JP2925281B2 - 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.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, when a video signal or an audio signal obtained by taking a picture with a video camera or the like is recorded on a recording medium, a video effect on a video signal to be recorded on the recording medium is enhanced. For the purpose, images such as characters, symbols or specific pictures are synthesized by superimposition, etc.
Various methods have been considered as a method of multiplexing a background music, a sound effect, and the like on an audio signal to be recorded.

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 position where the character is displayed 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 screen element 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 graphic memory. The readout circuit reads out the contents stored in the graphic memory according to the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals, and outputs a video signal obtained by photographing with a video camera. Are synthesized.

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, There is a method of synthesizing an audio signal to be recorded or an audio signal collected after shooting by using a mixing amplifier or the like with an audio signal generated from the above-described apparatus.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the photographing 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 also 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.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information signal control system that can combine a plurality of types of second information signals with a first information signal by a simple operation without requiring a special operation. And

[Means for Solving the Problems] For this purpose, an information signal control system according to the present invention includes an information signal generating device that generates a first information signal, and an information signal generating device that is detachable from the information signal generating device. And controlling a plurality of types of information data corresponding to a plurality of types of second information signals to be synthesized with the first information signal generated by the information signal generating device, and a synthesis procedure of the plurality of types of information data. And a data holding device for holding control data for performing the first information signal generated by the information signal generating device and combining the plurality of second information signals with the first information signal generated by the information signal generating device. A plurality of types of information data held in the data holding unit are read out according to a synthesis procedure indicated by the control data held in the data holding unit, and second information corresponding to the read out plurality of types of information data is read. A signal is synthesized with the first information signal.

[Operation] With the above configuration, it is possible to combine a plurality of types of second information signals with a first information signal by a simple operation without requiring a special 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, and displaying information on an EVF (Electronic View Finder) 21; 12, 13, 14 are switches; 15 is an image generation unit for generating a title image signal; 16 is an external storage device 9
A read / write memory for holding image data among the title data supplied from the camera; 17 is a microphone attached to the main body 1 for recording audio; 18 is an audio amplifier for amplifying audio signals; and 19 is an audio amplifier. A mixer amplifier for synthesizing a signal output from the audio amplifier 18 with an audio signal supplied from the external storage device 9 according to a control signal from the control unit 11, 20 is an audio signal output terminal, and 21 is at the time of recording and reproduction. This is an electronic viewfinder for displaying captured or reproduced video and displaying character information indicating the operation state of the system.

In FIG. 1, a subject image (not shown) is formed on the imaging surface of a photographic element 3 by a photographic lens 2, and is photoelectrically converted by the imaging element to become an imaged video signal and supplied to a camera signal processing circuit 4. .

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 outputs the processed image signal to a synthesizing circuit 6. The captured image signal is synthesized with a title image signal described later in the synthesizing circuit 6. 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 the audio amplifier 18 and synthesized and output by the mixer amplifier 19 with the audio signal supplied from the external storage device 9 described later.

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 unit 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 in accordance with a command from the control unit 11, as described above. In the synthesizing circuit 5, the camera and the video signal supplied from the signal processing circuit 5 are synthesized.

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.

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 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
Reads out the data held in 01, communication port 103,
The data is sent to the camera body 1 via the connector 105 and the I / O 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-mentioned communication, interpreting the command, reading data, controlling the I / 0 port, and the like is stored at the leading end of the address. There is a header containing 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, followed by image data 1, control data 1, image data 2, and control data 2. , Image data 3, control data 3, image data 4, and control data 4 are stored in this order at the addresses shown in the figure, followed by menu display data.

FIG. 2 (C) shows a display screen in the EVF 21 when the external storage device 9 is connected to the main unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data numbers of 1-4, "AAA
“A”, “BBBB”, and the like indicate the names and types of data displayed on the EVF 21 by the control unit 11 according to the menu data shown in FIG. 2 (B).

FIG. 3 shows a microcomputer 10 in the external storage device 9.
It is a flow alert 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, at 303, the instruction from the main unit 1 is received, and at 304, the instruction is determined. If the instruction is a read instruction, the read address is received from the main unit 1 at 305, and the read address data is read at 306 from the ROM 101. From the 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 / 0 port 104 to the control circuit 107 in 307, the process returns to 303, and the above operation is repeated. Done.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the control data in FIG. 2 (B).

FIG. 4A shows data at the time of switch-on. In FIG. 4A, data 401 to 406 are data for controlling the image generating unit 15, and data 407 is for controlling music. The data of 408 and the data of 408
Is the data for controlling.

In FIG. 4 (A), first, the title display position is set at the bottom of the screen at 401, the color of each part of the title is set at 402, the display is turned on at 403, the scrolling is started upward at 404, and the scroll is started at 405. Time for the title to move to the predetermined position a
Wait for a second.

Then, scrolling is stopped at 406, the music is started at 407, and the mixer amplifier is turned on at 408.

By this point, both the title and the music are synthesized into the captured video and the recorded audio.

FIG. 4 (B) shows the data at the time of switch-off. In the figure, data 410 to 412 are data for controlling the image generating unit 15, data 414 is data for controlling the music, and 409 is data. , 413 are data for controlling the mixer amplifier 19.

In FIG. 4 (B), first, at 409, the fade-out of the music in the mixer amplifier is started.

Then, scroll the title upward at 410,
At 11, wait (b seconds) until the title screen disappears from the screen.

Thereafter, the display of the title is turned off at 412, the mixer amplifier is turned off at 413, and the music is turned off at 414.

FIGS. 5 (A) to 5 (C) show the control unit shown in FIG.
11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

In FIG. 5A, after starting at 501, the 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, 502
Returning to, the detection 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 external storage device 9 connected at 504 is returned. Read the data indicating 505
If the type does not match, the process returns to 502.

If the type of the external storage means 9 is appropriate, the process proceeds to step S506.
If W1 (switch 12 in FIG. 1) is ON or OFF, if OFF, return to 506. If ON, read menu data at 507 and display a menu screen corresponding to the menu data read at 508 on the EVF 21. .

Then, in 509, by operating SW2 (switch 13 in FIG. 1), the data 1 displayed on the menu screen is displayed.
4 is selected, and when it is determined at 510 that SW3 (switch 14 in FIG. 1) has been pressed, 51 in FIG.
The image data corresponding to the data selected in step 1 is read and written into the memory 16, and if not pressed, the process returns to step 509.

At 512, one line of the switch portion of the control data corresponding to the data selected at 509 is read.

Then, when it is detected that the control data is not completed in 513, the control data content is determined in 514,
If it is the image generation unit control data, the image generation unit 15 is controlled according to the image generation unit control data at 515, and the process returns to 512 again.If it is the mixer amplifier control data, at 516 the mixer amplifier 19 is generated according to the mixer amplifier control data. Control is returned to 512, and if it is music control data, the control circuit 107 in the external storage device 9 is controlled via the communication port in accordance with the music control data at 517 to control the music. Return to 512 again.

When it is detected that the control data is completed in 513, the state of SW3 is read in 518 of FIG. 5C, and this operation is repeated until the ON state is detected. At 519, one line of the switch-off portion of the control data corresponding to the data selected at 511 is read.

If it is not detected in 520 that the control data has ended, the content of the control data is determined in 521, and if it is image control data, the image generation unit 15 is controlled in accordance with the image control data in 522. Then, returning to 519, if it is the mixer amplifier control data, the mixer amplifier 19 is controlled according to the mixer amplifier control data at 523, and the process returns to 519 again. Then, the control circuit 107 in the external storage device 9 is controlled via the communication port to perform music control, and the process returns to 519 again.

When it is detected in 520 that the control data has been completed, the flow returns to 506, and these operations are repeated thereafter.

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. Holds image data and audio data for forming image signals or audio signals and control data for controlling the synthesizing operation, does not require special connection operations, and attaches the external storage device to the video camera body. By doing so, it is possible to synthesize other image signals and audio signals with video signals and audio signals with simple operation, and it is possible to keep the size and weight of the system without impairing .

In the above-described embodiment, the title image signal generated by the image generation unit 15 is synthesized by the synthesizing circuit 6 on the input side of the VTR unit 7 into a captured video signal corresponding to the captured video. 7 may be combined with the video signal reproduced by the VTR unit 7, or may be combined on both the input side and the output side.

Similarly, the audio signal is configured such 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 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 thereto, and may be another audio signal such as a sound effect, a synthesized voice, or a digital synthesized sound.

Further, the menu screen displayed on the EVF 21 is not limited to the mode of the embodiment, and may display an 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.
For example, it can be performed by a liquid crystal display or the like.

Further, in this 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, a plurality of types of second information signals are combined with a first information signal by a simple operation without requiring a special operation. It is possible to provide an information signal control system capable of doing things.

[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 to 2C are diagrams for explaining the configuration and operation of the external storage device 9 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the microcomputer 100 in the external storage device 9 of this embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of the control data of the present embodiment. FIGS. 5A to 5C 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 , 12,13,14 ... switch, 15 ... image generation unit, 16 ... memory, 100 ... microcomputer, 101 ... ROM, 102 ... CPU, 103 ... communication port, 104 ... I / 0 Ports, 106 ROM table, 107 control circuit, 108 sound source, 109 envelope circuit.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-318469 (JP, A) JP-A-1-314077 (JP, A) JP-A-2-135990 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 5/91-5/956 H04N 5/782-5/783

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An information signal generator for generating a first information signal is detachable from the information signal generator, and is combined with a first information signal generated by the information signal generator. A data holding device for holding a plurality of types of information data corresponding to a plurality of types of second information signals and control data for controlling a synthesis procedure of the plurality of types of information data; When synthesizing the plurality of types of second information signals with the first information signal generated in the generator, the data holding means is provided to the data holding means in accordance with a synthesis procedure indicated by the control data held in the data holding means. An information signal control system for reading out a plurality of types of information data held and combining a second information signal corresponding to the plurality of types of read out information data with the first information signal; M