JP2009017607A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of improving operability, when enlarging and displaying a section of a moving image. <P>SOLUTION: When enlarging and displaying a part of a playback image, a switch 9 is connected to the side of a terminal A, a liquid crystal monitor 6 of an imaging apparatus displays thereon an image, to which a selection frame indicating a region to be enlarged, is added; and on an external TV monitor 7, on the other hand, the image enlarged by a special effect circuit 3a is displayed. A user can easily confirm the region to be enlarged from the selection frame displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 6, so that a moving object can be followed without losing sight, and an enlarged image thereof can be viewed on the external TV monitor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that records and reproduces image information, and particularly relates to an image pickup apparatus that includes a zoom function for enlarging and displaying a part of an image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional imaging apparatus having a reproduction zoom function for enlarging and displaying a part of a reproduction image. In FIG. 4, the imaging apparatus includes an imaging element 101 such as a CCD,
A signal processing circuit 102 that generates a luminance signal and a color difference signal from a signal from the image sensor 1 and adjusts image quality such as gamma correction and contour correction and detects information necessary for an auto function such as focus and white balance. A special effect circuit 103 that performs processing for adding special effects such as electronic zoom and wipe fader, and an RGB signal for encoding processing to an NTSC signal and LCD monitor output, and a digital signal to an analog signal Interface circuit 104 that converts and outputs an image to a liquid crystal monitor or an external TV monitor, a process of compressing the recorded image according to the recording method such as the interface circuit 104 and DV format, and restoring the compressed signal at the time of reproduction A compression / decompression circuit 105 for performing the operation and a liquid crystal monitor 10
6 and a recording medium 108 on which image information is recorded. FIG. 4 shows a state where the external TV monitor 107 is connected.

In this conventional image pickup apparatus, at the time of shooting, an image signal that is given an effect such as electronic zoom by the special effect circuit 103 from the image pickup element 101 via the signal processing circuit 102 is supplied to the liquid crystal monitor of the main body via the interface circuit 104. 106 and the external TV monitor 107, and the signal processed by the compression / decompression circuit 105 is recorded on the recording medium 108.

On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, the compressed signal reproduced from the recording medium 108 is returned to an uncompressed signal by the compression / decompression circuit 105, and an effect such as electronic zoom is given by the special effect circuit 103 as necessary. Via the LCD monitor 106 of the main body and the external TV monitor 1
Is output to 07 (indicated by a bold line in the figure).

A function called playback zoom that magnifies and displays part of the screen during playback has already been commercialized. As shown in FIG. 5, in the image as shown in FIG. 5 (a) during normal playback, an area surrounded by a frame (FIG. 5 (b)) that the user wants to enlarge is enlarged by electronic zoom. The image shown in FIG. 6C is output to the liquid crystal monitor 106 and the external TV monitor 107 of the main body.
An imaging apparatus having a playback zoom function is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.
JP 7-46534 A

In the above-described conventional apparatus, since the image to be enlarged is small, the enlargement ratio is high, and when the image is moving, it is not easy to follow the enlargement area according to the image. When it is lost, it is necessary to lower the enlargement ratio once, and there is a problem that the operability is poor.

The present invention has been made paying attention to this point, and an object thereof is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of improving the operability when a part of a moving image is enlarged and displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following apparatus.
(1) imaging means;
Up-conversion means for up-converting the supplied image into a high-definition image;
When outputting an image captured by the imaging unit to an external high-definition image display device capable of displaying a high-definition image, the captured image is supplied to the up-conversion unit and up-converted into a high-definition image. When the specified area of the image captured by the imaging unit is enlarged, the captured image is supplied to the up-conversion unit, and the up-conversion unit functions as a zoom unit to Control means for enlarging,
An imaging device comprising:
(2) image display means;
Frame adding means for adding a frame indicating the designated area to the supplied image;
Further comprising
The control means includes
When the captured image is enlarged and displayed, if an external image display device is connected, the up-conversion unit functions as a zoom unit, and the image of the region within the frame indicating the designated region is enlarged Is supplied to the external image display device, and an image in which a frame indicating the designated area is added by the frame adding means is supplied to the image display means.
The imaging apparatus according to (1), characterized in that:
(3) It further has recording / reproducing means for recording the supplied image on a recording medium and reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium,
The control means includes
When recording the captured image, supply the captured image to the recording / reproducing unit via the up-conversion unit,
When outputting an image recorded on the recording medium to an external high-definition image display device capable of displaying a high-definition image, the reproduced image obtained by reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium by the recording / reproducing means is Supply to up-conversion means, up-convert to high-definition image and output,
When enlarging the designated area of the reproduction image, the reproduction image is supplied to the up-conversion means, and the up-conversion means functions as a zoom means to enlarge the designated area.
The imaging apparatus according to (1), characterized in that:
(4) image display means;
Frame adding means for adding a frame indicating the designated area to the supplied image;
Further comprising
The control means includes
When the captured image or the reproduced image is enlarged and displayed, if the external high-definition image display device is connected, the up-converting unit functions as a zooming unit, and the region within the frame indicating the designated region An image obtained by enlarging the image is supplied to the external image display device, and an image to which a frame indicating the designated area is added by the frame adding unit is supplied to the image display unit.
The image pickup apparatus according to (3), wherein
(5) further comprising down-converting means for down-converting the supplied image into a low-definition image;
The control means includes
When outputting the captured image to the image display means or an external low-definition image display device capable of displaying only a low-definition image, the captured image is down-converted to the low-definition image by the down-convert means. Output after
The imaging apparatus according to (2) above, wherein
(6) further comprising down-converting means for down-converting the supplied image into a low-definition image;
The control means includes
When outputting the captured image to the image display means or an external low-definition image display device capable of displaying only a low-definition image, the captured image is down-converted to the low-definition image by the down-convert means. Output after
The imaging apparatus according to (6), characterized in that:

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the external image display device is connected, a frame indicating the area to be enlarged is displayed on the image display means of the main body, and the frame is indicated on the external image display device. An enlarged playback image of the area to be displayed is displayed. Therefore, the moving object can be tracked by the image display means of the main body, the enlarged image can be viewed by the external image display device, and the operability when using the zoom function can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In FIG. 4, the image pickup device 1, the signal processing circuit 2, the compression / decompression circuit 5, the liquid crystal monitor 6, and the recording medium 8 are the image pickup device 101, the signal processing circuit 102, the compression / expansion circuit 105, shown in FIG.
It corresponds to the liquid crystal monitor 106 and the recording medium 108 and has the same function. The imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1 further includes a special effect unit 3, a selection frame adding circuit 10, and interface circuits 4a and 4b.

The special effect unit 3 includes a special effect circuit 3a having the same function as the special effect circuit 103 of FIG. The selection frame addition circuit 10 adds a frame indicating the area to be enlarged to the reproduction image when performing reproduction zoom for enlarging a partial area of the reproduction image. When shooting,
The input signal is output as it is. The interface circuits 4a and 4b output images to the liquid crystal monitor 6 and the external TV monitor 7, respectively.

At the time of shooting, a signal passing through the signal processing circuit 2 from the image sensor 1 is input to the special effect circuit 3a, and processing such as electronic zooming is performed. The output signal of the special effect circuit 3 a is output to the external TV monitor 7 through the interface circuit 4 a and is recorded on the recording medium 8 through the compression / decompression circuit 5. The output signal of the special effect circuit 3a is supplied to the terminal B of the switch 9,
In a state where the terminal B side of the switch 9 is selected, it passes through the selection frame addition circuit 10 and the interface circuit 4a and is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body.

During reproduction, the compressed data output from the recording medium 8 is converted back to an uncompressed signal by the compression / decompression circuit 5, and processing such as electronic zoom is performed by the special effect circuit 3a. It is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6 and the external TV monitor 7 (switch 9 in the bold line display in the figure).
Is a state in which the terminal B side is connected).

Normally, the usage of the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body during playback is to check the captured image and to watch in the absence of an external TV monitor, but the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body has a small screen size and resolution. Therefore, it is rare to use the playback zoom function when viewing with the liquid crystal monitor 6 alone. Further, when performing playback zoom when an external TV monitor is connected, it is usually unnecessary to look at the liquid crystal monitor 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the external TV monitor 7 is connected at the time of reproduction, the switch 9 selects the terminal A side on which the electronic zoom is not performed, and the selection frame addition circuit 10 performs the electronic zoom. Only the display such as the white frame shown is added to the input image signal, and the signal after the addition processing is output to the liquid crystal monitor 6. FIG. 2 shows an output image at the time of reproduction zoom when the switch 9 is connected to the terminal A side and display is performed in the area to be enlarged. FIG. 2A shows an image before zooming, and FIG. 2B shows a region that the user wants to enlarge with a white frame. FIG. 2C shows an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body, and FIG. 2D shows an image displayed on the external TV monitor 7.

As described above, when the external monitor 7 is connected, the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body does not display the actual zoomed image, but only displays the selected area being zoomed.
For tracking the moving image, the liquid crystal monitor 6 built in the main body is used, and the external TV monitor 7 is used for viewing thereof, thereby facilitating the operation for following the moving image.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This apparatus includes an image sensor 1, a signal processing circuit 2, a selection frame adding circuit 10, a compression / decompression circuit 5, a liquid crystal monitor 6, and a recording medium 8. These functions are the same as those shown in FIG. . The interface circuit 4 outputs an image to the liquid crystal monitor 6 and the external TV monitor 7. The special effect circuit 3b does not perform the electronic zoom process and performs other special processes.

The image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment has an image of interlace scanning with 1125 scanning lines and a scanning line 750.
A high-definition image (hereinafter referred to as “HD image”) such as a progressive scan image is recorded in the book, and the HD image is down-converted to the liquid crystal monitor 6 or an external TV monitor 7 for NTSC signal (converted to an NTSC signal). Output image signal). That is, FIG.
Is further provided with a down-conversion circuit 11, an up-conversion circuit 12, and an interface circuit 13 for outputting an image to an external HDTV monitor 14 for HD images.

The down-conversion circuit 11 is a circuit that converts an input image signal into an NTSC signal, and the up-conversion circuit 12 is a circuit that converts an input image signal into an HD image signal.

A portion indicated by a thick line in FIG. 3 is a signal flow during reproduction. The down-conversion circuit 11 and the up-conversion circuit 12 have a horizontal / vertical image size conversion function in order to convert the broadcasting system. Therefore, when performing playback zoom in the present embodiment, zoom processing is performed by the up-conversion circuit 12 that outputs HD images, and the liquid crystal monitor 6 of the main body and the NT
The down-conversion circuit 11 that outputs the SC signal to the external TV monitor 7 does not perform zoom processing, but only displays the area that is being zoomed by the up-conversion circuit 12, using the selection frame addition circuit 10. As a result, an image showing only the zoom range is output without zooming to the liquid crystal monitor 6 of the main body and the external TV monitor 7 of the NTSC signal, and viewing of the zoomed image can be performed on the HDTV monitor 14. Therefore, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

Of course, in this case as well, by configuring so that the same signal flow as in the first embodiment can be realized, only the display of the selection frame is performed without zooming only the liquid crystal monitor built in the main body. Is also possible.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which zooming is performed at the time of reproduction is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a case where zooming is performed at the time of recording or when only the camera is operated.
In the first and second embodiments described above, playback zoom has been described. However, an advantage is obtained by displaying an unprocessed image on the liquid crystal monitor of the main body and outputting the processed image on an external TV monitor. Needless to say, the present invention is applicable when there is a function that can be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a zoom function. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional imaging device. It is a figure for demonstrating a zoom function.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pick-up element 2 Signal processing circuit 3 Special effect part 3a Special effect circuit (zoom means)
4a interface circuit 4b interface circuit (external image display means)
6 LCD monitor (image display means)
7 External TV monitor (external image display device)
9 Switch (control means)
10 Selection frame addition circuit (frame display means)

Claims (6)

Imaging means;
Up-conversion means for up-converting the supplied image into a high-definition image;
When outputting an image captured by the imaging unit to an external high-definition image display device capable of displaying a high-definition image, the captured image is supplied to the up-conversion unit and up-converted into a high-definition image. When the specified area of the image captured by the imaging unit is enlarged, the captured image is supplied to the up-conversion unit, and the up-conversion unit functions as a zoom unit to Control means for enlarging,
An imaging device comprising: Image display means;
A frame adding means for adding a frame indicating the designated area to the supplied image;
Further comprising
The control means includes
When the captured image is enlarged and displayed, if an external image display device is connected, the up-conversion unit functions as a zoom unit, and the image of the region within the frame indicating the designated region is enlarged Is supplied to the external image display device, and an image in which a frame indicating the designated area is added by the frame adding means is supplied to the image display means.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. A recording / reproducing unit that records the supplied image on a recording medium and reproduces the image recorded on the recording medium;
The control means includes
When recording the captured image, supply the captured image to the recording / reproducing unit via the up-conversion unit,
When outputting an image recorded on the recording medium to an external high-definition image display device capable of displaying a high-definition image, the reproduced image obtained by reproducing the image recorded on the recording medium by the recording / reproducing means is Supply to up-conversion means, up-convert to high-definition image and output,
When enlarging the designated area of the reproduced image, the reproduced image is supplied to the up-conversion unit, and the up-converting unit functions as a zoom unit to enlarge the designated area.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1. Image display means;
A frame adding means for adding a frame indicating the designated area to the supplied image;
Further comprising
The control means includes
When the captured image or the reproduced image is enlarged and displayed, if the external high-definition image display device is connected, the up-converting unit functions as a zooming unit, and the region within the frame indicating the designated region An image obtained by enlarging the image is supplied to the external image display device, and an image to which a frame indicating the designated area is added by the frame adding unit is supplied to the image display unit.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: Further comprising down-converting means for down-converting the supplied image into a low-definition image;
The control means includes
When outputting the captured image to the image display means or an external low-definition image display device capable of displaying only a low-definition image, the captured image is down-converted to the low-definition image by the down-convert means. Output after
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2. Further comprising down-converting means for down-converting the supplied image into a low-definition image;
The control means includes
When outputting the captured image to the image display means or an external low-definition image display device capable of displaying only a low-definition image, the captured image is down-converted to the low-definition image by the down-convert means. Output after
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4.

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