JP2002300499A - Imaging apparatus having output exclusively for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus having output exclusively for printers that can bring out the power of expression in the printers to a maximum, and can output image print having a wide dynamic range. SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus having output exclusively for a printer comprises a signal generation means for setting an image signal, that is picked up to a normal TV signal, and an output means for taking out a signal to be outputted to a printer directly from a camera circuit section, without going through a processing circuit for converting to the TV signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus with a printer-dedicated output for printing out an image with a three-chip CCD camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional three-chip image pickup system. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a gapless small prism unit, and reference numerals 2 to 4 denote imaging elements for RGB. These imaging elements 2 to 4 convert S / N of each image output of RGB by CDS (correlated double sampling). Improvements are made, and processing such as AWB, AGC, and gamma correction is performed in an analog process. After that, it is converted into a digital signal by three 8-bit A / Ds and input to a digital signal processing LSI (DSPLSI). At this time, the left and right inversion processing of the B signal having a mirror relationship with the R and G signals generated in the configuration of the gapless prism by another LSI is performed.

[0003] DSPLSI processes an input RGB signal and outputs a luminance signal (Y) and a color difference signal (RY / B-).
Y) and output. Thereafter, after performing digital function processing such as camera shake correction and electronic zoom, D / A processing is performed and analog Y and color difference signals are output as image signals.

[0004]

In the case of a conventional three-panel video camera or the like, when an image signal is to be printed from a printer, the image data is only output from a TV system, and the image is printed based on the signal. In such a usage, the image data is output by adaptively changing the signal level so that an excessive signal exceeding the dynamic range of the TV system is not output.

[0005] Gamma correction is also a correction coefficient taking into account the CRT, and does not always match the printer ink characteristics. Therefore, even if a clear image is displayed on a CRT monitor, if the image is printed by a printer using the same image signal output, the image is not necessarily displayed on the monitor due to a difference in ink characteristics and a difference in dynamic range. Image or 3 that is represented
It is not always possible to express a subject captured by a board camera or the like clearly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus with a printer dedicated output capable of maximizing the expression capability of the printer and outputting a high dynamic range image print. To provide.

[0007]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a signal generating means for converting a captured image signal into a normal TV signal and a signal for outputting to a printer a TV signal. An output means is provided which enables direct extraction from the camera circuit unit without passing through a processing circuit for converting the image data into an image.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a three-panel camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the basic concept of the present invention. In this embodiment, a signal from RGB photographing elements 2 to 4 is supplied to a camera circuit section of a conventional three-plate camera by a normal TV signal. A processing system and a signal which is output to a printer regardless of a new TV signal branched to a printer output system are directly extracted from a camera circuit unit without passing through a processing circuit for converting the signal into a TV signal. (E.g., ink jet, sublimation type, etc.), and has an output terminal for performing optimal gamma correction and outputting an optimal printer image output.

<Embodiment 2> In this embodiment, when a printer is connected in the first embodiment, communication is performed between the printer and the camera, the type of the printer is determined on the camera side, and the gamma on the camera side is determined. It is characterized in that an optimum gamma correction is automatically performed by a correction circuit and an optimum printer image output is output.

<Embodiment 3> In the present embodiment, when a printer is connected in the first embodiment, communication is performed between the printer and the camera, the type of the printer is determined on the camera side, and the gamma on the camera side is determined. The correction circuit automatically performs an optimum gamma correction to output an optimum printer image output, and as shown in FIG. 2, digitizes the output signal to be an output signal compatible with IEEE1394.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a signal generating means for converting a picked-up image signal into a normal TV signal and a signal intended to be output to a printer are converted into a TV signal. The output means enables direct extraction from the camera circuit section without passing through the processing circuit for converting to the maximum, so that the expression capability of the printer can be maximized and an image print with a high dynamic range can be output. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a three-panel camera according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a three-panel camera according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional three-panel camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 gapless small prism part 2-4 image sensor

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Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A camera circuit section directly extracts a signal intended for output to a printer and a signal generating means for converting a captured image signal into a normal TV signal without passing through a processing circuit for converting the signal into a TV signal. An image pickup device with an output dedicated to a printer, comprising output means for enabling the operation. 2. The printer-specific output according to claim 1, wherein said output means has a printer gamma correction function, and performs an optimum gamma correction according to each printer to output an optimum printer image output. Attached imaging device. 3. When a printer is connected, communication between the printer and the camera is performed, the type of the printer is recognized on the camera side, and an optimum gamma correction is automatically performed by a gamma correction circuit to obtain an optimum printer image. The image pickup device with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 2, wherein the image pickup device outputs an image. 4. The image pickup apparatus with a printer-specific output according to claim 1, wherein an optimum printer image output is output as a digital signal. 5. An image pickup apparatus with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 4, wherein the output terminal conforms to the IEEE 1394 standard. 6. The light incident upon photographing is separated into three primary colors of light R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an optical prism, and each is imaged by three dedicated CCD image sensors. 2. The image pickup apparatus with a printer-specific output according to claim 1, wherein the image is output by a three-plate type image pickup apparatus. 7. The light incident upon photographing is separated into three primary colors of light R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an optical prism, and each of them is dedicated to three CCD imaging elements. 3. The image pickup apparatus with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 2, wherein the image is output by a three-plate type image pickup apparatus taking a picture in step (1). 8. Light incident upon photographing is separated into three primary colors of light R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an optical prism, and each is separated by three dedicated CCD imaging elements. 4. The image pickup device with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 3, wherein the image is output by a three-plate type image pickup device for taking a picture. 9. Light incident upon photographing is separated into three primary colors of light R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an optical prism, and each is separated by three dedicated CCD imaging elements. 5. The image pickup apparatus with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 4, wherein said image is output by a three-plate type photographing apparatus for taking a picture. 10. Light incident upon photographing is separated into three primary colors of light R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by an optical prism, and each is separated by three dedicated CCD imaging elements. 6. The image pickup apparatus with an output dedicated to a printer according to claim 5, wherein the image is output by a three-plate type photographing apparatus for taking a picture.