JP2002044504A - Camera controller and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To furthermore reduce expense in time and effort on control in a camera controller. SOLUTION: A control circuit 3 to control camera signal processing circuits is separated from camera signal control circuits 3, 4 being control objects to be mounted on a camera. Thus even when the camera signal processing circuit 4 being the control object is revised, the camera signal processing circuit 4 can be controlled by the same system and the same operating method, and then the expense in time and effort required for the control can furthermore be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera control apparatus and a camera control method, and more particularly to a camera control apparatus and a method suitable for a camera signal processing LSI evaluation system for evaluating a camera signal processing LSI (Large Scale Integration) mounted on a digital camera. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a camera signal processing LSI mounted on a digital camera is manufactured, there is a camera signal processing LSI evaluation system for simulating the manufactured camera signal processing LSI and evaluating the operation state. . This camera signal processing LSI evaluation system connects the camera signal processing LSI to a computer and operates the computer to allow the camera signal processing LSI to operate.
I is simulated, and it is evaluated whether the operation is performed correctly.

[0003]

The camera signal processing LSI includes a camera signal processing unit for performing predetermined data processing on an input image signal and a microcomputer (hereinafter, microcomputer) for controlling the camera signal processing unit. ).

[0004] More specifically, the microcomputer section performs the following processing, that is, each IC constituting a camera signal processing LSI.
(Integrated circuit) for transmitting and receiving data serially, resetting the respective ICs (that is, returning to the initial state), and controlling the respective ICs via a general-purpose port provided in the microcomputer unit. Processing, for example, so-called automatic processing such as auto focus and automatic adjustment of brightness is performed.

In the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system, the camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated is
When a change occurs in the camera signal processing unit of I, the software used in the microcomputer unit is also changed each time the change is made.

At this time, in the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system, the camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated is
Even if a change occurs in the camera signal processing unit of I,
Of the four processings of the microcomputer unit described above, except for the automatic processing, there is almost no need to change the basic part of the software. In this case, the only part of the software of the microcomputer unit that needs to be changed is the number of communication parameters of the camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated, the bit length of each communication parameter, and the like.

However, this conventional camera signal processing L
In the SI evaluation system, every time a change occurs in the camera signal processing unit of the camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated, the hardware of the microcomputer unit, the software used in the microcomputer unit, and the display on the display screen of the computer are displayed. Software for displaying a GUI (Graphical User Interface) must also be changed, and there is a problem that it takes time and effort for evaluation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose a camera control device and a method thereof that can reduce the time and effort required for controlling a camera to be controlled.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a control circuit for controlling the camera signal processing circuit is separated from a camera signal processing circuit mounted on the camera as a control object. With this configuration, even when the camera signal processing circuit to be controlled is changed, the camera signal processing circuit can be controlled with the same system and operation method.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera signal processing LSI (Large Scale Integration) evaluation system as a whole, which controls command information input when a user operates a PC (personal computer) 2 as an operation means. The general-purpose microcomputer board 3 as
The camera signal processing LSI board 4 to be evaluated mounted on the digital camera is evaluated.

That is, in the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system 1, after the user sets the manufactured camera signal processing LSI board 4 at a predetermined position, the PC 2
By operating the general-purpose microcomputer board 3,
The camera signal processing LSI board 4 is operated in a simulated manner, and whether or not the operation is performed correctly is evaluated.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of the PC 2. P
C2 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that sequentially receives operation information obtained by operating the keyboard 10 or the mouse 11 by the user via the interface unit 13 of the PC main body 12 and the I / O (Input and Output) bus 14.
) Notify 15.

The CPU 15 has a ROM (Read Only Memory).
y) Transfer the software stored in 16 to I / O bus 1
4 and read out the software as needed, and expand the read out software in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 17 and store it.

The CPU 15 controls each circuit of the PC 2 by reading and executing the software loaded on the RAM 17. At that time, the CPU 15
Displays a predetermined GUI (graphical user interface) screen on the monitor 18 as necessary. Also H
The DD (hard disk drive) 19 stores general-purpose camera control software used when evaluating the camera signal processing LSI board 4.

The camera signal processing L to be evaluated is
The SI board 4 is prepared in advance with communication specifications relating to the camera signal processing LSI board 4, for example, specifications describing communication methods and the like. When the user operates the keyboard 10 or the mouse 11 based on the specification, the CPU 15 of the PC 2 inputs the communication specification relating to the camera signal processing LSI board 4 and sets the communication specification indicating the input communication specification. A file is created on the RAM 17 in a predetermined format.

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
First, the camera signal processing L from the general-purpose microcomputer substrate 3
In addition to creating a setting file called a control category file that describes the format of data to be transmitted to each IC of the SI board 4, the IC of the general-purpose camera signal processing LSI board 4 is transmitted from the IC to the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 and is transmitted to the general-purpose microcomputer board 3. 3 creates a setting file called a detection category file in which the format of the data received is described.

The general-purpose microcomputer board 3 is provided with a general-purpose port having a plurality of terminals, and can be connected to the camera signal processing LSI board 4 via the general-purpose port. Therefore, the PC 2 creates a setting file for assigning a role to each terminal of the general-purpose port. In other words, the PC 2 assigns a terminal to be used when transmitting and receiving a switching signal for switching the operation state of the camera signal processing LSI board 4.
RESET describing a terminal used when creating a W format file and transmitting and receiving a reset signal for resetting each IC of the camera signal processing LSI board 4
Create a format file.

Next, the PC 2 relates to peripheral devices of the general-purpose microcomputer board 3, such as a method of using a general-purpose port on the general-purpose microcomputer board 3, a method of transmitting / receiving each communication parameter, and an operation setting of a terminal used for transmitting / receiving a reset signal. Create a configuration file called a peripheral configuration format file that describes the format.

The PC 2 further specifies the camera signal processing LSI board 4 to identify the camera signal processing LSI board 4 to be evaluated.
A version information file describing the name of the SI board 4 and the version number of the setting file is created. Thus, the PC 2 transfers the setting file created on the RAM 17 to the HDD 19 and records the setting file on the HDD 19.

In this state, the CPU 15 of the PC 2
When the user performs an operation for evaluating the camera signal processing LSI board 4 using the keyboard 10 or the mouse 11, the general-purpose camera control software and the setting file are read from the HDD 19, and the read general-purpose camera control software and The setting file is expanded and stored in the RAM 17.

The CPU 15 reads out and executes the general-purpose camera control software developed in the RAM 17. Thereby, the CPU 15 displays a GUI screen as shown in FIG. 4, for example, and reads the setting file into the general-purpose camera control software, so that the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 performs the camera signal processing L.
Generates hardware setting information, which is software for executing the evaluation of the SI board 4, and transmits this to the RS232C
To the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 in the format of

The general-purpose microcomputer board 3 transmits the hardware setting information sent from the PC 2 to the
ART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitte)
r: information synchronous transmission / reception circuit) 31 and notifies the CPU 32 of this. The CPU 32 stores this hardware setting information in an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Pr
(grammable ROM) 33 for storage.

The CPU 32 operates on the basis of the software stored in the ROM 34, reads out the hardware setting information stored in the EEPROM 33 as necessary, and stores the read out hardware setting information in the RAM 35.
And store it. Then, the CPU 32
35, read and execute the hardware setting information, and execute SIO / PIO (serial IO / parallel I / O).
O) and by controlling the operation of the camera signal processing LSI board 4 via the terminals 37A to 37F of the general-purpose ports, the operating state of the camera signal processing LSI board 4 is confirmed and evaluated.

The CPU 32 includes an A / D (analog / digital) converter 38 and a general-purpose port terminal 37G.
And is connected to the camera signal processing LSI board 4 via the CPU to transmit and receive predetermined information.

In the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system 1, the camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated is
When the board 4 has been changed, first, the user newly creates a setting file representing the communication specifications relating to the changed camera signal processing LSI board 4. Thereafter, the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system generates the hardware setting information by reading the setting file into the general-purpose camera control software, and sends out the hardware setting information to the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 in the same manner as described above. The changed camera signal processing LSI board 4 is evaluated.

In the above-described configuration, the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system 1 includes a camera signal processing LSI to be evaluated.
Since the SI board 4 and the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 for controlling the camera signal processing LSI board 4 are separated from each other, even when the camera signal processing LSI board 4 to be evaluated is changed, the hardware of the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 is changed. There is no need to change the hardware and software and the general-purpose camera control software running on the PC 2, and the evaluation can be performed with the same system and operation method.

In the camera signal processing LSI evaluation system 1, even when the camera signal processing LSI board 4 to be evaluated is changed, the camera signal processing LSI board 4 and the general-purpose microcomputer board 3 are connected by the same connector. And there is no need to prepare a new connector.

According to the above configuration, the camera signal processing LSI board 4 to be evaluated and the camera signal processing LSI board 4
And a general-purpose microcomputer that operates on the PC 2 even when the camera signal processing LSI substrate 4 to be evaluated is changed, by separating the general-purpose microcomputer substrate 3 from the general-purpose microcomputer substrate 3 that controls the CPU. The evaluation can be performed with the same system and operation method without changing the control software, and thus the time and effort required for the evaluation can be further reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, the instruction information obtained in response to the user operating the PC 2 is executed by the general-purpose microcomputer board 3, and the evaluation of the camera signal processing LSI board 4 is executed. Although the case has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the evaluation of the camera signal processing LSI board 4 is performed by other various camera control devices such as a device in which a PC and a general-purpose microcomputer board are integrated. Is also good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the camera signal processing LSI board 4 mounted on the digital camera is evaluated has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. A camera signal processing circuit mounted on various other cameras may be evaluated.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a control circuit for controlling the camera signal processing circuit is separated from a camera signal processing circuit as a control target mounted on the camera. Even when the camera signal processing circuit to be controlled is changed, the camera signal processing circuit can be controlled with the same system and operation method, and thus the labor required for control can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a PC.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining creation of a setting file;

FIG. 4 GUI of general-purpose camera control software
It is a schematic diagram showing a screen.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a general-purpose microcomputer board.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 …… Camera signal processing LSI evaluation system 2… P
C, 3 ... General-purpose microcomputer board, 4 ... Camera signal processing L
SI board, 10 ... keyboard, 11 ... mouse, 12
... PC main body, 15, 32 ... CPU, 18 ... monitor, 19 ... HDD, 33 ... EEPROM, 37 ...
Terminal.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H054 AA01 5C022 AB02 AB22 AC01 AC11 AC31 AC70 5C061 BB07 BB13 CC01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera control device for controlling a camera signal processing circuit as a control object mounted on a camera, comprising: operating means for generating command information for controlling the camera signal processing circuit in accordance with an external operation; Control means for controlling the camera signal processing circuit based on the command information supplied from the operation means, the control means being constituted by a circuit for controlling the camera signal processing circuit separated from the camera signal processing circuit. Camera control device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation means displays a graphical user interface as a user interface on a display screen, and generates said command information in response to a user's input operation based on said graphical user interface. 1
The camera control device according to item 1. 3. A camera control method for controlling a camera signal processing circuit as a control object mounted on a camera, comprising: generating command information for controlling the camera signal processing circuit in accordance with an external operation by an operation means; The control means, which is a circuit for controlling the camera signal processing circuit separated from the camera signal processing circuit, controls the camera signal processing circuit based on the command information supplied from the operation means. Camera control method. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation means displays a graphical user interface as a user interface on a display screen, and generates the command information in response to a user input operation based on the graphical user interface. 3
2. The camera control method according to 1.