JP2534720B2 - Image storage - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage device that stores an image using a storage element.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in an image storage device that stores an input image by using a storage element, a freeze switch is provided as a detection means of the timing of storing the image, and each time the freeze switch is pressed once. In addition, the contents of the storage element are rewritten to the input image at that moment.

Alternatively, every time the freeze switch is pressed,
There is also a configuration in which the content of the storage element is rewritten, and at the same time, the image output signal is switched from the input image signal to the content of the storage element and displayed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, particularly in the case of storing a moving image, in the former case, first, the input image side is selected by the output selection switch, and when the desired image is input, A memory operation is performed by pressing the freeze switch, and to confirm the operation, an operation such as selecting a memory image with the output selection switch is performed, but if you do not like the memory image,
It is necessary to select the input image side again with the output selector switch and repeat the same operation thereafter. Moreover, each time the freeze switch is pressed, the memory operation is performed only once, which makes it difficult to store a desired image.
There were drawbacks such as complicated operation.

In the latter case, although the operability has been improved, the difficulty of storing a desired image has not been completely solved.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an image storage device capable of easily storing a desired input image by a simple operation.

[Means for Solving Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an image storage device that stores an image using a storage element,
A means that has a freeze switch and detects the timing to store an image according to the operation of the freeze switch, and while the freeze switch is operating, rewrites the contents of the storage element at each predetermined time and operates the freeze switch. It is provided with a control means for holding the contents of the storage element in response to the cancellation of the above, and a means for repeatedly reading out the image stored in the storage element and supplying it to the monitor.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the contents of the memory element are rewritten at regular intervals while the freeze switch provided in the image storage timing detection means is kept pressed, for example. Since the contents of the memory element are read out repeatedly and supplied to the monitor in response to the cancellation of the above-mentioned operation, this makes it possible to search for the desired input image without failure by simply pressing and holding the freeze switch. Then, it becomes possible to reproduce the still image on the monitor.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image input signal and 2 is an image input circuit for amplifying the image input signal 1. Reference numeral 3 is an A / D converter for A / D converting the output from the image input circuit 2, and 4 is a memory for storing the input image, and the stored contents are repeatedly read by the control circuit 11 to the D / A converter 5. While being output, the freeze switch 10 writes the image signal from the A / D converter 3 in the memory 4 at a predetermined timing. Reference numeral 5 is a D / A converter for D / A converting the image data read from the memory 4. An image output circuit 6 amplifies the D / A converted signal. Reference numeral 7 denotes a selector for selectively outputting the image input signal 1 and the image signal read from the memory 4,
Reference numeral 8 is an image output signal extracted from this selector.

Further, 9 is an output selection switch for detecting the selection state of the image output signal, which is configured as a so-called toggle switch. Reference numeral 10 is a freeze switch for detecting the image storage timing. Reference numeral 11 is a control circuit such as a microcomputer that controls the entire apparatus. Reference numeral 12 is a timer circuit, and the timer time can be set by the control circuit 11.

Reference numeral 15 is a monitor for reproducing an image signal as a visible image, which may be built in the apparatus or may be connected to the outside.

Next, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the control procedure in the control circuit 11, and the operation of the image storage timing detection in the present invention will be described together with this control procedure.

The image output signal 8 is set to output the image stored in the memory 4 by the output selection switch 9.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 2, the control circuit 4 determines whether or not the freeze switch 10 is pressed.
At this time, if the freeze switch 10 is not pressed, the control circuit 11 is in a standby state until the freeze switch 10 is pressed.

When the freeze switch 10 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S2, where the control circuit 11 checks the contents of the memory 4,
The input image at that moment is rewritten. At this time, the image output signal 8 naturally switches from the previous content display of the memory 4 to the new content display.

Next, the control circuit 11 starts the timer circuit 12 in step S3. At this time, the timer circuit 11 is activated.
Is configured to output a timer signal to the control circuit 11 when a fixed time (for example, 0.5 seconds) has elapsed after the activation.

After starting the timer, the control circuit 11 waits for a signal of a certain time elapsed from the timer circuit 12 in step S5 while confirming that the freeze switch 10 is continuously pressed in step S4. This step
In S5, if it is confirmed that a certain time has passed, step S2
Then, the contents of the memory 4 are rewritten, and the same steps are repeated.

If the freeze switch 10 is turned off midway, the process returns from step S4 to step S1 and the control circuit 11
Is the first standby state of the freeze switch 10.

That is, when the freeze switch 10 is turned off, the image information stored in the memory 4 is retained as it is and is visually reproduced as a still image on the monitor 15 via the D / A converter 5. Therefore, it is very convenient, and it is possible to continue to reproduce a desired still image on the monitor.

In the present embodiment, the timer circuit 12 is used as the counting means for the fixed time, but a timer executed by software can be incorporated in the control circuit 11 instead of the timer circuit. In addition to the semiconductor memory, a magnetic bubble, other magnetic recording means, or optical recording means may be used as the storage element.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image storage device alone has been described, but a circuit having a similar configuration is used in the television,
It goes without saying that it can be incorporated into a video tape recorder, a video printer, etc.

In addition, the strobe action mode used for VTR with frame memory is also known. In these action modes, a movie will be played on the monitor when the mode is released. According to the example, by turning off the freeze switch, the still image at that time is reproduced on the monitor, which is very convenient.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the storage element is provided at regular intervals while the freeze switch provided in the image storage timing detection means is kept pressed, for example. The content of the memory element is rewritten, and the content of the memory element is repeatedly read and supplied to the monitor in response to the cancellation of the above-mentioned operation. It is possible to search for a desired input image without failure and reproduce it as a still image on the monitor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of the control procedure. 1 ... Image input signal, 2 ... Image input circuit, 3 ... A / D
Converter, 4 ... Memory, 5 ... D / A converter, 6 ... Image output circuit, 7 ... Selector, 8 ... Image output signal, 9 ...
… Output select switch, 10 …… Freeze switch, 11 ……
Control circuit, 12 ... Timer circuit, 15 ... Monitor.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image storage device for storing an image using a storage element, comprising a freeze switch, and means for detecting a timing of storing an image in response to an operation of the freeze switch; and the freeze switch operating. While rewriting, the content of the storage element is rewritten every predetermined time and the control means for holding the content of the storage element in response to the release of the operation of the freeze switch, and the image stored in the storage element. An image storage device comprising means for repeatedly reading and supplying to a monitor.