JP2009188507A - Image pickup apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup apparatus reducing deterioration in resolution feeling of an image and deterioration in stability when the image is viewed using a large-screen monitor and enabling a user to view an image at a necessary and sufficient image size. <P>SOLUTION: The image pickup apparatus includes a function of outputting a picked-up image as an external output video signal to an external apparatus. The image pickup apparatus is provided with a designating means for designating a reduction ratio when the external output video signal is output, and a determining means for determining whether or not the reduction ratio is designated by the designating means. Further, the image pickup apparatus is provided with a reducing means for reducing the image region of the external output video signal into a designated reduction ratio when the determining means determines that the reduction ratio is designated, and a display means for displaying an image which is not reduced even if the determining means determines that the reduction ratio is designated. In the display means, an LCD main monitor and an LCD finder section 36 have the function. In the other means, a control section 38 includes the function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  There is a system in which a digital video camera as an imaging device is connected to an external device such as a television monitor, and a captured (captured) image is viewed on the external device. Furthermore, when you want to check the details of an image or when you want to concentrate on a specific location, the output video on the digital video camera is enlarged by the video processing circuit in the video camera and output to an external device. There is technology. Regarding the expansion of the external output video signal, various prior arts are disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1).

On the other hand, in recent years, liquid crystal televisions, plasma displays, and the like are becoming larger, thinner, lighter, and lower in price. Along with this, there are an increasing number of cases where a digital video camera and a large screen monitor are connected to play back and view the captured images.
JP 2006-80916 A

  However, as described above, the following problems occur in the case where a digital video camera and a large screen monitor are connected to reproduce and view a captured image.

  The first point is a reduction in the resolution of the video. In the SD format, which is a recording method for a digital video camera that is generally used, it can be said that a 28-inch monitor has a certain level of resolution, but a resolution of 32 to 50 is sufficient. It's hard to get a feeling.

  Furthermore, block noise peculiar to MPEG compression may be conspicuous in a DVD video camera or the like that records MPEG-compressed video on a DVD, which has recently become popular.

  As described above, on a large screen monitor, the resolution of video may be reduced.

  The second point is a decrease in the stability of the video. Conventionally, there is a “camera shake” as a problem of a video camera. Some video cameras are equipped with various camera shake correction functions, but this is only a correction function and does not mean that camera shake remains completely in the recorded image.

  Playback on a large-screen monitor feels this camera shake being visually enhanced. Furthermore, shooting of general users, not professional photographers, especially users who are unfamiliar with shooting, tends to have a high frequency of sudden changes in the angle of view due to heavy use of pan, tilt, and zoom. Such a sudden change in the angle of view is further visually enhanced on a large screen monitor.

  As described above, on a large screen monitor, camera shake and frequent sudden changes in the angle of view are emphasized, so that the sense of stability of the image may be reduced.

  The third point is that it may not be necessary to see the image to be played on the entire large screen monitor. Increasing numbers of TVs are placed in a relatively narrow space than before due to the reduction in thickness, weight and price of TVs.

  Therefore, it can be considered that there are cases in which viewing is performed at a relatively short distance with respect to the large screen monitor or when the large screen monitor is viewed alone. In such a case, it may not be necessary to view the reproduced image on the entire large screen monitor.

  When viewing the playback image by connecting the external output of the digital video camera to the large screen monitor, the above-mentioned problems occur.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can reduce a decrease in resolution and a decrease in stability due to viewing on a large-screen monitor, and can be viewed with a user's necessary and sufficient image size.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus according to claim 1 is reduced when the external output video signal is output in an imaging apparatus having a function of outputting a captured image as an external output video signal to an external device. A designating unit for designating a rate; a judging unit for judging whether the reduction rate is designated by the designating unit; and the external output when the judgment unit judges that the reduction rate is designated. A reduction unit that reduces the image area of the video signal to the specified reduction rate; and a display unit that displays an image that does not reduce even when the determination unit determines that the reduction rate is specified. Features.

  According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce a decrease in resolution and a decrease in stability due to viewing on a large screen monitor, and it is possible to view with a necessary and sufficient image size of the user.

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

  FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a digital video camera as an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the digital video camera as an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. is there.

  A digital video camera 11 having a function of outputting a captured image to an external device as an external output video signal includes a lens 12, a zoom key 13 for performing a zoom operation, a trigger key 14 for moving images and still images, and various menus shown in FIG. A menu key 15 for switching between is provided. The zoom key 13 can perform two operations on the telephoto side (T notation in the figure) and the vicinity side (W notation in the figure).

  In addition, the digital video camera 11 includes an LCD main monitor 21, an LCD finder 22, and an external video output terminal 23 for outputting video to an external monitor as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the digital video camera shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration will be described together with the operation.

  The subject image passes through the lens 12, is converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor 32, and enters the camera signal processing 33. The electric signal subjected to image quality correction and noise reduction by the camera signal processing unit 33 enters the video signal processing unit 34, is processed as a video signal, and is recorded on the recording medium 35 (magnetic tape, DVD, HDD, semiconductor memory, etc.). Record and play back.

  Further, the video signal processing unit 34 supplies a video signal to the LCD main monitor / LCD finder unit 36 and the external video output unit 37 for confirming a photographed image and viewing a reproduced image. Furthermore, the video signal processing unit 34 superimposes and outputs character information (including time code, shooting date / time, recording format, media information, battery level, etc.) on the video signal, and enlargement / reduction processing of the reproduced image With the ability to do.

  The digital video camera includes a control unit 38 for controlling each of the above components, and an operation input unit 39 for performing various inputs to the control unit 38.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of external output mode processing executed by the digital video camera shown in FIG.

  First, a connection with an external device is detected and an external output mode is entered. At this time, when the reduction ratio is set from a dedicated button (key) of the operation input unit 39 or a command in the menu, whether or not the reduction ratio R is specified. Is determined (step S41).

  The operation input unit 39 functions as a designation unit that designates a reduction ratio when an external output video signal is output. Step S41 functions as a determination unit that determines whether the reduction rate is specified by the specification unit.

  When the reduction ratio R is not designated (NO in step S41), external output is performed as it is without reducing as shown in FIG. 5 (step S48).

  When the reduction ratio R is designated (YES in step S41), the following processing is performed.

  When 1> reduction ratio R> threshold value a with respect to a predetermined threshold value a (for example, 0.75, that is, 75% reduction) (step S42), the image area of the external output video signal is set to R as shown in FIG. Reduce to double. At this time, the text information to be superimposed is reduced and output (step S43).

  When threshold value a ≧ reduction ratio R> threshold value b (step S44) with respect to a predetermined threshold value b (for example, 0.5, ie, 50% reduction), character information to be superimposed is specified in advance as shown in FIG. Move to the position and change the size of the characters and symbols to the size specified in advance. Only the image area is reduced according to the reduction ratio R (step S45).

  When the threshold value b ≧ the reduction ratio R (step S46), as shown in FIG. 8, the image area is fixed by the reduction to the threshold value b times, and no further reduction is performed (step S47).

  Steps S43, S45, and S47 function as a reduction unit that reduces the image area of the external output video signal to the specified reduction rate when the determination unit determines that the reduction rate is specified.

  In steps S45 and S47, when the reduction ratio exceeding a certain reduction ratio is designated by the designation means, the character information to be superimposed on the external output video signal is moved to an area that is no longer used due to the reduction of the image area. Functions as a moving means. Here, the character information includes a time code, a shooting date and time, a recording format, media information, and a remaining battery level.

  As described above, the reduction of the external output video signal and the position of the superimposed character information are controlled according to the designated reduction ratio, and the external output is started (step S48). If an operation for specifying the reduction ratio R again is performed during external output (YES in step S49), the external output is controlled again according to the reduction ratio.

  If the operation for designating the reduction ratio R again is not performed during external output (NO in step S49), external output (external video output) is stopped (step S50), and this process is terminated.

  In any of the above (steps S43, S45, S47), the video signals to the LCD main monitor 21 and the LCD finder 22 are supplied and displayed as they are without being reduced.

  The LCD main monitor 21 and the LCD finder 22 function as display means for displaying an image that is not reduced even when it is determined by the determination means that the reduction ratio is designated.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the reduction ratio may be added to the character information. Although the operation when the reduction ratio is designated has been described, when the enlargement ratio is set, the reproduction image enlargement of only the external output video signal may be performed similarly to the reduction, or the LCD main monitor. 21, the video signal to the LCD finder 22 may be enlarged.

  Depending on the performance of the video signal processing unit 34, it may be assumed that the image cannot be continuously reduced. In such a case, only several stages of reduction may be accepted, or a possible reduction ratio may be prepared in a button or menu.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the digital video camera 11 is connected to a large-screen monitor and an external output image is viewed, the reduction in resolution and stability caused by the large-screen monitor is reduced. Can be reduced. In addition, the image can be viewed in a necessary and sufficient size without being limited by the screen size of the large screen monitor.

  Further, in the display unit (LCD main monitor 21, LCD finder 22) of the digital video camera, the visibility and operability of the display unit can be maintained by not reducing the image.

  In addition, when the image is reduced beyond a certain reduction ratio, both the reproduced image and the character information are visually recognized by automatically moving the character information superimposed on the blank area generated by reducing the image display area. Can be improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, a dedicated button or a command in the menu is used to specify the enlargement / reduction ratio for the video signal processing unit 34. However, the zoom key 13 for adjusting the angle of view used when shooting with the digital video camera 11 is enlarged during reproduction. It can also be used as a reduction ratio designating part.

  An operation system similar to a known method of operating an enlargement ratio of an image at the time of external output with a zoom key 13 for adjusting the angle of view. It can be.

  There are various definitions of the amount of change in the reduction ratio with respect to the operation amount of the zoom key 13. For example, the zoom key 13 is held on the telephoto side (T notation in the figure) and the vicinity side (W notation in the figure). It is conceivable to enlarge / reduce according to time.

  Specifically, the time held on the telephoto side is counted and the enlargement rate is set to + 10% every 1 second, and the time held on the near side is counted and the reduction rate is set to −10% every time 1 second passes. Etc. are considered.

It is a front side perspective view of the digital video camera as an imaging device concerning an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a rear perspective view of a digital video camera as an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block block diagram of the digital video camera of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the external output mode process performed with the digital video camera of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of video output from the digital video camera of FIG. 2 to the outside (1). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image | video output from the digital video camera of FIG. 2 to the exterior (2). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image | video output from the digital video camera of FIG. 2 to the exterior (3). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image | video output from the digital video camera of FIG. 2 to the exterior (4). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the image | video output from the digital video camera of FIG. 2 to the exterior (5).

Explanation of symbols

11 Digital Video Camera 12 Lens 13 Zoom Key 21 LCD Main Monitor 22 LCD Finder 32 Image Sensor 33 Camera Signal Processing Unit 34 Video Signal Processing Unit 35 Recording Media 36 LCD Main Monitor / LCD Finder Unit 37 External Output Video Output Unit 38 Control Unit 39 Operation Input section

Claims (4)

In an imaging device having a function of outputting a captured image as an external output video signal to an external device,
Designating means for designating a reduction ratio when the external output video signal is output;
Determining means for determining whether or not the reduction ratio is specified by the specifying means;
Reduction means for reducing the image area of the external output video signal to the specified reduction ratio when the determination means determines that the reduction ratio is specified;
Display means for displaying an image that is not reduced even when it is determined by the determination means that the reduction ratio is designated;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   Moving means for moving character information to be superimposed on the external output video signal to an area that is no longer used due to the reduction of the image area when the reduction ratio exceeding a certain reduction ratio is specified by the specifying means The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the character information includes a time code, a shooting date / time, a recording format, media information, and a remaining battery level.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit also serves as a zoom key for angle of view adjustment.

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