JP2005057809A - Cinema signal creating system and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of obtaining a 24P cinema signal including low and high forwarding variable speeds. <P>SOLUTION: A cinema signal creating system uses the imaging apparatus including an imaging section 1 for outputting a progressive imaging signal with various frame rates and a frame rate conversion section 2 for converting the image signal with the various frame rates outputted from the imaging section into a prescribed frame rate being the various frame rates or over and providing an output of the result by copying the signal with part or all of the frames, a recorder can record the signal at a prescribed frame rate and a reproducing apparatus attains low and high forwarding variable speeds by keeping the substantial number of frames to be a prescribed number. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cinema signal generation system that can be used in an electronic cinema system that captures and processes a movie electronically rather than as a film.

  In recent years, with the development of HD (High Definition) broadcasting equipment, the movement to electronic cinema systems, such as the conversion of conventional films with videotapes, etc., has become active. In addition to the frequency of 24 Hz, the scanning method needs to correspond from the interlaced scanning method (hereinafter referred to as i) to the progressive scanning method (hereinafter referred to as P).

  The system configuration for electronically creating a cinema signal is large, an imaging device that obtains a 24P signal (a progressive signal with a frame frequency of 24 Hz) as an imaging signal, a recording device that records the rate of the 24P signal, and a playback that reproduces the 24P signal The system configuration is a device.

  Currently, in the HD image system, SMPTE 274M and SMPTE 296M standardize 24P signals in a system with 1080 scanning lines (1080 system) and a system with 720 scanning lines (720P system), respectively.

  As a configuration of a conventional cinema signal creation system, for example, there is a configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 21, 31 is an imaging device capable of outputting a P imaging signal, 32 is a 24P compatible recording device (24P recording device), and 33 is a playback device.

  The operation of the conventional cinema signal creation system configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  22 and 23 show signal waveform diagrams of output waveforms a to c from each part of the cinema signal generation system shown in FIG. That is, a is an output signal of the imaging device 31, b is a recording signal of the 24P recording device 32, and c is an output signal of the reproducing device 33 that reproduces a signal recorded by the 24P recording device 32. Each number in the figure indicates the frame number of each signal.

  The imaging device 31 is a P imaging signal of each frame rate (24 Hz, 60 Hz, 48 Hz, 30 Hz, 20 Hz, 15 Hz) shown in (a1), (a2), (a3),..., (A6) of FIGS. Is output. For example, FIG. 22A1 shows the case of an image pickup signal with a 24P frame rate, and in this case, the recording device 32 records the recording speed at 1 time (FIG. 22B1). The playback device 33 can also obtain a 24P signal which is an output signal of a so-called cinema signal by playing back at 1 × speed (FIG. 22 (c1)).

  Here, in 24P playback, fast-forward or slow-motion playback may be necessary for creating a cinema signal for the effect. In order to do this, the output rate of the output of the imaging device 31 is changed, the recording speed of the recording device 32 is changed correspondingly, and the playback device 33 needs to play back at a rate of 1 × the rate of 24P. For example, when 2/5 times-speed slow motion playback is desired, as shown in FIG. 22 (a2), the output signal of the imaging device 31 is a 60P imaging signal, and the recording device 32 is as shown in FIG. 22 (b2). Record at 2/5 times the recording speed. The playback device 33 plays back this signal at 1 × speed, so that normally 60 frames of signals are converted into 24 frames of signals, so that a 24/60 = 2/5 × speed slow motion cinema signal is obtained. Similarly, the case where the output signal of the imaging device 31 is a 48P signal is shown in FIGS. 22 (a3), (b3) and (c3), and the case where the output signal is a 30P signal is shown in FIGS. 23 (a4), (b4) and (c4). Show.

  On the contrary, when fast-forward playback is desired, for example, a 20P image signal having a rate slower than 24P is output from the image pickup device 31 as shown in FIG. In the recording device 32, recording is performed at a recording speed of 6/5 times as shown in FIG. 23 (b5). When the playback device 33 plays back this signal at 1 × speed, a normal 20-frame signal is converted into a 24-frame signal, so that a fast-forward cinema signal can be obtained. Similarly, the case where the output signal of the imaging device 31 is a 15P signal (in the case of 24/15 times speed) is shown in FIGS. 23 (a6), (b6), and (c6).

  In this manner, a conventional 24P cinema signal can be created by a conventional cinema signal creation system, and a slow motion and fast-forward 24P cinema signal can also be created.

  However, in the conventional cinema signal creation system, a normal 24P cinema signal can be created, and a slow motion and fast-forward 24P cinema signal can also be created. However, the recording speed of the recording apparatus matches the imaging signal output rate of the imaging apparatus. Circuit size and power increase. Therefore, for example, in the case of realizing an imaging device and a recording device in a VTR integrated imaging device, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the size and power consumption and to realize it.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cinema signal creation system that can be realized even if, for example, a VTR-integrated imaging device or the like is used as an imaging device or recording device without increasing the circuit scale of the recording device.

  In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an imaging device that obtains progressive imaging signals of various frame rates, a recording device that records an output signal of the imaging device, and a playback device that reproduces a recording signal obtained from the recording device. A frame rate conversion unit that converts the frame rate of the imaging apparatus, converts the imaging signals of various frame rates into predetermined frame rates and outputs them, and the playback apparatus outputs the predetermined frame rate signals recorded by the recording apparatus In this configuration, the reproduction speed is changed according to each frame rate before conversion of the imaging apparatus.

  As a result, various frame rate imaging signals can be recorded at a predetermined frame rate, and the number of frames of the reproduced signal can be set to a predetermined number by changing the reproduction speed.

  In the present invention, the frame rate conversion unit includes a frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit that calculates a ratio between the frame rate before conversion and the frame rate after conversion, and the conversion ratio is n / m (n and m are integers). And n ≦ m, and n corresponds to before conversion and m corresponds to after conversion), when n is 1, the signal of each frame signal of the frame rate before conversion is converted to the frame rate after conversion ( m-1) Duplicate and output each time, and when n is not 1, n times so that the time of n frames of the signal of the frame rate before conversion matches the time of m frames of the frame rate after conversion A part or all of the frame signals are copied and output so that the total number of copies is (mn) at the converted frame rate, and a regular frame signal is output every m frames. I ’ll convert it to a series It is configured as follows.

  As a result, the frame rate conversion method can be selected in accordance with the ratio between the frame rate before conversion and the frame rate after conversion.

  Also, in the present invention, when the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit is 60 frames and the effective frame number in the playback device is 24 frames (24P), the signals of the input 60 frames are as follows: For two different sets of frame signals, the first frame is repeated twice, the next frame is repeated three times, the first frame is repeated three times, and the next frame is repeated twice. The reproduction speed is converted by copying or deleting.

  As a result, a so-called 2-3 pull-down reproduction signal is obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the imaging apparatus has a solid-state imaging device and obtains progressive signals of various frame rates by controlling the accumulation time, the driving pulse control circuit determines how to drive the solid-state imaging device. Output at the rate of accumulation time to obtain the desired frame rate, and the rate of horizontal and vertical transfer pulses is configured so that the output signal of the solid-state image sensor is the same as the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit It is.

  As a result, a signal having the same frame rate as that of the signal input to the conversion unit can be obtained.

  Further, according to the present invention, the imaging apparatus includes a flag signal generation unit that generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which the signal group of the frame copied by the frame rate conversion unit changes to the signal group of the next frame. The recording apparatus records and holds together with the signal output from the imaging apparatus, and the reproduction apparatus performs conversion and reproduction based on the flag signal so that the actual number of frames becomes a predetermined number.

  As a result, a signal indicating the frame switching position is obtained on the reproducing apparatus side.

  According to the present invention, an imaging device includes a flag signal generation unit that generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which a signal group of a frame copied by a frame rate conversion unit changes to a signal group of a next frame, and a flag signal generation unit It has a flag signal conversion and addition circuit that converts and adds a flag signal in a signal period other than the effective period of the imaging signal output from the frame rate conversion unit that receives the output signal, and the recording apparatus is output from the imaging apparatus Is recorded together with the flag signal, and the playback device is configured to perform conversion and playback so that the actual number of frames becomes a predetermined number based on the flag signal recorded in the signal period other than the valid period. .

  Thus, a signal indicating the frame switching position is obtained from the recording signal itself on the reproducing apparatus side.

  According to the present invention, by converting signals of various frame rates obtained by the imaging device into predetermined frame rate signals, the recording device can always record at a predetermined frame rate, for example, a 60P signal rate, In a camera recorder or the like of a VTR integrated imaging device in which the imaging device and the recording device are integrated, the imaging device and the recording device of the cinema signal creation system can be configured without increasing the circuit scale and power. Further, by combining the reproducing apparatus with the imaging apparatus and the recording apparatus, it is possible to easily reproduce a 24P cinema signal by selecting a signal and converting a reproduction speed at a predetermined ratio.

  Further, according to the present invention, in addition to the above effects, when the conversion rate of the frame rate is complicated (for example, conversion from 48P to 60P, 24P to 60P, etc.), the conversion ratio is 1 for imaging signals of various frame rates. Even when it is not an integer, it can always be converted into a signal of a predetermined frame rate (for example, 60P), and can be recorded on the recording device at that rate, and fine settings such as slow and fast feed are possible.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit is 60 frames and the number of real frames in the playback device is 24 frames (24P (progressive)), the playback device always has 2- Since it can be output in a 3 pull-down format, each 24P cinema signal from slow motion to fast forward can be handled as a 60P signal format.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the imaging P signals of various frame rates are all output at the frame rate interval of the imaging signal of 60P, the delay of the output signal of the frame rate conversion unit is reduced to 1 frame of 60P in all cases. And the frame signal conversion unit rate is the same (60P) so that the frame memory writing / reading timing corresponds to a plurality of rates. Therefore, the circuit operation in the frame rate conversion unit can be stabilized.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a flag signal for switching frames can be created with a simple configuration, and the signal can be recorded on the recording device together with the imaging signal. It is not necessary to give the information separately. Further, it is not necessary to provide the playback apparatus with a switch or the like for switching the operation according to the frame rate of the imaging unit, and it is possible to automatically perform the cinema signal playback operation even if the frame rate of the imaging unit changes variously. The effect is obtained.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a delay for adjusting a delay time according to a processing time of an imaging signal until recording is performed between the imaging device and the recording device in addition to a signal flag interface and a recording device. The above effect can be realized with a simple circuit configuration without requiring a circuit or the like.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cinema signal creation system having the effects described above.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided an imaging device that obtains progressive imaging signals of various frame rates, a recording device that records an output signal of the imaging device, and a playback device that reproduces a recording signal obtained from the recording device. The image pickup apparatus includes a frame rate conversion unit that converts the image pickup signals of the various frame rates into predetermined frame rate outputs, and the reproduction apparatus corresponds to each frame rate before the conversion of the image pickup apparatus. Thus, the playback speed is changed so that the actual number of frames becomes a predetermined number, and the progressive imaging signals of various frame rates are converted into predetermined frame rates by the conversion unit and output to the recording unit. The recording unit records at the same frame rate as the output rate of the conversion unit. The playback device has an effect that the number of frames is substantially a predetermined number by changing the playback speed in accordance with each frame rate before conversion of the imaging device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the frame rate conversion unit includes a frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit that calculates a ratio between a frame rate before conversion and a frame rate after conversion, and the conversion ratio is n / m. (N and m are integers, n ≦ m, and n corresponds to before conversion and m corresponds to after conversion). When n is 1, the signal of each frame of the signal at the frame rate before conversion is converted. When (m-1) times are replicated and output at the frame rate of n, and n is not 1, the time of n frames of the signal of the frame rate before conversion matches the time of m frames of the frame rate after conversion As described above, a part or all of the n-frame signal is copied and output so that the total number of replicas is (mn) at the converted frame rate, and every m frames. Regular frame signal sequence The recording device records at the frame rate after conversion, and the frame rate conversion unit copies the input signal according to the ratio between the frame rate before conversion and the frame rate after conversion. The recording apparatus has a function of always recording at the converted frame rate.

  The third aspect of the present invention is input when the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit is 60 frames and the actual number of frames in the playback device is 24 frames (24P (progressive)). 60 frames of each frame signal for two different sets of frame signals, the first frame is 2 times, the next frame is 3 times, the first frame is 3 times, and the next frame is 2 times. The playback speed is converted by duplicating or deleting the frame so that the so-called 2-3 pull-down output is repeated, and the playback device converts the playback speed by copying or deleting the frame. Thus, the operation of outputting a 24 frame reproduction signal from the 60 frame signal converted by the frame rate conversion unit and recorded by the recording device is performed. To.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the imaging apparatus has a solid-state imaging device and obtains progressive signals of various frame rates by controlling the accumulation time, a driving pulse for driving the solid-state imaging device is obtained. The readout pulse is output at the rate of the accumulation time for obtaining the desired frame rate, and the rate of the horizontal and vertical transfer pulses is such that the output signal of the solid-state image sensor is the same as the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit. And the drive pulse generation control circuit outputs the readout pulse at a rate of accumulation time to obtain a desired frame rate, and outputs horizontal and vertical signals. The rate of the transfer pulse is the same as the frame rate after the output signal of the solid-state imaging device is converted by the frame rate conversion unit. Because Uni output has the effect of the output rate of the image signal read from the solid-state imaging device in the same frame rate as the output signal of the frame rate conversion unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flag signal generation unit that generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which the signal group of the frame duplicated by the frame rate conversion unit changes to the signal group of the next frame. The recording device records the signal output from the imaging device and also records and holds the flag signal, and the playback device converts the actual frame number to a predetermined number based on the flag signal. The flag signal generating unit generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which the signal group of the frame changes to the signal group of the next frame with respect to the signal group copied by the frame rate converting unit. Then, it is recorded by the recording unit, and the reproducing apparatus has an operation of converting and reproducing the actual number of frames to a predetermined number based on the signal.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flag signal generation unit that generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which a signal group of a frame copied by the frame rate conversion unit changes to a signal group of the next frame. A flag signal conversion and addition circuit for converting and adding the flag signal in a signal period other than the effective period of the imaging signal output from the conversion unit that receives the output signal of the flag signal generation unit, and a recording apparatus Records the signal output from the imaging device together with the flag signal, and the playback device converts and reproduces the actual number of frames to a predetermined number based on the flag signal recorded in the signal period other than the effective period. The flag signal conversion / adder circuit uses a flag signal indicating the change point of the frame signal group copied by the frame rate conversion unit to the signal group of the next frame. The signal period other than activity period, has the effect of converting the signal form that can sum the imaging signal, adds, and outputs to the recording device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an imaging unit that outputs P signals of various frame rates, 2 is a frame rate conversion unit that converts an output signal of the imaging unit 1 into a predetermined frame rate, and 3 is an output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2. Is a reproducing device for reproducing the signal recorded by the recording device 3. In FIG. 1, H1 and V1 are horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the imaging unit 1 output from a synchronization signal generation unit (not shown), and H2 and V2 are horizontal and vertical synchronization signals after frame rate conversion. is there.

  The operation of the cinema signal creation system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the frame rate conversion unit 2 in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the frame rate conversion unit 2, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are signal waveform diagrams of the respective units shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, 5 and 6 are frame memories, 7 is a control circuit for controlling writing and reading of the frame memories 5 and 6, and 8 is a switching circuit.

  The operation of the frame rate conversion unit 2 is performed as shown in FIG. 3 based on the synchronization signals H1, V1, H2, and V2. 2 and 3, W1 and W2 are write enable signals for the frame memory A5 and the frame memory B6, and R1 and R2 are read enable signals for the frame memory A5 and the frame memory B6, each of which is low (LOW). This is the enable period. For example, the image signal a having a frame rate of 60P and 20P input from the image capturing unit 1 is converted to a predetermined frame rate 60P. In the case of FIG. 3 (a), the image signal is input at a frame rate of 60P. Since both the input and output are the same frame rate, the frame memory A5 and the frame memory B6 are alternately written at the frame rate of 60P. Alternately read at the frame rate. Also, in the case of an imaging signal input with a frame rate of 20P in FIG. 5B, writing is performed for one frame at a frame rate of 20P, and reading is performed at a frame rate of 60P. Therefore, in this case, the same signal is output for 3 frames at 60 Hz. Thus, the frame rate conversion can be easily realized by, for example, alternately writing and reading out two frame memories.

  As a result of the frame rate conversion unit 2 described above, the output signal of the imaging unit 1 is all 60P of various frame rate imaging signals (for example, 60P a1, 30P a2, 20P a3, 15P a4) as shown in FIG. Frame rate signals (b 1, b 2, b 3, b 4) and output to the recording device 3. Each number in the figure indicates the frame number of each signal. The recording device 3 always records the signal from the imaging device at a frame rate of 60P.

  Next, the playback device 4 performs the operation shown in FIG. 5 so that the number of real frames becomes a predetermined number. In this case, the number of frames is converted to 24P. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a 30P imaging signal, the same signal is recorded every two frames at a rate of 60P (c2), but one of them is selected and the rate of 60P is selected. The playback speed is changed so that the rate is 24P. The time axis is stretched 2/5 times. In fact, since the signal of 2 frames is converted to a 24P rate at 60P (30P is converted to 24P), it becomes a 4/5 times speed reproduction signal (d2). Therefore, a slightly slow motion 24P reproduction signal can be obtained as compared with the case where the image pickup signal is originally a 24P signal. Similarly, in the case of a 20P image signal, the same signal is recorded every three frames at a rate of 60P (c3), but one of them is selected and the playback speed is changed so that the rate of 60P becomes a rate of 24P. . In this case, since substantially 20P is converted to 24P, a reproduction signal (d3) of 6/5 times speed is obtained. Therefore, a 24P playback signal with a slightly fast forward is obtained. The same applies to other frame rate imaging signals. For example, in the case of 60P (c1), the reproduction signal (d1) is 2/5 times faster, and in the case of 15P (c4), the reproduction signal (8/5 times speed) ( converted to d4).

  As described above, according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, by converting signals of various frame rates obtained by the imaging device into predetermined frame rate signals, the recording device always provides a predetermined frame rate, for example, a 60P signal. In a camera recorder or the like of a VTR integrated imaging device in which the imaging device and the recording device are integrated, the imaging device and the recording device of the cinema signal creation system are configured without an increase in circuit scale and power. be able to. Further, by combining the reproducing apparatus with the imaging apparatus and the recording apparatus, it is possible to easily reproduce a 24P cinema signal by selecting a signal and converting a reproduction speed at a predetermined ratio.

  It should be noted that the position detection of each frame change in the playback device is performed by selecting a necessary frame signal according to a predetermined rule based on the synchronization signals H1, V1, H2, and V2, or by determining the frame rate of the imaging signal, the playback device Needless to say, the frame selection operation may be switched by a switch in accordance with the frame rate.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the frame rate conversion unit of the cinema signal creation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, 9 is a frame memory, 10 is a frame memory control circuit for controlling writing and reading of the frame memory 9, and 11 is a conversion between a frame rate of an input imaging signal and a predetermined frame rate converted by the frame rate conversion unit 2. A frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 12 for calculating the ratio, and 12 is a switching circuit. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the frame rate conversion unit 2 includes a frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 11. The other circuits are substantially the same, and the operation is similar.

  The operation of the cinema signal creation system according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a signal waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the frame memory control circuit 10 and the frame memory 9 when the imaging signals are 48P and 24P and the frame rate after conversion is 60P. FIG. FIG. 6 is a signal waveform diagram showing a relationship between an input signal and an output signal in the frame rate conversion unit 2 based on FIG. Note that the numbers in the figure correspond to the frame numbers.

  For example, in the case of a 48P image signal, the converted frame rate 60P does not become an integral multiple of 48P, unlike 20P, 30P, and the like. In this case, the ratio of the input frame rate 48P and the converted frame rate 60P is 4/5, and the time for 4 frames of 48P and the time of 5 frames of 60P coincide. Therefore, the frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 11 outputs a control signal to the frame memory control circuit 10 so that a signal of the same frame is output once out of five times of reading out of the frame memory 9. In response to this, the frame memory control circuit 10 outputs a read enable signal shown in FIG. In the case of the 48P image signal, frame rate conversion is performed by rotating, for example, three frame memories so that overtaking of writing does not occur during reading of the memory.

  Similarly, when the 24P imaging signal is converted to 60P, since the conversion ratio is 2/5, the time for 2 frames of 24P and the time of 5 frames of 60P coincide. In this case, 2 out of 5 frame memory reads will be the same frame signal (duplicate once), and the other 3 will be another frame signal (duplicate twice) (that is, the total number of duplicates) 1 + 2 = 3), the frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 11 outputs a control signal to the frame memory control circuit 10. In response to this, the frame memory control circuit 10 outputs a read enable signal shown in FIG. By performing such an operation in the frame rate conversion unit 2, the converted output signal is 48P in FIG. 8 (b1-1) or (b1-2), and in the case of 24P is FIG. 8 (b2-1). ) Or (b2-2), the frame rate is converted to 60P and output. At this time, the relationship between the predetermined frame periods is a1t = b1t and a2t = b2t, respectively.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 11 calculates the ratio between the frame rate before conversion and the frame rate after conversion. As a result, n / m (n and m are integers). When 1 ≦ n ≦ m, and n corresponds to before conversion and m corresponds to after conversion), especially when n is not 1 (when m / n is not an integer), n frames of the signal at the frame rate before conversion The total number of copies is (m−n) at the rate of the frame after converting some or all of the frame signals in the n frames so that the time of m frames matches the time of m frames of the converted frame rate. ) So that a regular frame signal sequence is generated every m frames, so that conversion to a predetermined frame rate can be performed even when the conversion ratio is complicated. In the case of n = 1, the same operation as that of the first embodiment is performed by repeating each frame (m−1) times. The operations of the recording device 3 and the reproducing device 4 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In this way, even when the conversion ratio is complex for the image signals of various frame rates, for example, as in the first embodiment, it can always be converted into, for example, a 60P signal and recorded at the rate at the recording device. In a camera recorder or the like of a VTR integrated imaging device in which the imaging device and the recording device are integrated, the imaging device and the recording device of the cinema signal creation system can be configured without increasing the circuit scale and power.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 9 is a signal waveform diagram illustrating the output signal of the playback device in the cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that the playback speed conversion method in the playback device 4 is different. Therefore, the entire block diagram is the same as FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the signal of the recording device 3 indicates the recording signal obtained in the first or second embodiment. That is, the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit 2 is 60P. The rate of the playback device 4 is converted to a 24P frame rate. As an input signal, a case of a 60P imaging signal, a 48P imaging signal, a 24P imaging signal, and a 20P imaging signal is shown.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the playback device 4 in the third embodiment will be described.

  In the case of a 60P imaging signal, the recording signal changes in frame number one by one at a rate of 60 frames as shown in FIG. 9 (c1), but the playback device 4 uses two consecutive sets of frames, for example, frame number 1 , 2, 1 is 2 frames, 2 is 3 frames (Fig. (D1-1)), or 1 is 3 frames, 2 is 2 frames (Fig. (D1-2)) (Repeat). The same applies to the next set of different frames (for example, frame numbers 3 and 4).

  In the case of 48P, the recording signal has frame numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8,... As shown in FIG. For a set of two consecutive different frames, for example 1, 1, 2, 1 is duplicated once (that is, 3 frames), and 2 is also duplicated (that is, 2 frames) (see (d3- 1)) or 1 as it is (that is, 2 frames), and 2 is duplicated twice (that is, 3 frames) ((d3-2) in the figure). The case of the next set 3 and 4 of different frames is the same as the case of 60P.

  In the case of a 24P image signal (FIG. (C4)), conversion of the reproduction speed is not required, so (FIG. (D4-1)) or a set of two consecutive different frames, for example, 1, 1, Conversion is performed so that 1 of 1, 2 and 2 is deleted and 1 frame is duplicated (FIG. (D4-2)).

  Further, in the case of a 20P image pickup signal ((c2) in the figure), for a set of consecutive different frames, for example, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1 is deleted by 1 frame (that is, 2 frames), 2 Is left as it is (that is, 3 frames) (FIG. (D2-1)) or 1 is left as it is (that is, 3 frames), and 2 is deleted as 1 frame (that is, 2 frames) (FIG. (D2-2)). The conversion is done. The same is true for the next set of consecutive frames 3, 3, 3, 4, 4 and 4.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, when the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit 2 is 60 frames, and the actual number of frames in the playback device 4 is 24 frames (24P (progressive)), it is input. 60 frames of each frame signal for two different sets of frame signals, the first frame is 2 times, the next frame is 3 times or the first frame is 3 times, and the next frame is 2 times The reproduction speed is converted by duplicating or deleting a frame so that a so-called 2-3 pull-down output is repeated. Therefore, without changing the time axis of the signal with the same frame rate as that of recording, that is, the frame rate of 60P, simply selecting or duplicating the frame, etc., changing the actual frame number to 24P and converting the playback speed. Can do. Further, since it is always output in the 2-3 pull-down format, each playback cinema signal from 24P slow motion to fast-forward can be handled as a 60P signal format.

  In the third embodiment, the playback device 4 includes a circuit that performs the above operation and converts the playback speed. This circuit plays back the signal at the same rate (60P) as the input signal, for example. It goes without saying that it can be easily realized by a circuit that writes to a memory or the like and reads the same signal a plurality of times and a selection circuit.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 10, 1 is an image pickup unit that outputs P signals of various frame rates, 2 is a frame rate conversion unit that converts an output signal of the image pickup unit 1 into a predetermined frame rate, and 3 is an output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2 4 is a reproducing device that reproduces a signal recorded by the recording device 3, and 13 is a drive pulse generation control circuit that controls a drive pulse applied to the imaging unit 1. In the fourth embodiment, the imaging unit 1 includes a CCD (charge coupled device) solid-state imaging device. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the drive pulse generation control circuit 13 performs a characteristic operation in the imaging apparatus including the imaging unit 1 and the frame rate conversion unit 2. The other circuits are substantially the same, and the operation is similar.

  Similarly to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, H1 and V1 in FIG. 10 are horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from the imaging unit 1 output from a synchronization signal generator (not shown), and H2 and V2 are frame rates. These are the horizontal and vertical sync signals after conversion.

  The operation of the cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 4 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 11 is a signal waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the drive pulse generation control circuit 13, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are signal waveform diagrams for explaining the output signals of the imaging unit 1 and the frame rate conversion unit 2. .

  FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show examples of CCD drive pulses when the rate of the imaging signal is 20P. In this case, the readout pulse shown in FIG. 5A is output at a rate of 20P so that the accumulation time is 1/20 second. Further, the transfer pulse in FIG. 5B includes vertical and horizontal transfer pulses, but is output so that the transfer is completed in one frame of 20P. Further, FIG. 3C shows the signal output of the CCD at that time. In this case, the drive pulse is obtained by simply reducing the CCD drive rate at the normal 60P to 1/3. The imaging signals of Embodiments 1 and 2 are such driving signals as shown in FIGS. Therefore, as the frame rate of the imaging signal becomes slower, the signal converted and output from the frame rate conversion unit 2 becomes longer in delay.

  Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the drive pulse to be sent to the CCD is controlled by the drive pulse generation control circuit 13 so as to become the pulses shown in FIGS. 11 (a1), (b1), and (c1). That is, the readout pulse (a1) is output at a rate of 20P so that the accumulation time is 1/20 second, but the transfer pulse is 3 so that the transfer of one frame signal is completed at the rate of 60P. Transfer at twice the speed. As a result, the transfer pulse is as shown in (b1) of the figure, and the signal output is as shown in (c1) of the figure, so that a 30P rate signal can be obtained in one frame period of 60P rate. Unnecessary signals that are not related to signals are output in the subsequent two frames.

  As other control methods, as shown in FIGS. (A2), (b2), and (c2), the read pulse (a2) is the same, but the transfer pulse (b2) is output for one frame. To do. As a result, an output signal (c2) is obtained.

  By performing the above driving method by the driving pulse generation control circuit 13, the output signals of the imaging unit 1 and the frame rate conversion unit 2 are as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 (that is, (a1) to (A4) is an imaging signal, and (b1) to (b4), (b1-1), (b1-2), (b2-1), and (b2-2) are signals after frame rate conversion) . As can be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, according to the fourth embodiment, since the imaging signals of various frame rates are all output at the frame rate interval of the imaging signal of 60P, the output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2 All generate a delay time of one frame of 60P, can suppress the delay of the output signal, and the delay amount can be made the same in the case of imaging signals of all rates.

  In addition, by setting the rate of the output signal of the imaging unit 1 and the rate of the frame rate conversion unit 2 to be the same (60P), it is not necessary to adjust the timing of writing and reading of the frame memory corresponding to a plurality of rates. Therefore, the circuit operation in the frame rate conversion unit 2 can be stabilized.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 14, 1 is an imaging unit that outputs P signals of various frame rates, 2 is a frame rate conversion unit that converts an output signal of the imaging unit 1 into a predetermined frame rate, and 3 is an output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2 4 is a reproducing device for reproducing the signal recorded by the recording device 3, and 14 is a flag signal generating unit for generating a flag signal indicating a frame switching in the output signal of the frame rate converting unit 2. .

  The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the imaging apparatus includes a flag signal generation unit 14 in addition to the imaging unit 1 and the frame rate conversion unit 2. The other circuits are substantially the same, and the operation is also the same.

  The operation of the cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 5 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15, 16, and 17. FIG.

  In Embodiment 1 or the like of the present invention, the playback device 4 selects the necessary frame signal according to a predetermined rule based on the synchronization signals H1, V1, H2, and V2 for detecting the position of each frame change in the playback device. The reproduction operation is performed by a method such as switching the frame selection operation with a switch in accordance with the frame rate of the imaging signal and the frame rate of the reproduction apparatus. Such an operation can be easily performed in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  The flag signal generation unit 14 outputs a flag signal f indicating the transition of the frame of the signal output from the frame rate conversion unit 2, and the flag signal itself is recorded by the recording device 3 in the same manner as the signal from the frame conversion unit 2. . Based on this flag signal, the reproducing apparatus 4 selects a necessary frame signal and performs a predetermined operation. A method of generating the flag signal will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 15A and 15G are block diagrams showing an example of the internal configuration of the flag signal generator 14. In FIG. 15, 15 is a frequency dividing circuit, 16 is an OR circuit, and 17 is a 1-bit counter.

  For example, when the output of the frame rate conversion unit 2 is 60P rate ((b) in the figure), the recording device 3 also records at 60P rate, and the original frame rate of the imaging unit 1 is 20P ((e) in the same figure). The signal of the recording device 3 is as shown in FIG. At this time, the switching of the frames is as shown in FIG. 5F, and in this case, it can be obtained by simply dividing the vertical synchronization of the original image pickup signal. The point at which the signal switches between low (LOW) and high (HIGH) of the divided signal is a frame switching point. Thus, the output signal rate of the frame rate conversion unit 2 is 60P, and the original frame rate of the imaging unit 1 is 1 / m (m is an integer of 1 or more) with respect to the frame rate of 60P such as 20P and 30P. When the condition is satisfied, the flag signal generating unit can be easily configured by the frequency dividing circuit 15 or the like shown in FIG.

  In addition, when the output signal of the imaging unit 1 described in FIG. 7 of the second embodiment also includes signals such as 24P and 48P, the above condition is not satisfied. In this case, as shown in FIG. The frame memory read enable signal used in the frame rate conversion unit 2, for example, when 48P, the change in the signals of R1, R2, and R3 ((i) in the figure) corresponds to the switching of the frame. The signal may be used as a frame switching signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 5G, the OR circuit 16 and the 1-bit counter 17 using the output signal of the OR circuit 16 as a clock can be simply configured. The LOW and HIGH of the output of the 1-bit counter 17 ((j) in the figure) may be made to correspond as the frame switching signal ((f1) in the figure).

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the operation of the flag signal generation unit 14 switches frames for various imaging signal rates and output signals of the frame rate conversion unit 2 = signals of the recording device 3. Can be obtained. For example, a1 and a3 are imaging signal outputs in FIG. 16, b1 and b3 are signals after frame rate conversion, f1 and f3 are flag signals for frame switching, a1 and a2 are imaging signal outputs in FIG. 17, b1-1, b2-1 indicates a signal after frame rate conversion, and f1-1 and f2-1 indicate flag signals for frame switching.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, a frame switching flag signal can be created with a simple configuration, and the signal can be recorded in the recording device 3 together with the imaging signal. It is not necessary to separately provide information such as the synchronization signal of the recording apparatus 3. Further, it is not necessary to provide the playback device 4 with a switch or the like for switching the operation according to the frame rate of the imaging unit 1, and the cinema signal playback operation is automatically performed even if the frame rate of the imaging unit 1 changes variously. I can do it.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 18, 1 is an imaging unit that outputs P signals of various frame rates, 2 is a frame rate conversion unit that converts an output signal of the imaging unit 2 into a predetermined frame rate, and 3 is an output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2 4 is a reproducing device for reproducing the signal recorded by the recording device 3, 14 is a flag signal generating unit indicating the switching of frames in the output signal of the frame rate converting unit 2, and 18 is a flag signal generating unit. 14 is a flag signal conversion / addition unit that converts the flag signal output from 14 and adds the signal to the signal converted by the frame rate conversion unit 2.

  The sixth embodiment is different from the first and fifth embodiments in that the imaging apparatus includes a flag signal generation unit 14, a flag signal conversion / addition unit 18 in addition to the imaging unit 1 and the frame rate conversion unit 2. It is a prepared point. The other circuits are substantially the same, and the operation is also the same.

  The operation of the cinema signal creation system according to Embodiment 6 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the flag signal conversion / addition unit 18 and an explanatory diagram of the conversion. 19 is a delay circuit that delays for a predetermined time, 20 is an EXOR (exclusive OR) circuit, and 21 is an addition. It is a vessel. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of adding a flag signal to an imaging signal.

  The flag signal conversion / addition unit 18 is constituted by, for example, a circuit shown in FIG. Here, when the flag signal f indicating the switching of frames shown in FIG. 5B is input to the delay circuit 19, it is delayed by a predetermined time as shown in FIG. For example, a delay of several H (H is one horizontal scanning period) is given. This signal and the original flag signal are processed by an EXOR (exclusive OR) circuit 20 to output a conversion signal shown in FIG.

  This signal is a signal that becomes HIGH for several H periods at the beginning or end of the frame when the frame is switched. This signal is added to the imaging signal whose frame rate has been converted by the adder 21 and is output to the recording apparatus 3.

  FIG. 20 shows an example of adding the converted flag signal to the imaging signal, and shows the case of the 48P imaging signal and the 24P imaging signal. The outputs of the imaging unit 1 are as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4A, and this signal is converted by the frame rate conversion unit 2 into a frame rate of 60P. The switching of frames at this time is as shown in (f1-1) and (f2-1) in the figure according to the output signal of the flag signal generator 14. This signal is converted by the flag signal conversion / addition unit 18 described above, and added to the output signal of the frame rate conversion unit 2 to obtain signals (g1) and (g2). As can be seen from these signals, it can be seen that the flag signal is added to the shaded portion in the figure corresponding to the beginning of the frame switching (frame number switching). These signals are recorded by the recording device 3.

The playback device 4 selects a frame based on the flag signal recorded together with the signal,
A process such as duplication is performed, and the 24P cinema signal is reproduced as in the third and fifth embodiments of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, since the flag signal indicating the switching of frames is added to the imaging signal itself and recorded, similarly to the fifth embodiment, the imaging unit 1 to the playback device 4 and There is no need to separately provide information such as a synchronization signal of the recording device 3, and the playback device 4 does not have to be provided with a switch or the like for switching the operation in accordance with the frame rate of the imaging unit 1. Further, even if the frame rate of the imaging unit 1 changes variously, it is possible to automatically perform a cinema signal reproduction operation.

  Further, compared to the fifth embodiment, a delay for adjusting a delay time due to a processing time of an imaging signal until recording is performed between the imaging device and the recording device in addition to a signal flag signal interface and the recording device. No circuit or the like is required, and the circuit configuration is simplified.

  Needless to say, the delay amount of the delay circuit 19 of the flag signal conversion / addition unit 18 is not limited to the number H in the present embodiment, and may be set to an appropriate time that can be detected by the reproducing apparatus 4. Needless to say, the position where the signals are added may be set at an appropriate place other than the effective period of the imaging signal.

  Further, in consideration of peripheral devices for checking the imaging device, etc., in all the embodiments, the output of the frame rate conversion unit 2 is 60P, and the output of the playback device 4 is 24P for obtaining a cinema signal. Needless to say, the 2-3 pull down format (60P frame rate) is preferable.

  In all the embodiments, when the output signal from the playback device 4 is a 2-3P pull-down format (60P frame rate) 24P signal, the original cinema signal (24P Needless to say, the frame rate can be converted.

  In all of the embodiments, it goes without saying that the recording device and the reproducing device are not limited to the VTR integrated imaging device or the VTR of the stationary machine, but may be a non-linear device such as a hard disk or a disk device such as an optical disk.

  The cinema signal generation system according to the present invention uses a VTR integrated image pickup apparatus equipped with an image pickup apparatus and a recording apparatus, a VTR of a stationary machine, a non-linear apparatus such as a hard disk or a disk apparatus such as an optical disk as a recording apparatus and a playback apparatus. It is effective for an electronic cinema system that takes and processes a movie electronically instead of film.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the cinema signal production system by Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the frame rate conversion part of the cinema signal production system Signal waveform diagram explaining the operation of the frame rate converter of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram of each part explaining the operation of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram of each part explaining the operation of the cinema signal creation system The block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the frame rate conversion part of the cinema signal production system by Embodiment 2 of this invention Signal conceptual diagram explaining the operation of the frame rate conversion unit of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining the operation of the frame rate conversion unit of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining the output signal of the playback device of the cinema signal creation system according to the third embodiment of the present invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the cinema signal production system by Embodiment 4 of this invention. Signal waveform diagram explaining the operation of the drive pulse generation control circuit of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining output signals of imaging unit and frame rate conversion unit of same cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining output signals of imaging unit and frame rate conversion unit of same cinema signal creation system The block diagram which shows the structure of the cinema signal production system by Embodiment 5 of this invention. Explanatory diagram showing the internal configuration and operation of the flag signal generator of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining the operation of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram explaining the operation of the cinema signal creation system Block diagram showing a configuration of a cinema signal creation system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention Explanatory drawing showing the internal structure and operation of the flag signal conversion and addition unit of the cinema signal creation system Signal conceptual diagram for explaining the state of the flag signal added to the imaging signal of the cinema signal creation system Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional cinema signal creation system Signal waveform diagram of each part in conventional cinema signal creation system Signal waveform diagram of each part in conventional cinema signal creation system

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up part 2 Frame rate conversion part 3 Recording apparatus 4 Playback apparatus 5, 6, 9 Frame memory 7, 10 Frame memory control circuit 8, 12 Switching circuit 11 Frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit 13 Drive pulse generation control circuit 14 Flag signal generation Unit 18 Flag signal conversion and addition unit

Claims (5)

An imaging unit that outputs progressive imaging signals of various frame rates;
A frame rate conversion unit that converts the image signal of the various frame rates output from the image capture unit into a predetermined frame rate equal to or higher than the various frame rates by duplicating a signal of a part or all of the frames, and outputs the frame rate; An imaging apparatus having The frame rate conversion unit includes a frame rate conversion ratio calculation circuit that calculates a ratio between a frame rate before conversion and a frame rate after conversion, and the conversion ratio is n / m (n and m are integers, and n ≦ m In addition, when n is 1 before conversion and m is after conversion, when n is 1, each frame signal of the frame rate before conversion is converted (m−1) times at the frame rate after conversion. When n is not 1, a part of the signal of n frame so that the time of n frame of the signal of the frame rate before conversion matches the time of m frame of the frame rate after conversion when n is not 1. Alternatively, all frame signals are copied and output at the converted frame rate so that the total number of replicas is (mn), and converted so that a regular frame signal sequence is created every m frames. It is characterized by The imaging device according to claim 1. When the imaging unit has a solid-state image sensor and outputs progressive signals of various frame rates by controlling the accumulation time, the drive pulse that drives the solid-state image sensor is stored, and the readout pulse is stored to obtain a desired frame rate. A drive pulse generation control circuit that outputs at a rate of time and outputs the horizontal and vertical transfer pulse rates so that the output signal of the solid-state imaging device is the same as the frame rate after conversion by the frame rate conversion unit The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The flag signal generation unit according to claim 1, further comprising a flag signal generation unit that generates and outputs a flag signal indicating a change point at which the signal group of the frame duplicated by the frame rate conversion unit changes to the signal group of the next frame. Cinema signal creation system. A flag signal generation unit that generates a flag signal indicating a change point at which a signal group of a frame copied by the frame rate conversion unit changes to a signal group of the next frame; and a frame rate conversion unit that receives an output signal of the flag signal generation unit 3. The cinema signal generation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a flag signal conversion and addition circuit that converts and adds the flag signal in a signal period other than the effective period of the imaging signal output from the image signal. .

Images