JP3208593B2 - Camera 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 camera and a camera controller (CC) connected to the camera by a camera cable.
U) and a camera device suitable for application to a studio camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a studio camera or the like, the camera is mounted on an operation console in order to obtain a stable image without shaking during moving shooting.
On the other hand, in order to adjust the functions of the camera, for example, knee characteristics, γ characteristics, and the like, the camera is connected to a camera control device (hereinafter, referred to as CCU as necessary) via a camera cable.

[0003] With such a connection configuration, the function of the camera is controlled and adjusted by the CCU in response to the ambient temperature and changes over time, so that the camera is not touched, that is, the remote control is performed. It is possible to control the camera.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show the configuration of a camera device according to the prior art. The camera device shown in FIG. 7A includes a camera 1 having four functions A, B, C, and D that can be remotely controlled, and a camera C connected to the camera 1 by a cable 2.
CU3. The CCU 2 is provided with four knobs 5 to 8 for adjusting the four functions A, B, C, and D, respectively. On the knobs 5 to 8 sides, indications “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” corresponding to functions that can be adjusted with the knobs 5 to 8 are drawn.

The camera apparatus shown in FIG. 7B has a camera 11 having four functions A, B, C, and E that can be remotely controlled, and a CCU 13 connected to the camera 11 by a cable 2. The CCU 13 has the above four functions A, B,
Four knobs 15 to 18 are provided for adjusting the respective positions corresponding to C and E. On the side of the knobs 15-18, indications "A", "B", "C", and "E" corresponding to the functions adjustable with the knobs 15-18 are drawn. In addition,
In the camera 1 and the camera 11, functions A, B, and C are common functions, and functions D and E are different functions.

In the camera apparatus shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, each knob 5 to 8 (15 to 18) of the CCU 3 (13) is used.
By turning, the data is transmitted to the camera 1 (11) through the cable 2 (2), and the functions A, B, C, and D (A, B, C, E) of the corresponding camera 1 (11) are transmitted. Can be adjusted.

[0007]

By the way, in the camera device according to the above-mentioned prior art, the camera 1 and the camera 11 can be used interchangeably. However, in the camera device according to the above-described conventional technology, when the camera device is used after being replaced, the CCU 3 cannot adjust the function E of the camera 11, and the CCU 13 cannot adjust the function D of the camera 1. There is a problem that can not be performed. After all, since the functions of the camera 1 and the camera 11 are different, the CCU corresponding to each of the cameras 1 and 11 is different.
There is a problem that 3, 13 is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera device that allows a camera control unit (CCU) to be generalized (shared) for a camera. And

[0009]

A camera device according to the present invention comprises a camera 21 and a camera 21 as shown in FIG.
The camera 21 has first control means 33, and the camera control apparatus 22 includes a second control means 51, a display means 59, and an operation means 58. The first control means 33 transmits data Df relating to controllable functions to the camera control device 22 at the time of reset, and the second control means 5
Numeral 1 indicates that when the data Df is received, a controllable function is displayed on the display means 59, and the above function can be adjusted by the operation means 58.

Further, in the camera device of the present invention, in such a camera device, the operating means 58 is shared and used corresponding to the controllable functions displayed on the display means 59.

[0011]

According to the camera apparatus of the present invention, at the time of resetting, the camera 21 transmits data Df relating to a function controllable by the camera 21 to the camera control apparatus 22 side, and the camera control apparatus 22 having received the data Df displays the data Df. Means 5
9, a function corresponding to the data Df is displayed, and the above function can be adjusted by the operation means 58. Therefore, all functions of the camera 21 can be recognized, and the camera control device 22 can be generalized (shared). Further, it becomes easy to make the camera control device 22 correspond to a new function.

Further, when the operating means 58 is shared, the configuration of the camera control device 22, especially the panel surface, is simplified.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the camera device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a camera device according to this embodiment. This camera device includes a camera 21 and a CCU 22 as a camera control device, and the camera 21 and the CCU 22 are connected by a cable 23.

The camera 21 includes an imaging unit 25 having a lens, a CCD area sensor, and the like. An output signal of the imaging unit 25 is supplied to an encoder 28 through an amplifier 26 and a process circuit 27. The composite video signal CV is output from the encoder 28. The output composite video signal CV is supplied to the connector 29, the cable 23, the connector 45.
To the CCU 22, and supplied from an output terminal 46 of the CCU 22 to a video monitor (not shown).

The camera 21 has a CPU 33 as first control means.
34, a RAM 35 and interfaces 37 to 40 are connected through a bus line 41.

In this case, the exposure time T of the shutter in the imaging section is adjusted through the interface 37. Further, the gain G of the amplifier 26 can be adjusted through the interface 38. Further, the white balance W / B and the gamma characteristic γ in the process circuit 27 can be adjusted through the interface 39.

The interface 40 is a serial interface for communication. Function data Df and the like stored in the ROM 34 are transmitted to the CCU 22 through the connector 31, the cable 23 and the connector 43.

The CCU 22 controls C as a second control means.
A PU 51, and a ROM 52,
The RAM 53, the interfaces 54 to 56, the cursor switch 57, and the A / D converter 58 are connected through a bus line 60.

The interface 54 is a serial interface for communication. The interface 54 receives the function data Df and the like and transmits the adjustment data Da.

The interface 55 is connected to the power supply line 61. The power supply line 61 is connected to a fixed contact of a power supply switch 62 serving as reset means, and is also connected to supply a power supply voltage Vcc to the camera 21 through the connector 44, the cable 23, and the connector 30. The movable contact of the power switch 62 is
Connected to the next side.

The primary side of the power supply circuit 63 is connected to a power plug 64 through a main power switch (not shown), and the power plug 64 is connected to an AC power supply (not shown). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the main power switch (not shown) is in an ON state, and the power supply voltage Vcc is constantly supplied from the power supply circuit 63 to each component of the CCU 22. .

The analog output signal of the potentiometer 58 is supplied to the input side of the A / D converter 58. Instead of the A / D converter 58 and the potentiometer 58, a rotary encoder for generating a digital output signal may be provided.

The interface 56 is a display interface, and a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as LCD) 59 as display means is connected to the interface 56. The display means is not limited to the LCD, but may be a fluorescent display tube or the like.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the front panel 65 of the CCU 22 having the cursor switch 57, the potentiometer 58, and the LCD 59. Reference numerals 71 to 75 denote function display frames, and only frames 71 to 75 are displayed on the LCD 59 when the power switch 62 is off.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG.
52 shows the contents of the operation program stored in advance.

First, it is determined through the interface 55 whether or not the power switch 62 serving as reset means is in an ON state (step S1). Power switch 62
Is in the off state, as shown in FIG.
Nothing is displayed on the LCD 59 of the front panel 65 except for the frames 71 to 75.

The power switch 62 is turned on (closed state)
Is set to ON, the CPU 51 determines the ON state through the interface 55. At that time, CP
U51 transmits a reset signal to the camera 21 through the interface 54. This reset signal is taken into the CPU 33 through the interface 40. In this case, the CPU 33 starts up a so-called power-on reset program stored in the ROM 34. When this power-on reset program is started, RO
Data relating to the function controllable by the camera 21 stored in M34, that is, function data Df, is transmitted to the CCU 22 through the interface 40.

As the reset means, a reset button may be provided in addition to the power switch 62. The reset interface 55 may be provided between the bus line 41 on the camera 21 side and the power supply voltage Vcc instead of the CCU 22 side.

The function data Df transmitted to the CCU 22 is taken in by the CPU 51 (step S).
2).

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the function data Df. As can be seen from FIG. 4, this function data Df is composed of, for example, 16-bit data, and the first eight bits are the header 67, indicating that it is function data. The latter eight bits indicate the function flag data 68. The flag data 68 includes a gain G, a white balance W / B, a gamma characteristic γ,
Each flag of the shutter exposure time T, knee characteristic K, and contour compensation characteristic C / C is shown. The lower two bits of the flag data 68 are prepared for extension of a new function.

When the CPU 51 receives the function data Df,
In the camera 21, the flag data 68 indicates that the gain G, the white balance W / B, the gamma characteristic γ, and the exposure time T are functions that can be controlled. The flag data 68 is stored in the RAM 53 (step S
3).

Next, a function is displayed on the LCD 59 based on the flag data 68 stored in the RAM 53 (step S4). In this case, the above-described four functions corresponding to the standing (high level) flag are displayed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a C whose function is displayed on the LCD 59.
The front panel 65 of the CU 22 is shown. As can be seen from FIG. 5, the gain G function is displayed as "GAIN" in the frame 71 corresponding to the four functions of the camera 21, and the white balance W is similarly displayed in the frames 72 to 74, respectively.
/ B function is “W / B” and the gamma characteristic γ function is “G
AMMA ”, the exposure time T function is“ SHUTTE
R ". Further, “AUX” is displayed in the frame 75 to indicate that the frame is a spare frame.

A cursor 76 is displayed as “→” on the LCD 59, and the cursor 76 is
Since it points to the frame 71, it is understood that the gain of the amplifier 26 in the camera 21 can be adjusted. The cursor 76 can point to an arbitrary frame by pressing the cursor switch 57. Instead of the cursor switch 57, a transparent, so-called touch sensor may be disposed on the LCD display 59 so as to overlap with the touch sensor, and the touch sensor may be directly touched with a finger to change the color of the touched frame. .

Here, the gain G can be adjusted by rotating the potentiometer 58. In this case, +
When turned in the direction, the gain G increases, and when turned in the negative direction, the gain G decreases. The set value of the gain G is L
For example, it is displayed on the lower right of the CD 59 as “6 dB.” At the time of the first display, a predetermined preset value may be displayed.

The signal input from the potentiometer 58 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 58 and transmitted to the camera 21 as adjustment data Da under the control of the CPU 51. The camera 21 adjusts the gain G of the amplifier 26 through the interface 38 based on the transmitted adjustment data Da (Step S5). In this way, the user can make adjustments for other functions as well.

Here, consider a case where the user replaces the camera 21 with a camera (not shown) having another function. A function of the camera having other functions is that the flag data 68 is “11101000” in the function data Df shown in FIG.

When the power switch 62 is turned on after replacing the camera, the function data Df transmitted from the replaced camera is taken into the CCU 22 in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 6 shows L corresponding to the function data Df.
The front panel 65 including the display of the CD 59 is shown. In this case, the flag data 68 = “1110100”
From "0", it is understood that the display of the frame 74 is changed from "SHUTTER" to the display "KNEE" indicating the function of the knee characteristic K. The value of the knee characteristic K is the LCD 59.
Is displayed as "55" in the lower right corner of the screen. The adjustment value of the knee characteristic K can be changed by turning the potentiometer 58.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the function data Df that can be controlled by the camera 21 is transmitted from the camera 21 to the CCU 22 when the power is turned on (at the time of resetting), and the function data Df is received. CCU22 is LCD
A function corresponding to the function data Df is displayed at 59, and the above function can be adjusted by the potentiometer 58. For this reason, different cameras are
However, even if the CCU is connected, all the functions of the camera can be recognized, and the effect that the CCU can be generalized (shared) can be obtained.

That is, there is no knob which cannot be used depending on the type of camera as described in the section of the prior art, or a knob corresponding to the function does not exist. Since the unique function (operation item) is displayed, there is an advantage that one kind of CCU 22 can operate various kinds of cameras as if it were a CCU dedicated to each camera.

The CCU 22 has a spare display frame 75, and among the function data Df, the flag data 68
Since a spare flag (lower two bits in the example of FIG. 3) is provided, an effect that it is possible to easily correspond to a new function is obtained.

Further, in the camera device shown in FIG. 1, since the potentiometer 58 as the operating means is shared for each function, the effect that the configuration of the front panel 65 is simple can be obtained.

It is to be noted that the operating means may be provided with knobs (operating means) 76 to 80 corresponding to each function as shown in FIG. Of course. 7, components corresponding to those shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. By operating the knobs 76 to 80, it is possible to adjust the functions displayed in the display frames 71 to 75 above them. The display “55” at the right end of the LCD 59 indicates a set value.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0047]

As described above, according to the camera apparatus of the present invention, at the time of resetting, data relating to functions controllable by the camera is transmitted from the camera side to the camera control apparatus side, and the data is received. The camera control device displays a function corresponding to the received data on the display means and allows the operation means to adjust the function. For this reason, it is possible to recognize all the functions of the camera, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the camera control device can be generalized (shared).

That is, there is an advantage that one kind of camera control device can operate various kinds of cameras as if it were a camera control device dedicated to each camera. Further, it becomes easy to make the camera control device correspond to a new function.

Further, when the operation means is shared, an effect is obtained that the configuration of the camera control device, particularly the panel surface, is simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an example of a front panel of a CCU in the camera device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of function data.

FIG. 5 shows a display example of a front panel of the CCU.

FIG. 6 shows another display example of the front panel of the CCU.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of another example of the front panel of the CCU.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a camera device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Camera 22 CCU 33, 51 CPU 58 Potentiometer Df Function data

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-881 (JP, A) JP-A-2-152370 (JP, A) JP-A-56-146474 (JP, A) JP-A-3-280789 (JP) JP-A-2-181106 (JP, A) JP-A-61-197780 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222-5/257 H04H 7/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A camera comprising: a camera; and a camera controller connected to the camera for controlling operation, wherein the camera has a first controller, the camera controller comprises a second controller, a display, and Operating means, wherein the first control means transmits data relating to controllable functions to the camera control device at the time of reset, and the second control means has received the data. In case,
A camera device, wherein the controllable function is displayed on the display means, and the function can be adjusted by the operation means. 2. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein said operation means is used in common with said controllable function displayed on said display means.