JP2002237983A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video camera having superior operability, and without burdensome wiring. SOLUTION: The video camera 10 is provided with a recording reproducing section 9, that has a function of recording a video signal outputted from imaging means 1, 2 on a recording medium and a function of reproducing the video signal from the recording medium, an SS communication circuit 4 that transmits the video signal recorded on the recording medium or the video signal reproduced from the recording medium to a monitor 25, and a trigger switch 8 that switches the operating state of the recording and reproducing section 9 into the recording state; and when the operating state of the recording and reproducing section 9 is the reproducing state, the SS communication circuit 4 switches its operating state to a transmission state or a transmission stop state, depending on the operation with respect to the trigger switch 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera capable of wireless communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to view video, audio, and the like taken by a VTR-integrated video camera or a video camera, these devices are connected to a television receiver or a monitor display using a cord or the like. Thus, the video was reproduced on the display and the sound was output.

[0003] On the other hand, various techniques have been developed for transmitting and receiving video signals between a plurality of video devices by transmitting the video signals wirelessly.
For example, a technique of transmitting and receiving a video signal and an audio signal using FM-modulated infrared rays has been developed.

[0004]

It is very troublesome for ordinary users to connect a plurality of video devices with a cord or the like as in the prior art. If this is the case, wiring mistakes and the like are likely to occur, and this problem is becoming a more serious problem.

[0005] In addition, since a camera-integrated VTR or the like is usually operated without being connected to other video equipment at the time of shooting, it must be connected to another display equipment only for viewing. No. Moreover, there is a high necessity of performing such operations and viewing at a remote place even during shooting, and the troublesome connection of the cord is one of the drawbacks of this type of camera-integrated VTR.

On the other hand, considering the use of wireless technology, conventional wireless devices are generally provided separately from video equipment. For example, an infrared transmission unit will be prepared separately from the video equipment, and eventually the video equipment will need to be connected to the infrared transmission unit and reception unit. Wiring labor will be improved compared to the past. In other words, the application of this type of equipment to consumer equipment was hampered.

In addition, when an infrared transmitting / receiving unit is used, there are disadvantages such as a shortage of transmitted information, deterioration of information due to viewing or obstruction, limitation of directivity, and short transmission distance. Further, this type of device consumes a large amount of power for transmission, and when a battery mounted on a portable device such as a video camera-integrated VTR is used as a power source, the shooting / recording time is increased due to the increase in power consumption. Becomes shorter.

Further, frequent turning on / off of the power switch of the transmission / reception unit for this purpose is not preferable because the operation at the time of photographing becomes very complicated. Particularly when it is desired to operate the camera-integrated VTR at a remote location, it is practically impossible to turn on / off the power of the transmitting / receiving unit on the camera-integrated VTR.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a video camera which is excellent in operability and does not require complicated wiring.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a video camera having an image pickup means, a function of recording a video signal output from the image pickup means on a recording medium, and a function of reproducing a video signal from the recording medium. Playback means; wireless transmission means for transmitting a video signal recorded on the recording medium or a video signal reproduced from the recording medium to the outside; and a trigger switch for switching an operation state of the recording / reproduction means to a recording state. When the operation state of the recording / reproduction means is the reproduction state, the wireless transmission means switches the operation state of the wireless transmission means to a transmission state or a transmission stop state according to an operation on the trigger switch. .

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 shows a video system including a video camera-integrated VTR 10 and a monitor device 25 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The VTR 10 and the monitor device 25 communicate with each other by a spread spectrum method. Can be given and received. Spread spectrum (SS) transmission / reception circuit 4 and monitor device 2 in camera-integrated VTR 10
The specific configuration of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 22 in 5 is as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, 7 is an antenna for transmission and reception, 31 is a bus selector for switching various modes such as transmission, reception, transmission and reception, 32 is a spread modulation circuit, 33
Is a despreading modulation circuit, 34 is a spreading code generation circuit, 35 is a terminal to which the transmission data modulated by the spreading modulation circuit 32 is input, and 36 is a terminal to output the reception data demodulated by the despreading modulation circuit 33. is there.

In the above-described configuration, when transmitting transmission data such as a video signal and an audio signal, the STR on the VTR 10 side is used.
In the spread modulation circuit 32 in the S transmission / reception circuit 4,
The transmission data is spread-modulated by the code from the spread code generation circuit 34. The spread-modulated data is supplied to the antenna 7 by the bus selector 31 and supplied to the monitor device 25 via the antenna 7. Such a transmission operation is substantially the same when the operation data to be described later is transmitted on the monitor device side.

The data received by the antenna 27 on the monitor device 25 is transmitted to the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 20 on the monitor device 25 side.
Is input to the bus selector 31 in the
Is input to the despreading modulation circuit 33 via Here, the despreading modulation circuit 33 despread modulates the received signal using the code from the spreading code generation circuit 34 to obtain received data. Such a receiving operation is substantially the same when the operation data is received on the VTR 10 side.

[0016] 1 in FIG. 1 is an optical image is condensed, a lens group for imaging on the rear stage of the image pickup element 2, the image pickup element 2 is constituted by a CCD for example, converts an optical image into an electrical signal Then, the signal is supplied to the signal processing circuit 3. The signal processing circuit 3 converts the signal from the image sensor 2 into a signal form suitable for display, a signal form suitable for communication, or a signal form suitable for magnetic recording and reproduction.

[0017] Here, the signal to be output to the signal and the external input and output terminal 12 to be displayed on the viewfinder 16, should be an analog signal such as a standard television signal such as NTSC signal, the signal processing circuit Reference numeral 3 converts a signal from the image sensor 2 into this type of signal. Since the above processing is a technique well known to previously present application, a detailed description thereof will be omitted contents in this specification.

On the other hand, the signal processing circuit 3 digitizes the signal from the image sensor 2 and performs band compression by high-efficiency coding or the like to reduce the data rate in order to make the signal form suitable for communication by the spread spectrum system. After lowering, S
It is supplied to the S transmitting / receiving circuit 4. Incidentally, it can be applied well known also digitizing circuit and high-efficiency encoding circuit.

Although the signal supplied to the recording / reproducing unit 9 is based on the recording / reproducing method, when a well-known analog VTR recording / reproducing unit is used, a chrominance subcarrier signal is formed, and this signal is used as the low-frequency signal of the FM modulation luminance signal. To form a recording signal. When a recording / reproducing unit of a digital VTR is used, processing such as digitization, high-efficiency encoding, and addition of a parity code for error correction is performed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a micro processing unit (MPU) for controlling each circuit in the VTR 10;
Is an operation unit for instructing various operations of the camera-integrated VTR 10, 8 is a so-called trigger switch for instructing start / stop of recording of the camera-integrated VTR 10, and 12 is a signal switch for exchanging signals with external devices. An input / output terminal 13 for performing the operation via the illustrated cable is a microphone. The audio signal circulated by the microphone 13 is input to the signal processing circuit 3 and, like the video signal output from the image sensor 2, has a signal form suitable for SS communication or a signal suitable for magnetic recording and reproduction. Perform the processing of the form.

In the above-described configuration, at the time of shooting with the video camera integrated type VTR 10, a video signal is supplied from the imaging device 2 to the signal processing circuit 3, while the microphone 1
The sound signal collected by the signal 3 is also supplied to the signal processing circuit 3. In the signal processing circuit 3, after performing the above-described processing for each of the video signal and the audio signal, the finder 1
6, input / output terminal 12, recording / reproducing unit 9, and SS transmitting / receiving unit 4
And so on. Operation of the camera unit of this time not shown, for example, such as setting the switching or mode of zoom ratio operation keys 6
And is determined by the MPU 5 in accordance with the operation of the trigger switch 8. The operation of the recording / reproducing unit 9 is also controlled by the operation keys 6.
And is determined by the MPU 5 in accordance with the operation of the trigger switch 8.

In the monitor device 25, reference numeral 21 denotes an MPU controlling the entire monitor device 25, and reference numeral 20 denotes an SS transmitting / receiving circuit. The signal processing circuit 22 decodes the digital video signal received by the SS transmission / reception circuit 20, converts the digital video signal into a signal form that can be displayed on a normal display such as an NTSC signal, and supplies the converted signal to a display 23.

The operation key 24 is an operation key capable of controlling the operation of the monitor device 25 and instructing the operation of the camera-integrated VTR 10. The instruction information from the operation key 24 is supplied to the MPU 21 and It is also supplied to the transmission / reception circuit 20 and transmitted to the camera-integrated VTR 10 via the transmission / reception circuit 20. On the VTR 10 side, the operation information from the operation keys 24 is received by the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 and supplied to the MPU 5 so that the operation of the camera-integrated VTR 10 can be controlled.

Next, more specific operations will be described in time series with reference to the timing chart of FIG. In FIG. 3, a indicates an operation state of the trigger switch 8, a period indicated by a high level in the figure indicates a period during which the trigger switch is pressed, and a period indicated by a low level indicates a period during which the button is not pressed. Is shown. The VTR shown in FIG. 1 has two types of modes, which can be switched by operating the operation keys 6. In mode 1, the operation is controlled by V.
This is a normal mode performed in the TR10 main body, and mode 2 is a remote mode in which operation control is mainly performed on the monitor device 25 side. b is the operating state of the recording / reproducing unit 9, c
Represents the operation state of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 in mode 1, and d represents the operation state of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 in mode 2.

[0025] First, a description will be given of the operation in mode 1. Now, it is assumed that the VTR 10 is in the recording pause state at the timing t0. As is well known, the recording pause state is a state in which the image sensor 2 is in an operating state, and the recording / reproducing unit 9 does not perform recording but can immediately perform recording. Assuming that the trigger switch 8 is operated at the timing t1, the recording / reproducing unit 9 starts recording the video and audio signals at the timing t1 and enters the recording mode. In synchronization with this, the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is set to the standby state. switches to the transmit state from transmits the video and audio signals are captured at this time to the monitor device 25 side through the antenna 7. Here, the standby state is a state in which transmission and reception are not performed and the circuit power consumption of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is minimized. SS on the monitor device 25 side
The video and audio signals received by the transmission / reception circuit 20 are output from the display 23 and a speaker (not shown).

Next, when the trigger switch 8 is pressed again at the timing t2, the recording / reproducing section 9 temporarily stops signal recording, and the mode of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 returns from the transmission state to the standby state. Thereafter, assuming that the stop key in the operation keys 6 is operated at the timing t3, the VTR 10 is stopped. Here, without recording in the recording reproducing unit 9 in a stopped state, and refers to a state where the imaging operation is also stopped in the image sensor 2. In this stop state, the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is in the standby state regardless of the operation of the trigger switch 8.

Subsequently, at timing t4, if the reproduction key in the operation keys 6 is operated, the VTR 10 enters the reproduction mode, in which the video signal and the audio signal recorded on the magnetic tape as the recording medium are reproduced and the signal is reproduced. It is supplied to the processing circuit 3. In this reproduction mode, the image sensor 2
Needless to say, does not work. Here, the signal processing circuit 3 converts the reproduced signal into a displayable signal such as an NTSC signal and supplies the signal to the finder 16.
This signal is input to the SS transmission / reception circuit 4. If the trigger switch 8 is operated at the timing t5 when the VTR 10 is in the reproduction mode, the VTR itself does not change its operation, but the mode of the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 switches from the standby state to the transmission state. As a result, the video and audio signals reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 9 are transmitted to the monitor device 25 via the antenna 7 and are similarly output from the display 23 and the speaker. In this state, when the trigger switch 8 is operated again at the timing t6, the VTR itself remains in the reproduction mode,
The mode of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 returns to the standby state.

As described above, the mode 1 is very long in the standby state, which is advantageous in terms of power consumption. In addition, no special key operation is required to enter the standby state, and it can be said that the operability is extremely excellent.

Next, the operation in mode 2 will be described.
In mode 2, SS transmission / reception circuit 4 in mode 1
Is set to the transmission state, the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 is set to the transmission / reception state, and the standby state is set to the reception state. That is, at least during the period in which the VTR 10 is operating, at least the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 can receive transmission data from the monitor device 25 side. this is,
If you direct the operation of VTR10 the operation keys 24 of the monitor apparatus detects it, in order to allow remote operation.

By using this mode 2, the power consumption is slightly larger than in mode 1, but an extremely comfortable operation environment for the user can be obtained. That is, on the monitor device 25 side, it is possible to control a video camera-integrated VTR at a remote position while listening to the sound while watching the image actually taken, in particular, to control the camera, which is very advantageous in this respect. it is. In the present embodiment, by preparing two modes in this way, an advantageous mode can be selected according to the use situation, and a great effect is obtained in this point as well.

Next, another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a video camera 11 and a VTR 16 according to another embodiment suitable for the present invention.
In FIG. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Although the monitor device 25 is omitted in FIG. 4, the same device as that in FIG. 1 can be used.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 14 denotes an interface (I / F) for exchanging various control signals such as operation signals and mode signals and information signals such as video signals and audio signals between the video camera 11 and the VTR 16. ) And M
It is controlled by the PU5. In the system of the present embodiment, the information signals that can be output from the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 to the monitor device 25 are a video signal obtained from the image sensor 2 and an audio signal obtained from the microphone 13,
The video signal reproduced by the VTR 16 cannot be transmitted. The operation that can be controlled using the operation keys 24 of the monitor device 25 is only the operation in the video camera 11, and cannot control the VTR 16.

The operation of the system shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a is V
The operation state of the VTR 16 is always indicated by the MPU via the interface (I / F) 14.
It has been notified to the 5. SS in the system of this embodiment
The transmission / reception circuit 4 also has modes 1 and 2 as in the first embodiment described above. Similarly, mode 1 is a power saving mode, and mode 2 is a remote operation mode. FIG.
, B is the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 in the mode 1
And c shows the state of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 in the mode 1.

In the system according to the present embodiment, as is apparent from FIG.
When the VTR 16 is in the recording pause mode, the video camera 11 is also controlled in the recording pause mode in consideration of the fact that it is necessary to confirm what kind of screen is being photographed even in the recording pause mode. The screen shot by the camera is transmitted to the monitor device 25 side.

The operation of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 in the mode 1 will be briefly described below. As shown in FIG. 5, when the VTR 16 is in the stop state at the timing τ1, the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 enters the above-described standby state.
Next, when a predetermined key of the operation keys 6 is operated at the timing τ2, the MPU 5 sets the video camera 11 to the shooting state and sets the VTR 16 to the recording pause state. Thereafter, at timing τ3, the trigger switch 1
The operation of 5 causes the VTR 16 to start actual recording, but at this time, the operation itself of the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 does not change.

During the recording operation, when the VTR 16 is stopped by operating the stop key or the like of the operation keys 6 at the timing τ4, the MPU 4 also releases the shooting state of the video camera 11. Further, at timing τ5, the operation keys 6
The VTR 16 is set to the playback state by operating the middle playback key. However, since the video and audio signals reproduced by the VTR 16 cannot be transmitted to the monitor 25, the SS transmission / reception circuit 4 remains in the standby state. Similarly, at τ6, the fast forward or rewind key of the operation keys 6 is operated to operate the VTR.
16 is set to the high-speed search mode, or the pause key of the operation keys 6 is operated at the timing τ7 to operate the VTR 16.
Is set to the still reproduction mode, the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 is kept in the standby state.

In the mode 2 operation, the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 is set to the transmitting / receiving state during the period in which the SS transmitting / receiving circuit 4 is set to the transmitting state in the mode 1 as in the previous embodiment.
The difference is that the reception state is set for the period of the standby state.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A video camera which is excellent in operability and has no complicated wiring can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system including a video camera-integrated VTR and a monitor device as one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of an SS transceiver in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a system including a video camera 11, a VTR 16, and a monitor device as another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the system of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 lens 2 imaging element 3 signal processing circuit 4, 20 SS (spread spectrum) transmission / reception circuit 5, 21 microprocessing unit (MPU) 6, 24 operation keys 7, 27 antenna 8, 15 trigger switch 9 recording / reproducing unit 10 video camera 1 Body VTR 11 Video camera 12 Input / output terminal 13 Microphone 14 Interface (I / F) 23 Display 31 Bus selector 32 Spread modulation circuit 33 Despread modulation circuit 34 Spread code generation circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirofumi Takei 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masamine Maeda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hideyuki Arai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5C018 FA02 FB06 FB08 5C022 AA00 AB67 AC32 AC69 AC73 CA00 5C054 CC05 DA07 EA03 EA07 EB07 GB02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing means, a recording / reproducing means having a function of recording a video signal output from the image capturing means on a recording medium, and a function of reproducing a video signal from the recording medium, and recorded on the recording medium Wireless transmission means for transmitting a video signal or a video signal reproduced from the recording medium to the outside, and a trigger switch for switching an operation state of the recording / reproduction means to a recording state, wherein the operation state of the recording / reproduction means is reproduced. The video camera, wherein when in the state, the wireless transmission unit switches an operation state of the wireless transmission unit to a transmission state or a transmission stop state according to an operation on the trigger switch. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said wireless transmission means includes spread spectrum modulation means for performing spread spectrum modulation. 3. When the operation state of the recording unit is switched to the recording state, the wireless transmission unit switches the operation state of the wireless transmission unit to the transmission state, and transmits the video signal output from the imaging unit to the outside. The video camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the video camera is operated. 4. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein when the operation state of the recording unit is switched to a recording suspension state, the wireless transmission unit switches the operation state of the wireless transmission unit to a transmission stop state. The video camera according to claim 1.