means provided as plural softwares, that are edited so that the required system constitution and function are selected and controlled by a computer, thus the television camera system provided with the required system constitution and function is realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to various functions of an imaging lens control, video signal processing, video signal recording, video signal editing, and system control provided in a television camera system. A television camera system having a plurality of software and various software of various functions is selected and set in the whole or a part of the television camera system according to the imaging purpose, and has a required function corresponding to the imaging purpose. The present invention relates to a programmable television camera system that can be configured or reconfigured.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a television camera system includes a high-sensitivity television camera system for imaging a subject under low illuminance, for example, according to the purpose and application of imaging, and a high-definition image of the subject in detail And high-definition television camera systems. For example, there are broadcast television camera systems, commercial television camera systems, general-purpose television camera systems, stationary television camera systems, and portable television camera systems. Devices constituting a television camera system, added functions, performances, and the like have been designed and manufactured differently according to purposes and applications, and have been used. Some of these television camera systems are configured to be able to combine the constituent devices to constitute a required television camera system according to the purpose and application.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a television camera system in which a required television camera system is configured by combining the television camera systems. FIG. 5A shows an image pickup lens 2 which takes in light rays from a subject and forms an optical image of the subject.
0, a camera head 2 that photoelectrically converts a subject optical image taken in by the imaging lens 20 into a video signal, performs necessary signal processing on the photoelectrically converted video signal, and outputs a predetermined video signal.
1, a camera unit integrating a predetermined video signal input from the camera head 21 and a camera adapter 22 for performing necessary signal processing for transmitting the predetermined video signal to the camera control unit 23 via a cable and outputting the signal to the cable; A camera control unit that performs required signal processing on a video signal input from a camera unit via a cable, outputs a predetermined video signal to the video recording device 24 and other devices, and performs remote control of a required portion of the camera unit. 23 and camera control unit 23
And a video recording device 24 that records a predetermined video signal input from a recording medium on a recording medium. In this television camera system, one operator performs imaging of a subject and transmission of a video signal on the camera unit side, and one operator performs required remote adjustment of the camera unit on the camera control unit and the video recording device side. In this case, two operators operate to capture an image of a subject and record a video, for example, performing signal processing of a controlled and transmitted video signal and recording the video signal.
FIG. 5B shows a television camera system in which the imaging lens 20, the camera head 21, and the video recording device 24 are combined and reconstructed. This is for recording. As described above, the television camera system can be used by changing the combination of the television camera systems according to the imaging situation.

There are many types of hardware constituting such a television camera system, for example, an imaging lens 20, a camera head 21, a camera adapter 22, a camera control unit 23, and a video recording device 24. For example, the camera head 21 includes a high-sensitivity camera head, a high-speed camera head, an infrared camera head, and the like. The video recording device 24 includes an analog tape recording device,
There are digital tape recording devices, magnetic disk recording devices, magneto-optical disk recording devices, and the like. In addition, there are various types of functions added to hardware. For example, a frequently used portable television camera system is used as hardware such as an imaging lens, a camera head, a camera adapter, a VTR, a VTR adapter, a camera controller, and the like. In this case, the functions of the portable television camera system are determined by the functions of the configured hardware, and are fixed functions.

The functions of the above-mentioned portable television camera system can be changed by exchanging required hardware, but the function change by exchanging the hardware can be performed by changing the hardware, for example, the camera. The function will be changed by replacing the head and camera adapter. Therefore, in a portable television camera system, for example, a high sensitivity television camera system,
If a general-purpose television camera system or high-resolution television camera system is required, at least three
It is necessary to prepare two camera heads. The same applies to other television camera components of the television camera system, and also components of a recording device and an editing device used in the television camera system.

As a further advanced conventional technology, instead of replacing required hardware of a television camera system, a factory for a set value of a function, for example, a basic function, such as a television camera system with a microcomputer, is used. The setting value of the setting, the automatic setting adjustment value at the time of use, the function setting value at the time of use specific to the user are stored in the storage device, and the operation content is set under the control of the microcomputer, or the function setting from the outside There is a television camera system having means for changing the operation content by re-inputting a value. Note that a read-only memory, a random access memory, an IC card, or the like is used as the storage device.

[0007] There is also a communication karaoke system which is not a television camera system but takes out required sound by controlling software instead of replacing required hardware. This communication karaoke system is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a host device 25 for transmitting and providing required voice (song) data selected by a user via a communication line.
And a plurality of terminals 26, 27, and 28 which receive required audio data transmitted via a communication line, restore the required audio data, and output from a speaker. Although the communication karaoke system shown in FIG. 6 describes only the components necessary for the explanation for simplicity of explanation, there are many terminals actually used, and In order to cope with the unexpected situation described above, the terminal sometimes has a built-in storage device for temporarily storing required audio data. In a karaoke system before such a communication karaoke system was developed, a host device 25, a plurality of terminals 26, a terminal 2
7. The terminals 28 function independently of each other. When new audio data is created, the new audio data is recorded on a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk, and a plurality of terminals are distributed using a distribution system such as truck transport. Terminal 26, Terminal 2
7. It was delivered to the terminal 28, and each terminal played a new voice. However, the use of communication means such as a communication karaoke system minimizes the creation of a recording medium and the use of a distribution system, thereby shortening the time for providing new voice data to a terminal. There is.

[0008]

In a television camera system according to the prior art, when a function of the television camera system needs to be changed in accordance with a subject to be imaged, each of the components constituting the system is changed. The system must be reconfigured by selecting the device according to the function. The purpose of the software used in the conventional television camera system is to store an adjustment value based on the use record of each function provided in the television camera system or an assumed adjustment value in a storage device in advance. The adjustment value of each function is set under the control of the microcomputer. Even if the adjustment value of the function can be changed, the function itself cannot be changed. Further, in the conventional television camera system, in order to increase required functions, the number of devices constituting the system must be increased. As the system configuration becomes complicated and multifunctional, the less frequently used functions and system components are used. As a result, there arises a problem that the system becomes large-scale and complicated, the management burden increases, and the operational readiness is impaired. It is also assumed that functions that were not set at the beginning of the system configuration become necessary, such as when a general-purpose television camera system needs to be operated with a high-sensitivity television camera system. Then, even if the frequency of use is low, it is necessary to arrange the components of the high-sensitivity television camera system as a part of the system configuration. If any missing functions still occur, new camera heads and peripherals must be added, and the system must be reconfigured.However, the functions included in the television camera system are constantly being developed as new functions are developed. At the beginning of the system configuration, it is impossible to incorporate functions required in the future.

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the functions of each device provided in the television camera system are used as software, a plurality of software functions of each device are provided, and the software is selected and controlled by a computer. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a programmable television camera system that facilitates the configuration of functions of each device, and that can be easily changed and added.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a programmable television camera system according to the present invention comprises a lens control unit, a photoelectric conversion and video signal processing unit, and a video signal recording unit which constitute a television camera system. , A video signal editing means, a function editing means, and a required system configuration and a function of each of the required means are provided as a plurality of software, and the plurality of software are selected and controlled by a computer. By doing so, the required system configuration and function are edited, and the television camera system having the required system configuration and function is configured.

Further, the programmable television camera system of the present invention comprises a lens control means, a photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, a video signal recording means, a video signal editing means, and a function editing means which constitute the television camera system. The above means are provided, and a required system configuration and a function of each required means are provided as a plurality of software to be displayed as a system configuration block and a function block, and the plurality of software are selected and controlled by a computer. The television camera system is edited as the required system configuration and function and has the required system configuration and function.

The programmable television camera system according to the present invention comprises a lens control means, a photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, a video signal recording means, a video signal editing means, and a function editing means which constitute the television camera system. A plurality of software for displaying the required system configuration and function of each of the required means as a system configuration block and a function block, and selecting and controlling the plurality of software by a computer; A window of a system configuration block and a window of a function block are displayed on a screen and edited as the required system configuration and function by selecting the window to configure the television camera system having the required system configuration and function. It is.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a programmable television camera system according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration in which a programmable television camera system of the present invention is configured for each means for realizing required functions by software. FIG.
, 6 is an imaging lens for taking an optical image of a subject from a subject to be captured into a television camera system;
Is a lens control unit that performs control consistent with control functions such as zooming and focusing of the imaging lens 6, and 4 photoelectrically converts a subject optical image taken in through the imaging lens 6 into a video signal using an imaging device. The required processing, for example, amplification, gamma correction, contour correction, etc., is performed on the obtained video signal, and the photoelectric conversion and the video signal processing means 3 are turned into a predetermined video signal.
A means for recording a video signal, which has been subjected to required processing by the photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means 4, on a recording medium, for example, a video signal recording means such as a video tape recorder, and a video signal recording means 3, Video signal editing means for editing a plurality of recorded videos (signals) into a program;
A lens control unit 5, a photoelectric conversion and video signal processing unit 4, a video signal recording unit 3, and a video signal editing unit 2 for configuring a television camera system, and a plurality of functions possessed by each unit are selected. A function editing means for transmitting and controlling required function software for configuring and editing a television camera system having required functions will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one of the application configurations of the programmable television camera system of the present invention in which required functions by software provided in each means of the configuration shown in FIG. Things. The required functions provided in the respective units shown in FIG. 1 are functions realized by software. Therefore, if the control by the computer is summarized as the required functions, the video signal recording unit 3, the video signal editing unit 2, the function editing The means 1 and the lens control means 5 can be combined into a single video signal processing function means 17. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, by programming the programmable television camera system in advance, the video signal processing function unit 17 as the control unit, the photoelectric conversion and video signal processing unit 4 as the camera unit, and the imaging lens 6 , A television camera system comprising:

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another application configuration of the programmable television camera system of the present invention in which required functions of software provided in each means of the configuration shown in FIG. FIG.
Is a configuration example of the stand-alone operation of the television camera system shown in FIG. If you want to program the programmable television camera system in advance and make it a stationary television camera system,
The video signal processing function unit 17 as a control unit is separated into the function editing unit 1 and the video signal editing unit 2, the video signal recording unit 3 and the lens control unit 5, and the camera unit is photoelectrically converted and processed by the video signal processing unit 4. 6, video signal recording means 3, and lens control means 5. Therefore, when the programmed television camera system is operated outdoors, the camera unit is used separately from the system, but the configuration of the system in this case is similar to a conventional television camera system. When it is necessary to change the functions of the television camera system programmed in advance, if the communication means can be secured, the television camera system incorporating the required functions can be easily reconfigured. It is also possible.

FIG. 4 shows the editing of the required functions by the software provided in the programmable television camera system of the present invention, so that the required functions by the software are programmed in advance as described above. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the operation. The example of function editing shown in FIG. 4 is an example in which a television camera system is configured by combining a plurality of system configuration blocks and function blocks using a window system displayed on a display screen. The state of is shown. The system configuration window 7 shown in FIG. 4 includes, for example, a camera (CAMERA) window,
There is an editor (EDITOR) window etc. (the window can be increased as necessary), for example
In the CAMERA window, a plurality of system configuration blocks 8 for configuring a television camera system having required functions, for example, a camera head (HEAD), a camera adapter (ADP), a video recording device (RECORDER), and a lens (LENS). ) (System configuration blocks in the window can be arbitrarily configured). From a plurality of system configuration blocks 8 in the CAMERA window, a system configuration block for configuring a television camera system having a required function, for example, a lens 11 of the system configuration block (function configuration is shown in an edited state. ), Camera head 12 of the system configuration block (function configuration is shown in an edited state), lens control device 13 of the system configuration block (function configuration is shown in an edited state), system configuration block Camera adapter 14 (shown in a state where the configuration of functions has not been edited yet), video signal editing device 15 of the system configuration block
(The function configuration is shown as not being edited yet) to configure the television camera system.

A plurality of function blocks 10 to be included in each of the selected system configuration blocks are displayed in a function block window 9 (the number of windows is arbitrary according to the number of function blocks to be included). A required function block 10 is selected from a plurality of function blocks 10 displayed in the function block window 9 and is incorporated in a position of the required function block of a system configuration block configured to constitute a television camera system. To For example, in HEAD2 selected as the camera head 12 in the system configuration block 8, GAIN3, AUTO2, GAMMA2, and DTL1 in the function block 10 are selected and function-edited. The function block selected and edited by the camera head 12 is displayed as the function block 10 in the function block window 9, but the company A type B, which is displayed as the function block of the lens 11,
The control 1 and the like of the lens control device 13 are displayed in another window portion of the function block window 9 and are shown in FIG.
I do not see it. In addition, the system functions can be changed during operation of the television camera system, and new functions can be added by software without preparing new hardware. .

In the programmable television camera system of the present invention, the functions of the system configuration can be easily reconfigured. It is possible to reconfigure and implement a required television camera system. Also, since the functions are data of software, if it is necessary to change the function of the television camera system in a remote place, if the communication means for the function change can be secured, a television incorporating the required new functions The camera system can be easily reconfigured. Therefore, when restructuring the system or adding new functions according to the user's usage conditions,
It is possible to reduce the time and cost (package, transportation).

[0019]

According to the present invention, the function of each device provided in the television camera system is used as software, a plurality of software functions of each device are provided, and the software is selected and controlled by a computer. It is possible to provide a programmable television camera system that facilitates the configuration of the functions of the device and that can be easily changed and added.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a programmable television camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an application configuration of the programmable television camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an application configuration of the programmable television camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of editing functions of the programmable television camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a required television camera system obtained by combining the conventional television camera systems.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a communication karaoke.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Function editing means, 2 ... Video signal editing means, 3 ... Video signal recording means, 4 ... Photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, 5
... Lens control means, 6 ... Imaging lens, 7 ... System configuration window, 8 ... System configuration block, 9 ... Function block window, 10 ... Function block, 11 ... Lens of edited system configuration block, 12 ... Edited system Camera heads of the constituent blocks, 13 ... lens control device of the edited system constituent blocks, 14 ... camera adapters of the non-edited system constituent blocks,
Reference numeral 15: a video signal editing device of a system configuration block that has not been edited; 17: video signal processing function means; 20, an imaging lens; 21, a camera head; 22, a camera adapter; 23, a camera control unit; 25 Host device, 26-28 Terminal.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A television camera system comprising lens control means, photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, video signal recording means, video signal editing means, and function editing means. Having the required system configuration and function as a plurality of software, and editing the required system configuration and function by selecting and controlling the plurality of software with a computer; and A programmable television camera system comprising the television camera system having the above configuration. 2. A television camera system comprising at least lens control means, photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, having a required system configuration and function of each means as a plurality of software, A programmable television camera system, wherein the required system configuration and function are edited by selecting and controlling software by a computer, and the television camera system having the required system configuration and function is configured. 3. A television camera system comprising lens control means, photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, video signal recording means, video signal editing means, and function editing means. The required system configuration and functions are provided as a plurality of software to be displayed as system configuration blocks and function blocks, and the plurality of software are selected and controlled by a computer to edit the required system configuration and functions as the required system configuration and functions. A programmable television camera system comprising the television camera system having the required system configuration and functions. 4. A television camera system comprising at least a lens control unit, a photoelectric conversion unit and a video signal processing unit, wherein a plurality of required system configurations and functions of the respective units are displayed as system configuration blocks and function blocks. Having the required system configuration and function by selecting and controlling the plurality of software by a computer, and configuring the television camera system having the required system configuration and function. Features a programmable television camera system. 5. A television camera system comprising: lens control means, photoelectric conversion and video signal processing means, video signal recording means, video signal editing means, and function editing means. Having a required system configuration and functions as a plurality of software displayed as a system configuration block and a function block, selecting and controlling the plurality of software by a computer,
A window of a system configuration block and a window of a function block are displayed on a display screen, and selected and edited as the required system configuration and function, thereby configuring the television camera system having the required system configuration and function. A programmable television camera system, characterized in that: