JP3218675B2 - Video camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a video camera capable of displaying character information and the like corresponding to the angle of view at which the image was captured.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video camera having a display function in a finder capable of displaying a date, a character, a title, and the like in a finder having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 (horizontally long) is known. As shown in FIG. 11, an image signal captured by such a video camera is reproduced on the monitor 52 in a horizontally long state (hereinafter, referred to as a normal state) together with a display 51 in a finder such as a date and a title. The display 51 in the finder is recorded on a recording medium such as a video tape so as to be superimposed on the image pickup signal. Normally, a subject is imaged using the center of the viewfinder, and when an image pickup signal is reproduced, a signal displayed in the viewfinder is recorded at a position that does not hide the subject image (for example, at the lower right of the screen).

By the way, when photographing with the zoom lens at the telephoto end, for example, it may not be possible to photograph the entire subject at an angle of view in a normal state (see FIG. 11A). In this case, the video camera is rotated by 90 ° or −90 ° to perform shooting at a vertically long angle of view. FIG. 11B shows an example of a vertically long angle of view photographed in this way. The display 51 in the finder at this time is displayed at a position (for example, upper right) different from the position displayed in the normal state with a change in the angle of view. Further, when this image signal is monitored, a subject which is tilted by 90 ° or −90 ° with respect to a subject photographed in a normal state is reproduced. In order to output an image in which the inclination is corrected, an angle sensor is usually required.

[0004]

When the video camera described above is used to shoot vertically, the positions of buttons such as a recording button, a start / stop button, and a zoom button used in a normal state change. This makes it difficult to operate these buttons. In addition, when imaging a vertically long subject, it is necessary to change the grip belt. Further, when the image pickup signal is reproduced at an angle of 90 ° or −90 ° compared to the normal state, the display in the viewfinder is also reproduced at an angle of 90 ° or −90 °. For this reason, the display in the viewfinder which is normally displayed in the horizontal direction is displayed in the vertical direction, and there is a possibility that the user may feel uncomfortable.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to determine shooting in a vertical position of a video camera with a simple configuration.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a video camera capable of displaying a display in a viewfinder, a character, a title, and the like at a position corresponding to vertical shooting.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a viewfinder rotatable with respect to a camera lens unit, rotation detecting means for detecting rotation of the viewfinder, and an identification signal corresponding to an output of the rotation detecting means. And a character generating means for generating a character. According to the output of the rotation detecting means,
A video camera characterized in that a character is displayed at a predetermined position in an image pickup signal obtained through a viewfinder.

[0007]

The position of the viewfinder is detected by the position detection circuit, and the display in the finder is superimposed on the image pickup signal based on the detection result. As a result, it is possible to perform display in a finder, character title display, and the like suitable for vertical shooting and horizontal shooting.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a rear view and a side view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1A, a battery 2 for causing the video camera 1 to perform a desired operation is attached to a main body of the video camera 1. The viewfinder 3 is provided on one side surface 11 of the video camera 1. If there is a viewfinder 3 at this position,
The viewfinder (not shown) has an angle of view in a normal state, and accordingly, an image signal during reproduction is also horizontally long.

In FIG. 1B, a lens 4 and a microphone 5 are provided on the front side of the video camera 1. A tape mounting section 6 for inserting a video tape (not shown) is provided at a substantially central portion of the video camera 1 main body.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view and a side view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied. In this case,
The subject is photographed vertically. In FIG. 2A, the viewfinder 3 is tilted by 90 ° with respect to the position of the viewfinder in a normal state. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the viewfinder 3 is located on the upper surface 7 of the video camera 1. When the viewfinder 3 is moved to such a position, the viewfinder has a vertically long angle of view, so that a vertically long imaging signal can be obtained. The rotation direction of the viewfinder 3 is either 90 ° in the same direction as the rotation direction of the camera lens, or 270 ° in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the camera lens.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a position detection circuit for detecting the position of the viewfinder 3. In FIG. 3, a guide groove 8 is provided in the video camera 1.
The viewfinder 3 is provided with a movement guide 9. By moving the movement guide 9 along the guide groove 8, the viewfinder 3 can stably move in both directions between the side surface and the upper surface of the video camera 1.
A detection switch 10 is provided in the video camera 1. One end of the detection switch 10 is grounded, and the other end is connected to a microcomputer (not shown). When the viewfinder 3 is moved from the side surface 11 to the upper surface 7, the detection switch 10 is turned on, and a low-level signal is supplied to the microcomputer. When the viewfinder 3 is moved from the upper surface 7 to the side surface 11, the detection switch 10 is turned off and a high-level signal is supplied to the microcomputer. With this detection,
Which angle of view is set is detected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which an image pickup signal taken by the video camera 1 to which the present invention is applied is reproduced on a monitor. In FIG. 4, the display 13 in the viewfinder is reproduced at the lower right of the monitor 14 for the subject 12 photographed vertically. As described later, by changing the position of the display in the viewfinder corresponding to the vertical shooting and the horizontal shooting of the video camera, the display in the viewfinder can be used more effectively than the conventional video camera. .

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of the video camera 1. Note that the block diagram shown in FIG. 5 relates to conversion of the display in the viewfinder supplied to the viewfinder 3 from landscape display to portrait display.
In FIG. 5, the imaging signal incident from the lens 15 is
Photoelectric conversion is performed by the CCD imaging device 16. The output signal of the CCD image sensor 16 is supplied to a sample hold circuit and an AG
The signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 18 via a C amplifier 17. The output signal of the A / D converter 18 is
The camera processing circuit 19 performs processing such as gamma correction,
After predetermined video processing is performed by the video processing circuit 20, the data is written to the memory 21.

A position detecting circuit 2 for detecting whether the viewfinder 3 is in the vertical or horizontal state.
2 (see FIG. 3) is supplied to a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 23.
In the microcomputer 23, an ID signal corresponding to the signal from the position detection circuit 22 is generated, and the ID signal is supplied to a PCM processing circuit 24 for photographing a still image. Further, a control signal for controlling reading of the memory 21 is supplied from the microcomputer 23 to the memory controller 25. The data stored in the memory 21 is read by a control signal from the memory controller 25.

An output signal from the memory 21 is supplied to a vertical / horizontal conversion circuit 26, a video processing circuit 27, and a still image processing circuit 28.
Supplied to When the output signal from the position detection circuit 22 is a signal of a vertical position, the output signal of the memory 21 is controlled by the memory controller 25 so as to be a vertically long image. The vertically long video signal is transmitted to the D /
The A converter 29 converts the signal into an analog signal. D / A converter 2
The analog signal from 9 is output as a vertically long image from a monitor (not shown) connected to the video output terminal 30 and the viewfinder 3.

On the other hand, the video signal supplied to the video processing circuit 27 is recorded horizontally in the analog area on the video tape via the D / A converter 31. The video signal supplied to the still image processing circuit 28 is supplied to the PCM processing circuit 24. The output signals (video signal and ID signal) of the PCM processing circuit 24 are recorded horizontally in the PCM area on the video tape. During reproduction, the ID signal is detected by the PCM processing circuit 24 or the still image processing circuit 28, and the output signal of the memory 21 is controlled by the memory controller 25 based on the detection result.
Therefore, an imaging signal corresponding to the ID signal is output from the video output terminal 30.

A superimpose function for superimposing a title or the like on a still image pickup signal recorded in a PCM area of a video tape is known. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram when a superimposition is performed on an image pickup signal of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.
In FIG. 6, the imaging signal incident from the lens 15 is
Photoelectric conversion is performed by the CCD imaging device 16. The output signal of the CCD image sensor 16 is supplied to a sample hold circuit and an AG
The signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 18 via a C amplifier 17. The output signal of the A / D converter 18 is
The camera processing circuit 19 performs processing such as gamma correction,
After predetermined video processing is performed by the video processing circuit 20, the data is written to the memory 21.

A signal based on a detection value from a position detection circuit 22 for detecting the position of the viewfinder 3 is transmitted to the microcomputer 2.
3 is supplied. The microcomputer 23 sends a control signal for controlling reading of the memory 21 to the memory controller 25.
To supply. The data stored in the memory 21 is read by the control signal. An output signal from the memory 21 is supplied to a vertical / horizontal conversion circuit 26, a video processing circuit 27, and a still image processing circuit 28. When the output signal from the position detection circuit 22 is, for example, a signal in a vertical position, the memory 21
Is controlled by the memory controller 25 so as to be a portrait image. The output signal of the memory 21 is supplied to a video processing circuit 32 via a vertical / horizontal conversion circuit 26, and a video processing circuit 27 for analog signals and a PC
The still image processing circuit 28 for the M signal is supplied.

In the microcomputer 23, the position detecting circuit 2
2 is generated, and an ID signal corresponding to the signal from
The signal is supplied to the character title generation circuit 33. From the character title generating circuit 33, display information such as a character title together with the ID signal is transmitted to the video processing circuit 27, the still image processing circuit 28, and the video processing circuit 32.
Supplied to

In the video processing circuit 32, the vertical / horizontal conversion circuit 2
The display information is superimposed in correspondence with the output signal of No. 6. The output signal of the video processing circuit 32 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 29 and then supplied to a monitor (not shown) connected to the video output terminal 30 and the viewfinder 3. With such a configuration, it is possible to display an image signal as shown in FIG. 4 on a monitor or the like. In the video processing circuit 27 and the still image processing circuit 28, the output signal of the character title generation circuit 33 is superimposed in accordance with the output signal from the memory 21 (horizontal or vertical imaging signal). The output signal of the video processing circuit 27 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 31 and recorded in an analog area on a video tape. The video signal supplied to the still image processing circuit 28 is supplied to the PCM processing circuit 24. The output signal of the PCM processing circuit 24 is
It is recorded in the PCM area on the video tape. With such a configuration, it is possible to superimpose appropriate display information on the imaging signal corresponding to the position of the viewfinder 3.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a stereo microphone 34 is integrally mounted on the viewfinder 3 of the video camera 1 to which the present invention is applied. Left audio can be recorded correctly.
Further, at the time of the vertical shooting, by narrowing the directivity of the microphone in accordance with the image frame of the image, it is possible to obtain a more realistic image and sound. FIG.
As shown in A and B, by attaching an accessory shoe 36 for attaching the video light 35 or the like to the upper portion of the viewfinder 3, even if the position of the viewfinder 3 changes, the position of the accessory remains unchanged, and Regardless of the position of the viewfinder 3, accessories can be easily handled.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B,
When the video camera according to the present invention is used by being fixed to a tripod 37 or the like, a vertical shooting and a horizontal shooting can be performed without removing the video camera 1 from the tripod by forming a hole 38 for mounting a tripod in the viewfinder 3. Becomes possible. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, by providing a grip 39, a recording button 40, a still image shutter button 41, a zoom button 42 and the like near the viewfinder 3, The video camera can be easily moved from the horizontal position to the vertical position or from the vertical position to the horizontal position.

In the video camera according to the present invention, if the camera shake preventing mechanism is provided in the viewfinder,
The horizontal and vertical axes in the vertical position correspond to the vertical and horizontal axes in the horizontal position. For this reason, the camera shake prevention mechanism is provided in the camera lens unit.

[0024]

According to the present invention, since the viewfinder can be rotated by 90.degree., It is possible to easily take a picture in a vertical position and to rotate the viewfinder only in one direction. The circuit configuration of the circuit can be simplified. Also, it is possible to determine whether the shooting is being performed in the horizontal position or the vertical position only by detecting the rotation of the viewfinder section. Based on this determination, the display in the viewfinder, the character and the title, etc. are adjusted to the shooting position. Can be displayed. Further, the photographing conversion from the horizontal position to the vertical position can be performed while the hand is passed through the grip, and the position of the operation switch at that time does not change, so that it can be easily handled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view and a side view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a rear view and a side view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a position detection circuit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a reproduction state of an image pickup signal of a video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram of a video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram for realizing superimposition on an image pickup signal of a video camera to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the video camera according to the present invention is used by being attached to a tripod.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a video camera to which the present invention is applied, showing an example of an arrangement of operation buttons.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a reproduction state of an image pickup signal of a conventional video camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 viewfinder 10 detection switch 13 display in viewfinder 22 position detection circuit 23 microcomputer 33 character title generation circuit

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-2-295282 (JP, A) JP-A-2-25938 (JP, A) JP-A-63-121363 (JP, A) JP-A-2-244880 (JP, A) , A) Jikkai Sho 64-42662 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222-5/257

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A viewfinder rotatable with respect to a camera lens unit; rotation detection means for detecting rotation of the viewfinder; and identification for generating an identification signal corresponding to an output of the rotation detection means. Signal generating means; and character generating means for generating a character, wherein the character is displayed at a predetermined position in an image signal obtained via the viewfinder according to the output of the rotation detecting means. A video camera characterized by the following.