JP3115900B2 - Lighting control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting control device, and more particularly to a lighting control device responsive to an operation of a video recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the case where an image capturing and recording apparatus, such as a still video camera or a video camera, performs image capturing using illumination, a strobe light that emits light in synchronization with the image capturing timing, or a stationary light during image capturing. There is a steady light type lighting that illuminates the lighting. When performing photographing with the above strobe lighting, there is a problem in synchronization between recording operation and light emission. As a proposal on the tuning means, see Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-16768.
The still image recording system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-209,1992 relates to a system that supplies a detection signal of a strobe light detection unit to a still video recorder that records an image signal from a video camera as a still image and performs strobe shooting. . Also, JP-A-2-36680 and JP-A-2-39778.
The image recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-157, which is an apparatus for recording an image in synchronization with a strobe, is capable of freezing an image at the moment of irradiation by a strobe that emits light at an arbitrary timing.

[0003] In the case of photographing by the steady light emission type illumination, the power consumption naturally increases, but the photographing can be performed without tuning. In the related art, light emission is started prior to photographing by operating a switch dedicated to lighting or the like.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In strobe photographing using a still image recording system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 16768, an image recording device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-36680 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-39778, first, an external flash is used. In addition, it is difficult to perform color temperature correction of strobe light emission for each shooting. There are two types of recording methods, field recording and frame recording. Among them, in the case of photographing by frame recording, two fields of image data are taken in for one screen at 1/60 second intervals. However, the strobe light applied to the two fields is not always equivalent, and there is a problem that variations occur and a good frame recording image is not always recorded.

[0005] Further, in the conventional photographing using the steady light emission type illumination, it is necessary to operate a switch different from the photographing instruction switch to turn on or off the illuminating device every time photographing is performed, which is very troublesome. Need work. Therefore, if the lighting device is kept turned on even during shooting, the subject will be heated. In addition, when the subject is a person, there is a problem that the subject is dazzled and cannot withstand long-time observation. In particular, this problem becomes a problem in the case of performing illumination with stationary light in imaging with a still camera used for medical purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages. In an illumination control device of an imaging and recording device, the illumination control device responds to an operation of an operation means relating to recording of a video signal and operates the illumination control device. The drive is controlled to eliminate the above-mentioned problems that occur in strobe shooting. In addition, in shooting with steady-state lighting, the lighting device is turned on by operating a switch dedicated to lighting different from the recording instruction each time shooting is performed. Alternatively, there is provided an illumination control device which does not need to be turned off, has good operability, does not easily cause a temperature rise due to illumination of a subject, and can avoid problems such as continuing a dazzling state. It is.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
The light control device controls the operation of the operation means related to the recording of the video signal.
Lighting drive that responds to and controls the driving of the steady-state lighting system
A control circuit, wherein the operating means includes at least a video signal
A first operating unit for initiating a preparatory operation for recording
A second operating section for activating a video signal recording operation.
The same structure as the structure related to the illumination drive control circuit
, And this structure is the above-mentioned steady light type lighting device.
And a video signal generation means.
Being separate from or integrated with the recording device
It is characterized by. The second lighting control device according to the present invention includes:
In the first illumination control device, the illumination drive control circuit
The path is dependent on the operating state of the first operating part of the operating means.
Controlling the driving of the steady lighting type lighting device.
You. The third illumination control device according to the present invention includes the second illumination control device according to the second aspect.
In the lighting control device, the lighting drive control circuit includes
The steady light emission depending on the operating state of the first operating part of the operating means.
Controls the driving of the lighting system, but controls the recording device
It is characterized by not doing. Fourth illumination in the present invention
The control device may be configured such that, in the second lighting control device,
The bright drive control circuit operates the first operating portion of the operating means.
When controlling the driving of the above-mentioned steady-state lighting type lighting device depending on
Both are characterized by performing control relating to the recording apparatus.
The fifth illumination control device according to the present invention is configured such that the first illumination
In the control device, the illumination drive control circuit includes the operating device.
Depending on the operating state of the first operating portion of the stage, the steady-state light-emitting type
After a predetermined time from the driving of the recording device, the recording device
And clocking means for permitting recording operations
Sign.

[0008]

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording apparatus incorporating a lighting control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This imaging and recording device records a video signal, and also controls a lighting light source unit 3 which is a steady-state lighting type illumination device for increasing the brightness of a subject, and converts the subject image information into an electric signal. An imaging unit 2 for conversion, the illumination light source unit 3,
It mainly comprises a monitor 4 for displaying the recorded video. The recording device 1 captures an image signal from the image pickup unit 2, performs image processing, and outputs the image signal to a floppy disk drive (hereinafter, referred to as FDD) 7. , A lighting power supply unit 8 for the illumination light source unit 3 having a built-in illumination drive control circuit whose on / off is controlled by the system controller 5, and a main recording unit A system controller 5 for performing overall control is housed in a single structure.

The system controller 5 includes:
An operation means for instructing the preparation and start of recording of the video signal to the video circuit 6 and the FDD 7 and the stop of the recording is incorporated. The illumination drive control circuit of the illumination power supply unit 8 is also driven and controlled based on the operation signal of the operation means, and turns on / off the light emission of the illumination light source unit 3. The operation of the imaging recording apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above is as follows. First, when an operation for recording preparation is performed by the operation means at the time of recording an image, the illumination drive of the illumination power supply unit 7 is performed in response to the operation. The illumination light source unit 3 emits light via the control circuit. On the other hand, a recording preparation signal is also output to the FDD 7, and subsequently, a recording start signal is output to the video circuit 6 and the FDD 7, and video recording is performed. At the end of recording, when the operation of the operation means is performed to stop recording, a recording stop signal is output to the FDD 7, and the recording operation is stopped. At the same time, the illumination light source unit 3 stops emitting light via the illumination drive control circuit of the illumination power supply unit 8. This light emission stop operation may be performed by the operation signal, or may be performed based on a detection output of the stop of the recording operation.

As described above, the illumination control device according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the illumination power supply unit 8 controlled by the system controller is built in the recording device 1, and the illumination light source unit 3 for imaging is turned on / off. According to the present embodiment, the lighting switch is turned on by operating a lighting switch different from the recording instruction every time shooting is performed, as in the prior art, since the recording preparation / start and the recording stop operation are performed in conjunction with the recording preparation / start and recording stop operations. Alternatively, there is no need to turn off the light, and therefore, it is possible to provide a lighting control device with good operability and low power consumption for lighting. Note that this illumination light source is not a strobe light source but a steady light emission type, so that white balance adjustment can be performed immediately before photographing.

FIG. 2 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording apparatus having an illumination control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This imaging and recording apparatus is an illumination means which is an operation means and an illumination control apparatus for giving an instruction of recording preparation / recording start and stop and an instruction of turning on / off the illumination in response to the instruction of the first embodiment. The difference is that the power supply unit is arranged in a different structure from the recording device. The imaging and recording apparatus converts a subject image into an electric signal and outputs the video signal to the recording apparatus 14, an illumination light source 18 for illuminating the subject, and an illumination power supply section 12 for the light source. When,
It mainly comprises a monitor 13 for displaying the recorded video and the recording device 14 for recording the video signal sent from the camera unit 11 on a floppy disk or the like. The illumination power supply unit 12 includes, in addition to an illumination light source having an illumination drive control circuit, a first operation unit for recording preparation, which is an operation unit for giving an instruction for video recording preparation and recording start / stop to the recording device 14. (Hereinafter referred to as a REC standby switch) 16, a switch (hereinafter referred to as a REC start switch) 17 of a second operating unit which is an operation means for starting recording, and a communication signal output circuit for outputting the output to the recording device 14. 15 is built in, and on / off of the illumination drive control circuit is also controlled by operation signals of the switches 16 and 17.

The operation of the imaging and recording apparatus according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration is as follows.
When the standby switch 16 is turned on, the recording device 14
, A recording preparation signal is issued, and a recording preparation operation is performed. Further, based on the ON signal of the REC standby switch 16, the output of the illumination power supply unit 12 is turned on, the illumination light source unit 18 is turned on, and the subject becomes bright enough to be photographed. The reason why the lighting is started at the same time as the recording preparation operation in this manner is that a predetermined time is required for stabilizing the luminance of the illumination and for preparing the recording apparatus.

Subsequently, when the REC start switch 17 is turned on, a recording start signal is output to the recording device 14,
A video signal captured from the camera 11 is recorded. At the end of recording, the REC standby switch 1
6 or turn on the REC start switch 17 again,
The recording device 1 is operated by an operation of turning off the on state or the like.
A recording stop signal is also output to 4 to stop the recording operation, and at the same time, turn off the illumination power supply unit 12 to stop the light emission of the illumination light source 18. This light emission stop operation may be performed based on the operation signal, or may be performed based on the stop of the recording operation.

As described above, according to the illumination control device of the present embodiment, the illumination power supply unit is provided externally, and the recording preparation / recording start / stop instruction and the instruction are responsive to the instruction integrally with the power supply unit. Since the switch for giving the ON / OFF instruction of the illumination is provided, the switch can be operated with the user having the illumination light source unit for imaging. Further, the present apparatus has a feature that the illumination power supply unit is externally attached, so that the present invention can be applied to a recording apparatus in which the illumination power supply unit is not provided.

FIG. 3 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording apparatus having an illumination control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This imaging and recording apparatus differs from that of the second embodiment in that a camera section and an illumination section are integrated, and operation means for giving an instruction of recording preparation / recording start / stop to the camera section are recordable. Display means is provided.

The imaging and recording apparatus includes a camera section 21 having a built-in camera as an imaging section and a lighting section including a lighting control device, and a recording section for recording a video signal sent from the camera section 21 on a floppy disk or the like. It mainly comprises a device 23 and a monitor 22 for displaying recorded images. In the camera section 21, the photographing light is captured by the photographing lens 35, and the automatic aperture 34 is adjusted based on the subject brightness.
, And is converted into an electric signal by the CCD 33 of the image sensor, and a video signal is generated by the video signal processing circuit 24. The video signal is output to the recording device 23. Also,
The illumination light source 36 emits light via the illumination drive control circuit of the illumination power supply unit 26 to illuminate the subject. Further, the camera unit 21
In response to the communication signal, the recording device 23 instructs the recording device 23 to prepare and start recording a video signal.
And a system controller 25 for controlling on / off of the illumination drive control circuit. Also, a command for recording preparation / start of the video signal and a command to turn on / off the illumination power supply unit 26 accompanying the command are sent to the first-stage SW (switch) of the first operation unit of the two-stage operation provided to the system controller 25. ) 31, second-stage SW (switch) 3 of second operating section
2 is performed. Note that this first stage SW31
Is connected to the REC standby switch 16 and the second S
W32 corresponds to the REC start switch 17, respectively. The system controller 25 is equipped with a REC enable display LED 38 for notifying a photographer that the recording device 23 and the illumination control device are in a recordable state.

The operation of the imaging and recording apparatus of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. 4, the flow chart of the main routine of FIG. 6, and the flow chart of the subroutine of FIGS. This will be described with reference to a chart. In the main routine of FIG. 6, the first stage S for recording preparation command is executed in step S01.
Wait until W is operated and turned on. When it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S02, where a subroutine "REC standby processing" is called. In the REC standby process, first, as shown in a time chart of FIG. 4, the illumination power supply unit 26 is turned on via the illumination drive control circuit to turn on the light source 36 in step S11. At the same time, RE
The communication signal of the C (recording) standby instruction is output from the camera unit 21 to the recording device 23 (step S12). Furthermore,
The counting of the illumination brightness / automatic aperture timer is started (step S13). The illumination brightness / automatic aperture timer is set with a margin for the time until the luminance is stabilized after the illumination light source is turned on and the time until the aperture value of the automatic aperture is stabilized based on the subject luminance. (See FIG. 4). Therefore, after this time,
When the recording apparatus is ready for photographing, that is, when the spindle motor reaches a predetermined speed, it can be regarded as a recordable state.

Subsequently, in step S14, the recording device sends a signal to the system controller 25 of the camera 21 from the recording device based on the turning on of the spindle lock signal indicating that the spindle motor has reached the predetermined speed and has reached the recordable speed. The process proceeds to step S15 after waiting for the output of a communication signal indicating that the preparation on the 23 side has been completed. Then, the process proceeds to step S16 after the setting of the illumination brightness / automatic aperture timer is completed. In step S16, the REC enable display LED 38 indicating that the recording is enabled is turned on, and the process returns to step S03 of the main routine. This period is the REC standby period (FIG. 4).

In step S03, the on / off state of the second-stage SW 32 for instructing the start of recording of the video signal is determined. If it is on, the process branches to step S06. If it is off, the process branches to step S04. In step S06,
The subroutine "REC processing" in FIG. 8 is called, and recording processing is performed. First, in step S21, a communication signal instructing the start of recording is output to the recording device 23. Then, the recording operation is performed, and it is confirmed in step S22 that the communication signal of the recording end is returned to the camera unit 21 based on the end of the recording, and the process is returned to step S03 of the main routine. This period is a REC (recording) period as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the process branches to step S04, it is determined again whether the first-stage SW31 is on or off. If the on-state is maintained, the process returns to step S03. But,
If the recording is turned off to stop the recording, the process branches to step S05 and the subroutine "REC stop processing" is performed.
Is called. In this “REC stop processing”,
As shown in FIG. 9, the REC enable display LED 38 is turned off in step S31, and the illumination power supply unit 26 is turned off and the light source 36 is turned off in step S32. At the same time, a communication signal of a REC (recording) stop instruction is output to the recording device 23 (step S33). The recording device 23 receives the stop signal, stops the spindle motor, and outputs a communication signal for confirming the stop of recording to the camera unit 21 based on the rising of the spindle lock signal. In step S34, the response to the stop confirmation signal is confirmed, and the process returns to step S01 of the main routine. This period is a REC suspension period as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the illumination control apparatus of the present embodiment, the imaging section and the illumination section are integrally provided in the camera section 21, and the illumination is controlled by the recording preparation / start operation switch attached to the camera section 21. Is turned on / off in response to the recording operation, so that the operability becomes very good. At the same time, since the lighting of the illumination light source is started at the same time as the recording preparation, the period of the recording preparation operation can be allocated to the stabilization time of the illumination luminance, the white balance adjustment time, and the time required for stabilizing the automatic aperture operation. It becomes possible and the rise time of the recording preparation can be used effectively.

In the third embodiment, when recording is stopped, the spindle motor is stopped at the same time as turning off the illumination so that the occurrence of mechanical damage to the floppy disk due to the rotation of the motor is reduced as much as possible. Suitable for relatively long ones. As a modified example of this embodiment, a recording apparatus having an illumination control device performing an operation as shown in a time chart of FIG. 5 can be proposed. In this apparatus, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 5, during the REC stop period, the illumination light source is turned off based on the turning off operation of the first stage SW. A spindle motor stop instruction is not issued, and the spindle motor is controlled so as to maintain a recordable state without being stopped. Therefore, according to the modification, when re-recording is started, recording can be performed without waiting for the spindle motor to rise.

[0024]

As described above, the lighting control apparatus of the present invention
According to the present invention, the driving of the lighting device is controlled in response to the operation of the operating means related to the recording of the video signal. There is no need to turn on or off the lighting device by operating the device. Therefore, the operability is good, the temperature rise due to the illumination of the subject is also small, and the dazzling state can be prevented from continuing. It has an effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording device incorporating a lighting control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording device having an illumination control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main block configuration diagram of an imaging and recording device having an illumination control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart in the recording operation of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a time chart in a recording operation of an image recording apparatus showing a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a recording process of the imaging and recording apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a subroutine “REC standby processing” called in the recording processing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a subroutine “REC processing” called in the recording processing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a subroutine “REC stop processing” called in the recording processing of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

5 System controller (including operation means for recording video signals) 6 Video circuit (video signal generation means) 24 ……………………………………………………………………… ... Video signal processing circuit (video signal generating means) 8, 12, 26 ... Power supply unit for lighting (steady light-emitting type lighting device) 3, 18, 36 ... Light source unit (steady) Light-emitting lighting device) 7 FDD (device unit for recording video signal) 14, 23… Recording device (for recording video signal) 16) REC standby switch (first operating part) 31 ............ First stage SW (first operating part) 17 REC start switch (second operating part) 32 second stage SW (second operating part)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] [Claim 1] comprising a lighting drive control circuit for controlling the drive of in response to operation of the operation means according to the recording of the video signal constant luminescent lighting device, ready for recording of the operating means at least a video signal
First operation unit for starting operation and recording operation of video signal
And a second operating portion for activating the lighting device.
Provided in the same structure as the structure related to the motion control circuit, and
This structure is used for the above-mentioned steady light type lighting device and image signal generation.
Means, and separately from the video signal recording device,
Alternatively, a lighting control device , which is integrally formed . 2. The lighting drive control circuit according to claim 1, wherein
(1) The above-mentioned steady light type lighting device depending on the operating state of the operating part
The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control device controls the driving of the lighting device. 3. The illumination drive control circuit according to claim 2, wherein
(1) The above-mentioned steady light type lighting device depending on the operating state of the operating part
Controls the drive of the printer, but does not control the recording device.
3. The lighting control device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The illumination drive control circuit according to claim 1, wherein
(1) The above-mentioned steady light type lighting device depending on the operating state of the operating part
Of the printing apparatus and control of the printing apparatus.
3. The lighting control device according to claim 2, wherein 5. The illumination drive control circuit according to claim 1, wherein
(1) The above-mentioned steady light type lighting device depending on the operating state of the operating part
After a predetermined time from the drive of the
Claim comprising timekeeping means for permitting recording operation
Item 6. The illumination control device according to Item 1.