JP2801382B2 - Information signal control system - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information signal control system having a data holding device which is detachable from an apparatus and holds various data.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a video signal or an audio signal obtained by projecting with a video camera or the like is recorded on a recording medium, a video effect is enhanced for the video signal to be recorded on the recording medium. For the purpose, there are various methods for synthesizing images such as characters, symbols or specific pictures by superimposing, or multiplexing background music, sound effects, etc. with the audio signal to be recorded. It is considered.

First, as a method of combining another image signal with a video signal obtained by shooting, for example, there is a method using a so-called character generator.

This method uses a pattern ROM (read-only memory) that stores patterns such as characters and symbols that can be displayed in advance.
A register for storing the type of character to be displayed for each display position, and a reading unit for reading out the contents of the pattern ROM corresponding to the contents of the register according to horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, and synthesizing the contents into a video signal. When a character is displayed, the type of the character to be displayed is written into a register at a display position by a microcomputer or the like.

As another method, an image signal captured by a video camera or the like is converted into a digital image signal of about 1 to several bits by an A / D converter, stored in a memory for each display pixel, and converted into a horizontal and vertical synchronization signal. Accordingly, the contents stored in the memory are sequentially read out, and another image signal is combined with a video signal obtained by separately capturing an image with a video camera.

Further, as another method, a graphic memory having an address corresponding to each pixel position on a screen, a microcomputer for writing data to an address to be displayed among the addresses of the graphic memory, A readout circuit for reading out the contents stored in the memory. The readout circuit reads out the contents stored in the graphic memory in accordance with the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, and outputs another image signal obtained by photographing with a video camera. This is to synthesize image signals.

In addition, as a method of synthesizing another audio signal with an audio signal recorded at the time of shooting by a video camera, a device that generates an audio signal such as a record player, a tape player, an electronic sound generator, etc. is prepared, and at the time of shooting, For recorded audio signals or audio signals collected after shooting. There is a method of synthesizing an audio signal generated from the above-described device using a mixing amplifier or the like.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the video signal photographed as described above,
When synthesizing another image or synthesizing another audio signal with a recorded audio signal, the equipment required for synthesizing the image or synthesizing the audio is different, and connection lines for connecting the equipment are required. Is necessary, so that the connection of the device and the operation of the device are complicated, so that there are many erroneous operations and the like, which is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an information signal control system capable of combining an information signal such as an image signal and an audio signal with an information signal such as another image signal and an audio signal by a simple operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] For such a purpose, an information signal control system according to the present invention includes an information signal generating device that generates an image signal and an audio signal, and is detachable from the information signal generating device. And image information data corresponding to another image information signal synthesized with the image signal generated by the information signal generator, and another audio synthesized with the audio signal generated by the information signal generator. A first synthesizing operation mode for synthesizing only audio information data corresponding to a signal and another image signal generated based on the image information data, and synthesizing only another audio signal generated based on the audio information data A second synthesizing operation mode, and a third synthesizing operation mode for synthesizing the other image signal and the audio signal together, wherein any one of the first, second and third synthesizing operation modes is selected. A data holding device for holding synthesizing operation control data for controlling the synthesizing timing of the other image signal and / or other audio signal based on the synthesizing operation mode.

[Operation] With the above-described configuration, it is possible to synthesize another image signal or audio signal with an image signal or audio signal by a simple operation.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera system to which the present invention is applied as one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a video camera system main body, 2 is an imaging lens, 3 is an image sensor, 4 is an image sensor driver, 5 is a camera signal processing circuit, 6 is a synthesizing circuit that synthesizes a video signal and a title image signal, 7 is a VTR unit, 8 is a video signal output terminal, 9 is an external storage device that is detachably connected to the main body 1 of the video camera system, and 10 is a connection unit that connects the external storage device 8 to the main body 1 , 11 are controls of the external storage device 8,
A control unit for transmitting and receiving data, controlling a mixer amplifier 19, controlling a switch, displaying information on an EVF (Electronic View Finder) 21, etc., 12, 13, and 14 are switches, and 15 is an image generation unit 16 for generating a title image signal. Is a writable and readable memory for holding image data of title data supplied from the external storage device 9, 17 is a microphone attached to the main body 1 for recording audio, and 18 is for amplifying an audio signal. An audio amplifier, 19 is a mixer amplifier for synthesizing a signal output from the audio amplifier 18 with an audio signal supplied from the external storage device 9 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 11, 20 is an audio signal output terminal, and 21 is an audio signal output terminal. This is an electronic viewfinder for displaying captured or reproduced video during recording and reproduction and displaying character information indicating the operation state of the system.

In FIG. 1, a subject image (not shown) is formed on an image pickup surface of an image pickup device 3 by an image pickup lens 2 and photoelectrically converted by the image pickup device into an image pickup video signal which is supplied to a camera signal processing circuit 4. .

Note that the image sensor 3 operates according to a timing pulse output from the image sensor driver 4.

The camera signal processing circuit 5 performs predetermined processing on the supplied captured image signal, and then outputs the processed image signal to the synthesizing circuit 6. The captured image signal is combined with a title image signal described later in the synthesizing circuit 6, and the VTR unit 7 It is recorded on a magnetic tape as a recording medium.

The video signal reproduced from the VTR unit 7 during reproduction is output from the output terminal 8 and supplied to an external device such as a television monitor.

On the other hand, the audio signal output from the microphone 17 is amplified by an audio amplifier 18 and is synthesized by a mixer amplifier 19 with an audio signal supplied from an external storage device 9 described later and output.

The audio signal output from the mixer amplifier 19 is recorded together with the video signal by frequency-multiplexing the video signal on a predetermined audio track or video track of a magnetic tape in the VTR section 7.

The control unit 11 sends data to the image generation unit 15 and outputs the data to the image generation unit 15 in accordance with the state of the switches 12 to 14, the type and connection state of the external connection device 9 connected to the connection unit 10, and the data.
15 to control the transmission of image information signals such as characters to the EVF 21.

The image generation unit 15 writes the data supplied from the control unit 11 into the memory 16 and further generates an image signal by reading out the data held in the memory 16 according to a command from the control unit 11. Thus, the synthesizing circuit 5 synthesizes with the video signal supplied from the camera signal processing circuit 5.

The connection unit 10 is configured such that various types of external storage devices 9 can be selectively attached to and detached from the main body 1.

2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the external storage device 9 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the external storage device 9.

In the figure, 100 is a microcomputer, 101 is a ROM built in 100, 102 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), 103 is a serial communication port, 104 is an I / O port for input / output, and 105 is a A connector for electrically connecting the external storage device 9; 106, a ROM table in which data such as a voice length, a waveform, and a pitch pattern is written; 107, a ROM
Read data from the table,
8, a control circuit for controlling the envelope circuit 109 and the like,
Reference numeral 108 denotes a sound source, and 109 denotes an envelope circuit for changing the amplitude of a sound signal output from the sound source 108.

In FIG. 2A, the connector 10 is
When the command is sent to the external storage device 9 via the communication port 5 and the communication port 103, the CPU 102 performs an operation corresponding to the command, for example, the ROM 1
Read data held in 01, communication port 10
3. Send to camera body 1 via connector 105, I / O
The port 104 is controlled.

Further, the control circuit 107 reads out the contents held in the ROM table 106 in order to select a song and start / stop the song according to a control signal supplied from the I / O port 104, The sound source 108 and the envelope circuit 109 are set.

Then, the audio signal generated by the sound source 108 is output to the main body 1 from the connector 105 via the envelope circuit 109.

FIG. 2B is a view showing the contents of data held in the ROM 101 of FIG. 2A.

As shown in FIG. 2 (B), a control program for performing the above-described communication, command interpretation, data reading, I / O port control, etc. is stored at the beginning of the address.
Next, there is a header in which data such as the type of the external storage device, the number of built-in titles, and the start address of each built-in data is entered, followed by image data of title 1, control data of title 1, Title 2 image data, title 2 control data, title 3 image data, title 3 control data, title 4 image data, and title 4 control data are stored in this order at the addresses shown in the figure. Subsequently, data for menu display of titles and data for menu display of music are stored.

FIG. 3 shows a microcomputer 10 in the external storage device 9.
It is a flowchart showing the operation of 0.

As shown in FIG. 3, after the start, first, at 302, the read address is moved to the head address of the header to adapt to the type discriminating operation on the camera body 1 side as described later.

Thereafter, an instruction from the main unit 1 is received at 303, and the instruction is determined at 304. If the instruction is a read instruction, a read address is received from the main unit 1 at 305, and the read address data is read at 306 from the ROM 101. Read from and send to main unit 1
Return to 3.

If it is determined in 304 that the instruction is a music control instruction, a predetermined control signal corresponding to the music control instruction is output from the I / O port 104 to the control circuit 107 in 307, and the process returns to 303. Done.

FIGS. 4A to 4D show selection menu display screens displayed on the EVF 21 when the external device 9 is connected to the main body 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 (A) shows an operation mode selection menu screen, where A: operation mode for title only, B: operation mode for music only, and C: simultaneous operation mode for title and music can be selected. .

The arrow on the left side of the figure indicates the currently selected operation mode.

FIG. 4B is a title selection menu screen displayed when the operation mode of only A: title in FIG. 4A is selected.

As shown in FIG. 4 (B), "TITLE" indicating that the operation mode of only the title is selected is displayed at the top of the screen, and below that, the micro computer 100 in the external storage device 9 is displayed. The name of each title represented by the title menu data stored in the ROM 101 is displayed.

FIG. 4 (C) is a music selection menu screen displayed when the operation mode of B: music only is selected in FIG. 4 (A).

"MUSIC" at the top of the screen indicates that the music only operation mode has been selected, as shown in FIG. 4 (C).
Is displayed, and below that, the name of each music represented by the music menu data stored in the ROM 101 is displayed.

FIG. 4 (D) shows a title and music selection menu screen displayed when the title and music simultaneous operation mode in FIG. 4 (A) is selected.

As shown in FIG. 4 (D), "TITLE &MUSIC" indicating that the simultaneous operation mode of title and music is selected is displayed at the top of the screen, and below the title menu, the title menu stored in the ROM 101 is displayed. The title indicated by the data and the music menu data and the name of each music are displayed.

Note that the title and music are displayed as a predetermined combination as shown in the drawing, for example, a combination of AAAA title and EEEE music, so that, for example, a combination of a Christmas title and a Christmas song may be used. A large number of items are arranged in combination.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show the control unit 11 shown in FIG.
3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

In FIG. 5A, after starting at 501, connection of the external storage device 9 is detected at 502.

In addition, this detection reads the voltage of the terminal of the connection section 10, and
If the voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, it is determined that the external storage device 9 is connected.

If the external storage device 9 is not connected in 503, 5
Returning to 02, the detecting operation is repeated until the external storage device 9 is connected. If there is a connection of the external storage device 9 at 503, the type in the header supplied from the connected external storage device 9 at 504 is returned. Is read, and if the type does not match at 505, the process returns to 502.

If the type of the external storage device 9 is appropriate, the process proceeds to step S506.
In response to ON and OFF of W1 (switch 12 in FIG. 1), if OFF, the process returns to 506. If ON, the mode selection menu screen (see FIG. 4A) is displayed on the EVF 21 at 507 and at 508, SW2
By operating (switch 13 in FIG. 1), the operation modes A, B, and B displayed on the mode selection menu screen are displayed.
C, that is, one of the title-only operation mode, the music only operation mode, and the title and music simultaneous operation mode is selected, and if SW3 (switch 14 in FIG. 1) is ON at 509, FIG. Go to 510 of (B) and go to O
If it is in the FF state, return to 508.

Note that at 510 in FIG. 5B, branching is performed in three directions according to the operation mode selected at 508.

That is, if the selected operation mode is A, the title menu data is read at 511, and the title menu display screen (see FIG. 4 (B)) is displayed at 512 on the EVF 21;
By operating SW2 (switch 13 in FIG. 1) at 13, titles 1 to 1 displayed on the title menu screen are displayed.
4 and select SW3 at 514 (switch 1 in FIG. 1).
If 4) is OFF, return to 513; if ON, go to 515.

Then, at 515, the title image data is read and written to the memory 16, the title control data is read at 516, the image generation unit 15 is controlled according to the title control data, and the title image display operation is performed.
This is repeated until the state of (the switch 14 in FIG. 1) is detected and turned on. If the ON state is detected, the image generation unit 15 is controlled to stop displaying the title image.
Returning to 506, the above operation is repeated.

If the selected operation mode is B, the music menu data is read at 519, the music menu display screen (see FIG. 4 (C)) is displayed at 520 on the EVF 21 and the SW2 (first data) is displayed at 521. By operating the switch 13) shown in the figure, one of the music 1 to 4 displayed on the music menu display screen is selected, and 52
If SW3 (switch 14 in FIG. 1) is in the OFF state in step 2, the process returns to step 521;

At 523, a music selection command and the selected music number are transmitted. At 524, a control signal for starting transmission and mixing of the music start command is transmitted to the mixer amplifier 19, and the mixing operation of the music is started. At 525, SW3 ( The state of the switch 14) in FIG. 1 is detected, and this operation is repeated until the switch is turned on. If the ON state is detected, a control signal for transmitting a mixing stop command and for ending the mixing is sent to the mixer amplifier 19, The mixing operation of the music is stopped, the flow returns to 506, and the above operation is repeated.

If the selected operation mode is C, both the title menu data and the music menu data are read at 527, and the menu display screen of the title and music simultaneous operation mode is displayed at 528 (see FIG. 4 (D)). To
It is displayed on the EVF 21, and by operating SW 2 (switch 13 in FIG. 1) at 529, one of the combinations 1 to 4 of the title and music displayed on the menu screen is selected. If the switch 14) in FIG. 1 is in the OFF state, the flow returns to 529, and if the switch 14) is in the ON state, the flow goes to 531.

Then, at 531 the title image data is read and written to the memory 16, at 532 the music selection command and the number of the selected music are transmitted, and at 533 the title control data is read, and the image generation unit 15 is read according to the title control data. Control and display the title, 534
Sends a control signal for starting the mixing start command and mixing to the mixer amplifier 19 to start the mixing operation of the mixer. At 535, the state of SW3 (switch 14 in FIG. 1) is detected and turned on. This is repeated until the ON state is detected.If the ON state is detected, the image generation unit 15 is controlled to stop displaying the title, and a control signal for transmitting a music stop command and for ending the mixing is sent to the mixer amplifier 19. The mixing operation of the music is stopped, the process returns to 506, and the above operations are repeated.

As described above, in the video camera system shown in the present embodiment, another video signal and an audio signal formed in the video camera main body are combined in the external storage device detachable from the video camera main body. Image data and audio data for forming an image signal or an audio signal,
Control data having a mode for synthesizing only an image, a mode for synthesizing only voice, and a mode for synthesizing image and voice are held, and the synthesizing operation is controlled based on any of the three modes. Because it was configured to
A special connection operation is not required, and by attaching the external storage device to the video camera body, various other image signals and audio signals can be combined with video signals and audio signals by simple operation. It is possible to obtain an advantageous effect and not to impair the reduction in size and weight of the system.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the title image signal generated by the image generating unit 15 is configured to be synthesized by the synthesizing circuit 6 on the input side of the VTR unit 7 with the captured video signal corresponding to the captured video. The output side of the VTR unit 7 may be configured to be combined with the video signal reproduced by the VTR unit 7, or may be configured to be combined on both the input side and the output side.

Similarly, the audio signal is configured so that the audio signal supplied from the external storage device 9 can be combined with the audio signal reproduced from the VTR unit 7 or that the audio signal can be synthesized on both the input side and the output side. May be.

Further, the audio signal has been described as a music, but is not limited to this, and may be another audio signal such as a sound effect, a synthesized voice, a digital synthesized sound, or the like.

Further, the menu screen displayed on the EVF 21 is not limited to the mode of the embodiment, and may display the operation mode of the connected external storage device, menu data in the external storage device, In this embodiment, the menu screen is displayed on the EVF. However, it can be displayed on another display, for example, a liquid crystal display.

Further, in the present embodiment, a case has been described in which a video signal and an audio signal formed by a video camera are used as information signals, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, an information signal capable of combining an information signal of an image signal or an audio signal with an information signal of another image signal or an audio signal by a simple operation. A control system can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera system to which the present invention is applied as an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation of the external storage device 9 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the microcomputer 100 in the external storage device 9 of the present embodiment. FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams showing examples of display screens displayed on the EVF 21 of the present embodiment. FIGS. 5A and 5B are operation flowcharts of the control unit 11 of the present embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body, 3 ... Image sensor, 5 ... Camera signal processing circuit, 6 ... Synthesis circuit, 7 ... VTR section, 9 ... External storage device, 10 ... Connection section, 11 ... Control section , 12-14 switches, 15 image generators, 16 memories, 100 microcomputers, 101 ROM, 102 CPUs, 103 communication ports, 104 I / O ports, 106: ROM table, 107: Control circuit, 108: Sound source, 109: Envelope circuit.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 5/91 H04N 5/781 H04N 5/262-5/265

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An information signal generator for generating an image signal and an audio signal, the information signal generator being detachable from the information signal generator,
Image information data corresponding to another image information signal synthesized with the image signal generated by the information signal generating device, and corresponding to another audio signal synthesized with the audio signal generated by the information signal generating device. A first synthesis operation mode for synthesizing only audio information data and another image signal generated based on the image information data, and a second synthesis mode for synthesizing only another audio signal generated based on the audio information data An operation mode, and a third synthesis operation mode for synthesizing the other image signal and the audio signal together, based on any one of the first, second, and third synthesis operation modes. And a data holding device for holding synthesis operation control data for controlling the synthesis timing of the other image signal and / or other audio signal. Stem.