JP2510255B2 - Image freezing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention is capable of storing or recording a still image with little deterioration in image quality, and further stores this still image with little deterioration in image quality in another storage or recording device. The present invention relates to an image freeze device capable of being stored or recorded in.

[Problems to be Solved by Conventional Techniques and Inventions] Conventionally, as image signal recording devices, VTRs using magnetic tapes, electrophotographic cameras using magnetic disks,
Solid-state memory devices using various IC memories are known.

However, these recording devices generally record the image signal at that moment by pressing the release button, and therefore, when recording an image signal in which image blurring due to the movement of the subject image occurs. There is a problem that there is.

In recent years, in order to improve this problem, in particular, in an image pickup system, that is, in a video camera side, by improving a driving method of a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD, a device that equivalently performs short-time exposure and obtains an image signal with little image blur Is being developed. However, the above method is effective only when a sufficient amount of light is obtained as a result of shortening the exposure time.

On the other hand, focusing on the characteristics of the video signal, US Pat.
As shown in the specification of No. 7, a recording apparatus has been proposed in which a field still is selected for a subject having a lot of movement and a frame still is selected for a subject having little movement. However, even this method has a problem that the vertical resolution is reduced to half or flicker occurs at the time of field still.

Further, in recent years, image sensors such as CCDs, which are solid-state image pickup devices, have become smaller and more highly sensitive, and an electronic endoscope apparatus configured to observe the inside of a body cavity by mounting the image sensor on the distal end portion of the insertion portion has been developed. Being developed.

By the way, an endoscope is used for the purpose of observing and determining a lesion or the like in detail, and is required to have high resolution and good color reproducibility, that is, high image quality. Further, these images are usually recorded as still images for the purpose of conducting detailed examination again after the inspection.

The electronic endoscope has a frame-sequential method in which a black and white image sensor is used to sequentially irradiate light of three primary colors to obtain an image signal, and a color mosaic filter is provided on the front surface of the image sensor according to an image pickup method. There is a method of obtaining an image. Regarding the image blur, in the latter method, a method of performing short-time exposure by controlling illumination light has been proposed. However, this is a limited function that is effective only at the near point due to insufficient light quantity.

On the other hand, in the former method, exposure is basically performed by sequential light, and there is a problem of image blur.

In order to deal with this, the applicant of the present invention filed a Japanese patent application
In the specification of 63-209677, etc., a device and a circuit system for preventing image blur when storing or recording a still image are proposed. The above proposal is to detect the movement of the subject from the input image signal and, for example, to store or record a still image when this movement is minimized, and to solve the drawbacks of the conventional method with a simple configuration. Is.

By the way, the still image signal obtained by the processing device is
Printouts and the like are performed in various recording devices for storage, but conventionally, the storage and recording operations have been controlled at the same timing as the release instruction signal used in the processing device.

In the above proposal by the applicant, the timing of storage and recording operation such as printing out by an external recording device for storage is not taken into consideration, and when the conventional method is used, it may occur in the middle stage of motion detection. However, there was a problem such as printing, and there was room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to store or record a still image with little deterioration in image quality due to movement of a subject, and to store the still image with little deterioration in image quality in another storage or It is an object of the present invention to provide an image freeze device capable of recording or recording on a recording device.

[Means for Solving the Problem] As shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 1, an image freeze apparatus 1 of the present invention includes a first storage / recording means 2 for storing or recording an input image signal, and the image signal. A motion detecting means 3 for detecting the movement of the object from the object, a freeze instructing means (4) for instructing the first storage / recording means 2 to store or record a still image, and the first storage / recording means 2. A release instruction means (4) for giving an instruction to store or record a still image in the second storage / recording means 6 for storing or recording a still image stored or recorded in, and the freeze instructing means or the release instructing means ( The first control means (5) for controlling the writing or recording operation of the image signal to the first storage / recording means 2 according to the output of the motion detecting means 3 by the instruction signal from 4). ) And an instruction signal from the release instructing means (4), a still image is stored in the second storage / recording means 6 after the still image is stored in or recorded in the first storage / recording means 2. And a second control means (5) for controlling the storage or recording operation. In FIG. 1, the freeze instruction means and the release instruction means are integrally shown as a freeze / release instruction means 4, and the first control means and the second control means are integrally written / recorded. It is shown as means 5.

[Operation] In the present invention, by the freeze instruction means (4), the first
When the storage / recording means 2 is instructed to store or record a still image, the first control means (5) responds to the output of the motion detection means 3 by the instruction signal from the instruction means (4). , Controlling the writing / recording operation of the input image signal to the first storing / recording means 2, and the still image is stored or recorded in the first storing / recording means 2.

On the other hand, when the release instruction means (4) gives an instruction to store or record a still image in the second storage / recording means 6, the second control means (5) is caused by the instruction signal from the instruction means (4). ) Controls the writing / recording operation of the input image signal to the first storage / recording means 2 so that the first storage / recording means 2 stores or records a still image and the first storage / After the storage or recording of the still image in the recording means 2 is completed, the second storage / recording means 6
This controls the storage or recording of still images in the
A still image is stored or recorded in the storage / recording means 6 of FIG.

For comparison with the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a configuration example when a conventional method is applied as a control method for the second storage / recording means 6. In this example, the operation of the second storage / recording means 6 is controlled by the release instructing means (4) independently of the writing / recording control means 5 which controls the first storage / recording control means 2. Therefore, in the middle of the motion detection, a still image is stored / recorded in the second storage / recording unit 2 before a still image with little image quality deterioration is stored / recorded in the first storage / recording unit 2. I will end up.

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

3 to 7 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a side view of an electronic endoscope apparatus using an electronic scope, and FIG. Is a perspective view of an electronic endoscope apparatus in which an external television camera is attached to the eyepiece of the fiberscope, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing apparatus, and FIG. 7 shows the operation of this embodiment. It is a graph for explaining.

As shown in FIG.
And an external recording device 202 which receives an image signal from the main body processing device 201 and records a still image. The main body processing device 201 receives an image signal input from a television camera or the like, and receives an instruction from the freeze instruction means or an instruction from the release instruction means (first release instruction).
The motion of the image is detected from the input image signal, and the freeze (the still image) is performed when the motion of the image is small. The image output signal when there is little movement is the external recording device 202
The external recording device 202 is supplied to the main body processing device 201.
The still image is recorded by the release instruction signal (2) which is the second release instruction from the.

In addition to the signal from the television camera, the input image signal is an electronic endoscope apparatus as shown in FIG. 4, or an external television camera is attached to the eyepiece of a fiberscope as shown in FIG. It may be a signal from the electronic endoscope device of the type.

The electronic endoscope apparatus shown in FIG.
And a main body processing device 201 that supplies illumination light and performs signal processing to the electronic scope 211. The electronic scope 211 has an elongated and flexible insertion portion 212, for example, and a large-diameter hand-operated portion 213 is connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 212. A flexible universal cord 214 is extended laterally from the hand operation unit 213, and an end of the universal cord 214 is detachably connected to a connector receiver 216 of the main body processing device 201. 217 is provided. This connector 217 is provided with an electric contact 218 and a light guide connector 219.

An illumination window and an observation window (not shown) are provided at the tip of the insertion section 212. A light distribution lens (not shown) is mounted inside the illumination window, and a light guide (not shown) is connected to the rear end of the light distribution lens. This light guide is inserted through the insertion portion 212, the hand operation portion 213 and the universal cord 214, and is connected to the light guide connector 219 of the connector 217. Then, the illumination light emitted from the lamp 221 in the main body processing device 201 is reflected by the lens 22.
The light is condensed at 9 and is incident on the light guide, and the subject is irradiated with light through the light guide and the light distribution lens.

An objective lens system (not shown) is provided inside the observation window, and a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD is provided at the image forming position of the objective lens system. This solid-state imaging device is driven by a drive circuit in the main body processing device 201,
The read signal is processed by the main body processing device 201. The output signal of the main body processing device 201 is input to a monitor (not shown), and the subject image is displayed on this monitor.

Further, the hand operation unit 213 includes a freeze switch 222 which is a freeze instructing means, a release switch 223 which is a release instructing means, and a VTR switch 224 which controls a VTR.
Is provided.

The electronic endoscope device shown in FIG.
6, an external television camera 236 that is detachably attached to the eyepiece 227 of the fiberscope 226, and supplies illumination light to the fiberscope 226, and performs signal processing for the external television camera 236. A main body processing device 201 for performing and a monitor 228 for displaying a subject image by inputting a video signal from the main body processing device 201 are provided.

The fiberscope 226 has an elongated and flexible insertion portion 231, for example, and a large-diameter hand-operated portion 230 is connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 231. The eyepiece 227 is provided at the rear end of the hand-side operation unit 230. Further, a flexible light guide cable 233 is extended laterally from the hand operation unit 230, and an end portion of the light guide cable 233 is detachably attached to a connector receiver 216 of the main body processing apparatus 201. A light guide connector 234 to be connected is provided.

An illumination window (not shown) and an observation window (not shown) are provided at the tip of the insertion portion 231. A light distribution lens (not shown) is mounted inside the illumination window, and a light guide (not shown) is connected to the rear end of the light distribution lens. The ride guide is inserted through the insertion portion 231, the hand-side operation portion 230 and the light guide cable 233, and is connected to the light guide connector 234. Then, the light emitted from the lamp in the main body processing device 201 is incident on the light guide, and is irradiated onto the subject through the light guide and the light distribution lens.

Further, an objective lens system (not shown) is provided inside the observation window, and a front end surface of an image guide (not shown) is arranged at an image forming position of the objective lens system. This image guide is inserted through the insertion portion 231, and the rear end surface is
It faces the eyepiece lens in the eyepiece portion 227. The subject image formed by the objective lens system is
It is transmitted to the eyepiece 227 by the image guide and is observed from the eyepiece 227.

Further, the external television camera 236 has the eyepiece unit 227.
A camera body 240 attached to the camera body, an electric cord 237 extending from the camera body 240, an electric cord 237 provided at an end of the electric cord 237, and detachably connected to a connector receiver 216 of the main body processing device 201. And a connector 238. Inside the camera body 240, an imaging lens system that receives light from the eyepiece 227 and forms a subject image, and a solid such as a CCD disposed at an imaging position of the imaging lens system. An image sensor is provided. Further, the camera body 240 is provided with a freeze switch 242 and a release switch 243. The solid-state imaging device is driven by a drive circuit in the main body processing device 201, and the read signal is processed by the main body processing device 201. Also,
The output signal of the main body processing device 201 is input to the monitor 228, and the subject image is displayed on the monitor 228.

In the present embodiment, the freeze or release switch may be provided on the front panel or the like of the main body processing device 201, or as shown in FIGS. It may be provided on the external TV camera 236.

Further, the external recording device 202 shown in FIG. 3 is a VTR, an electrophotographic camera, a video disc, a video printer, or a monitor image photographing device for taking a photograph from a television monitor, and these are single or plural. Even if they are used simultaneously, there is no problem if the release signal (2) is used.

Next, a configuration relating to motion detection and generation of the release signal (2) after the freeze or release switch is turned on in the main body processing device 201 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main body processing apparatus in this embodiment
Reference numeral 201 designates a digital color plane sequential signal, that is, a synchronization memory for synchronizing primary color signals of images input in time series.
21, a signal processing circuit 22 for expanding or interpolating an image with respect to the output image signal of the synchronization memory 21, and a freeze memory 23 capable of freezing the output image signal of the signal processing circuit 22, The output image signal of the freeze memory 23 is output to the external recording device 202, the display device, the processing device, etc. in the subsequent stage.

The synchronization memory 21 is configured as follows.
That is, the color plane sequential signal is applied to the input end of the 1-input / 3-output changeover switch 31. Of the three output terminals a, b, c of the changeover switch 31, the first frame memory 32 is connected to the output terminal a and the second frame memory 32 is connected to the output terminal c.
The frame memory 33 of is connected. The output of the first frame memory 32 is a three-input one-output selector switch 34.
Applied to the input end a of the three input ends a, b, and c of the output of the second frame memory 33.
It is adapted to be applied to the input terminal c of 34. The output terminal of the changeover switch 34 is connected to the signal processing circuit 22.

The freeze memory 23 is configured as follows. That is, the output image signal of the signal processing circuit 322 is applied to the input end of the 1-input / 3-output changeover switch 35. Of the three output terminals a, b and c of the changeover switch 35, the output terminal a is connected to the first field memory 36 and the output terminal c is connected to the second field memory.
37 is connected. The outputs of the first field memory 36 are three input terminals of a three-input one-output changeover switch 38.
The output of the second field memory 37 is applied to the input end a of a, b and c, and the output of the second field memory 37 is the input end c of the changeover switch 28.
Is applied to. A digital image signal is output from the output end of the changeover switch 38.

The synchronization memory 21 and the freeze memory 23 are the memory R /
W controller (hereinafter referred to as memory controller) 2
Writing and reading are controlled by 7. A write control signal from the memory controller 27 to the freeze memory 23 is sent to the freeze memory 23 via the write inhibit gate circuit 26.

Further, the main body processing device 201 of the present embodiment further includes a motion detection circuit 24 that detects the motion of the subject from the output signal of the signal processing circuit 22 and the motion within a predetermined time from the output of this motion detection circuit 24. A minimum value detection circuit 25 for detecting the minimum value of the amount, a freeze / release instruction circuit 28 for instructing the freeze and release of the image, and for activating the minimum value detection circuit 25, and the minimum value detection circuit 25 And a release instruction from the freeze / release instruction circuit 28, and after the set time of the set time detection circuit 29, the external recording device 20
A release control circuit 39 that outputs a release signal (2) for 2 is provided. The write inhibit gate circuit 26 is controlled by the minimum value detection circuit 25.

The synchronized primary color signals from the signal processing circuit 22 are
It is also sent to the motion detection circuit 24, and in this motion detection circuit 24,
The amount of movement of the subject is detected from the cross-correlation of the primary color signals. The amount of motion is detected, for example, by calculating the difference between corresponding pixels of arbitrary two primary color signals in one frame, or multiplying each primary color signal by a coefficient, calculating the difference between the corresponding pixels, and calculating the absolute value of each difference. The cumulative value of is detected as the amount of movement.

Further, when the freeze / release instruction circuit 28 inputs an image freeze / release instruction signal (hereinafter referred to as an image freeze / release instruction signal) to the minimum value detection circuit 25, the minimum value detection circuit 25 Motion detection circuit
The motion amount for each one frame is sequentially received from 24, the motion amounts sequentially input are compared within the time set by the set time detection circuit 29, and according to the result, the write inhibit gate circuit 26 is used. , Memory controller 27
The control signal is sent to.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in the normal time when the image freeze or release is not performed, the primary color signals of the image input in time series are alternately stored in one of the first frame memory 32 and the second frame memory 33 for each frame. It is written sequentially. For example,
In a certain state, as shown in FIG. 6, the output terminal a of the switch 31 is made conductive by the control signal from the memory controller 27, and the input terminal c of the switch 34 is made conductive.
The image primary color signals input in time series are sequentially written into the first frame memory 32. At this time, the already written primary color signals are simultaneously read out from the second frame memory 33. This image signal is processed by the signal processing circuit.
After being subjected to processing such as image enlargement and interpolation at 22, the image is sent to the freeze memory 23.

In the freeze memory 23, the output signal a of the switch 35 is rendered conductive by the control signal from the memory controller 27, and the input terminal c of the switch 38 is rendered conductive by the control signal from the signal processing circuit 22. The image signal of one field is written in the first field memory 36. At this time, the second field memory 37 reads the already written image signal of the second field of the previous frame.

Next, in the freeze memory 23, the switch 35 switches the output terminal c to the conductive state and the switch 38 switches the input terminal a to the conductive state by the control signal from the memory controller 27. The second field image signal sent from the second field image signal 37
Write to At this time, in the first field memory 36, the image signal of the first field written by the above operation is read.

As described above, in the color plane sequential method, the primary color signals of the images that are sequentially transmitted are synchronized in the synchronization memory 21 and output as an output image signal through the freeze memory 23.

Next, a case where the image is frozen or released will be described.

The synchronized primary color signals sent to the freeze memory 23 are
It is also sent to the motion detection circuit 24, and the motion detection circuit 24 detects the amount of motion of the subject from the cross-correlation of the primary color signals.

When the freeze / release instruction circuit 28 inputs an image freeze / release instruction signal to the minimum value detection circuit 25, the minimum value detection circuit 25 sequentially outputs the movement amount for each frame from the movement detection circuit 24. receive.

The amount of motion sent to the minimum value detection circuit 25 and the image signal written in the freeze memory 23 will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, the time when the minimum value detection circuit 25 is activated by the image freeze / release instruction signal is t _1, and the end time of the set time set by the set time detection circuit 29 is tn (t ₁ <tn ). Also, the image signals for each frame read from the synchronization memory 21 after the image freeze / release instruction signal is output are F ₁ , F ₂ , ..., F n, and the corresponding motion amounts are M ₁ , M ₂ , ..., M n.

Now, at time t ₁ , the image signal written to the first frame memory 32 of the synchronization memory 21 is F ₂ , and the image signal read from the second frame memory 33 is F ₁ . When the image freeze / release instruction signal is output at this time t ₁ , the write inhibit gate circuit 26 makes the output end b of the switch 35 conductive and inhibits writing to the freeze memory 23. Further, the motion detection circuit 24 detects the motion amount M ₁ of the image signal F ₁ read from the synchronization memory 21.

Further, the minimum value detection circuit 25 sets the motion amount M ₁ sent from the motion detection circuit 24 as an initial value of the minimum value, and the image signal written in the second frame memory 33 of the synchronization memory 21. F ₁ is read again, freeze memory
A control signal is sent to the memory controller 27 through the write inhibit gate 26 so as to write into the respective field memories 36 and 37 of 23. At this time, since the first frame memory 32 of the synchronization memory 21 is in the writing state, the image signal F ₃ that follows the image signal F ₂ is written.

Next, the memory controller 27 switches the switches 31 and 34 of the synchronization memory 21 to put the first frame memory 32 into the read state, and sets the second frame memory 33 to the image signal F ₄
Write state. Further, the switch 35 of the freeze memory 33 sets the output terminal b to the conductive state to prohibit writing to the field memories 36 and 37 of the freeze memory 23.

Further, based on the image signal F ₃ read from the synchronization memory 21, the motion amount M ₃ is obtained by the motion detection circuit 24,
In the minimum value detection circuit 25, it is compared with the set value M ₁ . Here, as shown in FIG. 7, if M ₃ <M ₁ , the image signal F ₃
The memory controller 27 is controlled so as to write in the freeze memory 23. Further, in the minimum value detection circuit 25,
Instead of M ₁ , the motion amount M ₃ is set as the minimum value.

In this way, when the motion amount is updated to the minimum value, the above operation is repeated.

Next, when the amount of movement is larger than the minimum value,
The case of the image signal F ₉ will be described as an example. The image signal F ₇ is written to the freeze memory 23, the image signal F ₈ is written, and the image signal F ₉ is written to the frame memory of the synchronization memory 21, and the memory controller 27 performs the synchronization memory.
When the image signal F ₉ written in 21 is read out, the motion amount M ₉ is obtained by the motion detection circuit 24, and the minimum value detection circuit 25
Is compared with the set value M ₇ . In this case, as shown in FIG. ₇ , since M ₇ <M ₉ , the minimum value detection circuit 25 prohibits writing to the freeze memory 23, and the image signal F already written in the synchronization memory 21. _A control signal is sent to the memory controller 27 through the write inhibit gate circuit 26 so that the movement amount of ₁₀ can be obtained.

To summarize the operation when performing image freeze as described above, the motion amount Ml detected by the motion detection circuit 24 is
When the value falls below the set value of the minimum value detection circuit 25, the image signal Fl corresponding to the detected motion amount is read again from the synchronization memory 21 and written into the field memories 36 and 37 of the freeze memory 23. Further, in this case, the next image signal Fl ₊₁ is canceled, and the motion amount is obtained for the next image signal. On the other hand, if the motion amount Ml detected by the motion detection circuit 24 exceeds the set value of the minimum value detection circuit 25, writing to the freeze memory 23 is prohibited, and unlike the previous case, the next image signal Fl _{+ The} amount of movement is required for 1.

By such an operation, the image signal F m corresponding to the smallest value M m of the motion amount detected within the set time (tn−t ₁ ).
Is written in the freeze memory 23.

In FIG. 7, black circles represent frozen images and white circles represent unfrozen images.

Further, when the release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 28, the release control circuit 39 performs the freeze operation together with the set time by the set time detection circuit 29, that is, after the freeze operation is completed. , Release signal (2) is output. Then, the external recording device 202 receives the release signal (2) and records the output image signal of the main body processing device 201, that is, the freeze image at the time when the movement of the subject is the smallest.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to freeze the image at the time when the movement of the subject is the smallest, and it is possible to store the still image in which the image deterioration such as the color shift or the image blur caused by the movement of the subject is small. . Furthermore, this still image with little image quality deterioration can be recorded in the external recording device 202.

The configuration of the minimum value detection circuit 25 is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
63-209677.

8 and 9 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing device, and FIG. 9 is a graph for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the signal processing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a digital color plane sequential signal, that is, a synchronization memory 41 for synchronizing primary color signals of an image input in time series, and a synchronization memory 41. The output image signal of the memory 41 is provided with a signal processing circuit 42 for enlarging or interpolating an image, and a freeze memory 43 capable of freezing the output image signal of the signal processing circuit 42. The image signal is output to the external recording device 202, the display device, and the processing device in the subsequent stage.

The synchronization memory 41 is a changeover switch similar to the changeover switches 31 and 34 and the frame memories 52 and 33 in the first embodiment.
51, 54, a first frame memory 52 and a second frame memory 53 are provided.

On the other hand, the freeze memory 43 has change-over switches 55 and 58 similar to the change-over switches 35 and 38 in the first embodiment, and instead of the field memories 36 and 37, a first frame memory 56 and a second frame memory. A memory 57 is provided.

Further, a motion detection circuit 44, a minimum value detection circuit 45, a write inhibit gate circuit 46, a memory R / W controller 47, a freeze / release instruction circuit 48, a set time detection circuit 49 and a release control circuit 39 which are the same as those in the first embodiment. Is equipped with.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

Image signals input in time series are
The data is alternately written to one of the first frame memory 52 and the second frame memory 55. For example, in a certain state, the input image signal is written in the first frame memory 52 of the synchronization memory 41, and the second frame memory 53 reads the already written image signal. The image signal read by the synchronization memory 41 is sent to one frame memory of the freeze memory 43, for example, the first frame memory 56 through the signal processing circuit 42. Also,
In the second frame memory 57, the image signal already written is read and used as an output image signal.

Further, the image signal sent to the freeze memory 43,
It is also sent to the motion detection circuit 44, and the amount of motion is obtained.

Next, a case where the image is frozen or released will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image signals F ₁ , F ₂ , ..., F n for each frame read from the synchronization memory 41 from time t ₁ are set, and the motion amount calculated by the motion detection circuit 44 correspondingly. Be M ₁ , M ₂ , ..., M n. Further, the end time of the set time set by the set time detection circuit 49 is tn (t ₁ <tn).

When the image freeze / release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 48 at time t ₁ , the synchronization memory
The image signal F ₁ read from 41 is written into one frame memory of the freeze memory 43, and at the same time, the motion amount M ₁
Is detected and is set as an initial value in the minimum value detection circuit 45.

Next, when the image signal F ₂ is read from the synchronization memory 41, the image signal F ₂ is the other frame memory of the freeze memory 43 (a frame memory different from the frame memory in which the image signal F ₁ is written). Written to the motion detection circuit
The movement amount M ₂ is detected by 44.

The motion amount M ₂ is compared with the set value M ₁ of the minimum value detection circuit 45, and if M ₂ <M ₁ as shown in FIG. 9, the freeze memory 43 is set so that the image signal F ₂ becomes the output image signal. Each switch 5
The minimum value detection circuit 45 sends a control signal to the memory controller 47 through the write inhibit gate circuit 46 so as to switch 5, 58. Therefore, the image signal next input to the freeze memory 43 is stored in the frame memory other than the frame memory in which the image signal with the minimum amount of motion is stored.

On the other hand, when the motion amount is larger than the minimum value, such as the image signal F _{7 in} FIG. 9, the switches 55 and 58 of the freeze memory 43 are set so that the image signal with the minimum motion amount becomes the output image signal. The minimum value detection circuit 45 switches the memory controller 47 through the write inhibit gate circuit 46 so that
Send a control signal to. Therefore, the image signal next input to the freeze memory 43 is also stored in the frame memory other than the frame memory in which the image signal with the minimum amount of motion is stored.

In FIG. 9, black circles represent frozen images and white circles represent unfrozen images.

Further, when the release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 28, the release control circuit 39 performs the freeze operation together with the freeze operation after the set time by the set time detection circuit 49, that is, after the freeze operation is completed. , Release signal (2) is output. Then, the external recording device 202 receives the release signal (2) and records the output image signal of the main body processing device 201, that is, the freeze image at the time when the movement of the subject is the smallest.

With the above-described operation, in the present embodiment, the motion amount is detected for all the image signals taken in the synchronization memory 41 and once written in the freeze memory 43, the detected motion amount is set to the minimum value detection circuit. As compared with 45, an image with a small amount of motion can be read from the freeze memory 43, and an image signal with the least amount of motion within the set time can be frozen.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing apparatus in the third embodiment of the present invention.

 The present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to the simultaneous system.

In this embodiment, the input image signal is sent to the delay circuit 61 and the motion detection circuit 65, respectively. The image signal 63 delayed by one frame by the delay circuit 61 is sent to the freeze memory 62 and the motion detection circuit 65. The motion detection circuit 65 detects the amount of motion based on the cross-correlation between the image signal 64 of the current frame and the image signal 63 of the previous frame delayed by one frame. This motion amount detection method is such that the difference between corresponding pixels in the current frame and the previous frame is obtained, and the cumulative value of the absolute values of the respective differences is used as the motion amount.

The freeze memory 62 is a memory R / W controller 68.
The writing and reading are controlled by. A write control signal from the memory controller 68 to the freeze memory 62 is sent to the freeze memory 62 via the write inhibit gate circuit 67.

Further, the main body processing device of the present embodiment includes the motion detection circuit
From the output of 65, a minimum value detection circuit 66 that detects the minimum value of the movement amount within a predetermined time, a freeze / release instruction circuit 69 that activates this minimum value detection circuit 66, and the minimum value detection circuit 66 And a release instruction from the freeze / release instruction circuit 69, and after the set time of the set time detection circuit 70, a release signal (2) to the external recording device 202 is received.
And a release control circuit 39 for outputting. The write inhibit gate circuit 67 is controlled by the minimum value detection circuit 66.

When the freeze / release instruction circuit 69 outputs an image freeze / release instruction signal, the motion amount of each image signal is input to the minimum value detection circuit 66, and the minimum value detection circuit 66 sequentially sends the motion amount. A control signal is sent to the write inhibit gate circuit 67 so that an image signal with a small number of pixels is written in the freeze memory 62.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, while the motion amount is calculated and compared with the minimum value (about one frame), the image signal is delayed by one frame by the delay circuit 61 and sent to the freeze memory 62. Therefore, with respect to the image signal input by the time set by the set time detection circuit 70 after the image freeze / release instruction signal is output, the image signal with the least movement is written in the freeze memory 62.

When a release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 69, the release control circuit 39 performs the freeze operation together with the freeze operation after the set time by the set time detection circuit 70, that is, after the freeze operation is completed. , Release signal (2) is output. Then, the external recording device 202 receives the release signal (2) and records the output image signal of the main body processing device 201, that is, the freeze image at the time when the movement of the subject is the smallest.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The configuration of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 6 similarly to the first embodiment, but the operation is different from that of the first embodiment.

 The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

In this embodiment, the primary color signals sent in time series are written in the synchronization memory 21, and the freeze / release instruction circuit 28
Even when the image freeze / release instruction signal is output, the image signals are sequentially read from the synchronization memory 21. When the motion amount of each image signal is detected, the synchronization memory is used from the output of the image freeze / release instruction signal to the time set by the set time detection circuit 29.
The motion amount of the image signal read from 21 is detected, the motion amounts sequentially detected by the minimum value detection circuit 25 are compared, and a value having a small motion amount is newly set. When the detected motion amount is below the set value, the minimum value detection circuit 25 sends a control signal to the memory controller 27 through the write inhibit gate circuit 26 so as to write the image signal to the freeze memory 23. On the other hand, if the detected amount of movement exceeds the set value, a control signal is sent so that the image signal is not written to the freeze memory 23.

As described above, in this embodiment, the motion amounts of all the image signals sent to the synchronization memory 21 are detected, the minimum value of the motion amount is detected, and the image signals are written to the freeze memory 23.
The image signal written in the freeze memory 23 is the image signal immediately after the image signal whose movement amount is determined to be the minimum value.

Further, when the release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 28, the release control circuit 39 performs the freeze operation together with the set time by the set time detection circuit 29, that is, after the freeze operation is completed. , Release signal (2) is output. Then, the external recording device 202 receives the release signal (2) and records the output image signal of the main body processing device 201, that is, the image signal immediately after the image signal for which the motion amount of the subject is determined to be the minimum value. To do.

11 and 12 relate to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing device, and FIG. 12 is a graph for explaining the operation of this embodiment.

This embodiment is an example in which the set time detection circuit is not used in the simultaneous system.

Similar to the third embodiment, in this embodiment, the input image signal is sent to the delay circuit 81 and the motion detection circuit 85, respectively. The image signal 83 delayed by one frame by the delay circuit 81 is sent to the freeze memory 82 and the motion detection circuit 85. The motion detection circuit 85 detects the amount of motion based on the image signal 84 of the current frame and the image signal 83 of the previous frame delayed by one frame. Writing and reading of the freeze memory 82 are controlled by a memory R / W controller 89. A write control signal from the memory controller 89 to the freeze memory 82 is sent to the freeze memory 82 via the write inhibit gate circuit 87. Further, the main body processing apparatus in this embodiment includes a minimum value detection circuit 86 that detects the minimum value of the motion amount from the output of the motion detection circuit 85, and a freeze / release instruction circuit 88 that activates this minimum value detection circuit 86. A release control circuit 39 that outputs a release signal (2) to the external recording device 202 after the release instruction from the freeze / release instruction circuit 69 is received and the image signal with the least amount of movement is written to the freeze memory 82. Is equipped with. The write inhibit gate circuit 87 is controlled by the minimum value detection circuit 86. Further, the release control circuit 39 operates after the minimum value detection circuit 86 operates such that the image signal with the least amount of movement is written to the freeze memory 82,
A release signal (2) is output to the external recording device 202.

As shown in FIG. 12, at time t ₁ , when the freeze / release instruction circuit 88 outputs the image freeze instruction signal,
The minimum value detection circuit 86 detects the motion amount M ₁ detected by the motion detection circuit 85.
The image signal F ₁ delayed by one frame by the delay circuit 81 is written in the freeze memory 82.

Next, the motion amount M ₂ is detected by the motion detection circuit 85 to which the image signal F ₂ is input, and the set value is detected by the minimum value detection circuit 86.
Is compared with M _1, the M ₂ <M _1, so that the image signal F ₂ sent to the freeze memory 82 is written, controls the write inhibit gate circuit 87. In this way, the minimum value detection circuit
The control unit 86 controls the write inhibit gate circuit 87 so that the image signals, which are sequentially transmitted with a small amount of movement, are written in the freeze memory 82.

In FIG. 12, black circles represent frozen images and white circles represent unfrozen images.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the minimum value detection circuit 86 compares motion amounts, and the image signal with the smallest motion amount is always written in the freeze memory 82.

When the release instruction signal is output from the freeze / release instruction circuit 69, the release control circuit 39 outputs a release signal (2) after the freeze operation, together with the freeze operation. Then, the external recording device 202 receives the release signal (2) and records the output image signal of the main body processing device 201, that is, the image signal with the smallest amount of movement.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing apparatus in the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the above-mentioned first to fifth embodiments, the frozen image signal is once written into the freeze memory, but this embodiment does not use a storage medium such as the freeze memory but a VTR magnetic tape. In this example, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk or an optical disk is used.

As shown in FIG. 13, the input image signal is subjected to various processes in the signal processing circuit 101 and then sent to the header 102 to be recorded on the recording medium 103. The header 102 and the drive circuit 104 for driving the recording medium 103 are controlled by the control circuit 108. The timing of the signal processing circuit 101 and the control circuit 108 is controlled by the timing generation circuit 106.

The image signal from the signal processing circuit 101 is also input to the motion detection circuit 105, and the amount of motion sent from the motion detection circuit 105 is compared by the minimum value detection circuit 107 activated by the freeze / release instruction circuit 109. It is supposed to be done. The control circuit 108 is controlled by the detection signal from the minimum value detection circuit 107.

In this embodiment, the motion detection circuit 105 determines the motion amount of the input image signal, the minimum value detection circuit 107 compares the motion amounts of the respective image signals, and an image with a small motion amount is recorded on the recording medium 10.
The minimum value detection circuit 107 sends a detection signal to the control circuit 108 so as to be written in 3.

The control circuit 108 controls writing of the image signal to the recording medium 103 while timing of the image signal sent to the header 102 is controlled by the signal of the timing generation circuit 106.

In addition, after receiving a release instruction from the freeze / release instruction circuit 109 and writing an image signal with the least amount of movement to the recording medium 103, an external recording device 202 that records a still image stored in the recording medium 103 A release control circuit 39 that outputs a release signal (2) is provided.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, the image signal with the smallest amount of movement is always recorded in the recording medium 103 and the external recording device 202.

As the recording medium 103, various types such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a still video floppy, etc. can be used.

Further, as in the first to fourth embodiments, the time for obtaining the minimum value of the movement amount may be set.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and for example,
In the case of detecting the movement, it is not limited to the unit of one frame and may be performed in the unit of one line.

Further, the present invention is not limited to storing / recording an image when the movement of the subject is minimum, but may be storing / recording when the amount of movement is a predetermined value or less.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, after the still image is stored or recorded in the first storage / recording means,
Since the still image is stored or recorded in the second storage / recording means, the still image can be recorded or recorded by the first storage / recording means with little deterioration in image quality due to the movement of the subject. It is possible to record or record this still image with little image quality deterioration in another storage or recording device which is the second storage / recording means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example in which a conventional system is applied as a control system for a second storage / recording means for comparison with the present invention, and FIG. 7 to FIG. 7 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is a side view of an electronic endoscope apparatus using an electronic scope, and FIG. 5 is a fiberscope. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic endoscope apparatus of a type in which an external television camera is attached to the eyepiece of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 8, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main processing unit, and FIG. 9 is a graph for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a main body processing device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
11 and 12 relate to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main body processing apparatus, FIG. 12 is a graph for explaining the operation of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main body processing device in a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Image freeze device 2 ... First storage / recording means 3 ... Motion detection means 4 ... Freeze / release instruction means 5 ... Writing / recording control means 6 ... Second storage / recording means

Front page continued (72) Inventor Akinobu Uchikubo 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Saito 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yudai Nakagawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuyoshi Sasakawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Hasegawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-57-44374 (JP, A) Jitsukaihei 1-282571 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first for storing or recording an input image signal
Storage / recording means, motion detection means for detecting the movement of a subject from the image signal, freeze instruction means for instructing the first storage / recording means to store or record a still image, and the first From the freeze instructing means or the release instructing means, the release instructing means for instructing to store or record the still image in the second memory / recording means for storing or recording the still image stored or recorded in the storage / recording means The first control means for controlling the writing or recording operation of the image signal to the first storage / recording means according to the output of the motion detecting means, and the instruction signal from the release instructing means. By the first
Second storage means for controlling to store or record the still image in the second storage / recording means after the storage or recording of the still image in the storage / recording means is completed. Image freeze device.