JP2009189065A - Video camera and information transmitting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video camera by which the behavior of an object is photographed and it can be confirmed by an external apparatus through networks. <P>SOLUTION: A DVC deck 22 reproduces first image signals recorded on a recording medium. The section from an optics system 11 to a signal processing circuit 14 takes images of an object as second images and output them while the first image signals are being displayed on a display 24. A camera/JPEG encoder 17 produces composite image signals by composing the first image signals and the second image signals. A wireless LAN card 41 transmits the composite image signals to a client through networks. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video camera and an information transmission method, and more particularly to a video camera with a media playback function having a network connection function and an information transmission method.

  A video camera with a VTR (video integrated type VTR) has a function of recording and reproducing a video signal obtained by imaging with an image sensor on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape by a recording / reproducing mechanism provided in the main body. ing. In addition, as a video camera having a network connection function, an apparatus capable of communicating an image through a network and remotely controlling a shooting direction (pan / tilt) and a shooting magnification (zoom) of the camera has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-247637 JP-A-5-300511

  Incidentally, the conventional video camera having the network connection function described in Patent Document 1 does not have a device for controlling the media playback function, and unilaterally displays the video of the video camera on an external computer connected to the network. . In addition, remote control of the video camera by an external computer connected to the video camera via a network can only perform zooming, panning / tilting, etc. related to the video camera.

  In addition, since a conventional video camera with a VTR (video integrated VTR) does not have a network connection function, video and audio signals reproduced by the VTR can only be displayed and sounded inside the main body, and can be transmitted via the network. Cannot be sent to the outside.

  Furthermore, even if a video camera having the above network connection function and a conventional video camera with a VTR (video integrated VTR) are temporarily combined, the VTR is controlled remotely by an external computer or the like connected via the network. Video signals shot with the video camera cannot be sent to the network.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points. In addition to viewing images (still images, moving image streaming) from a network connection destination, a moving image obtained by playing a recording medium is displayed on a camera display unit and incorporated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video camera with a VTR that can reproduce sound by a speaker, capture the behavior of a subject with respect to the sound, and allow an external device to check the behavior via a network.

In order to achieve the above object, the video camera of the present invention includes an image pickup means for picking up an image of an object, an image reproduction means for reproducing a first image signal recorded on a recording medium, and the image reproduction means reproduced by the image reproduction means. A first image signal is combined with a second image signal obtained by imaging the subject by the imaging unit in a state where the display unit displays an image based on the first image signal reproduced by the image reproduction unit. An image synthesizing unit that generates a synthesized image signal and a transmission unit that transmits the synthesized image signal generated by the image synthesizing unit to a client via a network.
The image synthesizing unit synthesizes the first and second image signals in a state where an image based on the first image signal is smaller than an image based on the second image signal.
The apparatus further comprises a microphone that collects sound and a sound reproducing means for reproducing the first sound signal recorded on the recording medium, wherein the transmitting means reproduces the sound by the sound reproducing means in addition to the synthesized image signal. The voice signal of the voice collected by the microphone in a state where the voice based on the first voice signal is output from a speaker is transmitted to the client via the network.
An audio filter that outputs the first audio signal supplied to the speaker by performing a filtering process based on an audio transfer function from the speaker to the microphone, and an audio signal of the sound collected by the microphone Subtracting means for subtracting the output of the audio filter is further provided, wherein the transmitting means transmits the audio signal output from the subtracting means.

In order to achieve the above object, the information transmission method of the present invention reproduces the first image signal recorded on the recording medium and displays the image based on the first image signal on the display means. The subject is imaged with the display means being displayed, the reproduced first image signal and the second image signal obtained by imaging the subject are combined to generate a combined image signal, and the combined An image signal is transmitted to a client via a network.
The first and second image signals are synthesized in a state where an image based on the first image signal is smaller than an image based on the second image signal.
Reproducing the first audio signal recorded on the recording medium and outputting the sound by the first audio signal from a speaker, and collecting the sound by a microphone in a state where the sound is output from the speaker; In addition to the synthesized image signal, an audio signal of sound collected by the microphone is transmitted to the client via the network.
The first audio signal supplied to the speaker is subjected to a filtering process based on an audio transfer function from the speaker to the microphone, and the filtering process is performed from the audio signal of the sound collected by the microphone A subtracted audio signal is generated by subtracting the audio signal, and the subtracted audio signal is transmitted.

  According to the present invention, a moving image or sound obtained by reproducing a recording medium is displayed and pronounced on the video camera body, and a video signal or sound signal obtained by photographing the behavior of the subject with respect to the moving image or sound is transmitted via a communication network. Because it was sent to the client, the video and audio were played back from the recording medium inside the video camera body by remote control from the client, and they were viewed while displaying the image and sounding sound on the video camera body. It is possible to check the image and sound obtained by imaging and collecting the behavior of the subject with an external device (client) at a remote location of the network connection destination.

It is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the web page in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a picture in picture. It is a figure which shows an example of the audio | voice processing circuit of the principal part of FIG.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a block of an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention. This embodiment shows an example applied to a video camera with a VTR that can be connected to a network (camera-integrated VTR). Hereinafter, the operation of each mode of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) Camera moving image tape recording mode Incident light from a subject (not shown) whose angle of view, focus, and iris have been adjusted by the optical system 11 is incident on the image sensor 12 composed of a charge transfer device (CCD). An image is formed on the light receiving surface. The image sensor 12 is driven by a vertical drive signal and a horizontal drive signal, photoelectrically converts incident light, and outputs it in parallel as 2ch image data. The 2ch image data is image data divided into left and right at the center of the screen. These image data are sequentially subjected to S / N improvement processing by correlated double sampling (CDS), level adjustment processing by automatic gain control (AGC), and A / D conversion processing by an A / D converter in the AFE 13. It is output as a 2ch digital signal.

  The above 2ch digital signals are combined after gain and setup adjustment in the image processing circuit 14, combined into one image signal, and output. Here, the image processing circuit 14 is supplied with a clock signal of a constant frequency that is oscillated and output by an oscillator (OSC) 15. The image processing circuit 14 uses the clock signal as a reference for the CDS and A / A in the AFE 13. Clocks used for D conversion are generated and supplied to them, and a vertical drive signal for driving the image sensor 12 is generated, amplified by the amplifier 16, and supplied to the image sensor 12. A horizontal drive signal for driving the image sensor 12 is generated by the AFE 13.

  The image signal that has become one image is output from the image processing circuit 14 and supplied to the camera / JPEG encoder 17, where the camera signal is processed and converted from the complementary color CCD data to YUV data. Electronic image processing such as solarization is performed, and finally the image size is set to a moving image of effective pixels (NTSC: 720 × 480 pixels, PAL / SECAM: 720 × 576 pixels) that meet the standard of a digital video camera (DVG). It is converted and output to the output terminal 18 as a video signal. In the camera / JPEG encoder 17, a clock is input from the image processing circuit 14, and a synchronization signal synchronized with the clock is generated and output to the image processing circuit 14.

  The video encoder / decoder 19 outputs the video signal supplied from the output terminal 18 of the camera / JPEG encoder 17 to the outside as it is, while the DV codec 20 compresses the video signal in accordance with the DV standard, and then converts the compressed video signal into audio. The audio signal input from the selector / microphone amplifier 21 is A / D converted and added, and further an error correction code is generated and added, and then modulation processing for recording is performed, and the modulated signal is converted to DVC. Output to the deck 22. The DVC deck 22 records the signal input from the DV codec 20 on a magnetic tape by a known helical scanning method using a rotating head.

  At this time, in the video encoder / decoder 19, the OSD 23 synchronizes characters necessary for device operation with respect to the input video signal from the camera / JPEG encoder 17 in synchronization with a synchronization signal to the on-screen display (OSD) 23. Received as an input, synthesized into an input video signal in the video encoder / decoder 19, and then modulated into an NTSC or PAL / SECAM television signal to display a display (viewfinder, liquid crystal display device, etc.) 24 And output to the outside as a video signal.

  The sound collected by the microphone 25 is converted into an audio signal by the microphone 25 and then supplied to the DVC deck 22 via the DV codec 20 after gain adjustment by the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21, as described above. Recorded on a magnetic tape together with a moving image.

  On the other hand, the system CPU (central processing unit) 26 is supplied to a power supply circuit (REG) 28 based on data from a user interface (UI) 27 such as a UI operation switch and a sensor, and a clock signal from a real time clock (RTC) 29. The entire video camera is centrally controlled by a control signal of the above, a control signal to a DSC (digital still camera system) 30 and various signal lines (not shown).

  At the time of camera image processing, the camera shake of the video camera is detected by a gyro (GYRO) 31, which is an angular velocity detector, and the detected signal is taken into the camera / JPEG encoder 17 via the image processing circuit 14 and external buses 32 and 33. It is. The camera / JPEG encoder 17 has an image buffer for one field in the camera / JPEG encoder 17, calculates a motion vector of an image between the current and past one field based on a camera shake detection signal, and the motion vector is minimum. As described above, by controlling the reading position from the image buffer, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of fine shaking of the moving image due to camera shake or the like.

  In the camera auto system processing, every time one field of CCD data is input from the image processing circuit 14 to the camera / JPEG encoder 17, the average luminance output level for each block obtained by dividing the field image. Is calculated. The calculated data is calculated by a predetermined algorithm so that the luminance level of the CCD data is within a certain range, and the iris motor 34 is driven and controlled via the external buses 33 and 32 and the image processing circuit 14, and the brightness of the subject is determined. Accordingly, iris adjustment in the optical system 11 (aperture adjustment / attenuation filter adjustment) is performed. Furthermore, when the amount of incident light is large, adjustment is performed using the electronic shutter of the image sensor 12.

  Similarly, the camera / JPEG encoder 17 calculates the high frequency component level of each luminance signal for each block obtained by dividing one field image, calculates the focus position corresponding to the subject based on the data, and outputs the external bus. The focus motor 35 is driven and controlled via the image processing circuit 14 and 33 and 32, and the movement of the focus lens in the optical system 11 is controlled so that the subject light is focused on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 12. It has a configuration to let you. As a result, even when the close-up object changes, it is possible to record a focused moving image with appropriate brightness at all times.

(2) Tape reproduction mode The signal reproduced from the magnetic tape by the DVC deck 22 is demodulated and error-corrected by the DV codec 20 to obtain a reproduced moving image signal and a reproduced audio signal. The reproduced moving image signal is a DV standard. Is then output to the camera / JPEG encoder 17 and the reproduced audio signal is D / A converted by the DV codec 20 and then output to the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21 and amplified. Then, the sound is generated by being subjected to electro-acoustic conversion by the speaker 36.

  The playback moving image signal is subjected to zooming and still processing as necessary by the camera / JPEG encoder 17, and then output to the video encoder / decoder 19. The above-mentioned (1) tape recording mode of the camera moving image In the same manner as above, it can be output to the display 24 and the video input / output terminal for viewing.

(3) Video recording mode to memory A video that is an imaging signal of a subject from the camera / JPEG encoder 17 to the DSC 30 when performing the same operation as the tape recording mode of the camera moving image of (1) described above. Output the image signal. An audio signal is input from the microphone 25 to the audio ADC / DAC 37 from the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21, where it is A / D converted and then output to the DSC 30.

  The DSC 30 is a digital still camera system for recording / reproducing on an SD memory card 38 inserted in the video camera, and is composed of a microcomputer and a DSP. After converting to a predetermined size / frame rate that can be handled by a personal computer (PC) tool with square pixels such as (352 × 288) and QVGA (320 × 240), moving image compression such as MPEG4 is performed. The DSC 30 also performs compression after converting the input audio signal into a sampling rate and bit number that can be handled by a tool on the PC. Then, the DSC 30 combines the compressed moving image data and audio data into one file, and writes it into the SD memory card 38. At this time, a read only memory (ROM) 39 connected to the DSC 30 is used as a program code, and a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) 40 is used as an image buffer and a work area.

  Similarly, in memory recording during tape playback, a video playback video signal is input from the camera / JPEG encoder 17 to the DSC 30, and a tape playback audio signal is input from the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21 to the audio ADC / DAC 37. Here, after A / D conversion, it is output to the DSC 30. As a result, in the same manner as described above, the DSC 30 can combine the tape playback video signal and the tape playback audio signal into one file and write them to the SD memory card 38.

(4) Video playback mode from memory The DSC 30 reads a video file such as MPEG4 from the SD memory card 38 connected to the SDIO-I / F, separates it into video compression data and audio compression data, and then decompresses each. . For video compressed data, after expanding the video such as MPEG4, the frame rate and size are converted to conform to television standards such as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, and then output to the video encoder / decoder 19 for audio compressed data. After the expansion, the sampling frequency is converted in accordance with the frequency used by the audio ADC / DAC 37 and output to the audio ADC / DAC 37.

  The moving image signal input to the video encoder / decoder 19 is decoded and then displayed on the display 24 or output to the video input / output terminal. The audio signal is D / A converted by the audio ADC / DAC 37, and then output to the speaker 36 via the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21, thereby generating a sound as a sound.

(5) Still Image Recording Mode in Memory Similar to the camera moving image tape recording mode of (1) described above, a moving image signal that is an imaging signal of a subject is captured by the camera / JPEG encoder 17, but the camera / JPEG Unlike the camera moving image tape recording mode, the encoder 17 performs JPEG compression on the input moving image signal.

  Thereafter, the JPEG compressed data obtained by the camera / JPEG encoder 17 is transferred to the image processing circuit 14 via the external buses 33 and 32, and further transmitted to the DSC 30 by high-speed serial transfer. The DSC 30 converts the received JPEG compressed data into a file and records it in the SD memory card 38.

(6) Still image playback mode from memory The DSC 30 reads JPEG compressed data from the SD memory card 38, decompresses the JPEG data, and then converts the size to conform to the TV standard such as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. Then, the still image is displayed on the display 24 via the video encoder / decoder 19 or outputted to the video input / output terminal as a video signal.

(7) Network Still Image Transfer and Tape Playback Simultaneous Mode In the network mode, an external wireless access point or an external computer (PC) 42 equipped with a wireless function is wirelessly connected by an SDIO wireless LAN card (SDIO-WLAN) 41. The DSC 30 is equipped with a TCP / IP protocol stack and a Web server, and this video camera can be remotely controlled by access via a network using the external computer 42 as a client.

  Specifically, the Web page stored in the ROM 39 connected to the DSC 30 is accessed from the external computer 42 by using a Web browser or the like, thereby selecting items of the Web page displayed on the screen of the external computer 42. By clicking the button, the information is transmitted to the video camera via the network, and a request (moving image selection, VTR control, etc.) is made to the video camera.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the Web page displayed on the screen of the external computer 42. As shown in the figure, this Web page has a camera still image / video stream display area 51 having a relatively large area at the center and slightly lower side of the screen 50, and a still button 52, a video button 53, A fast-forward button 54, a stop button 55, a playback button 56, a rewind button 57, and a camera image size selection menu 58 are displayed side by side.

  Now, when the user of the external computer 42 selects a desired size from the camera image size selection menu 58 and presses the still image button 52 with a cursor or the like, a request for capturing a still image is issued from the DSC 30 to the system CPU 26 via the serial signal line. Then, the same operation as the above-described JPEG recording mode to the memory of (5) is started. At this time, the information selected on the Web page for the size of the still image is transmitted to the system CPU 26, and JPEG data that is a still image of a specified size is created and input to the DSC 30.

  In the DSC 30, the input JPEG data is temporarily written in the SDRAM 40, and the JPEG data is sent to the external computer 42. The external computer 42 receives the JPEG data, decompresses it with a Web browser or a dedicated tool, and displays it on the display area 51 of the Web page screen 50 shown in FIG. This makes it possible to view a still image captured by the video camera having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 via a network such as the Internet.

  Simultaneously with the still image browsing operation described above, the VTR control of the video camera of FIG. 1 can be performed from the external computer 42 by accessing the Web page and clicking the button on the Web page. That is, the user of the external computer 42 uses a cursor or the like to display any of the fast forward button 54, the stop button 55, the play button 56, and the rewind button 57 displayed on the Web page screen 50 shown in FIG. When the button is pressed, the information is notified to the video camera of FIG. 1 through the network, and a VTR control request corresponding to the pressed button is issued from the DSC 30 to the system CPU 26 through the serial signal line.

  As a result, the system CPU 26 supplies a command corresponding to the input VTR control request to the DVC deck 22 which is a VTR via a signal line (not shown) to control it. When the Web page playback button 56 is pressed, the DVC deck 22 is controlled to the playback mode by the system CPU 26, and the moving image signal and audio signal reproduced from the magnetic tape in the DVC deck 22 are the tape playback mode of (2). Are reproduced and output by the same signal route, and a moving image is displayed on the display 24 of the video camera body, and sound is output from the speaker 36 of the body.

  By displaying these reproduced moving images on the display 24 and outputting reproduced sound from the speaker 36, for example, the state of the subject when the display image on the display 24 is viewed is photographed with a video camera, and the photographing is performed. The still image obtained in this way can be transferred to the external computer 42 via the network such as the Internet as described above, and the state of the subject can be confirmed on the screen of the external computer 42.

  Therefore, for example, a magnetic tape on which a moving image and sound spoken by the owner to a pet such as a dog kept in the shooting range of the video camera configured as shown in FIG. Remotely controlled by the DVC deck 22 to display a moving image on the display unit 24 and output a reproduced sound from the speaker 36, thereby allowing the behavior of a pet such as a dog watching the reproduced moving image and the reproduced sound to be externally output. This can be confirmed on the screen of the computer 42.

  In addition, when a suspicious person is considered to be present within the shooting range of the video camera having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an image for precautions recorded in advance on the magnetic tape is reproduced by the DVC deck 22 by remote control. By displaying on the display unit 24 and outputting a tape playback sound that calls attention from the speaker 36, attention is given to the suspicious partner, and the reaction is confirmed on the screen of the external computer 42 connected to the network. Is possible.

  The tape playback image is displayed on the display 24 mounted on the video camera body. However, since the display 24 is outside the shooting range of the image sensor 12, it is displayed on the display 24 with the video camera of the body as it is. The tape reproduction image cannot be confirmed by the external computer 42 after being captured by the video camera and transmitted to the network.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the tape playback video signal from the DVC deck 22 is input to the camera / JPEG encoder 17 via the DV codec 20 for confirmation of the playback image displayed on the display unit 24. 12 is combined with a still picture as a picture-in-picture as shown in FIG.

  Here, the still image of one screen shown in FIG. 3 has a configuration in which the media playback image area 62 is synthesized in a small area within the video camera image area 61, and the video camera image area 61 is imaged by the image sensor 12. The still image of the video camera obtained by the video camera captured video signal obtained in this manner is displayed, and the still image of the video signal reproduced from the magnetic tape by the DVC deck 22 is displayed in the media playback image area 62, respectively.

  The video signal having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is converted into a JPEG-compressed composite still image from the camera / JPEG encoder 17 and sent to the external computer 42 via the network, so that the video camera is displayed on the screen of the external computer 42. A composite image of a still image of a scene with a tape playback moving image displayed on the display 24 of the main body and a still image of a subject captured by the video camera at that time is confirmed on the screen of the external computer 42. be able to. Of course, this image composition can be turned on / off, changed in size and position.

  As for the sound, the speaker 36 and the microphone 25 of the video camera main body are in one casing and are close to each other. Therefore, the tape reproduction sound from the speaker 36 is mixed with the sound of the subject and input to the microphone 25. For this reason, since the tape reproduction sound is input to the microphone 36 with a loud sound, a phenomenon that the external sound cannot be heard occurs.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the audio signal supplied to the speaker 36 is passed through an audio filter 45 having the same characteristics as the transfer function of the casing of the video camera body, and the audio signal is output from the microphone 25. A circuit 46 is used to subtract from the signal. The audio filter 45 is a frequency delay filter based on an impulse response between the speaker 36 and the microphone 25, and performs processing in the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21.

  In FIG. 4, when the tape playback audio signal is “a” and the audio transfer function between the speaker 36 and the microphone 25 is “f”, the audio from the speaker 36 propagates through the casing of the main body and the air to the microphone 25. The incoming sound is represented by “f (a)”, and the sound “f (a)” and the sound “b” from the subject imaged by the image sensor 12 are mixed and input to the microphone 25.

  Therefore, the input sound of the microphone 25 is represented by “b + f (a)”, and the sound input from the speaker 36 to the microphone 25 by the sound filter 45 that models the sound transmission between the speaker 36 and the microphone 25 from this input sound. The output audio signal of the audio filter 45 is subtracted from the audio signal from the microphone 25 in the subtraction circuit 46.

  Thus, the sound component from the speaker 36 in the audio signal (“b + f (a)”) output from the microphone 25 from the subtracting circuit 46 propagates through the housing of the main body and air and enters the microphone 25. “F (a)” is substantially canceled out and the sound component “b” of the subject is extracted. Using the electrical circuit shown in FIG. 4, the sound “b” of the subject is effectively collected, and the sound signal relating to the sound from the subject output from the subtraction circuit 46 is the sound selector / By transmitting to the external computer 42 connected via the network via the microphone amplifier 21, the audio ADC / DAC 37 and the DSC 30, it is possible to listen to the external computer 42.

  In addition, the video playback video with sound is not displayed on the display 24 of the video camera body, but the video with audio is output from the external output terminal to an external monitor (not shown) via the video encoder / decoder 19. Then, it is also possible to display a playback moving image.

(8) Simultaneous network video stream transfer and tape playback mode When a request for video stream transfer is received from the external computer 42, a request for the tape playback video mode is issued from the DSC 30 to the system CPU 26. The DVC deck 22 enters the tape reproduction mode to reproduce the moving image signal from the magnetic tape, and the reproduced moving image signal is supplied to the DSC 30 via the DVC codec 20.

  The DSC 30 compresses the input reproduction moving image signal with a size set in the Web page, and sends it as a moving image stream to the external computer 42 using the SDRAM 40 as a buffer. The DSC 30 outputs information such as the codec type, image size, and bit rate at the beginning of the moving image stream data, and the moving image reproduction software on the external computer 42 reproduces the moving image stream based on the information. Then, the video stream continues to be transferred until the connection with the external computer 42 is disconnected.

  At the same time, the external computer 42 can perform the VTR control by accessing the web page via the network and clicking a button on the web page. That is, in the same way as the network still image transfer and media playback simultaneous mode in (7) above, the DVC deck 22 is controlled to play back a moving image on the display 24 and the speaker 36 of the main body or on the external monitor. Can be displayed.

  In the case of a moving image stream, the signal line 43 in FIG. 1 is used to output a video image signal from the camera / JPEG encoder 17 to the DSC 30 and to output a moving image signal to the external computer 42 connected to the network. . Accordingly, the tape playback video signal is directly output from the DV codec 20 to the video encoder / decoder 19 and displays an image on the display 24 or on a monitor device (not shown) via the video input / output terminal. .

  The tape playback image confirmation of the DVC deck 22 is performed by outputting a video signal from the DV codec 20 and synthesizing it into a moving picture as a picture-in-picture as shown in FIG. 3 by the camera / JPEG encoder 17 and via a signal line 43. After being input to the DSC 30, it is output to the network and displayed on the external computer 42.

(9) Network still image / video stream transfer and memory card simultaneous playback mode The moving image that can be reproduced and displayed on the video camera body is not only a moving image reproduced from the magnetic tape but also a moving image read from the SD memory card 38. . That is, the recording medium is not limited to the magnetic tape recorded and reproduced by the DVC deck 22 but also includes the SD memory card 38. In the network still image transfer and tape playback simultaneous mode (7) described above, a similar function can be realized by reading and playing a moving image file from the SD memory card 38 instead of playing the tape on the DVC deck 22. It is also possible to perform only audio reproduction using an audio-only file. A still image file may be displayed if it is a still image file, or a moving image may be displayed if it is a moving image file without sound.

  The moving image file read from the SD memory card 38 is decompressed by the DSC 30, and the video signal is output to the video encoder / decoder 19 and decoded, and then output to the display 24 and the outside. The audio signal from the DSC 30 is output to the audio ADC / DAC 37 and after D / A conversion, the audio signal is supplied to the speaker 36 via the audio selector / microphone amplifier 21 to be sounded, or to the outside via the audio input / output terminal. Is output. Of course, at the same time, the camera still image / video stream is transmitted to the network.

  As described above, the present invention provides a function for capturing an image of a subject using an image sensor, a playback function for reproducing a video signal and / or an audio signal of a moving image or a still image recorded on a recording medium, and a function for connecting to a network. An audio input means for collecting an audio signal, a display means for displaying a video signal reproduced from a recording medium, a sounding means for generating an audio signal, and an image reproduced from the recording medium At least one of the display by the signal display means and the sound generation by the sound generation means of the sound signal reproduced from the recording medium is performed, and at the same time, the video signal obtained by imaging with the image sensor and the sound input means are input. A video camera comprising reproduction output means for sending a synthesized signal composed of an audio signal to a network.

  According to the present invention, a video signal and an audio signal reproduced from a recording medium are displayed or sounded by a display means and a sounding means, and at the same time, at least a video signal obtained by imaging with an image sensor and a sound input by the sound input means Since the synthesized signal consisting of the signal is sent to the network, the video and audio obtained by playing the recording medium are displayed and pronounced on the video camera body, and the behavior of the subject is captured. Signals and audio signals can be transmitted to the network.

  The present invention also provides a sound filter having characteristics related to a sound transfer function when sound generated from the sound generation means propagates through the air and enters the sound input means, and is obtained by acoustic-electric conversion by the sound input means. A subtracting circuit for subtracting and outputting a sound signal obtained from the input sound signal, which is reproduced from the recording medium and supplied to the sound generation means, through a sound filter, and the output sound signal of the subtraction circuit is The video camera is characterized in that it is transmitted to a network by a reproduction output means.

  In the present invention, even if the reproduction sound from the recording medium sounded by the sound generation means is mixed with the sound from the subject to be input by the sound input means and input to the sound input means, the sound generation means is provided by the sound filter. By creating a pseudo sound that is input to the sound input means from the above, the sound input from the sound generation means to the sound input means is canceled out by the subtracting circuit, and only the sound signal from the subject is extracted. it can.

11 Optical System 12 Image Sensor 13 AFE
14 Image Processing Circuit 17 Camera / JPEG Encoder 19 Video Encoder / Decoder 20 DV Codec 21 Audio Selector / Mic Amplifier 22 DVC Deck 23 OSD (On-Screen Display)
24 display unit 25 microphone 26 system CPU (central processing unit)
30 DSC (Digital Still Camera System)
36 Speaker 37 Audio ADC / DAC
38 SD memory card 39 ROM (read-only memory)
40 SDRAM (Synchronous dynamic random access memory)
41 Wireless LAN card 42 External computer 43 Signal line 45 Audio filter 46 Subtraction circuit

Claims (8)

Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Image reproducing means for reproducing the first image signal recorded on the recording medium;
A second image obtained by imaging the subject by the imaging means in a state where the display means displays the first image signal reproduced by the image reproducing means and the image based on the first image signal reproduced by the image reproducing means. Image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image signal and generating a synthesized image signal;
A video camera comprising: transmission means for transmitting the composite image signal generated by the image composition means to a client via a network. The image synthesizing unit synthesizes the first and second image signals in a state where an image based on the first image signal is smaller than an image based on the second image signal. Video camera. A microphone that picks up the sound,
Audio reproduction means for reproducing the first audio signal recorded on the recording medium,
In addition to the synthesized image signal, the transmission means outputs a sound signal of sound collected by the microphone in a state where sound from the first sound signal reproduced by the sound reproduction means is output from a speaker. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the video camera is transmitted to the client via a network. An audio filter that outputs the first audio signal supplied to the speaker by performing a filtering process based on an audio transfer function from the speaker to the microphone;
Subtracting means for subtracting the output of the audio filter from the audio signal of the audio collected by the microphone,
The video camera according to claim 3, wherein the transmission unit transmits the audio signal output from the subtraction unit. Reproducing the first image signal recorded on the recording medium and displaying the image based on the first image signal by display means;
The subject is imaged while the image is displayed by the display means,
Combining the reproduced first image signal and the second image signal obtained by imaging the subject to generate a composite image signal;
An information transmission method comprising: transmitting the composite image signal to a client via a network. The information transmission method according to claim 5, wherein the first and second image signals are combined in a state where an image based on the first image signal is smaller than an image based on the second image signal. Playing back the first audio signal recorded on the recording medium and outputting the sound of the first audio signal from a speaker;
In a state where the sound is output from the speaker, the sound is collected by a microphone,
The information transmission method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein in addition to the composite image signal, an audio signal of sound collected by the microphone is transmitted to the client via the network. Filtering the first audio signal supplied to the speaker based on an audio transfer function from the speaker to the microphone,
Generating a subtracted audio signal obtained by subtracting the audio signal subjected to the filter processing from the audio signal of the audio collected by the microphone;
The information transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the subtracted audio signal is transmitted.

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